Participation
What is it?
Participation Is the process during which individuals, groups and organisations are consulted about, or have the opportunity to become actively involved, in improving existing services and developing new services for Carers and the people they care for.
Participation is not achieved in one survey, leaflet or meeting - it is continuous. People and groups need time to understand what is proposed, develop trust and work out what to do.
How do we do it?
We listen to carers at every opportunity, because your views and opinions count. We collect and analyse this information and work with Health and Social Care Practitioners to improve services. For example:
- People respond to our Newsletter articles
- When we hold events we always collect Carers views.
- We record recurring issues and themes through our one to one support work with Carers.
- We hold specific Consultation events to gather Carers views.
- We regularly send out questionnaires to get information.
What do we do with Carers views?
- We run Carer Forums: Carers and Service Managers come together to see how they can move things forward.
- We get involved in national consultations.
- We can negotiate immediate changes in services.
Our Forums work by:
- Managing the flow of information and ideas
- Acting as expert partners - learning about the bigger picture of service development
- Working with practitioners, not against them - sharing in hard choices and sometimes acting as a critical friend.
- Prioritising issues and researching them - finding answers, not just raising questions.
What Carer Forums do we run?
- Adult Carer Forum - Chrissy Dunlop
- Parent Carer Voice (for Parents of children with Disabilities, and/or special needs) - Sue Black
For more information telephone 01432 356068 or e-mail:
Herefordshire Carers Charter
The Carers' Charter has been produced by Carers of Herefordshire Carers Support to promote better recognition and support for Carers.
Carers provide invaluable support to some very vulnerable people and this contribution needs to be valued, acknowledged and respected.
The Charter confirms the values, aims and standards that willbe adopted by agencies (which include both Voluntary and Statutory) working in partnership with Carers within Herefordshire. It will also be used to monitor outcomes for Carers.
The Carers' Charter is based on the key National Standards and includes two further standards that reflect the need to see Carers in their own right and to have effective proceses for assessing their needs. The standards are intended to describe what a good service to Carers should look like and to monitor outcomes for Carers. Provider services who sign up to the Charter will each have a different responsibility to Carers and will produce their own ACTION PLAN which will set out how they will deliver on these Standards. Download here.
Forum Highlights 2011 - 2012
Over the past twelve months the Carer Forum has been working on a number of issues pertinent to Carers. The following is a summary:
Personalisation
Three taster sessions were held in the market towns of Hereford, Bromyard and Ross. The aim was to enhance Carers knowledge of Personalisation and Individual Budgets. A total of 27 Carers attended the three events. Carers knowledge was rated before and after the events showing a marked increase overall.
Contingency Planning
Between January and March 2012 a number of events took place throughout the County. The aim of the first session was to promote a discussion around 'what a Contingency Plan is?' and 'what information would be needed?' Discussions looked at Carers experiences of 'providing care in a crisis', 'who would be your Emergency Carer' and tools available to enhance the contingency plan Over 60 Carers attended the first events, with very positive feedback! More events are being planned culminating in a "Live Contingency Plan" event later in the year.
Carers Charter
The Carers Charter has been produced by Carers of Herefordshire Carers Support to promote better recognition and support for Carers.
The Charter confirms the values, aims and standards that will be adopted by agencies, which include both Voluntary and Statutory. Up to date, Wye Valley NHS Trust and Herefordshire Council have signed up to the Charter with 2gether NHS Foundation Trust due to sign in May 2012! Action Plans to implement the Charter are in the process of being populated and updates on progress will be delivered to the Carer Forum regularly by Service Managers.
Confidentiality Workshop
In January 2012, a workshop for Carers/Practitioners on Confidentiality was held at the Kindle Centre. The aim of the session is to ensure that Carers are better informed regarding the information that can be shared between Carers and Practitioners. 25 Carers and Practitioners attended the session which was facilitated by Ruth Hannan, Princess Royal Trust for Carers. The workshop looked at good practice in sharing information with Carers and families. Evaluations of the event were extremely positive and further workshops have been requested.
Herefordshire Carers Strategy
The Carer Forum was involved with the shaping and design of the refresh of the Herefordshire Carers Strategy in the form of a focus group and questionnaires. The Forum was also asked to invite Carers to take part in the selection panel of the procurement process for short breaks in the County. Updates on the progress of the Strategy are regularly delivered to the Forum from the Commissioners.
If you feel that you have something to offer the Carer Forum and you would like to be involved please contact Chrissy Dunlop on 01432 356068 or e-mail chrisdunlop@herefordshirecarers.co.uk
Adult Carer Forum
The Adult Carer Forum meet 6 times a year at the Kindle Centre. Key Officers from Herefordshire Council, Wye Valley NHS Trust and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust are regularly invited to attend to give progress reports. For further information please contact Chrissy Dunlop on 01432 356068 or e-mail chrisdunlop@herefordshirecarers.co.uk
Download the Carers Forum Workplan here.
Minutes from the meetings are available here:
Minutes and information from previous forums can be accessed here.
Contact Chris Dunlop on chrisdunlop@herefordshirecarers.co.uk or 01432 356068 for more information about the Forums.