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Welcome to this months Carers' Bulletin. There is absolutely loads going on this September, a mix of some face to face groups and online options for carers to stay connected and informed.
This month's bulletin focuses on planning for the future. We often don't like to think about what might happen if we became unwell or have an accident but there are things we can do to help plan in the event of emergency. Signing up to services like CRESS can be a good starting point as a carer.
The Carers Trust Heart of England have produced a podcast talking about Lasting Power of Attorney applications and Coventry and Warwickshire CCG have produced a helpful guide around Advanced Decision making. We have also included information about upcoming changes to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf. This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’). You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA. You do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen.
There are 2 types of LPA:
- health and welfare
- property and financial affairs.
You can choose to make one type or both. There’s a different process in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Listen to this podcast hosted by Paul and Lisa from Carers Trust Heart of England with guest speaker Emma Austin from the Central England Law Centre who explains in detail what an LPA is and why you may choose to have one drawn up.
If tomorrow everything changes, leave no doubt as to what your decisions would be about how you would want to be treated.
Visit Coventry and Warwickshire's CCG Leave no doubt website.
Every year Carers UK undertake a comprehensive survey into the lives and experience of carers. Their 2021 survey is now open.
Carers UK use the responses to their survey to help inform and influence decision makers and advocate on behalf of carers across the country for change. In the last year Carers UK have used their influence to help decision makers understand the immense pressure the pandemic has had on unpaid carers, supporting areas such as the provision of PPE, testing for carers, exemptions for breaks. Carers were also included in the priority list for the COVID-19 vaccination, and they campaigned for specific advice to support juggling work and care.
Carers UK appreciate each and every person who takes the time to complete the survey and together you help us paint a picture of what caring has been like in the last year.
The survey can be completed online and will close on 13 September. We will then release a research report in November.
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The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) will be replaced by the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) on 1 April 2022.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards apply to adults 18 who are in a hospital or residential care setting. Simply it is the law that sets out how we must act in adults best interests if they lack capacity to make their own decisions and require restrictions to their liberty. The change to Liberty Protection Safeguards will mean a widening of the criteria for settings, such as to domestic settings. It also involves widening the involvement of families and duties around ensuring that families are consulted and kept engaged.
We have recently updated our Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) webpages to explain what DOLs are and what the key changes are in April 2022.
The Coventry & Warwickshire Wellbeing Academy are holding a "Coping with Caring" online course on Wednesday 8 September - 10am-12pm
This course aims to raise awareness and understanding of how the caring role can impact on many aspects of your life. The course looks at ways you can look after yourself as well as continuing to support and promote the independence of the person you care for.
Learning outcomes:
- To increase awareness of the roles and responsibilities of being a Carer in the UK and to look at how these roles affect us.
- To consider and develop some techniques for coping and helping ourselves as well as those To consider and develop some techniques for coping and helping ourselves as well as those we care for.
- To think about how you can work together to promote independence.
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To look at your rights as a Carer and places to seek additional support.
Aimed at: anyone who is currently caring for a friend or family member and is experiencing increased stress.
Sign up to the Coping with Caring online course.
During the pandemic we know that lots of people have seen their caring role increase, taken on new caring responsibilities and for some people working from home has helped support their caring role. With some employees moving back to office based working, being able to have an honest conversation about your caring role might prove helpful. The Carers Trust Heart of England have shared their top tips for speaking to an employer about your caring role.
The Carers Trust Heart of England now have a dedicated Working Carers Development Worker - Anna Luczyna who can be contacted on Tel: 024 76 632972 option 1.
Please email jasmin.knight@carerstrusthofe.org.uk or call 024 7663 2972 option 1 for more details.
Introducing Shireen, the new young carers support worker at Carers Trust Heart of England. She is running Your Future - the new young adult carers service.
Your Future will support young adult carers (YACs) aged 16-25, offering support to YACs who are not in education, training, or employment.
We have a wide range of opportunities available which will support and be specifically tailored to each YAC.
If a caring role has had an impact on their education, or accessibility to find employment we have resources available to study courses in an environment away from the classroom which will not impact their caring role, this can be completed virtually with 1-1 support from an accredited exam tutor to meet the YAC needs and balance their caring role.
Support will be offered to link in with other professionals offering an array of workshops, providing skills and confidence building activities. For example, CV writing, identifying a career path and engaging with other YACs to take part in fun activities to improve mental health and improve social isolation. We have funding available to offer support and advice with financial circumstances, including support to apply for student grants.
This service will hold carer led sessions to ensure YACs have their input to how this service is shaped, ensuring their voices are heard.
Support will be offered to identify and attend open days at college, University or any appointments related to finding employment.
We also will be educating employers, schools, colleges, and Universities about carers, how they can ensure carers feel valued and supported to achieve the best outcome within their organisation.
If you would like more information, please contact me for a chat via
T: 07709 712437
E: Shireen.stuart@carerstrusthofe.org.uk
W: www.youngcarerscoventry.com
Please follow us on Facebook & Instagram: www.facebook.com/yourfutureYAC / YourFutureYAC (@yourfutureyac) • Instagram photos and videos
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Are you living with cancer? Do you want to enhance your resilience through these difficult times, rediscover strengths and increase your ability to cope?
HOPE 4 The Community - UK are running a FREE online programme to support those living with cancer, or for those whose treatment has ended.
The programme starts on 14 September.
Join in, meet others in the same situation and rediscover your strengths.
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In October HOPE are facilitating a 6 week in person training aimed at people who are caring for a loved one. The course aims to support carers to teach you how to become more relaxed, improve your confidence in setting positive goals, learn stress and fatigue management skills and explore any worries you experience.
Book onto the Hope programme for Carers.
Care We Share – Calling Coventry Carers
Care We Share is a unique online platform designed to insure your loved ones are cared from 24/7 by facilitating and managing a care network and sharing the responsibility. With over half of carers having to give up their jobs to care for a loved one, Care We Share is taking action.
In partnership with Coventry City Council and Carers Trust Heart of England Coventry based carers are able to take part in a free pilot gaining access to Care We Share for free. On top of this, participants will receive a £25 amazon voucher for using the platform (a minimum of once per week over the three month period) and an additional £25 amazon voucher for completing a survey at the end of the trial providing valuable feedback that will shape the future of Care We Share.
To find out more and take part please email careweshare@carerstrusthofe.org.uk.
Would you like to find out more about the online platform Kooth?
A Kooth Information Session aimed at Parents and Carers to find out more about our online Mental Health & Wellbeing Community - Monday 6 September - 4pm - 5pm
It’s simple! Just add your email address in the top right hand corner and click GO!
You can also sign up or view previous bulletins from our Carers' website.
If you have any comments or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by contacting us at carers@coventry.gov.uk.
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