|
Welcome to this months carers' bulletin, which we've sent out slightly earlier this month so we can say a massive Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Although Christmas can be a time of great joy we also know it's a time of year that can magnify loneliness, the absence of loved ones and can place pressures on people both financially and socially. It can also throw important routines out of place, that might make a caring role more manageable. We also know that the pandemic has shed a lot of uncertainty on people's plans and enjoyment this year. This bulletin focuses on the support available over the Christmas period.
There is some important information in this bulletin around what the government is doing to support unpaid carers to ensure they are a priority when accessing the vaccine. We have also included information about testing availability over the festive period.
We'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for all your ongoing support and care, in what has been a very difficult and challenging year. We know that carers are the unsung heroes throughout this pandemic. We'd also like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Take care and stay safe!
Over the festive period, Adult Social Care continues to run a service but with some reduced services. Please see key contact information and numbers over the Christmas period for Coventry Adult Social Care:
- It will be business as usual until 24 December 2021.
- From 25 until 28 December 2021 support will be provided by the Council's Emergency Duty Team (EDT).
- From 29 until 31 December 2021 there will be Social Work and Commissioning support available.
- From 1-3 January 2022 support will be provided by EDT.
- The Mental Health Crisis Team will be open throughout
- The Hospital Social Work Team and Brokerage will continue to provide cover across 7 days with the exception of 25, 26 December and 1 January 2022.
Relevant contact information for the services during the closure will be:
| Service |
Contact Number |
| Community Social Work |
(024) 7683 3003
|
| Hospital Social Work Team |
(024) 7696 5600
|
| Emergency Duty Team |
(024) 7683 2222
|
| Mental Health Services |
|
| IPU 3-8 (Tile Hill) |
(024) 7647 2662
|
| IPU 10-17 (Swanswell Point) |
(024) 7696 1242
|
| IPU 18-21 (Longford) |
(024) 7670 7968
|
| Central Booking System / Crisis Team |
0300 200 0011
|
Carers Trust Heart of England will be running a telephone service over the festive period:
24 December - 9am - 1pm
29 and 30 December - 9am - 14pm
31 December 9am - 2pm
You can contact them on 024 7663 2972
Normal working hours will resume on Tuesday 4 January 2022.
 If you are registered with CRESS, the service will continue to run over the festive period. You can contact CRESS on 024 7610 1040 Opt 1.
 For further information please visit the NHS website
If you care for someone you are considered a priority for the booster or your vaccination. We've recently heard of long queues as the demand for uptake has increased in recent weeks with everyone now being eligible. The government have produced a helpful letter that carers can take to a vaccination clinic and this should help you to bypass a queue situation. Many carers do not have proof that they are a carer in the same way a staff member might have an ID badge, if you want a copy of the letter to take along to your vaccination appointment please contact the Carers Trust Heart of England or speak to your social care worker or health worker.
If you are showing no signs of COVID-19 but require a lateral flow test you can access these across all sites across the city from 10am - 4pm on:
24, 29, 30, 31 December as well as the 2 January 2022
Market Way is open from 10am - 4pm on 27 and 28 December
Please note there is no lateral flow testing available on 25, 26 December and 1 and 3 January as all sites will be closed.
Please see Coventry City Council website for further information regarding lateral flow test sites across the city.
 Remember you can also order lateral flow tests online either delivered to your home or arrange to pick up from a collection point such as a pharmacy. Using lateral flow tests (when non-symptomatic) before visiting friends and family over Christmas is an additional easy precaution that we can all follow.
PCR testing will be available over the festive period including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day (with reduced hours).
Please see Coventry City Council website for further information regarding PCR testing sites across the city.
Join Dr Liz Sparkes in her meditations and visualisations to help to bring feelings of relaxation for the mind and body. She is running sessions during the day and also evening sessions, so if you would like more information please email Jasmine Knight or call 024 7663 2972 option 1.
They look forward to welcoming you.
If you are dealing with difficult emotions around, grief, loss and change then please contact Carers Trust Heart of England to book a place on this course. The sessions run from the 12 January for six weeks via Zoom.
For more information please email Jasmine Knight or call 024 7663 2972 option 1.
If you support someone who is experiencing difficulties with their mental health, then please feel free to access this group. They meet the first Tuesday of the month, and look forward to welcoming you.
Please note face to face sessions are under review due to current COVID-19 Government guidance.
For more information please email Jasmine Knight or call 024 7663 2972 option 1.
|
 |
|
Is your loved currently in hospital?
Do you provide care for them?
Do you need some support and advice?
If so, please drop in to see Tahira from Carers Trust. She provides carers with information and advice in the first Wednesday of the month on Ward 40, in the "Forget me not lounge" from 4pm - 6pm.
If you are unable to make these times please contact her directly by email or by giving her call on 024 7663 2972 (option 1) or 07528 080239.
Please note face to face sessions are under review due to current COVID-19 Government guidance.
|
The Young Carers Service would like wish you a very happy holidays and a happy new year. The service will be closed for the holidays from midday 24 December 2021 - 4 January 2022. Our inbox will be monitored on the 29 and 30 December, so if you have any urgent queries, please do email them or call on 07714 72036.
Please visit our website for activity information. Our last activity will be on 22 December and will resume from the 10 January 2022. Timetable activities will be released online to book onto - so keep a look out for this.
Email: youngcarers@carerstrusthofe.org.uk
Telephone: 0247 6632 972 ext. 350
Thinking about your plans for 2022? The Carers Trust Heart of England are starting a Carers Choir in 2022.
Singing in a choir is a perfect way to switch off from the world around you and focus on the moment. Singing helps to relieve stress and often leaves you feeling happy and energised 
Research shows that singing in a group is one of the best ways to build friendships. Our carers choir is fun, relaxed, and informal and is as much about having time out from your caring role as it is about the singing.
To express an interest, or for more information, please contact Rebecca Waite:
Tel: 0247 6632 972 (option 1)
Mobile: 07593 445572
Email: rebecca.waite@carerstrusthofe.org.uk
This group is for individuals who are caring for someone with dementia in a supportive environment over four sessions.
The next sessions in January are being run virtually via Zoom:
Monday 10, 17, 24, 31 from 5.30pm - 8pm
For further information please email or call 0333 150 3456 and ask to speak to a CrISP facilitator in Coventry.
In a previous bulletin we gave an update on Liberty Protection Safeguards, the replacement provision for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
The Government has now formally accepted that the long-awaited Liberty Protection Safeguards cannot be implemented by the original date of April 2022. This had been inevitable for some time given the need for a consultation period, return to Parliament and then a gap to allow organisations to prepare and adapt to the new regulations.
The announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 December 2021, does not give a new implementation date given that the consultation is not ready to be launched yet. It is hoped that this will be in the New Year but has the understandable caveat that this is subject to what happens with COVID.
You can keep up to date with the progress of the Liberty Protection Safeguards by accessing the councils website or for a wide range of resources the Social Care Institute for Excellence.
|
Domestic Abuse
If you need advice or support go to Safe to Talk, Coventry City Council’s Domestic Abuse website. Here you will find information on services for survivors, children/young people and perpetrators. There is support around honour-based abuse, forced marriage and FGM.
There is also an online chat function for anyone including professionals.
Call 0800 111 4998 from 8.30am - 5pm Monday to Friday or 10am - 1pm Saturday and Sunday. (Note: services will continue over the festive period)
|
Free heating systems through keeping Coventry warm
The Act On Energy service has been commissioned by Coventry City Council to reduce fuel poverty in Coventry and protect those who are most vulnerable to the health effects of living in cold homes. Keeping warm is an important part of keeping well in the winter particularly for the very young, and those with chronic illness affected by the cold, this could be more prevalent this year due to the increase in respiratory infections in children.
The service provides:
-
Free heating and insulation measures for the most vulnerable,
- A specialist helpline offering support and advice on keeping warm and ways to help reduce your energy bills,
- Home visits to help residents with all their energy needs.
For further information please call Act on Energy on the free phone advice line:
0800 988 2881
|
 |
|
Opening times over Christmas and New Year
Bell Green, Central, Foleshill, Stoke, Tile Hill Libraries are open on 24 December from 9am - 4pm.
All Libraries close for the Christmas holidays on 25 December 2021 and will reopen Tuesday 4 January 2022.
|
|
Don't get the winter blues, borrow free e-books, e-audiobooks and other online services are available to give you a lift. Just visit their website
|
|
 |
All our foodbank distribution centres, warehouse and office will be closed from Christmas Eve 24 December.
From 24 December emergency food parcels will be available from West Midlands Fire Stations across the City. If anybody finds themselves in an absolute emergency they can present themselves at a fire station for a parcel of food, please note, it will be the basics.
Foodbank will re-open on Tuesday 4 January 2022.
Are you a service user or a carer? Community mental health is changing and we want to hear your views!
Wednesday 5 January 2022 6pm - 7.30pm
Please register by calling 024 7693 2460 or email us (all attendees will be sent an invite to Zoom).
Sky Blues in the Community are offering weekly group sessions specifically for men to improve their wellbeing. It is available in four locations across the region and for more information please email Robert Chandler or call 07845 812639.
Sky Blues in the Community are also offering wellbeing sessions designed for woman. These are held across two areas in the region and for more information please email Jack Clemons or call 07494 734264
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.
|
