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Feedback on the usefulness of this bulletin is very much appreciated, such as whether you find the content useful, if anything is missing, or whether more (or less) detail is needed. Please email any feedback to SocialCareCommissioning@coventry.gov.uk
In this issue:
Hello and welcome to the spring edition of the Adult Social Care bulletin and yes spring has definitely sprung and in the words of the literary great Leon Tolstoy – time to make plans! What will your plans be this spring? I hope they include getting some fresh air and exercise and doing fun stuff that lifts your spirits.
Whatever your plans I do hope that you enjoy this wonderful season of growth and renewal.
With all good wishes
Jon Reading
Head of Commissioning & Quality
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Carers' Action Plan
The Carers' Action Plan was published earlier this year, a plan which outlines our commitment to unpaid carers across the city. The plan details what actions we will be taking in the next two years to improve the experience of carers. As part of carer wide engagement across the city we have identified three main priorities:
- Support carers with flexible respite options, ensuring they can take breaks.
- Deliver the right support, at the right time, and in the right place.
- Maximise the reach of carers assessments to benefit more carers.
You can read the plan in full on the Carers' Action Plan webpage.
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What's a carer's assessment?
If you care for someone you may well have been offered a carer's assessment. A carers assessment is the opportunity for you to talk to a professional about your caring role, the impact that is has on you and your overall wellbeing and any needs you might have as result. It will help you talk about the future and help you start to think about other aspects like contingency planning.
Who can have a carer's assessment?
Anyone who has a caring role can have a carer's assessment, you don't need to be caring for a certain amount of hours a week and you may even want to think about a carer's assessment if you're considering taking on a caring role.
What can a carer's assessment lead to?
A carer's assessment should help you think about the support you might need and this will be explored as part of the assessment. This might be some support to plan for an emergency, it might be the provision of a Carers' Direct Payment to help you purchase goods or services, or to help you in your caring role. Often Carers tell us it was the first time they've been able to discuss their own needs in any level of detail.
Who completes the assessment?
If you have active involvement with Adult Social Care, then your social work practitioner will offer you an assessment. If you don't have input at present from Adult Social Care you can request an assessment from the Carers Trust Heart of England on 024 7663 2972.
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Carers' Leave Regulations 2024
Did you know that from 6 April 2024, employment law is changing to support unpaid carers in work?
The regulations set out a new statutory leave entitlement that grants up to one week of unpaid carer's leave per year, to employees who are caring for a dependant with a long-term care need. The leave will be able to be taken from half a day up to and including one whole week of leave.
The statutory entitlement will be a day one right for employees.
Love4Life in Coventry
Love4Life is a friendship and dating network for people with learning disabilities and autism.
With more than 200 members, Love4Life is a great way to make new friends and find love. You can access Love4Life in Coventry.
Love4Life offers:
- health, wellbeing and safety workshops, including sex and relationships, money management and independent living skills.
- chaperoned dates.
- one-to-one support at drop-in sessions.
- leisure trips, performing arts activities and relaxed social sessions.
- regular social activities – from bowling or meals out to karaoke and discos.
Love4Life members include people with mild learning disabilities, autistic people and people with more complex learning disabilities who might need additional support. Many members also have a range of physical health conditions and disabilities that means all our events are fully inclusive and accessible.
There is more information on their website, you can drop them an email or call Jenna Ford her mobile 07798 773657.
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We have updated all our public information which identifies that they can be made available in six main languages used in Coventry – Polish, Punjabi, Urdu, Arabic, Romanian and Tigrinya.
We are also producing our safeguarding posters in these languages alongside specific information about safeguarding in Arabic as this is one of the most requested languages for translation. All of our public information is available on our Adult Social Care and Health webpages.
The Adult Social Care Stakeholder Group meet every other month to discuss any upcoming developments, projects and changes. They are there to influence, make changes and help us improve the experience of people accessing Adult Social Care.
The group is made up of people receiving support, carers and voluntary sector organisations. In February we discussed our CQC Information Return and Self-assessment, Carers Action Plan and our We asked, you said, we did webpage.
The group have input into the language and layout of the Adult Social Care Offer (even correcting typos). The group is growing and we're always looking for new members and people who are passionate about using their own experience to help shape our future practice.
If you are interested in joining the Stakeholder Group, email GetInvolvedASC@coventry.gov.uk for more information.
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We are continuing to promote the ‘experience survey’ in 2023/24 we received 120 surveys and we would ultimately like to achieve 300 a year so its comparable with the uptake of our postal surveys.
The results so far are showing broadly very positive experience of those people who access our support or the people who care for them having a positive experience. Feedback has included being complimentary about our support and how we have worked to build a rapport and connection with people and a great proportion of people wanting to get involved in some way in the work of Adult Social Care (over 1300 people now signed up to this bulletin).
If you've had a recent assessment or support provided from Adult Social Care then we'd like to hear more about your experience. You can provide your feedback by accessing the Adult Social Care Experience survey. The survey is open to anyone whose received support from Adult Social Care recently and any carer who may have received support.
We use any feedback to make sure we develop and improve our services and understand more about the realities of receiving support through Adult Social Care.
The survey asks for your Care Director ID which can be found on any assessment or support plan you will have received as part of your care journey.
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Adult Social Care celebration event
Members of the Adult Social Care teams got together last week for an award ceremony to celebrate and acknowledge achievements within their teams.
Certificates were awarded for a range of work highlighting the vast scope of work the Adult Social Care teams are involved in. Many of the awards were celebrating the value of their co-workers with nominations from within the teams showing how valued and respected these people were within Adult Social Care.
Councillor Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, was in attendance to present the awards. She said, “I am always impressed by the passion and commitment we have in the Adult Social Care teams and it is my pleasure to be able to present these awards to so many dedicated people. It’s great to be able to hear stories of the respect and admiration the team members have for each other and all of the fantastic work that is taking place throughout the city helping make life better for many residents”.
Pete Fahy, Director of Adult Social Care, said, “It’s always a pleasure to see acknowledgment being presented for such hard work. Hearing stories from colleagues about the difference being made to people’s lives throughout the city is inspiring. Congratulations to all who took part”.
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 At Eric Williams House we know how to celebrate equality and diversity and we offer an inclusive service; our activities staff help our residents to celebrate all the high days and holidays. Most recently all our residents celebrated Valentines Day in style.
Everyone enjoyed a beautiful buffet and entertainment by no less than three vocalists, one of whom has his own mother with us. The residents, their families and the staff know how to party, and many were up and dancing by the end of the first song.
Everyone enjoyed singing along, dancing or just swaying with the music and a good time was had by all. Lots of smiles, lots of fun and lots of love.
So far this year our residents have travelled to Scotland and China – armchair travel, they have thoroughly enjoyed a very tasteful drag act when we celebrated a resident 101st birthday and of course residents have been supported to be creative by making decorations, cooking biscuits and cakes and designing a dignity tree for each lounge.
Many residents like to go out – only this week five residents went out for afternoon tea. There is never a dull moment at Eric Williams House and love and care is always in the air!
Shared Lives family counts down to FA Cup Wembley outing
A family that has come together as part of a Council Adult Social Care scheme is putting the flags out as they gear up for this weekend’s FA Cup outing against Man Utd.
Rob, Bernie, Stephen, and Kerry have been brought together by the Coventry Shared Lives Scheme, which enables adults to live together in a family home where care and support are provided in a loving environment. Stephen and Kerry live with Bernie and Rob and have developed a caring relationship for several years.
Stephen and Rob are big Coventry City fans and have season tickets - going to every game whenever they can. All four will be making their way down to Wembley to watch the Sky Blues game against Manchester United along with Bernie and Kerry - who are also looking forward to the semi-final clash. They have their bucket hats, scarves and flags at the ready, and will travel down on Sunday morning to cheer on the Sky Blues as fans make the exodus down to London.
Stephen, who will also celebrate his 54th birthday on Monday, told us how much he is looking forward to Sunday. He said: “It’ll be 2-1 to Coventry, Simms and Haji Wright will score. Cov are going to win.” He also expressed excitement about getting to wave at Coventry City manager Mark Robins as the players walk out – something he always does whenever the team run out onto the pitch. Stephen has only been a regular at Sky Blues games over the past two years and Rob said it has made a massive difference.
Rob added: “I’ve been a massive Sky Blues fan for years and going with Stephen has been great. It is such a perfect way for him to connect with more people. We love it and can’t wait for Sunday.” Kerry, who is 42 and originally from South Africa, is also getting excited about the match and has been serenading the family with her rendition of ‘Que Sera Sera …were going to Wemb-er-ley….’
Bernie told us how important the Shared Lives scheme is. She said: “It’s a good scheme because you can make a difference that can change lives by giving people meaningful opportunities. You can enhance skills and you can live together as a family. Kerry helps in the kitchen, we cook together, and Stephen helps set the table. Kerry calls us a good team - we’re a good team together. It’s especially nice for Stephen to go to Wembley.”
Liane Wood, Shared Lives Officer at the Council, said: “It’s wonderful to work on Shared Lives and Stephen, Kerry, Rob and Bernie are such a lovely group to work with. As a Sky Blues' fan I’m so excited for them all.”
Stephen also attends Brandon Wood Farm every Friday and goes to a local walking group every Tuesday. Kerry goes to Younity Hub in Allesley, a day opportunity services for adults with learning disabilities, three days a week where she is in a choir and cookery group – which means she can help with cooking at home too. Both venues are run by the Council.
To find out more about Coventry shared lives visit :
Coventry.gov.uk/sharedlives
or call: 024 7678 5339
or e-mail: sharedlivesscheme@coventry.gov.uk
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If you have a news article or information to share such as an upcoming event or activity, or a shout out for good work, please contact Rebecca Sweeney-
Tel. 024 7697 6672 Email. Rebecca.Sweeney@coventry.gov.uk
Also, if there is anything visual like team photos or appropriate images, please send them to include on the bulletin.
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