What an amazing edition, full of compliments and awards, a perfect reminder of why we all continue to work in such a challenging sector, as stories like these truly help us see the difference we are making to people’s lives.

To say I was pleased when I got the news that Coventry had not only won one but three awards at the National Dementia Awards is an understatement!!! As we approach the Dementia Hub’s first birthday it is unbelievable to see how much has been achieved. Reading about the impact dementia had on David Jayes' life and the difference the Hub has made to him really proves its value to people living with dementia and their carers.

This edition also reminds me of the importance of being a lifelong learner, I am a true believer that none of us know everything and that there is always something else we should and could be learning, especially in a world that changes as often as Adult Social Care! We are fortunate to work for an organisation that provides us with endless training opportunities and access to Community Care Inform.

We also learn from feedback, the Adult Experience Survey provides crucial feedback from the people we support, the numbers we received last year did improve but we still have a long way to go compared to the amount of people we have contact with, so we are working on new ways to promote the survey and increase the ways in which people can access it.

Tracey Denny

Head of Localities and Social Care Operations

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 June we discussed the Mental Health Transformation, Improving Lives, CQC updates and expanding engagement within Adult Social Care. 

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. 

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.  

Carers' Week review - what a week!

Carers' Trust Heart of England would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who made this year’s Carers' Week truly one to remember.

From our Walk for Carers, to our events at CBS Arena, Broad Street Rugby Club and the Carer Awards it was a hugely significant week as we and our partner organisations helped put carers on the map.

All of these activities were aimed at not only raising awareness of unpaid carers but to further conversations and actions around how we and others both locally and nationally, can and must do better to provide long term, robust and relevant support that meet carers needs.

As we celebrated Carers' Week, we were reminded of the strength, compassion, and resilience that carers exhibit daily. We have had some wonderful feedback in terms of where we have made a positive impact on the lives of carers and the people that they care for and we have also received feedback in respect of where the gaps are, and we will now be working at how we can bridge these. We cannot do this without the support of our wonderful partner agencies and fundraisers and we are grateful for their support not just during Carers' Week but every day of the year.

Here are a few highlights of the week.

Sunday

Carers' walk through Packington Estates with our Solihull Network partners celebrating 50 years of carers support.

Monday

Anna and Janice attended the first Carers' Conference at Jaguar Land Rover. JLR were also winners of our employer of the year. 

At the Coventry Building Society Arena, we hosted our all age carer event, where many families visiting found out information, shared their story and joined in some of the fun events, they were also fortunate to have a tour of the stadium.

Tuesday

A ‘mindfulness colouring’ workshop was held in the library with Sanna and Alex. Following the workshop, they walked through Coventry town centre with balloons and bags, and gave out information and welcome packs to members of the public to raise awareness of carers and our charity.

Wednesday

We held an event at Broad Street Rugby club with 20 stallholders participating, this allowed for questions to be answered and allowed us to signpost carers to appropriate services. Taster sessions were held in mindfulness, advice from Silverline, a flower arranging workshop and to finish a drumming session.

Thursday

The Carers' Awards were held at Warwick School, it was a fantastic evening, which gave us the opportunity to celebrate Carers, Young Carers, Organisations who support their staff who are working carers as well as GPs who go above and beyond. Congratulations to all the winners!

Safe to Talk

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 those who want to change their behaviour. There is support around honour-based abuse, forced marriage and FGM. Anyone including professionals can call 0800 111 4998 8.30am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday or 10am - 1pm Saturday and Sunday. 

Men's Social Groups

A group for men to chat, share, eat cake & meet new people.

Every Tuesday 2pm - 3:30pm at ICC, Keresley CV6 2FJ

Every Thursday 6:30pm - 8pm at St Paul's, Foleshill CV6 5AJ

Every Friday 1pm - 2:30pm at St Martin's, Finham CV3 6EA

Contact 07715 405111 or email Dave for more information. 

Hold the date - Carers' session in September 2024

The recovery Academy have a Coping with Caring course scheduled for online delivery (via Zoom) on 17 September and its open to anyone over the age of 18 living in Coventry and Warwickshire. Enrolment is via our website. 

Coventry’s award-winning Dementia Partnership Hub

Coventry won a trio of awards at the national Dementia Care Awards, held last week.

April Ross, a manager in Adult Services who helped to set up Coventry’s Dementia Partnership Hub, has picked up a national Dementia Co-Production and Partnership Award on behalf of the team, partners and individuals who are all part of the Holbrooks-based Hub. 

Dave Atkins who is on the Steering Group at Dementia Hub, won the Inspirational Person Living with Dementia Award.

Two of the partners of the Hub, Sky Blues in the Community and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, were 'highly commended', for the same category for their Dementia Active work across the city including the Hub.

The Dementia Care Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in dementia services, honouring the hard work and dedication of those in the field but also serve as a platform for sharing best practices and innovative approaches.

The Dementia Hub was opened in July 2023 and offers a supportive space for people living with dementia, as well as their carers. It is a lifeline for so many people in the community. Anyone whose life has been affected by dementia will find a relaxing and calm space in the Hub. 

April said: “We are all delighted. It’s an award for the team, partners, and service users for supporting the idea of the hub in the first place!”

April’s award was the Living Well with Dementia: Co-production and Partnership Award. The award is for her work on co-production and partnership and for the amount of hours invested in creating partnerships and co-producing with service users. It highlights the impact, innovation, and involvement of people affected by dementia and positive outcomes.

April added: “Dave Atkins was diagnosed at 51 with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer's and won his category for "The Inspirational Person living with Dementia" award, for his work on co-producing the vision for the hub, being an active member of the steering group.

“He volunteers his time twice a week at the Hub providing 'chat with Dave sessions’ for anyone needing support or advice pre or post-diagnosis. 

“Dave is a vital member of the Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub, and living proof that you can live well with Dementia. The award recognises his outstanding contribution to dementia care by a person living with dementia.

“Sky Blues in the Community and CWPT are among many partners making a difference too, and we are all delighted to get this recognition.”

Pete Fahy, Director of Adult Services and Housing, said: “We are all so pleased. These awards are well deserved, and we want to say a massive congratulations to April and all of the team, including Dave and all our partners, everyone involved, including the Sky Blues in the Community and CWPT – for all of their hard work.  

“They’re making sure the Dementia Hub has its place on the map, and we are all very proud of them.”

One in three people will develop dementia in their lifetime. Common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, confusion, problems with understanding and language, and changes in behaviour. 

To find out more about the support available to anyone who is affected by dementia

visit  coventry.gov.uk/dementiapartnershiphub 

Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub is located at Everdon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DT. 

Adult Social Care Engagement Event at Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub

On Monday 13 May, staff from Adult Social Care held an engagement event at the Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub. Engagement officers were joined by colleagues from the Financial Assessments team, Telecare team, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists. Adult Social Care staff were also joined by the Carers Trust.

It was part of a series of outreach engagement sessions in different community settings, co-ordinated by our Adult Social Care teams. These events aim to provide information and resources for individuals with health and social care needs or caring responsibilities.

Care providers, carers and people accessing our services were all in attendance and provided positive feedback about the event and hoped to attend an event at the Hub again.

These events will continue across the city to reach diverse communities and raise awareness of the support available through Adult Social Care.

Finding a purpose in life at Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub

Dementia Action Week is an annual awareness-raising campaign, with the Alzheimer’s Society working to encourage people to act on dementia.

This week and throughout the year people with Dementia and their carers can take part in lots of activities at the Hub, or that can simply get time to talk to one another in a caring and comforting setting.

David Jayes, from Tile Hill, (pictured right) visits the Hub regularly.  David's partner had Dementia and has sadly passed away, but he said that since then being involved in the Hub has given him a new lease of life.

He said: "I lost my partner, Mel to Dementia and since coming here I've found a purpose in life.

"A lot of people feel embarrassed, and people don't understand about Dementia. You often cocoon yourself and stay in.

"Here, I can talk about what I know about the journey of caring for someone with Dementia, and also find comfort hearing and speaking to others.

"As a Family we decided to donate to the Hub project in memory of Mel. That's how important it is to us.

David added: "This place helps people to get out of the home and sit with like-minded people – who all understand your experiences. That applies to the person with dementia or the carer – both benefit from the Hub.

"It's misunderstood and we need to highlight it more."

The Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub is an initiative to provide more comprehensive support to people living well with dementia and their carers.

The hub offers a range of different activities, information and advice sessions, traditional day services and outreach along with a Dementia Friendly Café and social space.

Dementia is a group of symptoms caused by different diseases that damage the brain and usually gets worse over time.

Common symptoms of dementia include memory loss, confusion, problems with understanding and language, and changes in behaviour. It is thought that there are currently around 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia.

As part of the Dementia Awareness Week, Coventry's Dementia Partnership Hub has been hosting lots of activities in its building an in the Forget Me Not Café.

We'll tell you more about the Hub over the coming days.

Find out more about the Dementia Partnership Hub and what the venue can offer or call the Hub on Everdon Road, Holbrooks, Coventry, CV6 4FB on 07957 429324.

Eric Williams House awarded Employer of the Month

Congratulations to Eric Williams House for being awarded C&W Chamber Trainings 'Employer of the Month', described as a supportive employer for apprentices. 

C&W Chamber Trainings Health and Social Care assessor, Annette Keane, says " At Eric Williams, our apprentices receive outstanding support. Terri is a fantastic manager, offering invaluable guidance and encouragement to the team". 

Well done to all at Eric Williams House!