Adult Social Care Stakeholder Group is welcoming new members!

The group is open to anyone who has recent experience of Adult Social Care, anyone caring who has had experience of Adult Social Care and any voluntary organisations that wish to be involved.

We cover a number of topics:

• Using experience to influence change
• Upcoming developments in Adult Social Care
• Policy documents
• Social care reforms and what that means in practice.

If you’d like to have a friendly chat about the group, to find out and how you can get involved then contact us by email. 

The group will ordinarily meet bi-monthly for two hours. Meetings will take place no earlier than 10.30am and will be held either virtually or in the city centre in an accessible venue.

The next meeting is being held virtually on Tuesday 20 August from 10.30am – 12.30pm. We look forward to welcoming you.

All about stroke - free talk at Tile Hill Library, Jardine Crescent, Coventry, CV4 9PL

Tuesday 13 August 2024

1.30pm - 2.30pm and 3pm - 4pm (repeated session) 

A session for all interested in stroke care from hospital stroke team and ambulance service.

• Causes of stroke 
• How to recognise a stroke 
• Care from the ambulance service and hospital 
• Getting SPEEDY care - stroke research for brain-saving thrombectomy
• Questions and answers

No booking required - just turn up. For queries email tilehill.library@coventry.gov.uk or phone Tile Hill Library 024 7678 6785

If you care for someone, you are entitled to your own carers assessment. A Carers Assessment is an opportunity to speak to someone about your caring role, the impact that caring has on you, what is important to you and what you might like to see change.  We know that very often when caring, the focus of conversations can be on the person you are caring for and very often your needs might feel forgotten about, a carers' assessment is the opportunity to have your needs looked at.  

An assessment can also explore if there is anything that help you meet your needs, improve your wellbeing and what changes you'd like to see.  A Carers Direct Payment might be offered if there is something you'd like to achieve or see happen.  We have developed a Carers Direct Payment Leaflet to explain a bit more about what a Carers Direct Payment is and how it can be used and eligibility.  The link can be found below.  

There are two ways in which you can request a Carers Assessment:  

• If the person you care for is open to Adult Social Care speak to your case manager or contact the duty team - 024 7683 3003 
• Contact the Carers Trust Heart of England who can arrange an assessment for you -  024 7663 2972

Hundreds of people in Coventry are now able to enjoy a day at the War Memorial Park, with less to worry about, after a new specialist toilet facility was opened.

A new Changing Places toilet was recently opened at the park. The unit is one of the most advanced forms of accessible toilets. It includes specialist equipment with plenty of room for the user and carer.

The Council has installed five new Changing Places toilets at the War Memorial Park, Coombe Abbey Park, Shop Mobility, Albany Theatre and at Tesco – Cross Point. 

Marie Geary, a teacher at Sherbourne Fields School, added:

“We all know how important it is to get outside and enjoy a day in the park in the fresh air. It’s great that we have this venue because we don’t have to make extra plans, we can be more spontaneous and spend all day here. It makes a big difference.” 

Changing Places are toilet facilities for people with profound and multiple disabilities. The toilets are fitted with specialist equipment such as a hoist and changing bench. 

They provide sufficient space for up to two carers to support the person with a disability to use the Changing Place.

The toilet facilities will ensure that people with severe disabilities and their families or carers will not have to worry about whether there are suitable toilet facilities when they go out shopping, plan a day out or travel. 

There are also seven other Changing Places toilets registered in Coventry, at: The Reel Store; Wilfred Spencer Centre; Asda Whitley; Central Library; University of Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub – Dry Sports and University of Warwick Sports and Wellness Hub – Pool side and Coventry University.          

The Wave and the Coventry Railway Station also have the facilities. 

Services on offer at The Myton Hospices for carers across Coventry and Warwickshire

At Myton, we know that carers need to be supported in their role of caring for individuals with a life-limiting illness. All of our services are provided free of charge and we aim to support or improve carers’ mental and physical wellbeing, signposting to other services outside of Myton if needed.

The “Listening Ear” Carers Support Group 5 week programme Fridays 10am – 11.30am

Available at all three of our hospices in Coventry, Rugby and Warwick, “Listening Ear” is a safe, friendly, supportive and confidential space to share experiences and advice with others in similar situations. Running for five weeks, this group is patient led and facilitated by our Patient and Carer Wellbeing Nurses. Carers meet, support each other, share life experiences, laugh, cry and no subject is off limits.

Patient and Carer Wellbeing Service

Our Patient and Carer Wellbeing Service is for people aged 18 years+ living with a life-limiting illness in Coventry and Warwickshire, and their carers.

We support people with a wide range of life-limiting illnesses, including respiratory, heart and neurological conditions, organ failure and cancer for which there is no cure.

For carers, we aim to provide the vital support, guidance and information needed to enable them to care for their family member or friend, as well as ensuring their own health and wellbeing is preserved within their caregiving role.

Our Wellbeing nurses are trained and able to work with carers individually to identify where they may need extra support. They are then able to initiate the specific help needed through our internal teams where appropriate or signpost to external services.

Rugby Myton Support Hub

Alongside “Listening Ear”, Rugby Myton Support Hub also hosts Coffee Connexion, an informal drop-in session where anyone can seek advice and support. These are hosted on Tuesdays 3.30pm - 5pm and Thursdays 1.30pm - 3pm at our Hub situated on the grounds of St Cross Hospital in Rugby.

Respite beds

At our Warwick Myton Hospice, we provide planned short-term temporary respite care for people living with a life-limiting illness who wish to give their carers a rest.         

Patients need to be registered with a Coventry or Warwickshire GP and cared for by family or friends at home.

We provide an opportunity for a planned respite stay of 1 week with a maximum of 2 weeks per year to give carers a break.

Anyone can refer via our online referral form.

Citizens Advice Service

We are proud of our collaboration with Coventry Citizens Advice and Macmillan to provide this service, accessible to all Myton patients, as well as their loved ones and carers.

This service offers practical advice and guidance about benefits, finances, housing or social and welfare issues, to guide patients and their carers through some of the issues they face to ease their worries.

We know it is vital for carers to receive support they need to ensure they can maintain their own physical and mental wellbeing. We hope our services enable carers to seek the help they need and aid in the everyday stress caring can bring.

Find out more about all of our services online.