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Gloucestershire's Partnership Board Bulletin
Welcome to the 5th edition of our Partnership Board bulletin. We hope that you, your family and friends continue to keep safe and well during this difficult and uncertain time.
This bulletin aims to offer support, provide guidance and update you on some of the work Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) and Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), as well as what local and national initiatives are doing to protect vulnerable adults. It's interactive, so make sure you click the pictures and links to get the most out of it.
An easy-read version of this update will be circulated next week.
Have you got something to share?
We would love to hear your feedback or contributions, so if you have anything which you want to share, or have a question to ask us, email us here.
All our previous bulletins can be found on our website here. For a directory of COVID-19 related resources, visit Inclusion Gloucestershire's dedicated webpage here.
If you were emailed this bulletin by someone else, or found it on social media, and wish to receive it directly to your email inbox next time, click here to subscribe.
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Every year, Mental Health Awareness Week gives us the opportunity to talk about mental health issues openly, to signpost to sources of support and to help fight the stigma that surrounds it. This stigma can prevent people from seeking help.
Each year, a different theme is chosen to focus our attention, and this year’s theme is kindness.
This theme is especially important as we’re all adjusting to social distancing to protect those who we love and those working hard to help the sick and to keep the country going.
Acts of kindness have incredible power to make us feel less alone and connected with our neighbours and community. They’re also acts of courage – as we can feel foolish smiling at a stranger, leaving a thank you note.
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The NHS "Help Us Help You" Campaign
The NHS recently launched a campaign “help us help you” to remind people that they should still contact health services for non-Covid related health concerns. The message is that there is capacity in NHS services for people to get the care they need.
If you need to use the NHS for reasons other than coronavirus, in the first instance call your GP or call 111. If it’s a medical emergency when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk call 999
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Department for Education: What, if any, are the changes to legislation relating to EHC needs assessments and plans
On the 30 April the Government announced that the law on Education, Health and Care plans will be temporarily changing.
The latest guidance explaining these changes can be accessed via:
These temporary changes are described in an open letter from Minister Ford and Minister Whately. The guidance and letter were widely circulated via DofE networks. To get on the mailing list email SEN.IMPLEMENTATION@education.gov.uk. The guidance includes details about what local authorities need to do, including for children who are transitioning and in terms of communicating with families
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Advocacy means enabling your voice to be heard, speaking for you when you can’t and supporting you when you can. Advocacy is about supporting, enabling, and empowering you to express your views and concerns and access information and services where needed. In this instance we’re referring specifically to advocacy within Health and Social Care.
Some people will be eligible to have an Independent Advocate who can support them. An Independent Advocate will support someone to get their voice heard and express their wishes in different situations. They do not work for the NHS or Local Authority. A charity called POhWER provide this service in Gloucestershire.
For people who are not eligible for an Independent Advocate, there are some new resources available on Your Circle. They provide useful information, as well as practical support and advice about getting your voice heard.
The documents available currently are:
- DNAR Decisions: An information booklet
- IMHA: Your Rights and the Mental Health Act
- Self Advocacy: A workbook to help you speak up for yourself and others
- Relevant Persons Representative: An information booklet
There are also useful links on the page and more documents will be added over time. You can find this page here.
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Local Gloucestershire Services |
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Forwards have produced two videos.
Forest of Dean's own Andy Lewis MBE two times world, European and Paralympic gold medallist tells his story and how he motivates himself to achieve his goals. This was filmed during lockdown using Zoom and expertly edited by Forwards Job Broker Neil Hampton. You can watch this here.
A lockdown Mental Health Awareness week video is available here. A big thanks again to Neil Hampton for the editing and very quick turnaround … #bekind #keeptalking
The Sedbury Trust provide financial grants to help you buy the help, equipment and resources you need to make a difference to vulnerable or disabled children's lives in Gloucestershire. If you have an idea that will enhance the quality of life or education of a child in need within Gloucestershire, they could help fund your plans. You can contact Zoe Barker by email here or by calling 07984 463605. Visit their website for more information.
Independence Trust (who deliver the CALMHS and CASA services) have created a newsletter, which includes good news stories around COVID-19. You can read this here.
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Other useful links and updates |
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