World Mental Health Day in October saw the launch of the new information pack for carers of people with mental health problems. Called Compass (Carers Own Mental health Pathways and Stepping Stones), this has been the brain child of a local carer, Gwen Butcher. Gwen has spent the last few years researching and putting together the pack.

The pack is designed to be given to carers who find themselves having to get to know the system following the involvement of a friend or member of the family with the mental health services. It contains information on a whole range of issues including a ‘jargon-buster’, who is responsible for what, useful contacts, and a simple guide to the law relating to mental health.

Devon Social Services have formed a new Carers’ Strategy Forum, to have a strategic overview of activities relating to carers taking place across Devon. Chaired by Councillor Mervyn Lane, 6 other County Councillors have opted to sit on this Forum, together with Senior Council Officers.

Justin Haden, the Co-ordinator for South Devon Carers’ Consortium, was elected onto this Forum by the Devon County Carers’ Group, along with other carers’ representatives. Please contact him if you want to raise issues that you think relate to carers generally, or the other representatives can be contacted as follows, if you have more specific issues:

Sonia Barton (Carers National Association)

June Wilkins (Learning Disabilities)

(01803) 865684

Sulina Mullins (Young Carers)

(01392) 824752

Stella Harris (Mental Health)

(01392) 383788

Beryl Perrin (Parent carers)

(01803) 869300

Rosemary Whitehurst (Adult)

In July the Government launched The NHS Plan: A Plan for Investment, A Plan for Reform, proposing major changes in staffing, structures and perspectives.

One of the principles behind it states that “The NHS will shape its services around the needs and preferences of individual patients, their families and their carers”. This promises to be quite positive for carers, as it contains measures to make the NHS more patient and carer focused.

Some of the initiatives aimed at improving care and promoting independence include:

A single Assessment procedure for both health and social care for older people by 2002

For carers of people with mental health problems, 700 more staff will be recruited by 2004 to provide support to 165,000 more carers and increase the breaks available

Extend respite care to benefit another potential 75,000 carers

Establish a new Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service (PALS) in every hospital to represent patients and carers views better

By 2002 older people and their carers will receive an individual care plan and discharge plan

The ability to order prescriptions through NHS Direct and have them delivered to your door

The Voice of the Carer is a training day for staff working in statutory, private and voluntary agencies. It aims to encourage staff working with carers to look beyond the tasks which carers perform, and identify ways of supporting them, including treating them as key partners in caring.

The training will help staff to:

Gain an understanding of what it is like being a carer

Recognise the input carers can offer to make the services provided more effective

Develop awareness of the physical, emotional, psychological and social stresses that carers experience

Identify and plan action which will make a difference

24 Nov - Newton Abbot CVS

28 Nov - Totnes Hospital

8 Dec - Paignton Hospital

12 Dec - Newton Abbot CVS

15 Dec - Totnes Hospital

Attendance is free, and a certificate and resource pack will be given to participants.

Earlier this year, Carers National Association produced a report (called Give us a Break) on the research they undertook to find out how well the Carers’ Grant was being used by local authorities.

The Government set local authorities a target of spending at least 75% of the first year of the Grant on short term breaks, but on submitting their plans less than half of all Social Service departments met this target. One in three intended to spend less than 50%, and one in ten intended to spend less than 25% on services which provide carers with a break.

They all had to submit their plans for approval by the Department of Health, so we expect that a number were turned down. Thankfully, the plans for Devon and Torbay for Years 1 and 2 have been approved until now, which is in part thanks to the carers, and agencies like South Devon Carers’ Consortium, that have been involved in helping to shape them, as well as the service planners who are willing to listen.

The report focused on the impact of the Grant in the North of England, but it is interesting to note that they concluded that:

There is little evidence that the Grant stimulated more flexible and diverse services; instead it appears to have expanded existing services

The Grant will only go a short way to meeting the demand for breaks

It is difficult to assess whether the Grant has benefited some user-groups more than others

Most local authorities used the opportunity to consult, although it tended to be with carers already known to groups.

A copy of the report can be obtained from Carers National Association, 8th floor, St James House, Pendleton Way, Salford, M5 4WT (tel 0161 737 5667), or from their website at www.carersnorth.demon.co.uk/break.htm

If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, you might want to consider going on a short, hands-on, introduction to computers course for adults with no previous experience.

Free courses are being offered by South Devon College to carers in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance (or the State Pension), at study centres in Newton Abbot, Brixham or Torquay. Topics also covered include how to use a word-processor, and using email.

A set of 5 Quality Standards for Local Carer Support Services was published earlier this year, after a period of research and consultation, led by a national steering group that included the Kings’ Fund, Alzheimer’s Disease Society, Crossroads and Carers National Association.

Resulting from the National Strategy for Carers, the key areas identified as needing standards are Information, Providing a break, Emotional support, Support to care and to maintain carer’s own health, and Having a voice. They are designed primarily for services exclusively aimed at providing support to carers, and are already being used as a measure by local statutory agencies.

Two arms in this case, belonging to Sue Kennedy, our Administrator for the past year. Sue has moved on, so it is with reluctance that we say goodbye. We wish her the best and say a big thank you for her significant contribution to our work...

An inter-agency steering group has been meeting over the past few months, to oversee the writing of a Strategy for Carers’ Services in the South Hams. This group has included representatives from the Primary Care Trust, Social Services, and South Devon Carers Consortium, and has already involved carers in writing the draft.

The draft Strategy is based on the National Carers’ Code, but relates specifically to the developments or gaps in services in the South Hams. An early draft went to the South Hams Carers’ Planning Group recently, and the re-draft is now being distributed for consultation to a wide audience (including carers, Social Services, Primary Care staff, hospital staff, mental health teams, youth services, etc).

Our knowledge about the gaps in support has been informed by a recent review of the services for carers. The report from this review is also being circulated for people to correct or add to, as they become aware of types of support not listed. A copy of this report can be obtained from Beryl Perrin on (01803) 869300.

If you are a carer living in the South Hams, you are warmly invited to an informal Christmas evening at Sharpham House, Ashprington. This will take place on Wednesday 13 December, 7-9pm.

The evening will comprise of a bring and share meal (drinks will be provided), giving you an opportunity to show off your culinary skills (or your ability to find things in the supermarket!). Musical entertainment will form part of the evening.

A South Hams Benefits Take-up Campaign is running until the end of this year. In this short-term service, provided by South Hams Citizens Advice Bureau, trained staff are on hand to check whether you are entitled to any extra benefits, and help you make claims. Local carers’ incomes have been known to rise dramatically, as a result of a check like the one offered here.

A free advisory service is now operating in the South Hams, providing help and support with home repairs, adaptations or home improvements. The scheme is for people over 60 or disabled people of any age, who are either home owners or private tenants.

The team works with other support services in the district to identify and meet the needs of their clients. They can organise work ranging from minor repairs or adaptations, to major improvements. They can also provide advice on a range of matters, including:

Finding reliable builders and arranging estimates

Overseeing building work from start to finish

Guidance on how to finance work, including help with applications for grant funding

Checking entitlements to welfare benefits, and help in making claims

The scheme is a partnership of Devon & Cornwall Housing Association, South Hams District Council, South & West Devon Health Authority, and Devon County Council.

A drop-in centre has opened its doors in Kingsbridge for anyone that wants to meet people in an atmosphere that is relaxed and fun, but also safe and supportive.

The Bus, operated by Ivybridge & District branch of Carers National Association, will be visiting Glanvilles Car Park, Leonards Rd, Ivybridge on Friday 8 December, 11:00 - 2:00.

...Getting Teenagers Involved! The GTI project started as a summer scheme in 1997, to increase the social networks and participation of young people with disabilities in their local community. It has since been developed to run a successful weekly, integrated youth group. The scheme is run by a voluntary committee, including a Community Youth Tutor, a Social Worker, and the Volunteer Bureau Manager.

Providing parents with a break for an evening a week, young people with special needs, aged 13-25, can have a fun evening out, safe in the hands of trained and experienced leaders. Also, volunteers aged 16+ are recruited and trained to support these young people to engage in their individually chosen activities.

Better Care, Higher Standards (A Charter for Long Term Care) is a charter stating what people can expect from local housing, health and social service departments. It is part of the Government’s plan to make public services more accessible, and to improve them by promoting ‘joined up working’ between service providers.

The Torbay authorities are inviting carers to a special, one-off seminar so you can let them know what you think about Torbay’s draft charter. It is on Tuesday 28 November, 2:00 - 4:00pm, in the Oak Room at Torbay Primary Care Trust Offices, Rainbow House, Rowcroft.

The Charter is intended for potential, adult users and those already receiving long term care, and their carers. Its aim is to ensure that people receive the best possible assistance, whether in their own homes or elsewhere. It will set out the standards that users and carers can expect, and the goals for improvement in six key areas:

Age Concern (Torbay) offers a valuable break for carers throughout Torbay. Their service aims to provide companionship, well being and stimulation for the cared-for by reading, conversation, playing cards or board games, etc.

The service is offered 7 days a week, 8am - 12 midnight, for between 1 and 6 hours per day. All staff are fully trained, and understand the needs of older people and their carers. If you would like further information, or a friendly, confidential chat at home, please contact them at 4 Dendy Rd, Paignton, TQ4 5DB (tel 01803 555181).

During the Autumn, half of the Doctor’s Surgeries in Torbay appointed their own part-time Carers’ Workers, mainly funded by Social Services. This development is building on the achievements of the Consortium’s Torbay GP Project which finished in Spring. The role of these new workers will be to continue to identify the carers on their lists, maintain the Practice information systems for carers, and provide a listening and signposting service, amongst other things.

Not all the Practices that wanted to appoint Carers’ Workers, could do so, due to the limitations on resources. As this development is evaluated over the next few months, it is hoped that funding will be found to enable all the Practices that want to appoint their own Workers, to do so.

The Practices and Carers Workers, with their telephone numbers, are listed below:

Dewerstone - Di Jackson (316333)

Old Mill - Sally Corbishley (605939)

Cherrybrook - Caroline Saunders (844566)

Croft Hall - Lynne Healey (298441)

Parkhill - Lynne Healey (212489)

Greenswood - Moya Sheena (853153)

Corner Place - Dot Langford (557458)

Southover - Judith Hunt (327100)

Grosvenor Road - Mary Sweet (559308)

Withycombe Lodge - Mary Sweet (525525)

Bishops Place - Mary Sweet (559421)

The Carers’ Grant has paid for a whole new range of home-based breaks for carers, starting in November. The new scheme, called the Torbay Carers’ Break Service, is a partnership between the Leonard Cheshire Foundation and Torbay Social Services, and has arisen out of the needs expressed by carers and agencies in the Torbay Carers’ Strategy, Measure Up.

This service provides care at home during the day or overnight (up to a maximum of 3 days continuous), enabling carers to have short-term breaks. The service is for children with disabilities, adults with physical or sensory disabilities, older people who are frail or temporarily ill, and older people with dementia.

A new development with this service is the fact that the carer and cared-for must be able to meet the person delivering the care, before they actually sign the service agreement. This should help to ensure the suitability of the service and care staff involved before anyone commits themselves. The service is only accessed through Social Service Care Managers, who may then allocate so many hours over a year - it is then up to the carer and cared-for to decide how and when to use them.