Local and national news

New Laws for working parents

Recent legislation now provides for:

· Flexible working - employers have a legal duty to consider requests seriously for flexible working from parents with children under 6 and disabled children under 18.

· Maternity leave - existing arrangements are simplified. Most new mothers can take six months paid and six months unpaid maternity leave.

· Paid paternity leave - new fathers can take two weeks paid paternity leave.

These new provisions seek to build a better working culture in modern businesses and give a better work-life balance to employees with young families. For more information visit www.dti.gov.uk/workingparents or call (0845) 6099988 to order a working parents employer’s pack (re URN 04/609).

Searching for a Care Home In Devon?

Instead of looking through endless complicated lists, you can use the Devon Homes web site-www.devon.gov.uk/devonhomes to access a complete list of care homes which match your criteria. Designed for staff and the public, the simple search facility allows you to look for the type of home you need, in the area or town that you choose. You can select specific homes, and then print them out, or you can print out the entire list.

Information contained in the Devon Homes database is supplied by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

If details about a home change, CSCI will ensure that Devon Homes is regularly updated. However, if you are concerned that anything on Devon Homes is out of date, or you cannot find information that you think should be there, please contact your Social Services office.

Carer’s Soapbox

Mr T of Paignton writes:

“As a regular reader of News & Views, and a carer of a severely disabled son aged 23, I am sure we must be living on another planet to other people. What a lovely life they must have, attending talks, singing workshops and aromatherapy days when I can’t seem to get any basic help. Every few weeks we are given forms, telephone numbers, and now WWW or email addresses. All this talk is very cheap, everything mentioned has to be funded, but nothing makes up for actions.

I have written a diary of just two days of caring for my son which covered one Bank Holiday and a normal day - if there is such a thing - I felt so alone.

After 20 years I have finally been offered some respite. I don't quite know how to react. I feel very guilty about spending a few nights away from my son, am I cheating the system? Is someone in more need than me?”

Does this sound familiar to you? For a copy of Mr T’s diary, contact SDCC on (01803) 294275.

Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004

This has successfully passed its final parliamentary stage. The Act is expected to come into force on 1 April 2005. The Department of Health is likely to issue draft guidance in the autumn.

The new act, when it comes into force, will give carers more choice and opportunities to lead a more fulfilling life.

The new law will:

· Place a duty on local authorities to tell carers about their rights.

· Place a duty on local authorities to consider whether the carer works (or wishes to work), wishes to study or have some leisure activities, when they are carrying out a carers’ assessment.

· Gives local authorities strong powers to enlist the help of health, housing and education authorities in providing support for carers.

To receive the latest updates on activities around the Act, contact Dave Clark at Carers UK on davidc@ukcarers.org

Keep warm this winter!

There are a range of things that can be done to help keep your home warmer during winter. If you need help, contact your local council and they may be able to advise you whether a grant may be available to help pay for the work. For further information and advice you can ring the Winter Warmth Advice Line on (0800) 085 7000 - open 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday.

Also…don't forget that if you or your cared-for person are over 60, you are eligible for Winter Fuel Payments. To obtain a claim form, contact the Winter Fuel Payments Helpline on (0845) 9 15 15 15. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am-4.30pm, and calls are charged at local rates.

Bogus phone Callers

Over the summer period quite a few phone scams have come to our attention. One is a phone call asking you to test the line by dialling 90 and # and then hanging up, has been confirmed by the Police that this will give the caller full access to your phone line to make any call they wish.

Another call gets you to ring a mobile number starting with 0709. Do not call it back unless you recognise the rest of the number as calls to this number cost £50 per minute—be on your guard at all times and report anything suspicious to your local Police.

Healthcare for Carers....

…is a resource pack and educational tool to support Britain’s many unpaid carers to work with their local Nurse Specialists or Primary Healthcare Team staff to look after their own health, as well as the individual for whom they are providing care.

The Healthcare for Carers Pack has been funded by a company called Pharmacia, and was developed as the result of a collaborative partnership between them and the South West London Community NHS trust.

The three-part pack consists of

· a Help Yourself to Health Book, a self held record to assist the carer to think about aspects of their own health;

· a Health Check for Carers Book, a professional health record to be held by the Primary Healthcare Team and used in conjunction with the carer’s own booklet; and

· an educational pack for use by Nurses, Carers Groups and Primary Healthcare Teams to provide more detailed advice to carers on how to maintain aspects of their own health whilst caring

For further information log onto the web site at:

www.healthcareforcarers.co.uk

‘Past Caring - the

beginning, not the end’

This is a book by Audrey Jenkinson that highlights events in the lives of carers of all ages. Carers past and present will be able to associate with the highly complex issues and emotions surrounding caring, and hopefully build on the strength and experience of others.

To obtain a copy of this thought provoking and highly recommended book, contact the Publishers at:

Polperro Heritage Press, Clifton-upon-Teme, Worcestershire, WR6 6EN.

ISBN no. 0954423364 (published 2003) - Cost £8.95 (+ £1.05 p&p)

Learning and Development (Carers & Users) Involvement Project

The brief for this project is to co-ordinate and develop a robust process to ensure that carers and service users are involved in all learning, development and training activity within Devon Social Services, and the Social Work training courses of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth.

It is important that this project will listen to those they represent and adapt accordingly, as well as being a catalyst to ensure that it continues beyond the life of the project.

Can you share any knowledge or experiences that you may have and offer advice, either from a professional capacity, or as a carer? If you feel you can help then please contact Annette Waterlow, Carer Development, on (07974) 824577. All comments will be useful, and as the project unfolds, we will endeavour to keep you updated.

Registration of People with Disabilities

The Law requires every local authority to maintain a register of people with disabilities. Anyone who has a disability can apply to go on the register. If the person you care for has a disability, and you think they may qualify for registration, contact your local Social Services office and ask for leaflet Ref 90. This leaflet has been updated and reprinted, and will be able to provide you with more information.

Following a social care assessment, if the person you care for is eligible for registration, they will complete the necessary paperwork and send you a yellow registration card. Keep this safe, as you will need it when claiming concessions.

If you have difficulty contacting your local office contact Devon County Council’s main switchboard (01392) 382000 and ask to be put through to your local office.

Christmas is a-coming!

...and that means you are invited to a fun day out! The South Hams & West Devon Carers Christmas Lunch and Shopping Trip will be held this year on 16 December.

Enjoy a two-course Christmas carvery at the Mill at Avonwick, followed by shopping mayhem (or a chat in a coffee shop) in Torquay! The coach will pick up at various points across South Hams & West Devon (starting in Tavistock) and you’ll all be home in time for tea. Alternative care is available and as places are limited, entry is by ticket only.

To ensure your place, please fill out the enclosed form and return with a cheque for £3 made payable to ‘South Devon Carers Consortium’. If a form is not enclosed, then ring our office on (01803) 294275 and we will send you one immediately.

Drop in from the rain for a chat

The Ivybridge branch of Carers UK are open for ‘business’ every Tuesday, 10-12.30, for anyone that wants some time out with a nice cuppa!

Taking place at Chapel Place Community Centre, Fore St, Ivybridge - on hand are information leaflets, friendly carers, and lots of ears ready to listen!

If you’re passing through, why not drop in to say ‘hello’ and find out what’s happening in Ivybridge.

Kingsbridge is on the map!

Oh yes it is, and if you have anything to do with keeping an eye out for someone with a mental health problem, then you would be advised to go along to Harbour House, on the first Tuesday of the month, 10.30-12.00.

There you will find a band of people in a similar boat, together with staff employed to provide you with information and support.

If you want to know more, call COOL (Carers One-to-One Link) on (01803) 712669.

Do you care about Health?

Patient and Public Involvement Forums are made up of groups of volunteers in your local community who are enthusiastic about helping patients, carers and members of the public influence the way that local healthcare is organised and delivered.

Forum members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and have a range of experiences and skills.

They are keen to work with all sectors of the community to find out what people really think about health and healthcare in their local area - and take action wherever necessary.

If you would like to become involved in the Teignbridge area, then please contact:

Teignbridge PPI, c/o Teignbridge CVS, Maltings Resource Centre, Teign Road, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4AA. Tel (01626) 203060.

Regular meeting are held in public, and they want to hear what YOU think about health and healthcare in the local area!

Christmas is a-coming…

...and that means you are invited to a fun day out! The Teignbridge Carers Christmas Lunch and Shopping Trip will be held this year on Wednesday 8 December.

Enjoy a two-course Christmas carvery at The Swan’s Nest, Exminster, followed by shopping mayhem (or a chat in a coffee shop) in Exeter! The coach will pick up at various points across Teignbridge, and you’ll all be home in time for tea. Alternative care is available and as places are limited, entry is by ticket only.

To ensure your place, please fill out the enclosed form and return with a cheque for £3 made payable to South Devon Carers Consortium. If a form is not enclosed, then ring our office on (01803) 294275 and we will send you one immediately.

Learning and Development (Carers & Users) Involvement Project

It is important that this project will listen to those they represent and adapt accordingly, as well as being a catalyst to ensure that it continues beyond the life of the project. Can you share any knowledge or experiences that you may have, and offer advice either from a professional capacity or a carer?

If you feel you can help then please contact Annette Waterlow, Carer Development, on (07974) 824577. All comments will be useful and as the project unfolds, we will endeavour to keep you updated.

Registration of People with Disabilities

The Law requires every local authority to maintain a register of people with disabilities. Anyone who has a disability can apply to go on the register.

If you care for someone with a disability and think they may qualify for registration, contact your local Social Services office and ask for leaflet Ref 90. This has been updated and reprinted, and will be able to provide you with more information.

Following a social care assessment, if your cared-for is eligible for registration, they will complete the necessary paperwork and send them a yellow registration card. Keep this safe, as you will need it when claiming concessions.

If you have difficulty contacting your local office, contact Devon County Council’s main switchboard on (01392) 382000 and ask to be put through to your local office.

Do you need a bit of a boost?

Then make sure you come along to the Cliffden Hotel, Teignmouth, for the New Year Booster Day!

This is a wonderfully relaxing day for carers being held on Thursday 20 January 2005, where there will be a varied range of activities for both males and females.

To ensure your place at this popular event, please fill in the form on the enclosed flyer. and return it with a cheque for £3 made payable to South Devon Carers Consortium. If no flyer is enclosed, please ring our office on (01803) 294275 and we will send you one straight away!

Living with MS - You need a break!

The MS Society has joined forces with Torbay Health and Social Services to find out how we can develop the right support for people living with MS and their carers. If you are

· a person living with MS

· a carer

· a relative

· a friend, neighbour or work colleague

We need your knowledge to make this important project succeed. Help us to understand what kind of support will help carers to get a break and meet the needs of the person with MS.

We want to develop flexible, community-based services that enable people to keep their independence.

The research is being carried out by people with MS and their carers. To talk to one of them or to get a questionnaire contact James Drummond on (01803) 208438 or email james.drummond@torbay.gov.uk

New ADHD Support Group in Torbay

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a real illness that starts in childhood. It can change the way children act, think and feel. Nearly all children with ADHD are overactive, and their behaviour can be extreme and disruptive.

A support group for parents is now running at the Halswell Family Centre, Paignton, every Monday morning, between 10am-11.30am, and is for parents whose children have been diagnosed and are receiving treatment for ADHD.

For more information about this new and friendly group, contact Sue Cousins on (01803) 522052.

Signposts for Carers

This is a new dedicated telephone service, providing specialist information and advice to support carers in Torbay.

Anyone can use ‘Signposts’ if they are providing unpaid care for someone in Torbay. No referral from a professional is needed.

‘Signposts’ offers two different services - an Information Helpdesk that will respond to a wide range of enquiries, and “Simple Steps”, which has been developed as a way of providing information at a pace to suit every carer’s needs.

Although Signposts is a telephone-based service, alternative arrangements can be made for you to meet an adviser face to face. Messages can be left at any time with a 24-hour operator. Someone will respond on the next working day.

The telephone number for this innovative new service is:

(01803) 66 66 20

Text phone (for hearing or speech impaired users) is (01803) 52 39 81.

Contact times are Monday - Thursday, 9-4.30pm and Friday 9-1pm. Alternative you can write to them at Signposts, Chadwell Annexe, Torquay Road, Preston, Paignton, TQ3 2DW.

Carers - we need you!

Paignton Carers Support group is a friendly group that meet on the last Thursday of each month, between 2.30-4pm, at Brookfield House, Torquay Road, Paignton.

They aim to provide friendship and support, but also to enjoy some interesting speakers, relaxing activities, and enjoy some quality time together over a cup of tea or coffee.

For further information about events coming up over the next few months, contact Barbara Relph, Carers Support Worker, on (01803) 605359, or just simply turn up to one of the meetings, where you will be made very welcome!

Does your cared-for need a ‘buddy’?

SDCC is wanting to know if there are many carers out there who might use a service that matches up your cared-for person with another carer’s loved one for some socialising. This would give carers some additional time off, if perhaps you took it in turns to ‘keep an eye on’ the couple in need of care.

If you think you might be interested, please drop us a line with your name and address, and general description of your cared-for person’s condition and interests.

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