Trowbridge GPs team up with CAB to offer advice at surgery

Patients at a Trowbridge GP can now see a Citizens Advice Bureau caseworker at the surgery thanks to a new partnership.

NHS Wiltshire and the CAB have teamed up with GPs at Adcroft Surgery to offer patients free, confidential advice on debt, benefits and other issues in a bid to improve patients' overall health.

Citizens Advice workers have successfully worked with GP practices in other areas offering advice which has resulted in improvements in patients' stress levels, anxiety, a reduction in smoking and improved energy levels.

The scheme is now available at Adcroft for its registered patients on Thursday and Friday mornings and at Bemerton Heath Surgery in Salisbury.

Full Article on This is Wiltshire

Wiltshire Short Breaks Local Offer for 2012-13

Wiltshire Short Breaks Local Offer for 2012-13.

Short break options aimed at those children and young people who require additional support to access a short break (leisure or recreational activities) because of their disability and/or special educational needs. The Local Offer was designed in consultation with parents and carers and was launched for the first time in 2010.   It enables families to choose the type of short break that works best for them. 

Wiltshire Parent Carer Council can confirm the following for 2012-2013:   

1. Information Booklet and Registration/Application Form is available slightly earlier this year and is being sent by post directly to families via Wiltshire Council.  In the past, whilst some schools have been really excellent in helping to distribute these, many families reported they either got the information either  much later in the year or, in some cases, not at all (via school).  They and Wiltshire Council hope that by posting directly to eligible families, take up of the Local Offer will reach 100% this time round!  Please check your letterbox from w/c 5th March. 
2. Wiltshire Council's Aiming High Team worked very hard to set up an online application facility for this year (which would have been far easier for us all) but there was so much 'red tape' to get through it simply has not been possible.   If you don't want to wait until next week for the hard copy of the leaflet and application form to arrive by post, you can download a copy from their website. 
3. Hard copies will also be available from their office if you need extra copies telephone 01672 569300 and they'll have a pile on their stand at the Annual Aiming High in Wiltshire event on 14th March at The Civic Centre, Trowbridge (details of this event and booking form will follow shortly).
4. Apply between now and by the 18th May 2012 to ensure you receive the full entitlement however, please note that your choice of short break will be effective from 1st April 2012 - 31st March 2013. 
5. Applications received from 21st May 2012 will be subject to a reduced entitlement.
6. Applications received after the 28th September 2012 will NOT be eligible for the Local Offer.

Further information on this year's Short Break Local Offer 2012-13 can be found on their website http://wiltshireparentcarercouncil.co.uk/LocalOffer.aspx

Please take the time to read the information available on their website and the Local Offer booklet from cover to cover and get your applications into Wiltshire Council as early as you can. 

Mental health scheme to get cash boost

An extra £22m is to be provided for a special scheme to help young people who "suffer in silence" from mental health problems, Nick Clegg will announce on Wednesday.

As figures show that one in 10 children between the ages of five and 16 experience mental health problems, the deputy prime minister will say that the new money will be used to expand new psychological therapies.

The new investment Children and Young People's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) project will also help extend training for people working with youngsters in schools and youth groups.

Clegg said: "Too many young people suffer in silence with mental health problems. This is vital investment that will give children the very best tailored treatment to restore them to good health, so that their illnesses are not simply swept under the carpet.

Full Article on Guardian

The Harbour: Therapeutic Group for Carers

Do you look after someone with a life threatening illness?

If so then this group could be for you.

Caring for someone who is ill puts pressure on everyone. Carers can find it hard to think or talk about their own needs. Many feel conflicting emotions such as love, hate, sadness, guilt, resentment, anger, and more, all at once. Some are overwhelmed with anxiety or fear for the future. Many feel very isolated.

A therapeutic group can help you recognise that you are not alone. It offers a safe and supportive environment to explore and understand your feelings. The group will draw on life experiences as a way of helping people make sense of what they are facing now. Sessions will help you to communicate more effectively, and you’ll be able to take this into relationships in everyday life, with family, friends and colleagues.

The group will meet weekly for a 6 month period, and will be led by an experienced group facilitator. The Harbour is a charity providing free counselling and psychotherapy to individuals, couples and groups affected by life threatening illness.

To find out more, please contact:
0117 9259348
info@the-harbour.co.uk 
www.the-harbour.co.uk

GP Accreditation Roadshow Events

The Wiltshire Investors in Carers aims to raise awareness of work already being undertaken to support Carers in GP practices in Wiltshire, and to encourage further development work. The idea of having an attainment scheme was first developed by the Ceredigion Carers Alliance. This scheme for Wiltshire has been developed locally in Wiltshire by local Carers, members of voluntary agencies such as Carers Support, a number of GP surgeries and members of NHS Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council. There are three levels of attainments: bronze, silver and gold.

There are 63 GP practices in Wiltshire; the largest urban practice has 18062 patients registered, with the smallest rural practice in South Wiltshire having 1778. All practices in Wiltshire attained Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) points in 2009/2010 relating to Carers, which means they have a protocol for the identification of Carers and a mechanism to refer Carers for social services assessment. However, how actively the benefits of identifying yourself as a Carer to the practice are publicised, and the additional support and services Carers receive varies greatly between practices. We hope the scheme will encourage all surgeries to understand and support carers by implementing the suggested actions in the award scheme and develop partnership working with Carer Support Wiltshire.

A number of members involved in the development of the levels will form the ‘Accreditation Panel’ who will oversee the scheme, and award accreditation certificates.

We’d like you to come along and find out all about it...

18th April 2012 12-2pm at Beversbrook Sports Facility, Calne
19th April 2012 12-2pm at Devizes Sports Hall
24th April 2012 12-2pm at Bridge House, Trowbridge
25th April 2012 12-2pm at Salisbury Playhouse

Lunch will be provided. Please call 0800 181 4118 to book.

Leading carer charities announce new name

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care are today (23FEB12) launching the name - Carers Trust - and visual identity for the charity that will be formed as a result of their merger on 1 April 2012.
Carers Trust will be a major new charity for, with and about carers which combines the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience of its founder charities and all of its Network Partners.

Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Cozens, Chair of Carers Trust said: ‘We are delighted to be sharing the new charity’s name, strapline and visual identity. Together with our Network Partners, Carers Trust will provide support, information, advice and services for the millions of people caring for a family member or friend.

‘With carers’ needs, choices and voices at the heart of everything we do, we will strive to ensure that the enormous contribution they make to society and to those they care for is fully recognised, appreciated and valued.’

The brand was developed by the Carers Trust board in conjunction with Forster Communications and included extensive research with a range of groups including carers, staff and Network Partners.

Athena Lamnisos, Head of Insight and Planning at Forster’s, said: ‘Consultation revealed that carers need a modern, fresh and dynamic brand that represents the diversity of people providing unpaid care for a friend or relative. They need action, help and advice. Above all, they need to feel they have the support of an organisation that puts carers first. We are delighted that our work with Carers Trust has produced a brand that encapsulates this.’

The two charities have been in detailed negotiations for the past 18 months and, subject to the remaining formal and regulatory steps, the new charity will be operational from 1 April 2012, with a public launch in May.

The Trust and Crossroads Care have a strong history of working together, with a number of jointly funded posts and a range of successful fundraising and policy campaigns.

Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, has agreed to be President of Carers Trust, a role she has held at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers since it formed in 1991. Both charities’ networks will continue to provide support to carers under their local brands, and are not expected to merge locally as a result of the national merger.

Article taken from Carers.org

New Disability Living Allowance forms for children

The Department for Work and Pensions has introduced a new Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claim form for children. This form is being rolled out across the country for new claimants area by area, and should cover the whole of the UK by the end of March 2012. 

Remember it’s only the claim form that has changed – the rules are still the same. It won’t be any easier to get DLA, but hopefully it will be a bit easier to complete the claim form. Contact a Family’s welfare rights team are updating their Guide to claiming Disability Living Allowance for children to cover how to complete the new form. 

The new guide will be available in March. 

Please call their freephone helpline for a free copy on 0808 808 3555.