NewsLINk Spring 2010

Sefton Local Involvement Network’s quarterly Newsletter

Sefton LINk re-launch online campaign

Sefton LINk have re-launched it’s online campaign on social networking websites Facebook, Twitter and even YouTube! We’ve also been busy working on our own website and preparing the new online discussion boards. Please take a moment to visit www.seftonlink.org.uk and let us know what you think. We’re also looking for members to act as administrators on the Sefton LINk Facebook page and discussion boards, so please contact us if you would like to get involved.

Find us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter Watch us on YouTube!

Please visit www.seftonlink.org.uk for the latest news, updates and opportunities available to members..

Introducing the 2010 Steering Group

Some members of the Sefton LINk Steering Group (left to right), Libby Kitt, Laura Wills, Robert McCracken, George Cureton, Mike Homfray, Ann Bisbrown-Lee (Chair), Arthur Roberts (Vice-Chair) and Colin Smith.

Sefton LINk organised a Meet and Greet event on Tuesday 16th March at the SING Plus Resource Centre in Waterloo for the new members of the Steering Group. The informal event was an opportunity for members to introduce themselves and discuss Sefton LINk’s plans for the future. To read more about the Steering Group members, please visit the Membership section the Sefton LINk website www.seftonlink.org.uk.

This Sefton LINk newsletter is available in different formats - please contact Sefton LINk Support 0151 920 0726 ext203

Annual Meeting 2009/2010

Thursday 17th June 6pm– 8.30pm

Sefton LINk are pleased to announce that the 2009/2010 Annual Meeting will take place at the brand new Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre in Waterloo. The event will be held on Thursday 17th June from 6.00pm onwards and a light buffet and refreshments will be provided. Sefton LINk Support will assist with transport to and from the venue if required. The Sefton LINk Annual Meeting is an opportunity for members to reflect on the past 12 months, discuss their work on engaging with young people and present the Sefton LINk 2009-2010 Annual Report. Speakers at the event will include Sefton LINk Steering Group Chair Ann Bisbrown-Lee and Sefton Young Advisor Kim Cooper. More details will be available shortly. For catering and seating arrangements, please ensure you book your place by contacting Sefton LINk Support on 0151 920 0726 extension 203 or email sls@seftoncvs.org.uk.

An awards ceremony was held by NHS Sefton Community Health Services at the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre for health workers who have gone the extra mile over the past year. Winners included community and district nurses, health visitors, children’s speech and language therapists. Nearly 100 NHS Sefton Community Health Services (CHS) staff and a range of other guests attended the first ever CHS Quality Awards ceremony as well as Sefton LINk Chair Ann Bisborwn-Lee, Sefton LINk Vice-Chair Arthur Roberts and individaul LINk member Jean Spinks. For a full list of the NHS Sefton Quality Award Winners, and for more information on the event, please visit www.sefton.nhs.uk

NHS Sefton’s Quality Awards 2010

Sefton LINk Vice-Chair Arthur Roberts presenting an NHS Quality Award.

Department of Health’s Roger Halliday with Sefton LINk Support Manager Ian Ross at the Young Advisor’s Event in Netherton, 11/03/2010

Sefton LINk Steering Group Chair Ann Bisbrown-Lee drawing the lucky winner at the last group meeting

Congratulations to Sefton resident Vicky Spears who’s name was drawn at random to receive a £20 Gift Voucher from Sefton LINk. Vicky was one of the young participants who took part in the ‘Have Your Say!’ Report conducted by Sefton LINk Support in 2009. The report looked at the ways in which Young People engage in having a say about Sefton Health and Adult Social Care Services. The winner was drawn at the last Sefton LINk Steering Group Meeting by Chair Ann Bisbrown-Lee.

‘A Day in the Life’ of Sefton LINk

Congratulations!

The Department of Health’s Roger Halliday recently took time away from his busy schedule to visit Sefton LINk following an invitation from the support team manager Ian Ross. After an introduction to the Sefton LINk Support team and discussing the ongoing work of Sefton LINk, Roger and Ian attended the Sefton Young Advisors Event in Netherton - an opportunity to learn more about how the LINk can engage young people. Reflecting on the day, Roger said “I got a great deal from the day and I was struck by the focus on practical ways Sefton LINk can make a difference to the people of Sefton”.

Sefton LINk Information Sessions Sefton LINk Support are offering FREE information sessions for any organisation or individual interested in getting involved with the LINk. These information sessions can be delivered as informal chats or group sessions. If you would like Sefton LINk Support to provide information for you or your organisation, please contact Diane Blair, Sefton LINk Outreach Officer on 0151 920 0726 extension 331 or email diane.blair@seftoncvs.org.uk

We are all service users and want to see the NHS improve its service to us, our families and the community. We are immensely grateful for the work Sefton LINk does and we all appreciated the information session -CARES Group after a Sefton LINk Information Session

Sefton LINk Support is managed by Sefton Council for Voluntary Service 3rd Floor, Merseyside 3tc Centre, 16 Crosby Road North, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 0NY.

Tel: (0151) 920 0726 Fax: (0151) 920 1036 email: sls@seftoncvs.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1024546 Company Registered by Guarantee No. 2832920

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Sefton LINk or Sefton CVS. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that accurate

information is provided, Sefton CVS, Sefton LINk, the Board of Directors, the editor nor contributors undertake any liability for any errors or omission.

Patients and families to benefit from new essential standards of care

From April 2010 new essential standards of quality and safety are being introduced gradually across all health and adult social care services in England. The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the new independent regulator of health and adult social care, will license services if they meet essential standards and constantly monitor them to make sure they are compliant with new legislation about to be passed in parliament. NHS trusts are the first to come into the new system which started on the 1st April this year; they will be followed in October by all providers of social care for people over 18 years of age and by providers of independent healthcare. Over the coming two years the system will include all primary care and dentists too. For more information go to www.cqc.org.uk

The Stroke Association Family & Carer Support Service has started a Young Stroke Support Group in the Sefton area. The next meeting will be on Friday the 28th May from 10.30-12.30 at Netherton Health Centre with further meetings taking place on Friday 18th June and Friday 2nd July. The aim of the group is to support Stroke survivors, aged 18-65 and their Families and Carers. This will be an opportunity to meet other people going through similar problems and to enable you to support each other. Maybe arranging social activities or providing encouragement and increasing your confidence and awareness of services that can help you. We are also looking for Volunteers to work as Befrienders / Volunteer Drivers. This will involve visiting Stroke survivors who are lonely and isolated and providing some company. This will be on a weekly/fortnightly basis, for maybe and hour or two. The Stroke Association will provide all relevant training and support and expenses will be provided for mileage costs. For further information please contact Kate Coyne or Jeanette Swift on 0151 529 3828 or email kate.coyne@stroke.org.uk.

The Stroke Association launch new support group

Dignity in Care Campaign The Dignity in Care Campaign was launched by the Department of Health in November 2006. It aims to stimulate a national debate around the need for people receiving care services to be treated with dignity and respect. In Sefton, we are committed to ensuring that dignity is at the heart of all our care services and there is a zero tolerance approach to the abuse of and disrespect of all adults. Sefton LINk is now signed up as a Dignity Champion, and you can support the Dignity in Care campaign by visiting www.sefton.gov.uk.

If you would like to submit any articles for future issues of Sefton LINk’s NewsLINk, please contact Sefton LINk Support.