What ’ s O ut the r e in Wirr al

Issue 1 LINKED UP NEWS

The Story So Far... Following the abolition of Patient and Public Involvement in Health Forums on 31 March 2008, Voluntary Community Action Wirral (VCAW) were successful in a tendering process with Wirral Borough Council in securing a 3 year contract to Host the Wirral Local Involvement Network (LINk) from 1 April 2008. A LINk is being established for every Local Authority area in the country. LINks have been set up to give the people and community a real influence and say in how their health and social care services are delivered.

Karen Prior and Lynda Denman, the LINk Support Team at VCAW, are now settled into their roles to support the development of Wirral LINk. The Team have been out and about speaking to community groups, organisations and individuals, to raise the profile and tell everyone what it means for the people of Wirral. A Wirral LINk Interim Steering Group has been busy developing interim structures, procedures and priorities for LINk activities including an interim workplan. The Group is made up of representatives from different areas of the community. This is a temporary group, and soon elections will be taking place for a Wirral LINk Board. The Interim Steering Group has developed an identity for Wirral LINk and an application process which incudes 3 levels of membership to offer flexibility. The Membership continues to rise and we are happy to say includes individuals as well as organisations. The Group have had 3 meetings and organised a coffee and catch up event to keep all Members up to date. A further one is ar-ranged for 10th October at the Pavilion in Birkenhead Park—all welcome.

WIRRAL LINk Events

WIRRAL LINk COFFEE MORNING

Friday 10th October— 10.00am-12.00am Pavilion, Birkenhead Park Come Along—Bring a friend and find out

more about the work of the LINk, why not join?

WINTER WARMER COMMUNITY EVENT

Tuesday/Wednesday—25/26 November—

WATCH THIS SPACE…. More details to follow very soon.

Inside this issue:

Story So Far & LINk Events

1

Design a Slogan/Out & About

2

Carers/Out of Hospital Project/ Training

3

Feedback/Join Wirral LINk

4

Health & Social Care Info Update

5-6

Sep t /Oc t 2008 —Ci r cu la t i on :150

Wirral LINk is made up of individuals and community groups who work together to

improve local health & social care services and belongs to the people of Wirral.

OUT AND ABOUT

The LINk is for EVERYONE on Wirral, we would therefore like your thoughts and ideas on a slogan which says what the LINk is about—there will be a special mystery prize. The winning slogan will be chosen by the Interim Steering Group of LINk, so send us your ideas now. The closing date will be 10 October 2008.

Entries welcome by email to:

wirrallink@vcawirral.org.uk

Or by writing to:

Wirral LINk Support Team, VCA Wirral, 65 The Village, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 7PL

CREATE A SLOGAN FOR WIRRAL LINk

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? Walk On is a programme of short health walks designed to increase the health of local people. The walks are set in different locations and on different days, and are aimed primarily at people who do little or no exercise. All walks are led by trained walk leaders and last between 20 - 60 minutes (average 30 minutes). All walks are free - just turn up. Children must be accompanied by an adult, no dogs. Walk Areas Birkenhead Park every Monday, 11am Meet at Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre. Port Sunlight every Wednesday, 11am Meet outside Port Sunlight railway station. Royden Park every Thursday, 2.30pm Meet in the main car park Contact Anne Litherland/Deb Lowe for further details on: 0151 652 5197

Wheels for all! Provides cycling for people of all ages with a disability and differ-ing needs. The adapted bikes are available at Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre every Friday between 10am and 3pm but please ring to book on 0151 652 5197. For more informa-tion contact Anna Coates or Ian Tierney on 01925 234213; Cycling Projects. 1, Priory Court, Buttermarket Street, Warrington, WA1 2NP or ian.tierney@cycling.org.uk

ARTICLES FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS FOR OUT & ABOUT/COMMUNITY NEWS

DO YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS HAPPENING IN WIRRAL OR WITHIN YOUR ORGANISATION IN RELATION TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE OF WIRRAL? PLEASE LET US KNOW AND SPACE PERMITTING, YOUR ARTICLE WILL BE INCLUDED

Our deadline for the next issue is: MONDAY 27 OCTOBER 2008

TRAINING WITH VCA WIRRAL

OUT OF HOSPITAL

Do you look after someone? Does someone depend on you? Is your caring role too much at times? In a recent national survey nearly 90% of people said that caring had an impact on their health. Many people were affected by stress, anxiety, depression or loss of sleep. WIRED provide a support service to carers through advocacy, a carers helpline, carers register and a counselling service. If you would like to meet other carers at any of our activities such as the Carers Art Classes or the Distress to De-stress programme then please call the Carers Helpline on 0151 670 0777 or visit www.wirralcarers.co.uk for further details.

SUPPORT FOR CARERS

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Training for ten pounds - Quality, affordable staff and volunteer training for Wirral’s thriving Third Sector in the following.

Leaders or Managers Effective Communication Supervision

Understanding Motivation Time Management Company Secretary

Delegation at Work COMPACT-What & Why Company Treasurer

Effective Minute Taking Chairing Meetings Coaching

Tel: Karen Livesey on 0151 645 4038

A new pilot project is being developed by VCA Wirral to offer low level support to people who are be-ing discharged from hospital and to reduce admissions and readmissions. The benefits will be that people will have greater feeling of independence and to be referred to other relevant services to improve quality of life. Patients will be supported to remain in their own homes as an alternative to going into hospital through lack of immediate support at home. People will benefit from a home risk assessment. The Project Co-Ordinator will work closely with hospital discharge teams to identify eligible patients and also liaise with GPs, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists to identify pa-tients who may need support. Contact, Jan Brown at VCAW Wallasey Office on 0151 639 1289 for further details.

SERVICES AVAILABLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Page 4 FEEDBACK FROM MEETINGS ATTENDED

The Wirral LINk Interim Steering Group Members have agreed to maintain the seats previously held by the PPI Forums for continuity until the LINk is fully established later this year. The Interim Steering Group felt this was necessary to keep up to date with ongoing issues which the PPI Fo-rums had begun. Reports are now available on the following, if you would like a copy please contact the Wirral LINk Support Team:- • Dental Fluoridation Seminar Report —3 September 2008—St. Catherine’s Hospital—

organised by Wirral Primary Care Trust

• National Association of LINk Members (NALM) —8 September 2008-Friends Meeting House, London—organised by NALM

• Patient Environment Action Group—PEAG– 29 July 2008-Clatterbridge Hospital, organised by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

• Liverpool LINk Event—24 September 2008 All meeting minutes and documents will be available on request and publicised on the VCA Wirral web-site (see community section, LINk) - www.vcawirral.org.uk.

JOIN WIRRAL LINk WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, SO WHY NOT JOIN THE WIRRAL LINK?

PLEASE CONTACT THE LINK SUPPORT TEAM, KAREN OR LYNDA ON 0151 645 4038 EMAIL: wirrallink@vcawirral.org.uk or

WRITE TO: LINk Support Team, VCA Wirral, 65 The Village, Bebington, Wirral, CH63 7PL

Meet new people

Take part in lively discussions

Join Groups Learn new skills

Make a difference Get Out &

About

Receive Training/Support

Flexible Membership

WIRRAL PRIMARY CARE TRUST

The Outline Business Case to re-develop St. Catherine’s Hospital—Officially closing 28 September 2008 Outline proposals for Devaney Medical Centre, and Victoria Park Medical Centre to re-locate to the proposed St. Catherine’s Site—officially closing 28 October 2008. Heswall Medical Centre Re-Development—officially closing 22nd October For further details contact Wirral PCT Have your Say Help-Line: 0800 0851547 or email: haveyoursay@wirralpct.nhs.uk

WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Next Assembly of Governors meeting is 8 December at 6.00pm in the Civic Hall, Ellesmere Port Public Consultation on the Trust’s Public Health Strategy (launched 18th September) and is out for consultation for 4 weeks. Accessible via the Trust’s Public Membership Office at Arrowe Park Hospital, Main Arrowe Park Number: 0151 678 5111

PERSONALISATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN SOCIAL CARE

People expect personalised , responsive services that deliver high quality support and en-able them to still be in full control of their lives. They want clear information about what they can expect and how much they will have to pay. Adult Social Care in England is at a crossroads. The 18 years that have passed since the 1990 Community Care Act have enabled Wirral Department of Adult Social Services to gather the experience and knowledge which enables us to work towards more personalised services that are truly needs-focussed and deliver to the outcomes identified by those that are using them. In “Our Health, Our Care, Our Say’, the Government set out a clear direction for an integrated service that works with whole communities and delivers outcomes people need. A number of other publications (most recently “Valuing People Now” and “Putting People First”), lay further foundations for transforming social care into a personalised service very different from the tradi-tional social welfare model. This is not a challenge which cannot be met by Social Care services alone. Adult Social Services, Health, Housing, Benefits, Leisure, Transport, voluntary and com-munity organisations, people who use services, carers, and Wirral citizens will all need to work together. Reforming social care to achieve real personalisation for all will mean a huge cultural and trans-formational change and will impact on all parts of the community. The Personalisation Agenda will influence services across the whole of the Council and the wider public sector and will mean noticeable changes in how professionals engage and work to support people’s needs. The challenge is to translate this vision into a practical change in services—to make a real difference to the way individuals engage with services—and in so doing make a real and meaningful difference to people’s lives.

Adrian Quinn, Reform Manager, Wirral Council, Department of Adult Social Care Services Tel: 0151 666 4845

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION UPDATE Page 5

Development of Social Care for Adults and Older People—Information Events Wirral Council’s Department of Adult Social Services, in conjunction with the Older People’s

Parliament, is running a series of meetings to share plans for developing local social care for adults and older people. The Council is planning some changes as part of a National Initiative to give people greater choice and control over their care and support needs. In the first stage, of these proposals, the Department of Adult Social Services is planning to make some changes to the care service it offers. Meetings will involve a short presentation on the proposals, followed by a discussion and a chance to ask questions. This is an opportunity to find out more, express your views and highlight any matters that may concern you. Two events have already taken place but there are 2 further events planned, please telephone: Brian Christian on 0151 6662220 to register your interest in attending. For information or assistance in getting to the venue, please phone Nici Campbell on 0151 666 5149 3 October—Venue: Newlands Court, Askew Close (off Tobin Street), Egremont, Wallasey, CH44 8EX– 10.00am-Midday 9 October—Venue: Active Age Centre, Grange Baptist Church Hall, Whetstone Lane, Birken-head, Wirral, CH41 2QS—2.00pm-4.00pm.

Department of Health Launches Consultation on NHS Constitution The proposed NHS Constitution: What is it?

The NHS belongs to the people. It is there to improve our health, supporting us to keep mentally and physically well, get better when we are ill and, when we cannot recover, stay as well as we can. DOH are proposing a set of principles and values that should guide everything we do, including a commitment to providing a comprehensive service, available to all without discrimination, and based on clinical need – not ability to pay. The proposed Constitution: • safeguards the future of the NHS It reaffirms the NHS principles and values. •gives power to all patients and the public For the first time, important rights are brought together, so that everyone knows what they are entitled to, and what to do if they don’t get what they should. • sets out how we can all play our part It explains the responsibilities of public, patients and staff. • recognises that staff are our most important asset and the key to quality. The Constitution is for everyone who pays for, uses or works in the NHS. Purpose of Consultation is that DOH want to know: Is it clear? Do you agree with the approach it takes? How can we use it to improve NHS services?

You can download the consultation on the DOH web-site at www.doh.gov.uk/consultations, by tel: 0300 123 1002 or by post: PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH.

This Consultation on the Constitution will run until 17th October

HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE INFORMATION UPDATE Page 6