The Carers Association Southern Staffordshire (CASS)
is having a carers information day on
Thursday 11th March from 10.00am to 3.00pm at Burntwood Scout Hut, Ironstone Road, Chase Terrace
South Staffordshire Council have been looking to further develop the Leisure Linx Scheme
which is a scheme which offers discounts on leisure activities for customers in receipt of
specific benefits.
The Leisure Linx Card can either be used on a Pay As You Go basis entitling customers to
discounts of up to 50% or alternatively there is now a Leisure Linx Membership whereby for
only £10 per month customers are entitled to free and unlimited use of most leisure centre
facilities from Monday - Sunday 09.00 - 17.00.
Carers in receipt of Carers Allowance or those registered with CASS are now able to qualify
for the scheme.
Also, did you know that if you are not a member of one of the Leisure Centres but are
attending a swimming session or fitness suite session with someone that you care for - and
you are attending in order to help them - you as the carer are entitled to free entry in to the
fitness suite and swimming pool reglardless of whether the session is a session specifically
for people with disabilities or just a public session!
For more information contact: Sam Osbourne, Programming and Promotions Officer, on
01902 696525 or email: s.osbourne@sstaffs.gov.uk
Leisure Centres involved in the scheme include: Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge and
Wombourne.
E-mail
Carers in Southern Staffordshire are being offered the chance to attend free support and skills sessions designed to make a positive difference to their lives and those of the people for whom they care.
The Carers Association Southern Staffordshire (CASS) has teamed up with Omega, the National Association for End of Life Care, based in Shrewsbury, to run the Caring with Confidence programme for all carers. Omega is already delivering the programme successfully to carers in Dudley, Stourbridge and Solihull and is looking to start the session in Southern Staffordshire in the Spring.
There are two strands to the programme, which is part of the Department of Health’s National Carers’ Strategy. One, for all adult carers, consists of seven sessions and offers support on a range of topics including financial advice, practical caring tips as well as general support. The second, eight session programme is for carers of people nearing the end of life.
Caring with Confidence helps carers build on their strengths, gives useful information about looking after someone and helps carers decide what positive changes they could make in their caring role. Carers can choose how they access the programme, either by attending local face-to-face sessions, completing self-study workbooks, going online or a combination of all three. But it is undoubtedly the first of these through which carers gain the most benefit.
Hazel Marshall, from Stourbridge, looks after her husband Brian who has had MS for more than 20 years. Hazel has attended sessions and found them very useful.
She said: “We got nothing from the health authorities. You have to go out and find what’s available yourself and I would recommend people join as many of these kinds of groups as they can. You never know what you’re missing out on both socially and with help and advice.
“Your world is so limited as a carer, you don’t have the freedom just to get up and do things, so for it to be organised for you and you just go along is great. At the Omega group you meet like-minded people in the same situation which helps you realise you are not alone.”
Cynthia Boden, Carers Learning & Leisure Project Co-ordinator said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this excellent programme to carers in Southern Staffordshire. We really recommend carers take up this wonderful opportunity to meet others in a similar position and build on their existing knowledge and skills.”
The sessions are free, refreshments are provided and Omega can help carers with transport and respite care. For more information and to register call the Omega Carers Helpdesk on 0845 259 3163 or email carers@omega.uk.net.
Based on the NHS Constitution the new Act incorporates:
access to NHS services;
drugs and treatments approved by NICE;
choice about where patients receive their care; and
be treated with dignity and respect.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: "One year ago, the NHS Constitution came into being. This landmark document gives patients and staff real power to know what they can expect and what they can demand - demands that cannot go unchecked by the NHS from today."
CASS has secured funding for home based flexible night time support services for family Carers. Carers who regularly care for at least 20 hours per week can apply for up to £150 per session, for a maximum of 2 sessions, to pay for respite care in their own home. The sessions must consist of evening or overnight support to enable the Carer to have a break e.g., to go away from home for the weekend or to have a full nights uninterrupted sleep. The care can be provided by a professional care agency, a relative or a friend.
Please note that the funding can only be used for evening or through the night for the person who needs care. It cannot be used to pay the expenses of the family carer. This is also a time limited project and you are advised to apply as soon as possible – all successful applicants must use their allocation within two months of receipt.
For more information go to the CASS pages - Carers Breaks Fund
www.carersinformation.org.uk/cass/carers_breaks.htm
The Pension Service is advising people to be aware of bogus telephone calls from people claiming you are entitled to an additional Winter Fuel Payment. The Pension Service has received reports from individuals who have received such a call. The bogus caller claims to be from the Department of Work and Pensions and asks for bank details in order to pay the additional payment.
This is not activity from Winter Fuels and therefore we are treating these as bogus calls.
The Pension Service advises customers not to give bank details under any circumstances to anyone calling in relation to Winter Fuel Payments or saying they are from DWP. If anyone has given out information they are advised to contact their bank immediately for further advice.
CONTINGENCY TEMPLATE for CARERS
This document provides information in respect of the alternative arrangements Carers have in place should they experience illness, notably swine flu or other incidents which will impact on the care they provide. This document is for Carers to keep and share with the persons you consider best able to provide care and assistance in an emergency.
See section: Staffs Social Care & Health - Information leaflets - Contingency Template for Carers
www.carersinfor...
The Carers Association Southern Staffordshire (CASS) will be running an information stand in the foyer area of Tesco Extra in
Stafford and Tesco Extra in Lichfield to promote Carers Rights.
Thursday 3rd December
Stafford Tesco Extra, Newport Road, Stafford, ST16 2HE.
(3 hours Free Parking on the Tesco Extra Car Park)
Friday 4th December
Lichfield Tesco Extra, Church Street, Lichfield, WS13 6DZ.
(3 hours Free Parking on the Tesco Extra Car Park)
Both events will be information stands within the foyer area of
the Tesco stores and will be run from 10.00am - 7.00pm by our
Outreach Workers who will be available to offer information and
advice regarding Carers Rights and the issues that carers face.
The cost of Care for people in Staffordshire affects every service user and tax payer
Make sure you have your say with this invitation to the Staffordshire County Council Consultation Events throughout November 2009:
Newcastle: 2nd Nov, 11-1pm St Geaorges Church Hall, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Tamworth: 4th Nov, 10.30 - 12.30 Assembly Rooms, Tamworth
Stafford: 5th nov, 11 - 1pm Rising Brook Conference Centre, Stafford
Moorlands: 10th Nov, 10.30 - 12.30 Churnet Room, SMDC, Leek
East Staffs: 11th Nov, 11 - 1pm The Craythorne,Rolleston on Dove
Lichfield: 13th Nov, 2 - 4pm The Guildhall. Lichfield
Cannock: 18th Nov, 6 - 8pm The Ballroom, Cannock Chase Council
South Staffordshire: 26th Nov, 11 - 1pm Council Chambers, South Staffs Council, Codsall
You are invited to attend one of these events to give your views on a number of questions such as
• how much people should pay for their care,
• whether people should pay different amounts depending on their income and
• what level of support for individuals should come from tax and community charge payers
This might not directly affect you or your family now but the discussions will influence the decisions made about how much people pay for services in the future.
People are living longer and have higher expectations about the quality of support and care they receive which is placing a greater demand on public resources.
Staffordshire County Council wants to make sure that every citizen can get quality care, both today and in the future and is therefore holding a series of consultation events about paying for care in Staffordshire.
Senior Social Care and Health staff will be at each event and members of the voluntary sector will also be there to help make sure there is a broad and balanced debate.
You can attend any of the eight events and transport can be arranged for you if needed.
For further information please call Victoria Young on 01785 277054 who will be able to help with transport or any other special requirements.
If you are unable to attend, but would still like to take part in the consultation, you can complete the questionnaire on line at: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/health/care/consultation or request a hard copy.
We hope to see you there and look forward to hearing your views.
Eric Robinson
Corporate Director Social Care and Health
The Secretary of State for Health has made it clear that Disability Living Allowance for the Under 65s will not be affected by Government plans to create a National Care Service.
Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services Conference in Harrogate, Andy Burnham MP said: "I am encouraged by the response to our Big Care Debate and welcome the fact that other political parties are beginning to put their ideas on the table. There are big
differences between what we are saying but we are beginning to create what I wanted to see - unstoppable momentum for legislation in the next Parliament.
"But, while the debate is moving quickly, I do want to stress that the door is wide open for discussion. We are still in a consultation
period. No decisions have been made on funding options. We are still
listening – about funding, about structures, and about how to build a
forward-looking system of care.
"One avenue I do want to close down, however, is the debate and controversy over Disability Living Allowance.
"We recognise that this is an important benefit for disabled people, and I can state categorically that we have now ruled out any suggestion that DLA for under-65s will be brought into the new National Care
Service.
"This is because, whilst there will be increases in the numbers of disabled people of working age who need care, the majority of the people needing care in the future will be older people.
"However, we do think there may be a case for bringing together elements of some disability benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, with social care funding, to create a new care and support system to provide for the needs of older and disabled people.
"But the important principle is that people receiving any of the relevant benefits at the time of reform would continue to receive an
equivalent level of support and protection under a new and better care and support system.
"And let's not forget, everyone - regardless of wealth or asset base –
will benefit from the protection and piece of mind that the National Care Service will provide."
The Government is currently carrying out a consultation – the Big Care Debate - on the new National Care Service, a vision for which was set out in July’s Green Paper Shaping the Future of Care Together. The Big Care Debate continues until 13th November.
