CDS Newsletter May 2013

Swansea Social Services May 2013

Citizen Directed Support

Changing lives together

If you have anything to contribute to a future newsletter – an article, a question, a tip, a link or even an idea for an article you’d like someone else to write – please contact the editorial team.

Helen Barney 636902 [email protected]

Angela Morgan 636902 [email protected]

In this issue:

Welcome address from the guest editor 2

Target Operating Model for Assessment and Care Management 3

Community Connectors back to full strength 5

Domiciliary Care Assessment Service: some common questions answered 6

Positive Experience of using the Rapid Response Service within the Older People’s Mental Health Team 8

Welsh Government’s Wellbeing Statement 10

My Home Life 11

Website Focus 13

Short-Breaks 14

Positive Opportunities for Older People with a Learning Disability 15

Independent Advocacy Project 17

I Matter, We Matter 18

Poem 19

Welcome Address from the Head of Adult Services Welcome to the May issue of the Citizen Directed Support newsletter. The guest editor in this issue is Richard Leggett, Senior Principal Officer - Commissioning & Partnership.

If you’d be interested in being a guest editor in 2013, please get in touch with the editorial team – details at the bottom of this page.

Deborah Driffield

Head of Adult Services

Welcome

The Social Services and Wellbeing Bill has been published recently for Wales. It will create profound changes for the way that we work in social care, both by changing the legislation to make it more coherent and joined up, and by directing the way we should be going about our business.

It is significant that the title of the Bill is not just about Social Services, but it also includes the word Wellbeing. The idea of wellbeing, and how to promote it has been getting more attention in recent years as people have realised that old measures of Gross National Product and material wealth do not always indicate healthy and happy societies. Indeed, some of the wealthier societies, including the UK, often score very poorly on happiness and wellbeing indices.

A recent report How’s Life from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) looked at the issue of wellbeing, and concluded that while income is a prime contributor to wellbeing, there are other factors that matter even more. Well-being is intrinsically linked to good health, a clean environment, a strong sense of community and civic engagement, a home in good shape and a safe neighbourhood.

Promoting wellbeing is at the heart of the Citizen Directed Support (CDS) agenda, and this comes through in the articles in this edition of the CDS newsletter.

The Wellbeing Statement by the Welsh Government described on page 10 underlines the political commitment to improving the wellbeing of people and their carers who need support.

Page 2 Swansea Social Services May 2013

The new model for social work services described on page 3 is about supporting people to achieve their own outcomes as quickly and effectively as possible, and this is similar to the aims of the Independent Advocacy project described on page 17.

The articles on Community Connectors, My Home Life and the Beeches describe different ways that we can help people to help themselves and help each other, and to participate actively in their community, building on the strengths that people bring with them.

It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it, is the title of one of the articles, and this is at the heart of Citizen Directed Support – talking to people, listening to them, using the skills and knowledge that people already have, helping people to connect with other people around them in their families and local communities. The better we do this, the stronger we will build our communities, and greater the sense of wellbeing we can create.

Richard Leggett

Senior Principal Officer - Commissioning & Partnership

Target Operating Model for Assessment and Care Management

“Don't put your trust in revolutions. They always come around again. That's why they're called revolutions.” (Terry Pratchett in Night Watch)

Social care is undergoing its own revolution…again.

Through its Social Services and Well Being Bill, the Welsh Government is creating a new legal framework for Social Services in Wales, and establishing a context for transformation change in how we meet the care and support needs of people we serve.

As the Corporate Director highlighted at the recent roadshow events, we all have to respond to this challenge, and to the many other social and economic changes taking place: demographic changes, increased demand, higher expectations, funding pressures and the likely impacts of welfare benefits and health service reforms.

These roadshows started the conversation in looking for ideas for change in the way we meet these challenges. We have an opportunity to shape the future, and in Adult Services one approach to this challenge is to create space for conversations on how the changes may look in practical terms - the development of a Target Operating Model for assessment and care management (ACM) in Adult Services.

In order to shape a unified approach we are making use of the 9 elements of the current Swansea model. This

Page 3

should focus our efforts in working with people, families and communities on improving outcomes and, in particular, their health and well being.

Our development of a Target Operating Model is at an early stage. Overall the model will be looking towards a whole-service approach to how we support people in a person-centred way to find their own solutions: how we can best carry out assessments of need, how we focus on identifying strengths rather than deficits and how we help build lasting, supportive relationships. We are looking into new ways to help people achieve and maintain their independence as quickly as possible, by agreeing with each person the outcomes they can expect to achieve and reflecting these conversations in support plans expressed in their own words.

We are looking into each element of the model not as a step by step approach, but rather as ways of supporting people to achieve their own outcomes as quickly and as effectively as possible:

In managing our front door effectively we are supporting people to be able to access the information, advice and help they need directly, at the right time for them.

In carrying out assessment of needs, we are highlighting people’s strengths, relationships and what they can contribute to their own support.

Continued/…..


Our work is focused on outcomes, such as improving health and well being and achieving independence, as quickly as possible

We expect to work closely, in more flexible and integrated ways, with colleagues in other agencies such as health, and with a range of care providers.

We will be working closely with people, families and communities to ensure support is available and can be sustained in times of crises.

We will aim to ensure fair and equal access to care by reaching out to the many and diverse groups within our communities.

As part of the model we are consulting on a common set of priorities for all teams across Adult Services, and we then expect to agree these through the TASS programme Board.

Team Priority Goals

1. We prioritise safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults

2. We support people to remain in their own homes, in their local communities

3. We support people and their carers to assess their own needs

4. We support people towards finding their own solutions

5. We support people to review the quality and outcomes of their support

Page 4

As part of the Transforming Adults Social Services programme, an ACM steering group including senior managers, team managers and business support has been set up, and this will be at the forefront of considering these changes. The project plan will be supported by a series of workstreams to manage the changes. We will be seeking to identify staff at all levels both from assessment and care management teams and within business support to get involved in the workstreams. These staff will then help to carry out the implementation of the agreed model, and the tasks identified in the project plan.

Your views, whether on the 9 key elements of the unified model, or on the Team Priority Goals, are very welcome. Any comments and/ or expressions of interest in getting involved in the workstreams, can be forwarded to Simon Jones, Project Lead, ACM Pillar [email protected], or to discuss ring Simon on 01792 637559.


Community Connectors back to full

strength Two new Community Connectors, Bev Richards and Lauren Thomas, have been appointed to fill the vacant posts and started work earlier this month. Each Community Connector covers one of the Health Community Network Areas. Bev will be covering the Penderi area and will be based with Communities First in South Penlan Community Centre, while Lauren will cover Llwchwr and will be based with the Community Resource Team at Gorseinon Hospital.

The Community Connectors are an important part of the Transforming Adults Social Services agenda to achieve sustainable Social Services in Swansea. The aim of the posts is to:

Support the development of strong and active communities that will be better placed to meet the needs of its citizens

Support universal services to be more inclusive of the needs of all citizens

Support social workers and other professionals to consider community based and community run activities when considering how need can be met

Support the development of community based and community run activities that will lessen the demand for Social Services provision

We are working with Swansea University to make sure we have a robust and professional evaluation of the project, and a multiagency workshop is being held on 12th April to scope out how we will do this. An initial evaluation event will be held in October 2013, a year after the start of the project, with partners and academics.

The other three Community Connectors are Sheila Thomas (Bay), Lynda Roach (City) and Corliss Horton (Cwmtawe).


Even if you're on the

right track, you'll get run

over if you just sit there.

- Will Rogers

If your plan isn't

working, adjust your

plan. Never give up. -

Matt Martin

Be kind, for everyone

you meet is fighting a

hard battle. - Plato

Things do not happen.

Things are made to

happen. - John F

Kennedy

Not everything that can

be counted counts, and

not everything that

counts can be counted. -

Albert Einstein

Domiciliary Care Assessment Service: some common questions answered

What is the Domiciliary Care Assessment Service (DCAS)?

DCAS is a short-term domiciliary care service run by our in-house Home Care Services. When someone has been assessed as needing domiciliary care, this will initially be provided by DCAS. DCAS has a dual role. Primarily it is an assessment service, which works out the level of long-term care that service users require. It is also an enablement service where care staff, community health staff and occupational therapists work with service users to maximise their capabilities and encourage independence.

Who is the service for?

It is for older people and younger adults with a physical disability. Most people are referred to the service when they are discharged from hospital, after a ‘step up’ residential assessment or following the involvement of the Rapid Response Service.

In the past year 68,489 hours of care were provided to 815 service users via DCAS.

How does a service user enter DCAS?

All new enquiries for DCAS are discussed at a FACS meeting to determine their suitability for DCAS and the care manager informed of outcome. Last year the average wait between the FACS meeting and admission DCAS was

approximately 8 days.

How long do people spend in DCAS?

The service is normally for a maximum of 6 weeks, though some people do not require care for this long. A few people remain in the service beyond the 6 week limit either because of their individual circumstance or difficulties in finding a suitable long-term placement.

How does the reablement element work?

Over the course of the assessment period care staff will aim to do less for service users and more with them, helping people to develop confidence in their own abilities and regain skills.

People may also have a specialist occupational therapy (OT) assessment. As part of this the OT may recommend equipment or suggest new ways of doing things that help people become more independent. DCAS has its own OTs who work with people in the service.

DCAS has close links with the Community Resource Team (CRT) and some people who require other specialist support e.g. Physio and speech and language therapy are supported via this team.

Continued/…..


What happens if someone is admitted to hospital during the time they are receiving a service from DCAS?

Once the service receives confirmation that the stay in hospital will be more than 48 hours the case will be closed. This prevents care staff being under-employed and frees up capacity for someone else to come into the assessment service.

When the individual is ready for discharge a fresh enquiry has to be made and referred to FACS again. Some enquiries may be ‘fast tracked’ to a long-term provider. Last year 70 individuals entered DCAS more than once.

What happens at the end of the assessment period?

Some people become completely independent and no longer need formal care support. In the last year 52.66% of the 659 individuals who completed DCAS and were discharged either completely independently or with less support than on admission.

Everyone else receives a new assessment of their long-term care needs, as these may have changed during the assessment period, before being transferred to a long-term care service.

How does the transfer process work?

The Intake Team runs a daily brokerage process where clients ready for transfer are placed (anonymously)

Page 7

on a consideration list which all domiciliary care providers have access to. If providers are able to meet the identified needs they then make a request to provide the support to the individual.

Until a suitable care package can be arranged, care will continue to be provided by DCAS.

Are people charged for the service?

Yes. The financial assessment arrangements are the same as for people receiving long-term domiciliary care, and the initial charge is based on the hours of care set out in the care plan for a period of 6 weeks. However the nature of the assessment service means that the actual hours of care provided may vary from the care plan. People who receive fewer hours than they are charged for will receive a refund, but those who need additional hours are not charged extra.

If someone receiving long-term care goes into hospital, do they have to go through DCAS again when they are discharged?

It depends on the reason they are in hospital. If this results in a change to their care needs then a further period in DCAS will be necessary, but if the existing care plan can continue once they are discharged they can return to their previous care provider.


Positive Experience of using the Rapid Response Service

within the Older People’s Mental Health Team

The Rapid Response Service is run by Social Services' Domiciliary Care Assessment Service, in conjunction with Care Management staff and District Nurses from the ABMU Health Board’s Community Resource Team. It aims to avoid emergency admissions to residential care by providing a service to people in their own homes when existing arrangements break down unexpectedly. For more information about the service see www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=51070

Rachel Matthews, a Care Management Officer (CMO) with the Older People’s Mental Health Team, wanted to share two positive experiences of using this service after two emergencies occurred on her first day back at work following the Christmas and New Year period.

Cont/d…..

Case One The Main Carer became ill following a back injury exacerbated by manual handling issues in providing care to her mother and was not able to continue meeting her mother’s needs. There was no other formal care in situ.

The CMO discussed the case with the Rapid Response Team Domiciliary Care Assessment Service (DCAS) and was advised to carry out a home visit and contact the DCAS Manager when at the service user’s home. She did so, and reported that the service user was non-weight-bearing and that although Social Services Occupational Therapy (SSD OT) services were already involved with the case, there was no manual handling assessment in place.

This led to a discussion around who had responsibility to undertake the Manual Handling Assessment: DCAS or SSD OT. It was decided that a plan in respect of bed care needed to be drawn up and implemented until the full manual handling assessment/plan was completed.

In the short term Rapid Response DCAS provided bed care whilst awaiting a manual handling assessment. Care started with double staffed calls 4 times daily. A review meeting was held in 72 hours and the same level of care continued.

Both service user and carer were very satisfied with the level of care provided and the fact that she could remain at home, as both had indicated they did not wish care to be provided outside of the home.


www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=51070

Both cases involved manual handling issues and double staff calls. Effective working and communicating between staff allowed the services users to remain within their own home meeting their needs and lowering risk and providing the outcome they wanted. My experience of the service worked well but communication was critical in order for the service to run smoothly.

Case Two A service user became ill over the Christmas period – he was non-weight-bearing and his wife struggled to meet his need. Her husband suffered a fall when wife was attending to his personal care. The Chronic Conditions Nurse was concerned and contacted the CMO to arrange support from carers and also the Community Resource Team (CRT) to assess and arrange equipment.

An initial telephone discussion with the wife made it clear that her husband did not wish to leave the home and she also wanted him to remain at home. As a result of the Chronic Conditions Nurse’s referral, the CRT were due to assess for aids and equipment that afternoon.

The CMO discussed the case with the DCAS Rapid Response Team and arranged for the Senior Carer to meet the family that day and carry out health and safety check with CRT. I felt that if all professionals worked together and arranged to visit at the service user’s home this would save time. It also helped when assessing any manual handling concerns and the Senior Carer was able to have the discussion around single/doubled staff calls.

An appropriate care plan was then able to be put in place with input from all professionals to ensure the service user’s daily needs were being met safely.

The Senior Carer arranged for Rapid Response to commence the following morning.

The original plan was for single staffed calls, but the service user’s health deteriorated, further restricting his mobility and the Rapid Response Team increased his care to double staffed calls/personal care provided on the bed and CRT identified and provided further equipment to support him. Risk was minimised and with services working together they were able to meet the service user’s needs in his own home.

Following the 72 hour period a meeting was held and discussion took place with other professionals to plan a way forward. Care then continued.



Welsh Government’s Wellbeing Statement

An innovative new document has been published by the Welsh Government to improve the well-being of people who need care and support and carers who need support.

The "Well-being Statement" sets out a range of factors that contribute to the well-being of a person, and which people in need of care and support can expect in their daily lives.

These encompass areas such as participation in society and the right to have a voice in decisions that affect them.

It will also make clear to organisations what differences their services are expected to make.

The newly published Well-being Statement is the first step in the production of a National Outcomes Framework, which is a commitment within Sustainable Social Services, the Welsh Government’s 10-year plan to meet changing needs and expectations of service users, as well as the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Bill.

It has been drawn up in collaboration with many service users and groups, predominantly in the social care sector.

The statement is accompanied by a three-year improvement plan which will be the basis for a shift in the way social services are planned and delivered in Wales, supporting more control for individuals over the services they receive.

The Welsh Government will use the Well-being Statement, as a basis to assess the performance of providers, to drive continuous improvement and to help decide what policies are required.

Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas, said:

"Well-being is everyone’s right and everyone’s responsibility. We need to work together across Welsh Government, across sectors and agencies to promote well-being.

"I am pleased to launch this Well-being Statement, which documents a common understanding of what really matters in the day to day lives of an individual.

"This is about giving people a stronger voice and greater control over their lives, and ensuring people get the care and support they need to lead fulfilled lives."

For more information see the Welsh Government website http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/publications/socialcare/strategies/statement/?lang=en

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/publications/socialcare/strategies/statement/?lang=en

It ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it

When working with older people our focus

is very much on helping them to stay in

their own homes for as long as possible.

For most people this is not only the best

solution, but what they would choose for

themselves. However for some older

people, particularly those with complex

needs, a care home will still be the best

option.

My Home Life is an organisation – or

perhaps more accurately a movement –

working to improve the quality of life for

those who are living, dying, visiting or

working in care homes for older people.

Their research has found that when

people who had lived in more than one

care home were asked to explain why one

of those homes was better, the answer

was universal: it was always down to the

home’s approach to the way it looked

after its residents, never to the physical

attributes of the home.

A number of care homes in Swansea are

working actively with My Home Life

Cymru to develop supportive, caring

communities. On 21st March a large

group of care home managers came

together at an event organised by Social

Services and My Home Life Cymru. The

event aimed to raise awareness of the My

Home Life Framework and show how it is

being used successfully at a number of

care homes in Swansea. By sharing good

practice and providing encouragement

and support it was hoped that more

homes in the local area would feel

inspired to embrace the My Home Life

philosophy.

At Three Cliffs Care Home in Pennard,

Page 11

where all residents have late stage

dementia, the manager Karen Wood

talked about how staff focus on thinking

what people can do rather than what they

can’t.

Taking residents on

outings is just too

frightening for

many. So the staff

built a ‘pub’ in one

of the outbuildings.

It’s just a few steps from the main

building, but residents put on coats and

hats and go ‘out’ for the afternoon,

sometimes joined by family members.

The home has a very positive attitude

towards risk taking, believing that

allowing people to potter around and keep

stimulated is better than boredom, and

that the risk of falls just has to be

managed appropriately.

The manager of Hengoed Court Care

Home in Winch Wen, Tim Williams, made

a point of recognising how easy it is for

day to day business and official

requirements to get in the way of a

home’s vision, and the need to refocus on

that vision from time to time to ensure

it’s not getting lost.

The vision there is to build a community

that connects residents, staff and families

by involving everyone in the way the

home is run and the activities that go on.

The Senses Framework (see page 12) is

the structure behind the vision, and

laughter the glue that holds it all

together.

Cont/d…..


Ty Waunarlwydd, one of

the Council’s own care

homes, works closely

with Health staff to

provide a home for

people living with

dementia who might otherwise have to be

placed in a mental hospital. Manager

Jane Thomas explained that observational

audits had helped managers and staff

take an open and honest look at they way

they did things. As a result the home

made a conscious decision to remove

them-and-us barriers between staff,

residents and their families and create a

different sort of community. Such

barriers included practical (e.g. uniforms),

cultural (“we’ve always done it this way”)

and regulatory issues (e.g. risk

management).

One strategy has

been to turn tasks

into activities, so

that residents are

actively involved

with staff as they

go about their work, helping with things

like meal preparation, laundry and

maintenance. This has resulted in

residents feeling valued and having a

sense of purpose in their lives, and has

significantly reduced challenging

behaviour.

The MHL Framework has eight Best

Practice themes which care homes can

use to develop their services and help

staff focus on quality of life issues rather

than being led by the care tasks that are

needed to care for the residents:

Managing transitions

Maintaining identity

Page 12

Creating community

Sharing decision making

Improving health and health care

Supporting good end of life

Keeping workforce fit for purpose

Promoting a positive culture

Workshops took place at the event to

explore these themes and look at how

they could be used to develop good

practice.

A range of resources are available from

My Home Life Cymru to support the Best

Practice themes. Many of these can be

accessed from their website

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/cymru/home-

and-care/my-home-life-cymru-home/


The Senses Framework maintains that best care develops when those within care homes are able to experience a sense of:

Security – to feel safe

Belonging – to feel part of things

Continuity – to experience links and connections

Purpose – to have a goals to aspire to

Achievement – to make progress towards these goals

Significance – to feel that you matter as a person.

Website Focus The redesigned Adult Social Care web pages provide a range of information to allow people to find out about services and activities that may provide the sort of support or advice they are looking for.

This month we focus on information for adults with mental health problems, and give a flavour of the sort of information staff and service users can find online.

There is information both for people who are seeking or using Social Services support for mental health issues and for those who want to find out about universal services available in the local area and nationally.

This includes:

Information about the Community Support Teams www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=48405

A link to information about the services offered through CREATE www.createswansea.co.uk/

Information about the Mental Capacity Act www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=25138 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=49887

Information about local organisations who provide support to people with mental health problems and their carers www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=52110#local

Information about national organisations providing mental health advice and support www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=52110#national


Calling all partners!

We are keen to feature more stories from the organisations we partner with to show Citizen Directed Support in action. You may be a care provider or an advice and support agency, but if you’re doing something innovative we’d love to hear from you. Our contact details are on the first page of this newsletter.



www.swansea.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=52110#local

What is the Short Breaks

Bureau? If you haven’t yet heard of the Short Breaks

Bureau or if you’re not sure what it is or what

we do, never fear! I am here to enlighten you!

The primary purpose of the Short Breaks Bureau

is to support unpaid carers in their role.

Did you know - according to the 2011 Census in

Wales more than 12 per cent of the population

were providing some level of care ranging

between a few hours a week to 50 or more

hours a week!

Did you know - the census data shows there are

over 30,000 self reported unpaid carers in

Swansea. These people help and support family

and friends to remain in the community, without

their support many people would not have the

option of staying in their own home.

So being able to access a break from this role is

an important part of the caring experience and

will enable carers to continue and feel supported.

The Short Breaks Bureau aims to give carers and people they care for access

to a wide range of breaks to suit their needs and raise awareness of different

options. We define short breaks as a break from normal routine to support and

sustain the caring relationship.

Traditionally respite is taken in a care home or institutional setting with a ‘one

size fits all’ focus. It is true that care homes are a popular choice for many people

and continue to have high occupancy rates yet there is growing demand for

alternative options as people’s needs continue to be diverse and as we focus on

outcomes and the person centred approach to support.

The Short Breaks Bureau assists with booking as well as providing information

and signposting. Our leaflet is now available!!

If you have any questions please contact Amy Jenkins, Short Breaks Co-

ordinator, (01792) 637619


Positive Opportunities for Older People with a Learning Disability

It’s very easy, as we go about our jobs day after day, not to recognise that the work we do is innovative, or something that people in other parts of the country might be interested in learning from. However staff from our Alternative Day Services (ADS) – based at Beeches in Uplands and Abergelli in Fforestfach – which provide tailored support to older people with a learning disability, recently had an opportunity to share what they do with a national audience.

Last year inspectors from BILD, the British Institute of Learning Disability, carried out an audit of our learning disability services. As part of this the inspectors spent half a day at each ADS, interviewing both staff and service users. So impressed were they with what they saw that Tracey Pollock from Beeches and Sandra Watson from Abergelli were invited to deliver two workshops at a conference ‘Ageing Well’ at Birmingham NEC in February.

The workshops ‘Providing Positive Opportunities for Older People with a Learning Disability’ were both well-attended and well-received. Delegates from other local authorities told Tracey and Sandra that in their areas either service users of all ages were mixed in together for day services, or day services simply stopped once service users reached 65. People were surprised and impressed by the range of learning disability services offered in Swansea, and the extent to which service providers seemed clued in to people’s needs.

A delegate from another Welsh local authority emailed after the event to say “We wanted to say thank you for the brilliant presentation you delivered. We really enjoyed it. Your service is really inspiring - we’d love to come see it sometime!” while a delegate from a London authority commented “You delivered your presentation with such passion that you obviously love what you do.” And a group of service users from London who attended the workshop said they’d be taking back a number of ideas which they hoped could be considered for their area.

Continued/…..


Singing with the choir at Hazel Court

Developing putting skills on a visit to Gowerton Golf Range


Abergelli’s History Group visit Swansea Museum

So, just what is an ADS and what goes on?

The Alternative Day Services provide social and learning opportunities likely to appeal to the more mature adult, usually 50+. Transition to these services is not automatic at a specific age – people transfer gradually into the service at the point where it seems they need a day service which offers a slower pace of life. So, some service users are in their 40s, while the oldest at Abergelli is 84, and the oldest at Beeches about to turn 80.

Each day a range of activities suitable for the older age group take place, some happening at the service itself, others in the community. These include gardening, crafts, photography, memory work, a pub group which meets and the Cockett Inn, a sandwich group who buy ingredients for and then make lunch, and trips out, such as a visit to the Museum.

ADS managers have also made big efforts to integrate their service users into mainstream community groups, where they enjoy activities alongside other older people. Notable successes have been the choir at Hazel Court, an older people’s group at Topic House and the Gowerton Golf Range.

Even those who don’t sing with the choir have been able to share in the experience, as a large group of service users from Beeches went along to support the annual concert last year. One gentleman who joined the Hazel Court choir has gone on to sing in his local church choir as well.

Service users have also become involved with Mencap’s Older Voices project which empowers them to become engaged with local decision making.

A group from Beeches takes a picnic to Gnoll Park

Hats, scarves and blankets knitted by service users being presented to a homeless charity in preparation for a cold winter.

Visiting the RNLI station in Mumbles

Independent Advocacy Project Celebrates its First Year

The Safeguarding Older People Independent Advocacy Project has now completed its first year of providing independent advocacy, information and support to older people living in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend. The project has proved to have had a significant impact on the lives of older people and provides one to one support to empower people who may be feeling isolated, vulnerable and/or under pressure, helping people understand their rights, representing your views and help to access support services and make informed decisions. Our advocates can help people who are faced with life changing decisions and enable people to have a voice where otherwise they may not feel able to speak up for themselves.

Here are some examples of the work we have carried out across your area:

Discharge From Hospital – we can liaise with professionals to ensure that the person’s voice is heard in any decisions regarding their care - whether the decision is to return home, move in with family or consider the move to residential or nursing care, our Advocates offer a support throughout the decision making process

Remaining Independent in your own home – Our advocates have enabled more people to access the support they need to remain independent in their own homes. We can provide information on care agencies, social services and other support providers and offering support to access these services

Considering a Residential / Care Home – Our Advocates regularly work with people and/or close relatives to provide independent information to help people to choose a care home that is right for them, understand the financial implications of living in care, managing care home fees and providing practical support like arranging to spend time at a home before making the final decision.

Liaising with Professionals on your behalf – Our Advocates can liaise with medical professionals, social workers and other professionals on your behalf, alleviating some of the pressures and working to ensure that people are aware of all of their options. We can assist in making impartial third party complaints where necessary.

If you would like some further information on how an Advocate can help you, or someone you know please contact the team on 01792 484743.


I Matter We Matter Campaign – the themes take shape

I Matter We Matter is a campaign to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in shaping the future of social care in Wales by contributing to a statement of national outcomes which will set out what support services should help people to achieve in their lives. These will be used by the Welsh Government in drawing up the legislation which will underpin the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Bill.

The Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) has brought together a group of National Alliances to work with the Welsh Government to ensure that this outcomes framework is created though a national wide-scale discussion with people.

In January 2013 these organisations and groups asked people across Wales two questions:

What things are important to you in your life?

What helps you to do these things?

A large group of volunteers then got together to find common themes running through the 2753 responses, and eventually collated these under eight headings:

Making a contribution

Having relationships

Being safe

Having rights and control

Health

Wellbeing

Living and learning

Participation

These will now be presented to the Welsh Government. You can read the first draft of these declarations at http://imatterwales.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/we-matter-declarations-1-1.docx

For more information about I Matter, We Matter see http://imatterwales.org.uk


http://imatterwales.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/we-matter-declarations-1-1.docx

Poem - To My Darling Grandson My darling grandson,

I remember when your mother brought you home from hospital. You were pink and beautiful and wriggled so much I was scared I would drop you.

You smelled of baby powder and I felt I would burst with happiness.

Now I can’t remember how to take a bath.

I remember picking you up from school when you were five. You tumbled out the school gates waving a picture covered in glue and macaroni, “It’s you Granddad,” you said. I felt so proud.

Now I can’t remember what I had for dinner.

I remember a summer’s afternoon on a riverbank where I taught you how to fish. You squealed when you touched the wiggling worm on the hook. I laughed ‘till I thought I would burst.

Now I sometimes forget how to laugh,

I remember when you ran away from home, two streets away to my house. I felt your pain and confusion and we drank cocoa, listened to Elvis and made everything better.

Now I can’t remember how to share my pain and confusion.

I remember when you left home to study at University, I was so excited, I knew you would make friends and your dreams would start to take shape.

Now I can’t remember how to make sense of words.

I too have had to move.

I live in a nursing home where people fill in the gaps of my being.

You may see a shell of the Granddad you knew but if you look deep into my eyes you will see I am still in here.

Hold my hand, bring me talcum to smell, bring me dry macaroni to feel, put a wiggling worm in my hand, let me drink cocoa and hear Elvis, show me your graduation certificate.

I will feel all the happiness, pride, laughter, pain and excitement we ever shared.

I will feel you close to me.

I will never forget how much I love you.

Karen Woods, RMN. Three Cliffs Care Home.


Documents

CDS Newsletter May 2013