North East Lincolnshire Carers Forum - Minutes of Meeting Meeting: North East Lincolnshire Carers’ Forum Date: 26th January 2018 Venue: NEL Carers’ Support Service Present: Marie Fitzgerald Carer, Chairperson MF Colin Binns Carer, Vice Chairperson CB Tanya Burnay Commissioning Officer – Care and Independence NEL CCG TB Albert Bennett Older people, Dementia and Carers Triangle Community Lead AB Chris Shipway Carer CS Bill Murdoch Carer BM David Wilson Carers’ Support Service Manager DW Lavinia Andrews Cranwell Court LA Shar Jordan-Passmore Carer, Minute Taker SJP

Apologies: Mary Morley

Minutes Action 1. Welcome and Apologies

MF welcomed everyone to the meeting. 2. Guest Speaker

Unfortunately the Guest Speaker was unable to attend, however, LA attended from Cranwell Court (CC) and gave a short explanation of the service offered there. CC has a capacity of 12 residents a day, taster days are available, no-one else in Grimsby can offer what CC currently does. There is respite care, activities, reminiscence, dementia care, stroke victim care and they offer Carers respite. LA wants to make people aware that CC exists.

MF commented that there is a Dementia Conference at the Beachcomber on 22 March from 10-2. She asked LA what the Forum can do to help promote what CC does.

DW suggested that it could be put in the Newsletter, there is also Services 4 Me, Estuary TV, Social Media, Health Watch, DPOW Radio, Age UK and Headway. DW suggested LA drop off some leaflets to make them available in the Carers Centre. 3. Minutes of the last meeting and matters arising

Actions from the previous meeting: DW to purchase DW to source a suitable suggestion box for Carers to put comments in for the forum to Suggestion discuss. Box - Complete Page 1 - CB reported that the ticket machines at DPoW car park are now working properly with two new machines taking the total to four (2 outside and 2 inside). PALS Office and Help Desk staff have all been trained to help if necessary.

Page 3 – AB asked about the Tesco community coins, DW reported that CSS had ‘won’ the £4,000. MF asked what this money would be spent on, DW replied that it would be used on the Young Carers Hub for more equipment. 4. Carers’ Forum Member Update and concerns from the wider community

AB said that Christine Foreman would come to the Carers Forum meetings when he was not able to, although he would try to come to as many meetings as possible.

MF heard that ACCORD has not been able to attend meetings because of low capacity.

Page | 1 AB told of concern regarding fact that he has nearly finished his time on the Triangle as he is only able to do two years. He said that ideally he would like to have someone new come in for him to mentor before he leaves, but nothing has happened yet. AB reported that the Triangle listens to what he has to say.

BM reported that talks with MENCAP regarding providing support in NEL were not progressing as was hoped. BM is still in talks with MENCAP with a view to MENCAP establishing some form of support locally.

CS to have a stand for Community Voice / Learning Disabilities at The Willows Community Church every Thursday and at Top Town Market 2 days a week.

CB reported that Health Tree Foundation have donated more handheld wheelchairs to the hospital so there will be more chance of finding a wheelchair in reception when needed. There is a plan for volunteer ambassadors to be available to help visitors to the hospital. CB will give update when this is happening.

MF – The Local Authority has received the next round of SEN implementation funding of £95/98,000 for 2018/19 but this money is not ring-fenced.

Following an article in the Grimsby Telegraph about Shoreline, MF raised concerns that they may not be listening to tenants about the future of housing stock and planned developments and not handling concerns and complaints correctly and that this will include Carers. DW commented that our specialist advice service will support any Carers coming to us with complaints about Shoreline.

DW suggested that to represent Carers and to further actions on the North East Lincolnshire Carers Strategy we work to get a Carer on the Housing and Development board or work to get Carers views included for consideration in decision making.

MF also brought attention to a report from the CCG that highlighted 11,000 letters had not been given/sent to patients following discharge from hospital. The forum would be interested to know the outcome of further investigation.

MF reported that her daughter had been diagnosed with epilepsy but that the epilepsy nurse had resigned. MF has taken this up with Healthwatch.

CB reported that all specialist nurses are now based at Hull Royal Infirmary.

MF reported that the Parent Forum is to hold its Annual Parent Carer Info Event on the 14th March, 10am to 3pm, Pelham Suite.

5. Carers’ Strategy/ Carers Lead Update

TB has been consulting with groups in the area on the incumbent provider of Carers Services (CSS) for tendering purposes. Information gathered will inform the service specification for the new contract.

TB informed the Forum that Bev Compton – Director of Adult Services should be attending the Carers Forum meeting in February to give an update on The Union.

TB reported that Nicola McVeigh is working to secure further integration of Young Carers with a view to creating an all age Carer service.

AT made the Forum aware that the CCG are refreshing aspects of the Telecare contract which has recently been extended. There is to be a consultation event next week at Centre4.

6. Carers’ Support Service Feedback

Page | 2 Building work is finally starting on the new lift on Wednesday of next week.

Our connecting Carers project will be establishing information points to be manned by volunteers across North East Lincolnshire, there have been 10 information points identified and confirmed. These are Grimsby and Cleethorpes leisure centres, Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Immingham and Waltham Libraries, Open Door, Fieldhouse Medical Centre and centre 4.

CB is working on recordings done by Hannah Salah and DW to promote the Carers’ Support Service on hospital radio.

CB commented that Hannah did well on her stand at the hospital although she could do with a pull up banner to make her more visible. He also suggested something that could go over the table to make our branding more prominent. 7. Forum Membership

This agenda items is a reminder to the forum to promote the forum with a view to increasing membership. 8 Terms of reference MF - Aims and Objectives – There is a lot there and the Forum will need to grow before we can take all this on as we do not have capacity at the moment.

AB recommended that someone should do a presentation about the Forum at other meetings.

MF reminded everyone that expenses can be claimed back for attending Forum meetings DW to send (item 5). MF then asked DW to expand on what can be claimed for. DW asked TB to ask Jpeg of Forum Nicola McVeigh if childcare can be claimed for as an expense for Parent Carers. The view leaflets to MF. of DW was that such a restriction may result in a Parent Carer being an associate member with no commitment to attend meetings but with an opportunity to comment on minutes and agendas. 9 Flash drives for young adult Carers These flash drives are a new way of getting information about support for Carers to young adult carers aged 18-25. DW passed around a list of ideas for information to go onto the flash drive and asked for any other ideas to be included.

AB questioned when the flash drive will be coming out, DW replied that it needs to be done by end of March. MF stated that she will take it to her daughter Autumn to have a look at. 10 Any other business MF asked about access to training going on all over NEL, she also asked if there was a One Stop Shop, DW replied that there wasn’t. MF recalled Carers could access training for free from Focus. DW confirmed that this was still available and that the CSS could register a Carer with Focus to book on to training on-line and that the CSS cover training needs and requests when Carers register.

MF questioned where CSS stand with foster carers, are they allowed to register. DW replied that although we support Carers of children who are looked after by family because their parents are unable to look after them because of substance misuse, we do not support foster carers as they get paid to look after children and this is a choice.

TB mentioned that the 30th March Carers Forum meeting will need to be bought forward because of Good Friday.

MF asked if the Forum could send a card to Paul Glazebrook who is retiring soon.

TB informed the meeting that her temporary contract has been extended to March 2019. 11. Next meeting: 10am to 12noon – Friday 23rd February – The Carers’ Support Service, 1 Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HY.

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