Newsletter WINTER 2018

Edith is a perfect example of why we do what we do every day – ensuring that all our clients can achieve the best out of their Option 2 ISF package.

Self Directed Support’s oldest client, 102 years young Edith is able to have full choice and control over her care needs, to ensure she continues to live independently. Edith’s secret to a long healthy life, is “good living and a couple of glasses of Malbec.” Edith, who was born in , reminisced about her large family and her happy home. She is bursting with life, and has the room wiping tears of laughter from their cheeks. Edith is a strong and determined woman, and through the use of an Individual Service Fund (ISF), commonly known as an Option 2, she has been able to live many of her years in her own home, which she adores. Through the use of an ISF, a care provider has been facilitated for Edith, who visits her three times a day, (to heat up her meals and do some shopping for her). By using Option 2 Edith doesn’t have to worry about the carers being paid, as this has all been room, full of delicious sandwiches and coffee that she made for us organised through our ISF Co-ordinator and her ISF Provider. before we arrived, laughing till my tummy hurts at her funny jokes This is why an ISF is a popular option amongst our clients, as and smiling at her amazing outlook on life. That’s when I know I it enables the client to still have the choice over their support wouldn’t want to work anywhere else other than in Health and package but not having the stress of managing the financial Social Care.” aspect. Edith has had a lasting impact on Sarah; who says: “She has a Sarah Unigwe is our ISF Co-ordinator; her role is to meet with beautiful perspective on life and living, and along with the support our ISF clients and to be creative in finding ways to successfully of her wonderful family and team of carers, Edith is able to stay meet their outcomes and negotiate on their behalf with service in her own home. She is still able to attend her weekly coffee providers. Throughout a care package Sarah will always be mornings and be a part of a community where she is clearly so available to contact for support. Sarah has written about her dearly loved. Edith talks fondly of her carers and all they do for time supporting Edith with her ISF package and the lasting her, and has many a funny tale to tell about their times together. impact Edith’s positive attitude has had. I would challenge anyone to come away from a visit with Edith to Sarah commented that there are times when working in Health not have laughed so much that you’re in tears. Edith has endless and Social Care is incredibly hard, in a system that is pushed tales of both bad and good experiences throughout her life, which to its limits. “There are challenges all the time in trying to source she has turned into a positive perspective, and been able to make and provide care to adults and children living at home, and at a joke out of it. She is an inspiration to me (and I would imagine all times the struggles to source this weighs heavy on your heart.” around her) in that someone who has lived through the last 102 On talking about her role at Cornerstone SDS she said: “People years, and all the changes she has seen come and go throughout often approach us at the most vulnerable times of their lives, society, and approaches it with such a strong sense of faith and joy. and we all want to do our utmost and best to help in every way Whenever I go to visit Edith, I know that the challenges we all face we can; but we are not always able to, and that hurts; then there in Health and Social Care are worth every bit of it, to see someone are other times like this, when I’m sitting in Edith Shepherd’s living living at home, happily and healthily”.

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way 2 Empire HR Joins Forces with Law at Work You may have noticed in recent months that Empire HR, who assists SDS employers with HR and Employment Law issues has recently become Law at Work incorporating Empire. Glasgow based Law at Work acquired Empire HR in April of this year and is now the biggest independent HR and Employment Law consultancy in Scotland. Beyond the change of name, nothing else will change for you. The same team of consultants will be there to answer the phone to help with your queries and we will offer you the same level of support as always. If you have an HR or employment law query, please call 01224 701383.

Empire Employee Files – How to Keep Them Secure and Ensure Compliance with GDPR.

It is important as an employer to ensure that the paperwork The best way to ensure compliance is to have this information for your employees is kept securely. Timesheets, contracts of locked away in a drawer, safe, filing cabinet or a safe place that employment and sick notes are just a small example of the only you have access to. If you are unsure whether you are numerous documents that you will accumulate as an employer, keeping personal information securely, it is worth asking yourself (Cornerstone SDS will be providing plastic wallets for this). the question, if it was your own personal data would you like it kept in that way and often you will be able to make a judgement. It is often tempting to simply put them in an unlocked drawer or even if you keep them together in a folder, not have this The Employer Zone has a guidance note which will help you locked away. Since the Data Protection Act was introduced over understand how long certain documents should be kept. 20 years ago, and particularly since the General Data Protection For HR and employment law queries, please call Law at Work Regulation (GDPR) was introduced earlier this year, it is vital that Empire on 01224 701383. the personal information of your employees is kept securely and only kept for as long as needed.

The New Area Hub

The new Cornerstone North hub, in Peterhead, opened in May 2018, when they moved premises from Skelton Street, where they had been operating for the past five years, to the town centre. The hub is used for office based training and community groups. Scott Baxter, who is the Branch Leader for North City and Shire, said “We have got a bright, warm and welcoming environment, which has ample training, meeting and activity areas now.” The office has five permanent staff based there but is used by an additional 6-12 people who hot desk there. As well as providing access to IT resources for colleagues and support staff to do E-Learning and administrative tasks. The new hub is proving to be an invaluable asset, also being used by other third sector organisations, including Enable and Home Start.

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way 3

Coming Soon – Payment Cards for Direct Payments

Last year we informed you about some exciting changes to the (or someone they have chosen to manage their Direct Payment) way we make our Direct Payments. We will soon be making they will be supported to transfer over to the new system by these payments via a prepaid card account (known as a Nicola Eddie (Assistant Finance Officer). Nicola will be writing payment card account) rather than to an individual’s own bank to them soon to invite them to meet with her at a local council account. A payment card account provides a safe way to handle office where she can help them carry out the transfer and funds. Aberdeenshire Council will be able to view the payment answer any questions they may have. Once transferred over card accounts to see how the Direct Payment money is being to the new system, they should see little difference to the way used. This means much less work for the person receiving the they purchase their care and support. They will be provided Direct Payment, as they will no longer have to complete regular with a debit card if required and will also be given online access financial monitoring returns telling us how they have used the to view the account and carry out transactions. There will also money. We are pleased to announce that we have appointed be a telephone banking facility available for those who prefer Prepaid Financial Services (PFS) as our payment card provider. not to use the online system. PFS provide payment card services to many other Local People who receive a Direct Payment do not need to do Authorities for the provision of Direct Payments and have lots anything at the moment. They should continue to complete of experience in this area. financial monitoring returns until they are told otherwise. If a Direct Payment is managed by a payroll company or an We will be in touch with them soon with more detailed Individual Service Fund, the person should see no change to information. If you have any questions about the payment the way their support plan is managed. They will receive a letter card, please contact: Sheryl Donaldson (Finance Officer) on from us soon enclosing some information for them to review and [email protected] or 01467 534263 sign. If they need help when they receive the letter, they should or Nicola Eddie (Assistant Finance Officer)Nicola.Eddie@ contact their practitioner or Cornerstone SDS Aberdeenshire aberdeenshire.gov.uk or 01467 530838 who will be able to assist. If a Direct Payment is paid to a person

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way 4 SDS Service User SVQ Success for Our SDS Advisors

& Carer Reference This year Cornerstone SDS Advisors, Helen, Shona and Sue have successfully completed a SVQ 3 course in Advice and Guidance at SCQF level 7. The award, a work-based qualification, Group Update has been designed for people who are working as practitioners with specialist roles in a variety of contexts within the Advice and Guidance Sectors. The award comprises of six This group was set up by units, three of which are mandatory, including supporting clients to make use of the advice the Health and Social Care and guidance service, Interacting with clients using a range of media and developing Partnership to involve people personal performance through delivering customer service. The advisors commented that who use social care services and the course has enabled them to reflect on their working practices and that it gave them those who have an interest in a better understanding of the policies and the procedures which they put into practice promoting Self-Directed Support throughout their role. in Aberdeenshire. It provides an opportunity for these people to influence the development and implementation of Self-Directed Support in the Right Direction (SIRD) Funding Support in Aberdeenshire. The group has two members The Scottish Government’s Support in the Right Direction Fund enables independent representing them on information and support to help people to achieve personal outcomes, to be in control of Aberdeenshire’s SDS Support their social care and to make their own decisions about social care. Cornerstone SDS has Services Steering Group which recently received SIRD funding enabling developments which will in future support: now meets quarterly. • ISF Coordinators to share knowledge and raise awareness of Option 2 in the city. The SDS Service User & Carer • A Resource and Community Research Co-ordinator to resource information, as well as Group meets regularly, usually on signposting and bringing people together naturally to support one another in peer the second Monday of the month support groups in the city and in the shire. and we try to arrange the meeting • Raising awareness in the communities and the hospitals enabling working collaborations dates for the year. Currently we between health and social care meet at Quarrier’s, Wardes Road, • Access to RGU to make SW students aware of SDS. between 1.30 p.m and 4.00 p.m. If you would like to join us but these times are unsuitable for you then please talk to us and we will try to find a time suitable to all. Being part of this group has been a useful and pleasant experience. It is good to share experiences and at times to learn from others in the group. It is also a friendly, social experience, where there is an opportunity to find out the latest developments, as well as expressing opinions on the services provided and their usefulness. We would be delighted if you would consider joining us as we want to represent Christmas and New Year Opening Times a wide variety of Service Users and Carers; we would also The Law at Work/Empire hours will be as follows: welcome your ideas on how to Closed 25th & 26th December, and 1st January. improve things. Open 27th, 28th & 31st December and 2nd January from 8.30am until 5pm with emergency If you feel you might be willing on call service thereafter. Open as normal from 3rd January. to know more about us please The Cornerstone SDS Inverurie hours will be as follows: contact: Alison Elrick on Tel: 01467 537178 or by email: Alison.Elrick@ Closed 25th & 26th December and 1st and 2nd January. aberdeenshire.gov.uk Open 24th & 31st from 9am until 12 noon and 27th & 28th from 9am – 1pm. Open as usual from 3rd January. We look forward to hearing from you. The FBS hours will be as follows: Closed on 24th at 12 until 27th and 31st until 3rd Jan and have skeleton staff all other days.

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way 5

Option 1: Option 2: Option 3: Option 4: Direct Payment Individual Service Fund Arranged Services Mixed Budget

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way 6 Team Update There have been a couple of changes to our Cornerstone SDS team over the past couple of months. Hannah Reynolds now has a new role as Cornerstone’s Storyteller! She will be working around the Cornerstone Support Services capturing stories about the people we support, our colleagues and our supporters. Hannah will still be working with Cornerstone SDS to capture its journey so if you have a story you can contact her on 07970 154020 or email [email protected].

Louise Farmer is our new Resource & Community Research Co- ordinator for Aberdeen City. You can contact Louise on Mobile: 07966 186 184 or email: Louise.Farmer@ cornerstonesds.org.uk

Audra Siegrist is our new Resource Marion Nelson has moved from the and Community Research Co- Cornerstone Aberdeen office to ordinator for Aberdeenshire. You join our team as an Administration can contact Audra on: 01467 530 Assistant. You can contact Marion 525, 07584 473 651 or email: Audra. on: 01467 530 520 or email: Marion. [email protected] [email protected]

Fay Rennie is one of our new ISF Co-ordinators for Aberdeenshire. You can contact Fay on: 01467 530 520 or email: Fay.Rennie2@ cornerstone.org.uk

Tony Hadley has also recently joined Sarah Unigwe our ISF Co-ordinator our Cornerstone SDS team as an for Aberdeenshire is moving to join Advisor for the , and the Cornerstone SDS team in the city, surrounding areas. You can contact as their new ISF coordinator. You can Tony on: Mobile: 07866946773 contact Sarah on: 07825 050 045 or or email: Tony.Hadley@ email: Sarah.Unigwe@cornerstone. cornerstonesds.org.uk org.uk Susan Donaldson is one of our new ISF Co-ordinators for Aberdeenshire. You can contact Susan on: 01467 530 520 or email: Susan.Donaldson2@ For more information about our Cornerstone SDS team and what we do visit our cornerstone.org.uk website at www.cornerstonesds.org.uk

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way 7

Springtime Art Competition

We have started planning a springtime raising awareness event in Inverurie, in the springtime edition of our Cornerstone SDS – An art Competition, which will be based on a theme which we Newsletter and on our Cornerstone SDS Facebook page. are still working on. Keep an eye out in the Cornerstone Hub

Team Training – Office Closure Day

The Cornerstone SDS office will be closed on Thursday 13th, Friday 14th and Monday 17th December 2018. The team will be taking part in training on these days but should you need to contact them, in an emergency, you can email your SDS Advisor, (who will get back to you on the Tuesday after the training).

Your Choice . Your Support . Your Way Further information about SDS can be found on the Scottish Government’s website - SDS Scotland: www.selfdirectedsupportscotland.org.uk

If you would like to find out more about the Cornerstone SDS Aberdeenshire service please get in touch with us at:

25 High Street, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51 3QA 01467 530520 [email protected]

Cornerstone SDS

We are always seeking ways to improve our service so if you have any feedback on the service we provide we would welcome your comments. You can do this by speaking to your advisor or by contacting Sharon Francis, SDS Lead on 01467 530 520 or email [email protected]

Cornerstone SDS Aberdeenshire a service in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council