Key objectives are to:
- Ensure that NHS are sell informed of support available to carers and how to refer carers for services
Update:
COEL has continued to provide Think carer training to NHS staff over the course
of the year completing sessions with clinical support staff, OTs, managers and
Hospital to Home services. A further
session is planned for Jan 2020. These
are being conducted alongside Jess Kearslake from VOCAL. COEL has now completed their move to the East
Lothian Community Hospital and hopes that this will raise their profile among
NHS staff to make referrals for their services more likely. Discussions are taking place with John Gibson
and Gordon Gray around including COEL within staff induction into the hospital
- Provide ELHSCP with an assessment of how well minority ethnic groups and those with protected characteristics are included within our services, policies and strategies
Update:
The MECOPP audit steering group has met again in November. The audit is underway and MECOPP hope to have
a draft completed by end Dec. Training
sessions on outcomes workshops will be planned for 2020. Dates to be confirmed.
- Develop a longer-term plan for carer funding through a formal procurement process to provide greater security for our carer organisations and meet procurement and legal requirements
Update:
The procurement working group comprising of staff from Childrens Wellbeing,
MELDAP, The One Partnership Fund and Adult Wellbeing is continuing to outline
plans for procurement of carer services.
Engagement is ongoing with carers.
Surveymonkey questionnaires have been sent to adult carers, both hard
copies via COEL’s newsletter and an online survey available through the
consultation hub. There have been delays
with engagement with young carers due to challenges working with ELYC. Members of the working group recommended that
schools and guidance teachers be involved in completing the survey with young
carers known to them. ELYC are also to
complete focus groups with young carers in November. Feedback from the engagement will inform the
service specification. Current carer
services have also been mapped against the outcomes within the carers’ strategy
– as a result it has been noted that much of the current funding is focused on
awareness raising, information and advice and identification of carers. While this is appropriate at this stage as we
try to raise awareness of carers and carer issues, the group are keen that
procurement look at improving provision of services to carers (outcomes 4 – 8
of the strategy), that is, breaks from caring, supporting carers to have a life
outside of their caring role.
- Brief staff on changes to replacement care and respite charging
Update:
Replacement care briefings have taken place over October to assessment staff in
Adult Wellbeing. Staff now understand
the approach ELHSCP are taking to charging for breaks from caring and
replacement care. Support plans are
beginning to filter through for carers to access free breaks from
caring/replacement care. Work is still
ongoing with MOSAIC team around changing how this support is logged on the
system. Performance reports may have to
be amended to reflect the changes and need to be planned to ensure they capture
the data correctly
- Ensure that carers have access to counselling support through their local carers’ organisations
Update:
Carers of East Lothian was provided with funding this year to set up a
counselling post within their service.
The counselling coordinator has been recruited and will provide both
direct counselling as well as co-ordinate counselling students to provide a
service to carers. COEL has now
confirmed the service will start once they have moved to the new hospital with
carers being offered six sessions.
Recruitment of student counsellors will happen once the service is more
established.
