Here's your February Poole LINk update !
LINk Youth Survey
Our youth survey has been promoted by local schools, youth clubs, Poole College and lots of voluntary sector groups. We are really pleased to have collected around 500 completed surveys so far, with more still to come in. LINk volunteer, Graham, is busy collating all the data from the surveys and we plan to produce a report of our findings in March. In the meantime, if you’re under 25 and you haven’t yet filled in our youth survey – it’s still available online here: http://www.makesachange.org.uk/cms/site/news/poole/poole-link-youth-survey.aspx Please help us, we will use all your comments to improve health and social care services for young people in Poole.
We’re Looking for Readers...
We’re looking for more volunteers for our LINk Reading Group. If you’d like to help the NHS & the Council produce easy to read reports, without all the jargon, please get in touch. The Reading Group will suit you if you’ve got 2-3 hours to spare a month, have email access, enjoy reading and want to make a real difference from the comfort of your own home. The Reading Group has become very popular and the NHS & council are requesting the groups help for a number of projects over the next couple of months. To find out more, please contact Louise on 0300 111 0102 or email: contact@makesachange.org.uk
Help your GP surgery to improve their services
The LINk has been offering advice and support to some local GP surgeries, as they create patient participation groups and survey their patients. If you are a patient at any of these Poole GP surgeries, please get in touch with them and ask to take part in their patient survey – your views are needed:
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The Adam Practice – www.adampractice.co.uk
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Heatherview Medical Centre – Tel: 01202 743678
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Herbert Avenue
Medical Centre – Tel: 01202
743333
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MadeiraMedical Centre – Tel: 01202 741345
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Rosemary Medical Centre – Tel: 0844 477 3101
PS. If you have any comments about your GP surgery that you’d rather not talk to them about, you can tell us at the LINk. We’re independent and we won’t share your details with anyone. We will use your feedback to help improve local services.
PooleLINk ‘Leaving Hospital’ Report
Our report on elderly peoples’ experience of leaving Poole Hospital is now written and is with the hospital waiting for their response – we will publish the report at the end of this month.
Hospital Merger Consultation
PooleHospital and the Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals have made the decision to prepare a business plan for merging. If approved, this will be the first ever merger of two Hospital Foundation Trusts. They are now holding a public consultation on the name, board and governance arrangements of the potentially merged Trust. To find out more you can go to: http://213.106.147.101/healthy_future/ or attend one of their public meetings running from 8th February to 3rd April.
BCHA Ignite Programme
The BCHA Ignite programme is a lottery funded initiative for people over 18 and unemployed living in the Bournemouth, Poole or Christchurch. Ignite offers coaching and a range of workshops, events and activities to raise self esteem, confidence and motivation, encouraging clients to realise their potential and move towards training opportunities, courses, volunteering and paid employment. Ignite is assisting people to Ignite the life they have and overcome obstacles. Since starting in February 2010, Ignite has helped over 600 people, receiving referrals from Jobcentre Plus, probation and housing associations. 129 people have found paid employment, 151 have engaged in voluntary work and over 190 clients have enrolled on formal or informal courses. To find out more call the Ignite team on 01202 410500.
Do you have a brother or sister experiencing mental health or emotional difficulties?
Are you aged between 14 and 25? Would you like some support for yourself? Rethink siblings workshops could be for you. They are offering FREE workshops for 14-18 and 19-25 year olds who have a brother or sister with experience of mental health problems. Rethink have workshops starting THIS MONTH so contact them now to join up. Email siblingsprogramme@rethink.org or call 020 7840 3016 for more information.
* STOP * LOOK * LISTEN *
STOP LOOK LISTEN is being organised by the PAX Forum for parents and carers of children with special needs or a disability. This event is on Thursday 22nd March 2012 from 9.30am-2.30pm in Welcome Area (above library) Dolphin Centre, Poole. There will be lots of information stands (including Poole LINk) as well as a chance to give your views on services to people who really want to listen – PAX believe that parents and carers really are experts and you can make a difference! Please drop in anytime from 9.30am to 2.30pm for a cuppa and a chat. For more details go to: http://www.poolespecialparents.org.uk/blog/?p=70
Bad Winter Weather Advice
In the past three months some of the voluntary and community sector have been working with the local authorities and health to improve co-ordination of help for vulnerable people in bad winter weather. One action point was to set up a web based single message point on Source. That page is now up and running at: http://www.sourcedirectory.org.uk/kb5/dorset/asch/advicenote.page?record=Qve8eOFSjG0 . Please pass this information on, so that if anyone has a concern or query about what they can do in bad winter weather they know where to start.
Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group
Our local GP’s in Poole, Bournemouth & Dorset have agreed to work together and form one pan-Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). CCG’s will take over from Primary Care Trusts next year, as part of the governments health reforms. A new shadow CCG Board will be set up by April 2012 with Dr Forbes Watson as its Chair, and Dr Richard Holmes supporting in a vice chair capacity. Both are local GPs and have been working with NHS Bournemouth & Poole and local lead GPs over the past months to support the development of the CCG. These are transitional arrangements pending agreement about the future structure of the CCG and the appointment to identified roles within it. To find out more about CCG’s go to: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2011/09/developing-clinical-commissioning-group-authorisation/
Volunteers & Drivers Needed in Broadstone
CLUBS in Dorset for older people are in desperate need of volunteers and drivers in order to stay open. The charity Brendoncare’s club in Broadstone is appealing for help. Brendoncare locality manager Tony Hanson said: “These clubs provide their members, most of whom are in their 80s and 90s and live alone, with a really valuable trip out of their home each week. They enjoy meeting their friends, guest speakers and entertainers, activities, outings and informative talks. But we really need to recruit more general helpers and volunteer drivers to keep the clubs going.” Volunteers are supported by professional staff. Ring Mr Hanson on 01202 722211 or 07900 918017 or visit brendoncare.org.uk.
Personal Independence Payment Consultation
There’s been lots of debate over the last few weeks about welfare reform and now the Department of Work & Pensions is holding a public consultation. They want to seek further views from disabled people and their organisations, to ensure that they get the assessment criteria right. The new consultation will run for 15 weeks, from 16 January 2012 to 30 April 2012. Final draft regulations will be laid before Parliament later this year and will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny through the "affirmative procedure", which means they must be approved by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords to become law: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/the-assessment-criteria/
What’s your STIQ?
NHS Bournemouth and Poole are urging people to get tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). More and more people in the UK are catching STIs such as chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhoea and genital warts. Research shows that each year the infection rate is rising. Regardless of how old you are, if you're gay or straight, if you've had one partner or 100 - just one unprotected sexual encounter could have put you at risk of catching and subsequently spreading an STI. Sophia Callaghan, consultant in Public Health states: “Even if you don’t have any symptoms you may still have an STI, having a test is like having a sexual health MOT; they should be done regularly and will give you peace of mind”. Practicing safer sex and having regular STI screening can protect you from the long term health risks which some STIs cause if left untreated. Always practice safe sex by using condoms and seek advice if you are concerned. For advice and information about sexual health, including where to get tested locally, visit: www.f-risky.co.uk or www.rainbowbournemouth.co.uk
Swimmers Required in Hamworthy
There are a small group of local residents who meet every Friday at Hamworthy Middle School, 8-9am (access from 7.45am) to swim in the school’s pool. Unfortunately numbers have declined over a period of time and the group is at risk of having to stop altogether so they are appealing for new members. The users of the pool are people who use the session as gentle exercise to improve their mobility, rather than tearing up and down the pool as if they are training for the Olympics. There is a ramp access to the pool and a hoist is available if needed. It would be a real shame if this group had to cease their activities which they enjoy, however, small numbers means that it would be unaffordable to continue. For more information please ring John Wilson on 01202 246906
CQC warns Onshore Recruitment Limited that it is failing to protect the safety and welfare of people
The Care Quality Commission has issued a formal warning to Onshore Recruitment Limited that it must make urgent improvements to standards of care or face further action. The warning follows unannounced visit by inspectors to the Onshore Healthcare office at Parkstone in Poole in November to follow up requirements made during a previous inspection. Onshore Recruitment Limited is registered as a domiciliary care service to provide personal care to adults in their own homes. Inspectors found that the agency was failing to comply with the government regulation covering arrangements to recruit, train and support care workers. Ian Biggs, deputy director of CQC in the South said: "The law says that these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant. This warning sends a clear and public message that Onshore Healthcare needs to address this issue as a matter of urgency or face serious consequences.”
Mencap Event ‘Big Cuts’
Mencap are holding an event in Dorchester on Thursday 15th March to provide information and advice on what the governments welfare reforms mean for people with learning disabilities. Please go along to this event to find out about your rights, get legal advice from a community care lawyer and meet M.P Oliver Letwin. There will be lots of advice and support available, plus a light lunch and refreshments. Booking is essential as places are limited - details on the attached flyer.
Free Training for Volunteers
Please find attached a table of courses that Skills&Learning are running this Spring for volunteers, community organisations and for people on benefits wishing to enhance their employability skills. Please have a look and see if any of these courses interest you and book early – they fill up quickly. For more information, please contact Charlotte on: c.lord @poole.gov.uk or call her on 01202 262322.
Thanks for your help, the LINk can't work without you!
We're always looking for volunteers to get involved in LINk projects and your comments direct the LINks work - so tell us what you think about local health and social care services. Contact Louise Bate, Poole LINk Development Officer: