Poole LINk News
Poole LINk gets people talking about social care
The LINk is an independent, voluntary organisation working to improve health & social care services in Poole.
Working with the Borough of Poole and local groups, the LINk held this event at Fourways Day Centre in Poole on 14th October 2010.
This was an opportunity for the Borough of Poole to update progress made on the LINks recommendations from the April Personalisation event.
Local groups brought display stands & information: Broadstone Access Group, COAST, Coda
Music Trust, Dorset Advocacy, Dots Disability, Expert Patient Programme, Friends of Wessex
Assisting Dogs, Poole Adult Learning, Poole Glaucoma Group, Poole Forum, PRO Disability,
Richmond Fellowship, Sign It & Skills for Care.
The event was introduced by Barbara Plumbridge, Poole LINk Stewardship Group Chair. We had 3 presentations on the day, here’s a brief summary of each:
Presentation by Jo O’Connell from the Borough of Poole
Jo explained how the Borough of Poole is meeting the LINks recommendations:
- Self Directed Support & Personal Budget leaflets now available in all GP surgeries
- Surveys have shown that most people are happy with the assessment process
- A new information website for Bournemouth, Poole & Dorset called ‘Source’ will launch next year & include a feedback section for you to comment about services
Presentation by Lindy Cuthbert from PRO Disability
PRO Disability is a User Led Organisation contracted to provide advice and support to people with a direct payment.They can, for a small fee, assist with payroll, banking and employing a personal assistant. They also keep a personal assistant register to help you find the right person. More details at www.prodisability.org.uk
Service Users Story by Lynne Fisher
Lynne has had direct payments for 13 years & even helped design the system! Lynne employs several part time assistants who help her with everything from getting up in the morning to giving presentations at events. Before direct payments Lynne found agency staff were often late & it was stressful, now she has control of her life.
Lynne chose to be responsible for employing staff etc, but remember - you don’t have to. It’s about helping you live a more independent life, in a way that suits you.
L-R: Jo O'Connell, Principle Officer of Joint Commissioning at Borough of Poole, gives a presentation at the event; Arthur from Poole Forum mans a stand for the group; Lindy Cuthbert, another speaker at the event, with her PRO Disability colleague Charlie.
Workshop Feedback
- You want a mechanism for identifying gaps in service (e.g. if lots of people are waiting for a daytime arts activity) and generating new opportunities
- You would like a floating support service to provide legal / specialist advice
The LINk will make these 2 suggestions to the Borough of Poole
- You’re worried that central government cuts will have an effect on local services
- Will the new Source website include service user groups? YES
- One person raised concerns that people with mental health problems need ad hoc support (filling in forms etc) that isn’t covered by direct payments. Local groups can help (CitizenAdvice Bureau, Richmond Fellowship, Rethink etc)
Question & Answer Session
1. How do we get started with Direct Payments? Jo explained that you need to have beenassessed and be eligible for support from Adult Social Care
2. What does the term ‘Personalisation’ mean? Giving people choice and control about howtheir care & support is provided, in a way that suits them
3. Will there be a meeting like this in Bournemouth? The LINk will suggest this
4. Community transport should be increased and needs monitoring John McVey, BoroughTransport Lead, plans future transport & will monitor this issue
5. How does the Borough of Poole help people to budget their money and ensure they do not spend too little, or too much? (e.g. if a PA leaves and there is a gap of a few months, money can be taken back by the council) PRO Disability can help with budgeting & money is reviewed after 6weeks, to monitor spending
6. Could a person use their Personal Budget to pay for an assistance dog? Yes, as long as it metthe outcomes identified in your support plan.
7. How and when will the ‘Source’ be available and publicised? The new website will be launchednext March/April. The Borough of Poole will work with LINks to promote and raise awarenessthrough the LINk Newsletters
8. What’s going to happen to people currently on ‘moderate’ social care support when the Borough cuts funding? Everyone on ‘moderate’ care will be re-assessed by a social worker, before anychanges are made
See below for a report on our last Personalisation event, together with
resources to help you:
On 27th April, Poole LINk worked together with the Borough of Poole and lots of local groups, to hold a ‘Personalisation Day’ in Poole, which over 90 people attended.
The day was organised to give people clear, uncomplicated information and find out what local people really want from social care services.
The event was a great success and we've used your feedback to make some recommendations to the Borough of Poole, see page 4 of the Personalisation Day Report.
We are also attaching a contact list for all the groups who brought display stands to the event and the two presentations shown on the day from our speakers.
At the bottom of this page there are also further resources about personalisation, direct payments and personal budgets.
Other Resources:
Personalisation - Easy Read web resource from SCIE
Personalistion E-Learning rescource containing videos
Thanks to everyone who attended the events or expressed an interest in Personalisation. To find out more, or to comment on our reports, please contact Louise Bate:
Tel: 0300 111 0102
Text LINKS + your request to 80039
Email: contact@makesachange.org.uk