Ystradgynlais Carers Challenge

Coproduce better transport and

communication between and from

services

Facilitated by Powys

Carers Service

18th November 2015

Ystradgynlais

Welfare Hall

Supported by range

of partners (see

inside)

ListenPlan

togetherDeliver together

PURPOSE OF THE EVENT

Ystradgynlais Carers Group held a special event on the 18th November, involving Carers, heads of services and

representatives from service providers. The event was an opportunity to check progress since May where

most of the same people got together and committed to action.

The aims of the event are to:

Empower Carers and the Cared for to have the

information to be able to make best use of services.

Lead to better services and support the wellbeing of

Carers and the people they care for.

Support the early intervention and prevention

agenda.

Save money for services.

The main ethos behind each event is:

a) If everyone does their bit (big or small), change will be achieved over time. It is also a way of making

best use of what we already have (e.g. connections, existing staff etc)

b) All will be invited back to Ystradgynlais in 6 months to a year; the idea being that we each focus on

action rather than meetings, then come together to share progress, learning and co-produce an even

better action plan for the following year etc.

WHO CAME?

Yet again people from different services travelled from all corners of Powys and Carers made special

arrangements to arrange replacement care to relieve them of their caring duties in order to be able to

contribute to the event. Just coming to the event entailed a big commitment of time and good will; a great

indication of collective commitment!

PRESENT

Owen Judd, Carer

John Nicholls, Carer

Kirsty Williams, Assembly Member

Meiriona Davies, Carer,

Joy Garfit, Adult Services at Powys County Council

Jen Jeffries, Adult Services at Powys County Council

Pauline Lyddon, Carer

Pam O Connor, Carer

Sarah Leyland Jones, PAVO

Mary Morgan, Carer

Julie Skelton, Carers Wales

Yvonne Bufton, Age Powys

Wendy Williams, Carer

Ifor Williams, Ystradgynalis Community Member

Gill Colerick, Hafal

Jenny O’Hara Jakeway, Powys Carers Service

David Harris, Carer

Maxine Oliver, Powys Carers Service

Kath Nicholls, Carer

County Council

Lucy Taylor, Powys Carers Service

Trudy Davies, Adult Services at Powys County

Council

Victoria Deakins, Powys Teaching Health Board

Carol Judd Ystradgynais Community Member

The Carers have identified two

ongoing challenges:

1. Communication between

and from services

2. Transport

Christina Thomas, Ystradgynlais Community

Hospital

Margret Dealey, Cross Roads Mid and West Wales

APOLOGIES

Heather Parry, CYPP Powys County Council

Caroline Bull, Ystradgynlais Volunteering Centre

Lisa Rapado,

Kirsty Williams, Assembly Member

Ingrid Bernathova, Crossroads Mid and West Wales

PLANNING ACTIONS TOGETHER - EVENT FORMAT

1. Informal introductions along with update on actions since last meeting.

2. Meiriona gave an update on her training as Carers Ambassador. An action that she had committed to in

the previous meeting.

Gill Colerick gave an update on the events and Carers support that she has organized since the last

meeting.

3. Discussion over afternoon tea

4. ACTION PLANNING TOGETHER, With each person announcing their individual action to progress the

communication issues highlighted.

PROGRESS ON ACTON

Progress on action since previous meeting Who

ACTION TO DATE: Promised report from last meeting and organize the next one. Also had promised to explore GP surgery role in supporting Carers – The GP surgery gave apology for meeting today, their letter was read out. They offered to put information in the Practice Booklet, Owen had bought a copy for all to see. They stated in the letter that they cannot provide 1 GP to co ordinate support for Carers. Reported had heard from LBH that with several Consultants involved in a case, the GP is the one to co ordinate it and make sure patient/ Carer understands advice, or sort out conflicting advice. ACTION FOR NEXT PERIOD: Jen promised to progress the conversation with GPs and LHB. NEW INTRODUCTION: Jen Jeffries PCC. Is working with the health board to develop Integrated Community Teams – they are starting in Ystradgynlais. They want to capture frequently asked questions.

Jen (Powys Carers) Jen Jeffries (Powys Council).

ACTION TO DATE: Max is compiling Carers Information in folders, and is gathering more information for them. She has permission for 1 to go in the library and 1 at surgery. She is struggling to call around all Carers, as has many new Carers to visit. ACTION TO DATE: Meiriona has become a Carers Ambassador for Carers Wales. She has been on training with 9 other ambassadors from across Wales and it was interesting to meet them all. She will visit the Carers meeting in Neath to see what they are doing, and get ideas if any would help Carers in Ystrad area. She feels the Government have a very low number as their estimation. ACTION TO DATE: Is getting involved with different organisations and spreading the word. ACTION TO DATE: Owen brought the information booklet produced by Ystradgynlais GPs to show everyone and raised the issue that the booklet should be sent to all patients not just for picking up at the surgery if you knew about it. The next one will be put together in December, hopes PCS and Hafal could get information in it. A discussion took place and it was recommended that the satellite surgeries also needed them, or better yet to all patients. The group offered to read through the next leaflet for the GPs. ACTION FOR NEXT PERIOD: talk to Ystradgynlais GPs about flagging the records if you are a Carer.. ACTION TO DATE: Promised to spread the word about support for Carers at the last event and she has done so, even going on S4C with the Alzheimers society and mentioning Ystradgynlais Carers group. Ivor explained how excellent Wendy’s care is and how he truly appreciates her. ACTION TO DATE: Yvonne has been involved in a project to interview people with dementia and their Carers. She will take the information gathered to the Carers Partnership Board. Mostly the stories highlighted that Carers were lonely and there was still some stigma around dementia. ACTION FOR NEXT PERIOD: Yvonne will meet with Max. Jen Jeffries is re visiting the plans for dementia care with the LBH and will connect to Yvonne.

Max (Powys Carers) Meiriona (Carer from Ystradgynlais) David (Carer from Ystradgynlais) Owen (Carer from Ystradgynlais) Jen (Powys Carers Service) Wendy (Ystradgynlais Carer) Ivor (Ystradgynlais Community Member) Yvonne- Age Cymru Yvonne – Age Cymru Jen Jeffries – Powys Council

ACTION TO DATE: Sarah Leyland-Jones asked Carl about his actions from the last meeting. The last meeting Carl (CEO of PAVO) did raise the issue of getting the LHB around the table with the LHB. PAVO has discussed who is best to attend these meetings and have decided to send the officer relevant to the topics to be discussed, hence Sarah has come today as transport is to be discussed and she is Senior Officer for Community Transport and Training. NEW INTRODUCTION:- Victoria Deakins – LHB. ACTION TO DATE: Victoria will feedback to the LHB and find out who is best placed to attend these meetings. EXPERIENCE SHARED:- Pam: Felt she had not had support to get out at all, but had been helped by Lynne-Anne of the Red Cross. NEW INTRODUCTION: Margaret is the new manager of the respite home in Llandrindod and will talk to Sam about help from Crossroads. She will work together with Carers to resolve the process issues. NEW INTRODUCTION:- She has a health promotion running with older people so came to see how she can help, she will link with the Red Cross. NEW INTRODUCTION: - Lynne-Anne is based at the hospital. UPDATE ON ACTION: Kirsty sent her apologies but she has (as per her promise at the last meeting) tabled an amendment to the Health and Wellbeing Act. Powys Carers Service will gather the details of the amendment and feedback to the group. UPDATE ON ACTION: Julie is here to listen to Carers so that she can lobby on their behalf. Julie recruited Meiriona from the last meeting to be a Carers Ambassador for Powys, the Ambassador programme is to reach out to Carers and signpost them to services. UPDATE ON ACTION: Heather Parry had committed to working to develop a joint commissioning strategy for Carers with social services and health with a focus on early intervention and prevention, in other words, how to support early so that needs don’t increase but then also providing support for those whose needs do increase. ACTION FOR NEXT PERIOD: Joy is interested in launching the strategy, perhaps at an event during Carers Week, working with Powys Carers Service and others.

Sarah Leyland-Jones (PAVO) Victoria Deaking (LHB) Pam Margaret Daley – Crossroads Christina Thomas – Outpatients dept. Ystradgynlais Hospital: Lynne- Anne Wright – Red Cross Kirsty Williams AM (gave apologies but left message) Julie Skelton- Carers Wales Joy Garfitt – Powys County Council

CELEBRATING SUCCESS ALONG THE WAY

Meiriona shared how she

had undertaken training as a

Carers Ambassador with

Carers Wales and that she

was planning to go to the

Senedd on Carers Rights

Day to ask questions on

behalf of the Ystradgynais

Carers Group

Gill Colerick from Hafal

talked about a music event

that she had organized with

Carers in and around

Ystradgynlais who are

supporting people with

severe mental health issues.

The event was a success

and a new support group is

emerging from it

Significant progress had been made on many issues thanks to the commitment of

everybody in the room. After lunch, the challenges were about how to address

issues around transport and communications between and from services.

Actions overleaf

CHALLENGE 1: COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AND FROM SERVICES

AGREED FOCUS FOR THE NEXT PERIOD: GPS SURGERIES ARE AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT GPS RECOGNISE HOW PIVOTAL THEY ARE IN GETTING SUPPORT FOR CARERS. (THERE IS A NEED TO REACH HIDDEN CARERS, GPS CAN HELP IDENTIFY THEM.

ACTION WHO

PCS should revisit the GP engagment project – where each surgery agreed to have a

member of staff to be a champion to identify carers and refer them for support.

Owen- There is a need to reach hidden Carers. GPs can help identify them.

MI Unit: It would be good if they asked if they are a carer or care for someone then

refer to PCS and push with the GP surgery.

There is a “Make every contact count” campaign in the LHB and health promotion.

Can capitalize on that.

Launch Carers Strategy with the local GPs surgeries during Carers Week.

John explain how he values PCS Counselling service it should be kept in place as it is

an essential service, it really helped John with stress brought on by his caring role –

Action: Joy will feed this back to the service specification for when Carers support

services are invited to tender

Powys Carers

MI Unit

Joy Garfitt with

Powys Carers

Joy Garfitt

.

CHALLENGE 2: TRANSPORT

THE ISSUE

John: Bus travel is bad if you are in a wheel chair, the wheel chairs are not clamped in.

David explained the following points:

Red Cross have cut back on the number of vehicles ( the vehicles were not past use they were sent to Carmarthen)

From Ystradgynlais to go to Singleton you have to have an ambulance, the ambulances are on a circuit and so you can often

be there all day.

Community Cars had a bus but it had gone and they cannot take people to hospital.

The need is not seen – it is take the taxi or walk, if Carmarthen sent a bus for one person, the bus is out of commission.

Dansa are an organisation that cover Ystradgynlais . It was £1 for life membership but they charge journeys as community

cars would per mile. Need to check that it covers Ystrad area.

Wendy: If it is the Carer who has the appointment the transport needs to take both Carer and person cared for as you can’t leave

them on their own.

Pauline: Before the meeting that day she had : been to Morriston, gone to another hospital, been back home to care for her mother,

after the meeting she needed to go back to her mothers to complete her care . She could not have made her own appointment or

seen to her mother if her sons who also had appointments had relied on her for transport.

The bus service in the area is very poor.

Christina: The lack of transport if a big issue for the Minor Injuries Unit now the Red Cross is reduced, you now have to phone the

ambulance and can wait 5 hours – all as they are 1 car down. The Red Cross have the volunteer driver all ready to go.

Sarah: These problems are not unusual or unique to the area, Sarah had given evidence to the Senedd.

Carers need a service just to go shopping – Dial a ride service in Ystrad, Sarah will discuss it with Denver. Years ago they were

approached by Young Carers and made it clear that if escorting someone they did not pay for the escort. Sarah will discuss non

emergency transport with colleagues. IF you are eligible for transport you may have to go in a circuit if that is how it’s provided.

Perhaps more volunteers are needed to provide a door to door service. Red Cross had volunteers and the service was good

especially for those cancer patients who needed radio therapy. The Red Cross service helped hospitals too as though it did not

mitigate waiting they ran a mix and match service with ambulances to get the patient there quickly. The Red Cross service was

funded by a legacy. – The legacy paid for the car, drivers were volunteers and clients paid 45p per mile.

The Red Cross were another choice. Community Carers also offer some transport – but again it is a choice and has limited capacity.

We need to ask more detailed questions of those using the transport. Sarah can’t give answers today but will take the issues back.

Kath: There is not transport to go to MIND, when MIND moved Cllr Hugh Williams promised there would be transport. There are

vulnerable people who cannot access a service they relied on.

KEY ACTION FOR NEXT PERIOD: Sarah is meeting with Welsh

Ambulance who provide patient transport and health board

colleagues. They want to move forward on access to services and

making services better for patients. LBH are looking at changing the

contract they have so the times can broaden.

If you are a Carer you should not have to pay if escorting someone.

Sarah will take the issues raised to day away and discuss them with

colleagues in her 3rd Sector role on how to meet the needs in

Powys as public transport has been reduced. She will look to LHB

for support with transport.

COMMITMENTS TO ACTION BY JUNE 2016

Jen PCS: Will work with Joy and colleagues for a date in June 2016 (Carers Week 6 – 12 June) to bring Carers Strategy Launch to GP

Surgery in Ystradgynalis; this can tie in with the date for the next event to follow up today’s actions.

To follow through individual cases to see “What good looks like” , to take individual issues and help carers co design with providers

“ What good looks like”. Go ahead from Joy and LHB.

Margaret Crossroads: Made 2 pages of notes for Ingrid – Service Development Manager, will be in contact. She has spoken to 2

Carers individually.

Jen Jeffreys PCC: Carers can help Jen with creating an integrated team to get the “system” right from the start. Co ordinating Social

workers, OTs, PCC and LHB, District Nurses and Physios and Community Support officers to help when there are complex issues for 1

person to be contact for a better service for Carers and

older people.

Gill Hafal: MH services should be included in social care,

people with dementia sit with the Older People’s team but

MH problems stay with MH team.

Kath: Will that help people who are losing care workers

from agencies.

Julie Carers Wales: Will meet with Lucy PCS regarding

working together with the Ambassadors.

Victoria Deakins LHB: Is interested in the Ambassadors,

would like a Champion in North Powys.

Kath: Will raise awareness of the vulnerable in the community.

John: Will write to councillors to let them know about the service – Jen will give him the address- and he will report bad bus drivers.

Max PCS: Will meet with Christina and pursue the GP project.

Christina: Will look into how she can help from the hospital’s point of view, and how many Carers come through the door or go into

GP surgeries. Will make a display on what services there are in the area for the hospital.

Lynne-Anne Red Cross: She will take it case by case and highlight what is blocking people from attending groups and helping with

confidence to attend.

Mary: Will help where she can.

Meiriona: Will go to Cardiff with the question formed.

David: will carry on caring, and help Meiriona with her computer.

Gill, Hafal: Will carry on supporting her group and respond to their needs.

In the north of the county they have a PR group who respond to PR requests/ needs. Possibly Carers could have a group to highlight

Carers issues with GPs.

Meirona: Continue to be an ambassador and suggeste developing a film called “ Carry on Caring” .

Pauline: A student Counsellor could help – a counsellor works with her son to go around talking to people in meetings – cadets,

police student doctors – about what it is like first hand (mh problems)

Victoria LHB: In north Powys the police go to MH teams to get more perspective.

Carol: She had seen no one for months and now she has been sent a nurse, a social worker and someone to take her out for coffee –

3 good people. She will look after Owen – if he buys her a hoover for Christmas!

Owen: Will volunteer his time to help with some other projects around. If you want help contact Owen.

Wendy: Sometimes there is no mechanism in the system to sort the problems, it would be good to co design “What good looks like”.

It was good to see three or four groups in Ystradgynlais in the PCS newsletter.

Ivor: Until you get Alzheimers you have no idea what it is like.

Julie Carers Wales: They are often asked for case studies if the carers were happy to share their stories written down, or could talk

to the radio. Carers Wales have a creative writing competition.

Yvonne Age Cymru: Age C have a project for those with dementia and their carers to tell their story and the participants are often

relieved to have someone to talk to. She will take away Julie’s contact and coax them to share their experiences.

Victoria LHB: Will go back to the LHB and share the group’s work and will work together in the future.

Joy Garfitt PCC: There will be an action plan from the strategy she will ask the team who will get it done to talk to PCS. With the

commissioning strategy she will get out there and do it. Joy will talk to the commissioning team about the value of counselling.

Pam: will continue to care.

FEEDBACK FROM 18TH NOVEMBER MEETING WITH YSTRADGYNLAIS CARERS.

Of 19 possible forms. 11 returned – 7 carers and 4 orgs.

Today, did you feel listened to?

Yes x 7 carers and 4 x organisation reps.

Comments: Everyone had their different stories to tell, and all were heard.

To hear people and organisations communicate is helpful.

I’m a carer, not from this part of Wales, just needs to be more forums across Wales.

Did you feel supported by PCS to share your views? Yes x 7 carers and 4 x organisation reps.

Comments: Interesting and challenging issues shared.

Definitely – don’t know where I’d be without PCS and Hafal.

Do you think today will help make services for Carers better? Yes x 6 Carers and 4 x organisations Maybe x 1 carer

Comments: Any action on behalf of the carers is a move in the right direction.

Hopefully with enough support.

The communication between services can only get better because they’re communicating.

All depends on if the authorities actually listen and learn.

Was the event a good use of your time? Yes x 7 carers and 3 x organisations

Comments: Lessons listened to stories heard and ideas and information taken on board.

To give our views and be listened to

Good opportunity for service providers to share and agree way forward to best support carers

What would you change next time?

Nothing, there was a varied agenda and everyone was encouraged to take part.

Maybe have someone from MH to hear about our caring roles.

Nothing, well done PCS.

Longer session.

Nothing.

Anything else you would like to say?

Good actions and organising by PCS – thank you.

Keep the meetings going to give us the chance of being heard.

Carry on changes for the better

Excellent meeting thank you.