Carers Connected

November 2018

Professionals Connected

May - July 2019

Dear family carer champions, colleagues and professionals Welcome to the May - July 2019 edition of our newsletter for professionals and people workingwith family carers. We have had a great spring. We launched our new Military Families project,with support from lots of organisations, and we held a very successful training programme forjunior doctors at Ipswich Hospital making it on to their mandatory induction programme, ensuringfamily carers are at the heart of the hospital. We took 2 young carers to Westminster where theyaddressed parliament to express what it is like to be a young person caring for someone. Wehave won some awards too! We received a High Sheriff award for our partnership work withIpswich Hospital and a GSK IMPACT award for our contribution to the health and wellbeing of family carers in Suffolk.Please share with your team members, and if you would like to be added to our distribution list,please visit our website where you can sign up.

Spring re-cap

The Suffolk Serving Families Project launched on 14th February after Suffolk FamilyCarers successfully received a two year grant from the Armed Forces Covenant- FamiliesIn Stress Fund.

Kate Hinchliff, Military Families Project Lead, said ‘We have lots of serving armed forces familiesin Suffolk, and this project will enable us to identify the family carers within those families andhelp them access support in their caring roles. We are delighted to be here at Wattishamlaunching this project, and keen to also develop working relationships with welfare staff at RAFHonnington and Rock Barracks in Woodbridge, to ensure serving families on these bases, andthose living in the community, receive support, information and guidance.’ There was a significant turn out for the event which included high ranking officers, Lt Col Englishand Lt Col Brown from Wattisham Flying Station, Col (Retd) John Ogden – Suffolk Armed ForcesCommissioner, representatives from each of the armed forces family federations, representativesfrom the local community, including Cllr Linda Baxter - Stowmarket Town Mayor, staff from theDepartment of Work and Pensions, Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust, Sandra Bromley fromSuffolk Royal British Legion, Wattisham Welfare staff and families. All witnessed Sarah Potter, Mental Health & Wellbeing Service Manager from Suffolk FamilyCarers, sign the Armed Forces Convenant to pledge their commitment to armed forces and theirfamilies. If you would like to find out more about the service and how we can support any family carersyou are working with who are currently serving or are ex-service men/women, please call ourinformation line on 01473 835477. We are now included on an induction programme for new Doctors at Ipswich HospitalOn 13th February, staff and family carers delivered a presentation to junior Doctors in their firstyear of training at Ipswich Hospital. Due to its success, the presentation will now be included inthe mandatory induction training for all junior Doctors at the hospital going forward. We are incredibly proud of this achievement and honoured to be working in partnership withIpswich Hospital, to continue to raise awareness of family carers and highlight just how importantthey are in the hospital setting. Young carers encourage parliament to sign pledgesSuffolk Family Carers was one of a number of Carer organisations across the UK who attended the event to voice what really mattered to young carers. Both of our young people volunteered to stand up and retell their own personal experience of caring for a family member, and how it has impacted on their childhood. They both spoke with confidence and clarity to a large audience and we are very proud of them. You can see Blake addressing the room on our website's latest news feed. The young carers at the event wanted to raise awareness to MPs of pledges they would like tobe considered in Parliament.

These pledges are as follows: They would like young carers to be recognised in the new Ofstedcriteria. This amendment will allow young carers to continue to be identified and supported inschools, to ensure they receive the educational opportunities they deserve. They asked for theMPs to share the personal experiences of the young carers, and to tell their colleagues andfellow MPs. They asked each MP to visit a carer organisation in their local constituency to findout first-hand what support is available in their locality. It was a long but valuable day for all involved. We would like to thank Carers Trust for inviting usto attend, the MPs who took the time to speak to all of the young carers individually and, mostimportantly, to Izzy and Blake for giving up their time to help shape future support andrecognition for carers. Young carer collects Easter eggs for those who are less fortunateThrough attending parliament and telling his story, Blake met lots of other young carers who are less fortunate than him. He said "I felt that there were others in a worse position than me, so I want to give somethingback to those in need." Blake launched 'Chocs for champs', a campaign to help collect Easter eggs for young carers in Suffolk who may not have received an egg this year. 'Chocs for champs' collected and distributed over 600 Easter eggs across the county to young carers in time for Easter. Natasha joined our teamHi, I am Natasha and I am the new Substance Misuse Family Carer Facilitator and Support Worker. Prior to this appointment, I worked for Open Road, a Substance Misuse Charity in Essex, as a Recovery Worker supporting clients with substance misuse. I have also worked in various other support and advocacy roles. I also have real life experience of being a family carer which is an added bonus with my current role.So, if you would like to find out more about the support we provide for those caring for somebodywith substance misuse, please call me on 01473 835411.

We won a High Sheriff award for our partnership with ESNEFTNot so long ago, Frances our Volunteer Co-ordinator, nominated the Ipswich Hospital (ESNEFT) volunteers and staff who work in collaboration with Suffolk Family Carers staff, (Mandy, Debbie and Jacqui) for an award by the High Sheriff. We are pleased to announce that, after being shortlisted, we (Debbie and David from SuffolkFamily Carers), and Robert Payne (ESNEFT Volunteer Manager) attended a rather glitzy eventin Wherstead on 28th March, and were lucky enough to win the Suffolk Collaborative PartnershipAward. There was a glass trophy and certificate for ESNEFT and Suffolk Family Carers also received£1000. In true Oscar style, this is recognition of brilliant collaboration! A massive thank you to Frances for the nomination, to Mandy, Debbie and Jacqui at IpswichHospital, and to all the volunteers and staff at Ipswich Hospital who support family carers everyday. We won a GSK awardThe GSK IMPACT Awards is a national programme that recognises and rewards small and medium sized charities that are doing excellent work to improve people’s health and wellbeing in communities across the UK. Winners will receive £30,000 in unrestricted funding, as well as expert support and leadership development provided by The King’s Fund. Suffolk Family Carers supports unpaid carers of all ages across the county by providinginformation and advice, running peer support groups, working with schools, hospitals,pharmacies and GPs, as well as campaigning on issues that affect family carers. The impact ofcaring responsibilities can be significant, with 61% of carers reporting that caring had an impacton their physical health and 72% reporting an impact on their mental health. Last year, thecharity’s helpline handled over 11,000 calls – and conducted over 1,000 carers assessments. Suffolk Family Carers runs programmes to help people who care for those with specificconditions, such as autism or ADHD, or issues with substance misuse. We supported over 1,700young carers in Suffolk last year. We also established an awards scheme for schools which putssupport in place for pupils who look after a family member. Ninety schools and colleges havesigned up, with a further 155 welcoming the charity into the schools to deliver one to ones ordrop-in sessions.

A similar scheme has now been developed within hospitals to help them to evaluate and improvetheir carer support services. Suffolk Family Carers has established a carer-friendly pharmacyscheme which provides information and support to the local community, and is progressing suchsupport with selected GP surgeries. We also work in hospitals to provide advice to carers as theyor their family members enter or are discharged, and run a ‘relevant person’ scheme which helpsfamilies to ensure that their loved ones’ care plans are being followed. Kirsten Alderson, CEO of Suffolk Family Carers said:“The GSK IMPACT Awards is a wonderful opportunity for the charitable sector to evaluate andshowcase its achievements. To be selected as one of the winning charities, and thereforerecognised for the impact of our work in improving health and wellbeing in local communities, is ahuge honour. The positive impact of this award for our organisation, family carers, healthprofessionals, schools, statutory services and partner voluntary sector organisations isimmeasurable, and we are delighted to be part of it.” Katie Pinnock, Director of UK and Ireland Charitable Partnerships at GSK, said: “Suffolk Family Carers is doing fantastic work supporting people of all ages and backgroundswho care for a family member. The large number of people the charity helps every yeardemonstrates the huge level of need and importance of its work. The judges were impressedwith the organisation’s strong partnerships. By working with hospitals, schools and GPs theyhave been able to identify people who might have otherwise slipped through the net and helpthem get the support they need.” Developing leaders in the charity sector is a key aim of the GSK IMPACT Awards programme. Allwinners will be invited to take part in a tailored leadership development programme provided byThe King’s Fund. They will also be invited to join the GSK IMPACT Awards Network, a nationalnetwork of over 80 previous award winners working together to develop leaders, find new waysof working, and provide mutual support. We will receive their award at a ceremony held at the Science Museum in London in May, alongwith nine other 2019 GSK IMPACT Award winners.

Courses for famiy carers

Hot topic

Anonymous legacy donation to provide ray of sunshine for unpaid carersRecently, Suffolk Family Carers received notification that over £100,000 was being left by a grateful family carer, who had strong links with the charity over many years, as part of their will and testament. The generous sum sparked some creative thinking among the charity’s team, who are determined to ensure that family carers of all ages across Suffolk will benefit directly. As a result, Suffolk Family Carers has announced its new Respite Fund, which means that manycarers with the most intense caring roles across the county, will be able to access financialsupport to seek a vital break for their own physical and mental wellbeing. Kirsten Alderson, Chief Executive of Suffolk Family Carers, said: “We know how important breaksare for carers, many of whom have very substantial caring responsibilities and provide round theclock care. We hear too often from family carers who are exhausted, near to crisis anddesperately seeking some support to have a break. It’s because of this that we want to offersomething that will support carers to get a break from their caring role.” The charity also has a static caravan in Kessingland, which is available for family carers to use forshort breaks. This will also be getting an update, thanks to the recent donation. Even though this is an extremely generous donation, Suffolk Family Carers could spend it manytimes over in order to provide respite to family carers across Suffolk. There are over 80,000 carersacross the county, so the charity is appealing to local businesses and members of the public tohelp them meet the needs of this deserving group by making donations to this respite fund. Pleaseget in touch or visit www.suffolkfamilycarers.org to make an online donation. Family carers wanting to find out more about the respite fund, or to book a break in the caravan,should contact Suffolk Family Carers’ Information Line on 01473 835477.

Focus on

Courses for family carers

Caring and copingThis 4 hour workshop will look at the challenges and stress involved in caring, and considertechniques and strategies to enable family carers to cope and keep themselves well. It will alsoallow them to step back and look at how to get balance in their lives and create opportunities formore time for themselves. This is running in Kesgrave on the 21st of June between 10.30am & 2.30pm. Living well with Dementia – A workshop for family carersThis 4 hour workshop is especially for family carers who care for someone with Dementia. It isdesigned to help family carers understand and manage the impact of Dementia on the abilities ofthe person they care for. It will provide information and advice on how to support the person andexplore coping strategies to help them in their caring role. This is running in Lowestoft on the 20th of June between 10.30am and 2.30pm.

Who are young carers and what can we do to support them?Young carers are young people who are caring for, or are emotionally affected by, a family member who has a physical or mental illness, disability or misuses drugs or alcohol.Sibling carers are young people who are affected by a brother or sister's disability, illness or additional need. What can we do to help?Caring for someone is not always about doing something to help. The impact of caring can oftenlead to young people feeling angry, and they may worry about the person and what is happeningat home. We welcome referrals from young people aged 5 years and upwards who are doing more thanwould usually be expected of a person their age, due to a long term condition of a family carer. Our team of experienced advisers can offerOne to one wellbeing supportWorkshops to build confidence and life skillsAdvocacy when their voice needs to be heardOpportunities to meet other young carers and have a break from their caring role To make a referral or for more information, please visit our website.

Programmes for carers of children and young people with ASD/ADHDThis workshop is specifically for family carers caring for someone with ASD/ADHD under the ageof 18. It reflects on the way in which they care whilst maintain their own wellbeing. Subjectsinclude condition traits and sensory issues, communication, limit setting and anxiety. We have a one day workshop taking place on the 6th of June in Lowestoft and the 12th of June inIpswich. The timing for both days is between 9.30am & 2.30pm Who's in Charge?Who’s in Charge? is a 9 week child to parent violence (CPV) programme aimed at parents andcarers whose children are being abusive or violent towards them, or who appear out of parentalcontrol. The structure of the programme consists of 8 two and a half hour sessions with a two-month follow up.Session 1 Introductions, questionnaires and genogramsSession 2 Cause and influences of abusive behaviourSession 3 What is abuse?Session 4 What can I control in my child’s life?Session 5 ConsequencesSession 6 Anger and breaking the myths of angerSession 7 AssertivenessSession 8 Self-care, future goal setting and evaluationSession 9 Two month follow up on goal achievement, evaluation and further goals. This programme will be running in Mildenhall from the 13th of May for eight weeks between 6pm& 8.30pm, with a 9th week follow up session 2 months later. For more information and to book a place on any of the above courses, please emailsupportprogrammes@suffolkfamilycarers.org or call 01473 835446. Places for all programmes MUST be booked in advance. If family carers have difficulties with transport to and from any of these events, or respite for theperson they are caring for while they attend, please contact us to discuss further. We also want to hear from family carers about any further information or education programmesthey may like to see us produce. Their ideas can help shape future programmes and ourdirection. Do contact us via the email address above with any ideas they may have.

Suffolk Advice, Guidance and Emotional Support - our SAGES team is here to help familycarersOur SAGES service is FREE & confidential for family carers, families & friends with mental &emotional wellbeing needs. We aim to help family carers maintain their caring role & look aftertheir own wellbeing by providing information, advice, guidance & emotional support. One-to-one with a SAGES workerWe can also offer family carers a one-to-one with one of our SAGES workers. This canprovide some emotional support and may be via the telephone or face to face. Making Space sessions for mental health family carersThese 4 sessions focus on the issues and needs of family carers caring for those with mentalhealth/emotional wellbeing needs. They will provide an opportunity to receive information, shareideas and experiences and meet other family carers who may be in a similar caring role.The session plan is as follows:Session 1 - Introduction and carers rights and servicesSession 2 - Mental health awareness and positive changeSession 3 - Coping strategies, communication and boundariesSession 4 - Emotional needs and resources Please note: the Stowmarket group has changed its venue and is now being held at The GardenRoom, Red Gables, Ipswich Road, Stowmarket, IP14 1BE. All meeting dates remain the same. Peer led information sessions Developed from our programme & other group activities, these sessions provide an opportunity toreceive & share information & peer support. Currently there are groups held once a monthin Stowmarket on the last Wednesday of each month 2-4pm, and in Bury St Edmunds on the lastTuesday of the month 6-8pm. Our Sudbury group meets on the last Friday of each month10.30am-12.30pm. We also have a group in Lowestoft that meets on Tuesdays once a month between 10am-12pmand a new group at meets at The Nave, Quay Place, Ipswich. Please contact us for dates. If you, someone you work with, or someone you know is caring for someone with a mental healthneed and you would like some help, advice or support from the team, then please call 01473835420 or email MH@suffolkfamilycarers.org.

Dates for your diary

Community Connector project - new dates for May 2019The community connector project is available for a private face-to-face discussion with anyonewho feels stuck in a rut and needs support to get more active or more involved in their localcommunity.The Community Connector asks ‘what matters to you?’ and not ‘what is the matterwith you?’.To find out more and to get an appointment, pop along to the bus (dates below - all sessions10am-2pm) call 01473 835445 or visit our website. 7th May - Holbrook Community Car Park, The Street, Holbrook IP9 2PZ8th May - Bildeston Health Centre, High Street, IP7 7EX14th May - Shotley Village Hall, The Street, Shotley, IP9 1LX15th May - East Bergholt Surgery, Heath Road, Colchester, CO7 6RT21st May - Stutton Village Hall, Manningtree Road, Stutton, IP9 2TA22nd May - Capel St Mary, The Street, IP9 2EE28th May - Holbrook Community Car Park, The Street, Holbrook IP9 2PZ29th May - Stonehouse Road Car Park, Hadleigh, IP7 7EX Family Carer Better Practice ForumThis is an opportunity to meet with other professionals who work with family carers to shareexperiences, information and best practice. The next meeting will be on 27th March 2019. Future meeting datesTuesday 28th May 2019Thursday 25th July 2019Tuesday 24th September 2019Thursday 28th November 2019 If you would like to attend please email reception@suffolkfamilycarers.org or call 01473 835445to book a place. Professional information sessionsProfessional information sessions at Suffolk Family Carers are held monthly to familiariseprofessionals working within statutory and voluntary organisations about the services offered bySuffolk Family Carers. Future meeting dates:30th May 201923rd July 201918th September 201920th November 2019

Unit 9, Suffolk Family Carers, Hill View Business Park, Claydon IP6 0AJ 9.30-11.30am. If you would like to book a place on one of these sessions please emailreception@suffolkfamilycarers.org or call reception on 01473 835445. We are working in GP surgeries to support family carers Working in partnership with mainly West Suffolk GP surgeries, our GP family carer Advisers arescheduled to spend time in GP surgeries as detailed below. They are in the surgery to: Help people identify as family carersProvide informationProvide guidanceRaise awareness Family carers are welcome to drop in. Please note: sometimes our Advisers may be in a quietroom talking to a family carer, usually near the end of a session. GP surgeries timetableBotesdale Health Centre - Botesdale, Diss - First Monday of each month 9am-12pmBury St Edmunds - Mount Farm Surgery - First Thursday of each month 9am-12pmBury St Edmunds - Victoria Surgery - Fourth Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmBrandon Medical Centre (Elbourne Surgery) - Second Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmBrandon - Forest Surgery - Fourth Tuesday of each month 9am-12pmClare - Guildhall Surgery - Second Monday of the month 9am-12pmClements Surgery - Haverhill - Third Monday of the month 9am-12pmGt Cornard - Cornard Surgery - Third Thursday of each month 9am-12pmGlemsford Surgery - Sudbury - Third Thursday of each month 9am-12pmHadleigh Health Centre - Hadleigh - Third Tuesday of each month 9am-12pmHaverhill Family Practice - Haverhill - Fourth Thursday of each month 9am-12pmIxworth Surgery - Ixworth - First Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmLakenheath Surgery - Lakenheath - First Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmLavenham - Long Melford Practice - Fourth Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmLong Melford Practice - Lavenham - Second Tuesday of each month 9am-12pmMildenhall - Market Cross Surgery - Third Monday of each month 9am-12pmNewmarket - Rookery Medical Centre - 2nd Thursday & 4th Monday of each month 9am-4pmNewmarket - Orchard House Surgery - First Thursday of each month 9am-12pmNewmarket - Oakfield Surgery - Third Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmRed Lodge - Reynard Surgery - Third Monday of each month 9am-12pmSudbury - Hardwicke House Surgery - Second Monday of each month 9am-12pmSudbury - Meadow Lane Surgery - First Tuesday of each month 9am-12pmSudbury - Siam Surgery - Second Tuesday of each month 9am-12pm

Stanton Surgery - Stanton - Second Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmStowmarket - Stowhealth - Third Wednesday of each month 9am-12pmWickhambrook Surgery - Wickhambrook - First Tuesday of each month 9am-12pmWoolpit Health Centre - Woolpit - Third Tuesday morning and Fourth Thursday morning 9am-12pm Family carer one-to-one sessionsYou can also have a private face to face discussion at one of the surgeries listed above or if youlive in West Suffolk. These private appointments are normally held in the GP surgery you attend,however, if this is not possible, other arrangements can be made. If you would like moreinformation, please call 01473 835407. Our admin staff work part time so please leave amessage and we will get back to you within a few days. Navigating the Road to RecoveryAre you working with a client affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use? Would they likeinformation and support? Our Substance Misuse team is here to help and support. Our five-session programme is designed to give information and support to those affected bysomeone else’s drug or alcohol use.The workshops will focus on drug and alcohol use andeffects, the impact of substance misuse on family carers’ wellbeing, understanding recovery andsupport, communication, exploring ways to cope, caring for yourself and signposting to otheragencies. These programmes are evaluated to have a positive impact on family carers’ lives. We supportpeople to explore difficult issues such as controlling and enabling, manipulation andsocial isolation. They also provide an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation,share viewpoints and discuss different strategies. Drop-in Sessions/ 1-2-1 AppointmentsWe hold regular drop-in sessions at Turning Point Ipswich, Bury St. Edmunds and Lowestoft tosupport family carers with the challenges of having a drug or alcohol user in their family. Come in and talk to our Family Support Worker for basic information and advice, registration withSuffolk Family Carers, referral onto our Family Support programme and signposting to otheragencies. Please contact Juanita by email subsmisuse@suffolkfamilycarers.org or call 01473 835411 formore details.

Carers groups for family carers

Family carer groups in Suffolk Local groups are a great way to meet other family carers - a warm welcome awaits. For further information about a specific group, please contact the facilitator of that group, as listedbelow. Bildeston group 1.30-3.30pm - Bildeston Health Centre, IP7 7EX. Last Tuesday of each monthContact Louise Bissett 01449 740254 or email louise.bissett@nhs.net Bury St Edmunds group 1-3pm - Mount Farm Surgery, IP32 7EW. First Thursday of each monthContact Maureen on 01284 762985 Bury St Edmunds Wellbeing Group6-8pm - The Oakes Barn, Community Meeting Room, St Andrews St South, Bury St Edmunds,IP33 3PH. Last Tuesday of each monthContact Bev Stearn on 01473 835455/07766367021 or email bev.stearn@suffolkfamilycarers.org Claydon craft & tea 1-4pm - The View, Hill View Business Park, Claydon, IP6 0AJ. Third Monday of each monthContact Irene Davis on 01473 652303 or email irene.davis2009@googlemail.com Eye group 1-3pm - The Eye Bowls Club, IP23 7HW. First Monday of each monthContact Katrina on 07867844702 Family Carer's Trauma Support10am-1pm - Suffolk Family Carers, Unit 9, Hill View Business Park, Old Ipswich Road, Claydon,IP6 0AJ. First Saturday of each monthContact Lizzie Cross on 07818891344 or email lizziecross67@yahoo.co.ukThis is an independent family carer peer support group. Sharing information and support to helpmanage the impact of trauma and secondary trauma in the family. This group is open to familycarers supporting people affected by trauma and/or those family carers experiencing secondarytrauma. Felixstowe & villages group 1-3pm - The Community Hub, Felixstowe Academy, Maidstone Road, IP11 9EF. Second Mondayof each monthContact Dennis Weston on 01473 832591 or email dennisweston.49@btinternet.com

Hadleigh group2-3.30pm - Hadleigh Pool & Leisure, Stonehouse Road, Hadleigh IP7 5BH. Fourth Tuesday ofeach monthContact Jill Mason and her team on 01473 823470 Haverhill group 1-3pm - Chestnut Room, The Burton Centre, Camps Road, Haverhill, CB9 8HB. Fourth Thursdayof each monthContact Jo on 07711669386 or email dwendell@btinternet.com Ipswich group 2-3.30pm - 19 Tower Street, IP1 3BE. Second Wednesday of each monthContact Mary Quinton on 01473 742839 Long Melford group 10.30-12pm - The Bull Hotel, CO10 9JG. Second Monday of each monthContact Diane Poulter on 01787 375833 Mildenhall group 1-3pm - Market Cross Surgery, IP28 7EG. Third Monday of each monthContact James on 01638 750847 or email jamescalvert276@btinternet.com or Lynda Cooklyndacook27@hotmail.com Needham Market group 10.30-12.30pm - The Green Room, Community Centre, School St, Needham IP6 8BB. Second &fourth TuesdayContact Ursula Bailie on 01449 720759 Newmarket group 1.30-3.30pm. The Rookery Medical Centre, CB8 8NW. Second Thursday of each monthContact James on 01638 750847 or email jamescalvert276@btinternet.com Stowmarket group 1.30-3pm - Hillside Community Centre, IP14 2BD. First Thursday of each monthContact Liz on 07936380127Please note: this group will not be at the community centre in May as they are having lunch atThe Osier Cafe at The Museum of East Anglian Life. You are welcome to join but please let Lizknow on the number above. Sudbury group 1.30-3.30pm - Sudbury Community Health Centre, Church Field Road, CO10 2DZ. SecondTuesday of each monthContact Chris Proffitt on 01787 374289

Wickhambrook group 1.30-3.30pm - Wickhambrook Memorial Centre, Cemetery Road, CB8 8XP. First Wednesday ofeach monthContact Gloria on 07581712421 or Ruth on 01440 820631 Woodbridge group 1.30-3pm - Framfield Medical Centre, Ipswich Road, IP12 4FD. Third Tuesday of each monthContact Fiona Baker on 01394 384028 Groups for family carers who care for someone with mental health difficulties - to find outmore about these groups, please contact the Suffolk Family Carers mental health team on01473 835420. Lowestoft group Coconut Loft, 8 Waterloo Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0AA - please contact us for dates and times Stowmarket group2-4pm - Richmond Fellowship, Cricket Meadow, The Lounge, 9 Finborough Road, Stowmarket,IP14 1PN. Last Wednesday of each month. Sudbury group10.30am-12.30pm - The Bridge Project, 20 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, CO10 2EU. LastFriday of each month. NEW - Bury St Edmunds group1.30-3.30pm - The Oaks Barn, Community Meeting Room, St Andrews Street South, Bury StEdmunds, IP33 3PH. This group starts on Thursday 9th May and continues every 2nd Thursdayof the month.

Carers Assessments

Reminder Suffolk Family Carers is continuing to carry out some Carer’s Assessments on behalf of ACS. Please remember that family carers cannot access or be referred directly to Suffolk Family Carers for a Carers Assessment. The referral has to come to Suffolk Family Carers via ACS using the agreed route in each area. Family carers wishing to access a Carers Assessment should contact Customer First on 0808 800 4005. ACS staff: if you are not sure how to refer, please speak to your Team Manager or email helen.robinson@suffolk.gov.uk who is the new Carers Lead for ACS. IDT - Mental health carers assessment leads Suffolk Family Carers has been working with NSFT colleagues to identify 'link' people as Carers' Leads - there are still one or two vacancies, but this is progressing and working well! Bury South - IDT, G block, Hospital Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3NRJulie WilliamsJulie.Williams@nsft.nhs.uk01284 733188 Bury North - Newmarket Hospital, Exning Road, Newmarket, CB8 7JGVacancy Central - Haymills House, Station Road East, Stowmarket, IP14 1RFEddie Crosseddie.cross@nsft.nhs.uk01449 745200 Adult Community Mental Health Services Great Yarmouth & Waveney - Victoria House, 28 Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1PLCatherine Phillips (role includes some aspects of the Carers Lead)Catherine.phillips@nsft.nhs.net01502 532100 Ipswich - 3rd Floor, Mariner House, 43 Handford Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DGJudy (Jay) ChandlerJudy. chandler@nsft.nhs.net

Coastal - Walker Close, Ipswich, IP3 8LYNeil BroadwayNeil.broadway@nsft.nhs.net01473 279200 Julia WunderlichProfessional Advisor (Mental Health)/AMHP01449 745200 / 07795 952745 (only use her mobile if urgent)julia.wunderlich@nsft.nhs.ukJulia is happy for people to contact her if you can’t get hold of anyone else who can help them (email is the preferred option)

Updates

Family carers can now register with us online!We have recently introduced a brand new way of registering with us! You can now do it all online. Once registered, family carers can access tailored support, information & advice from our team ofspecially trained Advisers, book on courses to support them in their caring role, as well as attendfamily carer groups & other activities across the county. Maybe you know a family carer who would benefit from our support but they do not have the timeor the opportunity to call... pass them this link https://suffolkfamilycarers.org/register-with-us-2/.Alternatively, they can use the 'Register with us' button on our website. Safer home visitA FREE visit by a specialist Prevention Practitioner, Community Fire Volunteer or operationalcrew to offer advice to eliminate or reduce the risk of a fire occurring in a family carer's home. Free smoke alarms can also be fitted if they do not have them. There are six simple steps they can take to reduce a fire in the homeProtect the home with working smoke alarms - install smoke alarms and test them every weekTake extra care in the kitchen - Over 50% of accidental house fires start in the kitchenCheck the electrics - check and maintain electrical appliancesSmoke safe (if you must smoke at all) - put them out, right outMake sure they sleep safe - a bedtime safety routine can reduce the risk of fire whilst asleepPlan a safe escape - make sure you know how to get out of the home in an emergency For more information about a safer home visit, please call Fire Business Support on 01473260588.

The membership office at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT)need family carersWe recently met with The Membership Service, which runs Ipswich and Colchester Hospitals,and there is an exciting opportunity coming soon for family carers. They are planning for the future of health and care at the moment, as what they do now will havean impact on the family carers and the care they provide over the next 5, 10 or even 20 years.They would like family carers' voices to be a major part of this planning, so they can ensure whatthey are doing meets their needs.There are many ways family carers can have their say, but oneof the best ways is to become a member of the organisation. The organisation is held to accountby a council of governors, who the members elect to represent them and ensure they take intoaccount the views of the people living in the area they serve. Membership is FREE and family carers will receive regular updates from them, as well asopportunities to be involved if they wish, right up to standing for election as governor. They willalso get access to NHS Discounts. To join, all they need is the family carer's name, address and an up-to-date email address. Veryfew trusts across the country are actively building their membership right now, so this would be agreat chance to get involved. If you are interested in becoming a member, or would like more information for someone youwork with, please use this link https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/get-involved/become-a-member/ Join our team - we are recruiting nowDo you have a passion for marketing? Maybe you have worked in mental health support and would like to continue with a career in the charity sector? How about supporting young carers across Suffolk as a Young Carer Adviser? You are in luck....It is a busy time here at Suffolk Family Carers as we are recruiting now for anumber of different vacancies right across the organisation. To see a full list of current vacancies, please visit our website 'work for us' page where you canalso see job descriptions and further information. Health services now available in the East of SuffolkWe are very excited to announce that we have received funding from Ipswich and EastSuffolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to extend our health services to east Suffolk.

Our work with GP surgeries as well as our Respite on Prescription service, only previouslyavailable to family carers in the west of Suffolk, will now be available to those in the east with theaddition of two new GP Advisers and some funding to extend the administration of Respite onPrescription. This means we will be able to support even more family carers right across Suffolk. To find out more about our GP work, as well as how you may be eligible for Respite onPrescription, visit our website using this link https://suffolkfamilycarers.org/gp-practices-in-east-and-west-suffolk/. Carers connected - newsletter for family carers The feedback we have had is that professionals would be interested to see the information familycarers receive via ‘Carers Connected’, which is sent to all those family carers who are listed aswishing to receive a copy by email from Suffolk Family Carers. To access the latest edition, please visit the Carers Connected page on our website.Alternatively, you can access it through links posted on our Facebook page and Twitter account. As part of new accessibility guidelines, we are required to provide our Carers Connectednewsletter as ‘embedded’ HTML. This allows the newsletter to be viewed as a webpage andensures it is compatible with screen reader technology for those who are blind or partially sighted.If you would like this HTML link, please contact us.