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Your Voice, Shropshire Disability Network Newsletter, May 2012

Your Voice, Your Connections

www.shropshire-disability.net

Item 1

Disabled can bid for key new role

Opportunities for members of the disability community to play a new and dynamic role in the Voluntary and Community Sector became clear at the recent Shropshire VCS Annual Assembly.

The Chief Executive of Shropshire Council, Kim Ryley, was the principal speaker at the Assembly and he spelled out the opportunities – and the need – for voluntary and community organisations to be “a key player in the new local market place”. This would involve building up stronger networks within and across the sector, forging stronger links between the sector and the Shropshire business community, and working as part of the ‘Shropshire Providers Consortium’.

He told the hundred-plus delegates that “current commissioning and procurement processes are inconsistent and lack transparency”. There was a choice: “Innovative approaches will bypass the sector or open it up to fresh competition.”

Shropshire Council could not do it alone. Although the role of the Council would remain pivotal, it was changing to meet the new requirements of the new style of local government that is evolving.

He didn’t mention the disability community specifically, but there is every reason for people with disabilities to seize these opportunities – and they are well placed to do so through Shropshire Disability Network. SDN is both a member of the VCS Assembly and part of the Assembly’s Pan-Disability Forum of Interest.

SDN is therefore uniquely placed to play a leading role in “strategic commissioning”, the process of identifying and prioritising local needs. Kim Ryley said that stimulating and managing a diverse local market of high quality providers will help Shropshire meet local needs in the most cost-effective way.

Everything he was talking about is completely new and focused on achieving desired outcomes for local people. Disability organisations have an opportunity that has never existed before to play a key role in the county’s economic, social and political life.

“The public’s priority is to receive effective, good value public services, and this matters more to them than who provides that service,” Mr Ryley said.

So the challenge is to attract a diverse range of high quality providers and to build the capacity of the local VCS and Small-Medium size Enterprises to take a greater share of the local market.

The changing political landscape and the need for a strong voice in Government for Shropshire are a unique opportunity for all Voluntary and Community Sector organisations.

Item 2

Hop into your chair ... there’s a mountain to climb!

Sunday 16 Sept - make it a date!

Come September and SDN will be holding an event to test the stamina of both disabled and able-bodied – a wheelchair carry over the Long Mynd.

The challenge is to carry disabled people in their wheelchairs on an 11 km route up Cardingmill Valley, over the Long Mynd to its highest point, and back via The Burway.

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Teams of 10 are required for the event, with relays of four carrying each chair. SDN is hiring special frames to enable each wheelchair passenger to be carried safely. The event is being called the Geoff Forgie Disability Challenge, in honour of our founder chairman who died last August and whose brainchild this event was. The wheelchair passengers will get to see stunning views denied to many disabled people because of their inaccessibility.

Sunday 16 September will be the big day, and SDN Secretary Dave Hewetson would like to hear from any individuals or organisations who want to enter a team. He can be contacted on davidhewetson@talktalk.net or 01743 247019 (mobile 07972 254010) Invitations have gone out to the Armed Forces, emergency services, sports clubs, local government, and industry and commerce, but any group of people who think they have the stamina for it are welcome to have a go.

The sum of £100 will guarantee a team’s entry to the Challenge, and individual team members can then raise their own sponsorship. “If you know a wheelchair user who is happy to be your passenger, that’s great. If not, we are inviting our own members to volunteer, but each team must provide its own wheelchair,” said Dave.

Item 3

Shropshire Disability Network needs a new treasurer

A volunteer is needed to look after the accounts for SDN. If you have some previous experience and would like to do your bit to help grow the important work being done by the Network, please contact our Secretary Dave Hewetson on 01743 247019 or email davidhewetson@talktalk.net

Item 4

Egg-xactly the egg-stremely unlikely result to be egg-spected!

There are many plays on words to be had with the simple word “egg”, and we’ve done our best to include them all here. But if you can think of another that fits into the story, then let us know and the editor will send you a Cadbury’s Crème Egg. SDN had an egg-stremely good result from the Charity Easter Egg raffle that we organised at the Telford United ground thanks to the eggcellent support of Magna Specialist Confectioners, who provided the egg-stravagantly large chocolate egg for first prize.

A lot of Telford United supporters must have an egg-stra large sweet tooth, because the net result was just short of £300. So many, many thanks to both the club and Magna. Perhaps more important than the boost for funds, SDN supporters were able to get our message across to many egg-cited fans as they arrived for the home match. A great day all round. But it was not without high drama and cliff-hanging tension (not the football, the raffle!) Having done the draw, we couldn’t find the winner. Radio Shropshire came to the rescue the next day and broadcast an item for us. Also, Telford United put an appeal on their website for the winners to come forward. (Meanwhile, SDN committee members had high hopes of a chocolate feast at their next meeting!) Telford United were generous hosts, inviting the SDN organisers to their executive suite for presentations and photographs. The "Man of the Match" was photographed with them (and the egg) and this was used in the match programme for the home game on Easter Monday.

Magna has been generously supporting local charities for many years by producing exclusive massive Easter eggs, but we bet this is the first time one of their eggs has made it into football history! But maybe the best bit is how the winner was finally found. Despite the best efforts of Radio Shropshire and Telford United, nobody came forward. Until...two days later SDN committee member Trevor Dickenson went to a meeting of Link in Telford and was asked "Who won the egg?" Trev replied "Good question, no one came forward but it was pink ticket 56" Someone else

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chimed in, "Well, I have pink 57, Bev what did you have?" And then Bev McCarthy felt in her pocket and, to everyone’s surprise, pulled out pink 56. What are the odds?!

Item 5

Hearing Loss? Sight Loss? See and Hear Exhibition 2012 Wednesday 16 May 10am - 4pm Sundorne Sports Village, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 4RQ For information or to book a stall contact Pauline on 01584 871420 or Laura 01743 342168 The Exhibition will showcase products and services relating to sight and hearing loss Special Presentation

The BIONIC EAR SHOW an interactive presentation on how the ear works at: 10.30, 11.45, 13.00, 14.15 Free Hearing Checks BSL & Deafblind Interpreters available Free Shuttle Bus every half hour from Shrewsbury Train Station, first bus 9.30 Full information: http://bit.ly/AhQEuv

Item 6

When is a council policy not quite council policy?

"This sign at Barker Street car park in Shrewsbury tells a story. At first you might think the story is about how difficult it is to associate the word “welcome” with what follows. But no, the story is more about what you don’t see than what you do see.

The car park, according to the sign, is the property of “Morris & Co Ltd” who go on to say that they won’t take responsibility for anything except parting you from your money. That’s not surprising, after all we live in the age of NCP and are all conditioned to a variety of threatening nasties when all we want to do is park our car.

But the difficulty here is that most people (correct us if we are wrong) assume that car parks in the county town are run by Shropshire Council. But this one at least is not. Or is it....does Shropshire Council merely act as an agent for Morris & Co, or does Morris & Co act as an agent for Shropshire Council? Somewhere along the way SC has its sticky fingers in the Barker Street car park, surely?

An SDN member (by coincidence, the very same person who took this picture) wants to ask Shropshire Council how they can justify their new policy of an extra hour of uncharged parking for disabled drivers when the likes of this is happening smack in the town centre.

Let’s put it in her own words: “Well Shropshire Council may say they are broke but I'm damn sure Morris & Company are not! Wouldn't it be good if a leading Shrewsbury company led the way by encouraging people with a disability to visit Shrewsbury by giving a concession to Blue Badge holders and put Shropshire Council to shame.

“This morning when my carer and I went into town, there were no disability parking bays vacant in the streets, so we went into this car park. Paid £1.50 for 1 hour (it was a struggle to do what was needed but £3.10 for 2 hours was a lot of money)

“When my carer got our ticket, a lady asked how much it was to park. Realising I had a Blue Badge, she commented You're not paying are you? I pointed out ""No Concessions for Blue Badge Holders"" and she commented well it’s the last time I will be coming here - these are atrocious charges and it’s awful that you are paying.”

No one can stop Morris & Co, or any other organisation, from doing what is legal with their own property. But it is worth bearing in mind that when Dick Turpin held a gun to your head it was called highway robbery, these days it’s called parking charges. And we doubt if Dick would have kicked away the crutches from under the disabled victims of his trade. "

Item 7

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Disabled elderly hardest hit in social care cuts

Data from the NHS Information Centre shows that, after allowing for inflation, councils cut spending on adult social care by 1.2% in 2010/11 – the first real term fall in spending since the Information Centre started collecting the data in 2000/01. People over 65, including physically disabled adults and adults with mental health needs, were hardest hit, with a fall of about 2%. Adults with learning disabilities were the only group to see a rise in expenditure. The data also show that the number of social workers for adults employed by councils remained stable despite widespread fears over job cuts and a drop of almost 10% in the overall adult care workforce. Some 12,320 adults’ social workers are employed by local authorities. But the overall adult social care workforce saw the number of jobs fall from 166,520 in 2010 to 151,945 in 2011, a drop of 8.8%. The findings come amid fears of continued cost pressures on councils this year. The College of Social Work has warned that some councils are viewing social workers as an optional extra as they roll out personal budgets amid “a toxic mix of cuts and mistaken ideas about personalisation.” [from ComunityCare, March 2012]

Item 8

Interviews ‘library’ planned for SDN website

Shropshire Disability Network is hoping to build up a number of short interviews on its website with people who are willing to talk about how disability has affected their lives. The point is to help others realise that they are not alone, that all the questions and problems they feel daunted by have been faced by others. You don’t have to be an SDN member to take part. In fact, you don’t need to have a disability – families and carers are also included. Please email us at info@shropshire-disability.net to find out more. We promise the whole process will be done at your pace and there will be absolutely no pressure.

Item 9

Cameron commits to big task on dementia

The Prime Minister’s “Challenge on Dementia” sets out an ambitious programme of work to deliver major improvements in dementia care and research by 2015, building on the achievements of the existing National Dementia Strategy. There are two key commitments that relate to information - promoting local information on dementia services to ensure that all people receiving care and support get better information on care choices, and running an awareness-raising campaign from this autumn. One in three people over 65 will develop dementia. In England at present 670,000 people have dementia. This number will double in the next 30 years. Among the over- 55s, dementia is feared more than any other illness.

At an estimated £19bn a year, the cost to the economy is huge - higher than the costs of cancer, heart disease or stroke. “Living Well with Dementia – A National Dementia Strategy” was, in 2009, one of the first strategies of its kind in the world. It set the standard for improving the lives of people with dementia, for their families and their carers, through raising awareness, encouraging earlier diagnosis and providing high-quality treatment and care. The PM’s Challenge on Dementia will focus on improvements in health and care, creating “dementia friendly” communities that understand how to help, and better research. The Care and Support White Paper will set out further steps to ensure that all people receiving care and support get better information to support their care choices.

Item 10

Marathon man Matt raises over £2000

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Last month we reported that the son of SDN Membership Secretary Trevor Dickenson was training to run the London Marathon in aid of Kidney Research UK. Well, he did and young Matt (pictured above) achieved two very, very impressive results - he raised more than £2000 in sponsorship, and he completed the marathon in just 3 hours 22 minutes! Spurring him on was the thought that he was running for his dad, who has kidney failure and has to attend dialysis for six hours a day, three days a week. Trevor is currently an in-patient at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. Both he and wife Jenny say they are both very proud of Matt’s achievement.

Item 11

DASH ready for Wenlock weekend

Disability Arts in Shropshire – DASH – is holding a live arts event called M21 on the weekend of 5 and 6 May in Much Wenlock (http://m21dash.org) The event runs from 11am to 10.30pm on the Saturday and 11am to 4pm on the Sunday.

Organisers would really appreciate some more volunteer stewards who can offer up to two hour slots throughout either day. A refreshment voucher of £5 and reasonable travel expenses will be paid. For more information call 07837 268994 or email info@dasharts.org.

M21 has been commissioned by the Unlimited programme, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Unlimited encourages collaborations and partnerships between disability arts organisations and between disabled artists, producers and mainstream organisations to celebrate the inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and to create original and exciting works.

To find out more about the whole range of Dash projects call projects call 01743 272939 or email paula@dasharts.org.

Item 12

How making life easier can just make it harder

Those who can’t use computers are the victims of technology prejudice, especially from big institutions

Equality of access is an aspiration for people with disabilities that might get hindered rather than helped by computer technology. Ironically, the computer age was supposed to make access to information easier for everyone, but a significant number of people find the reverse is true.

And it isn’t just people with disabilities who are getting left out. Anyone who lacks a basic understanding of how computers work is immediately at a disadvantage. This applies just as much to an elderly person in good health and with good eyesight – but who has never in their life had to deal with computers – as it does to those with disabilities.

It may be true that the vast majority of people who deal with Shropshire Council, their bank, their utility suppliers, and so on, are able to do so via their computer. And a good thing too, because this saves everyone time and money. But it is not true for a sizeable minority, mostly the elderly or disabled, who find it impossible to communicate with bureaucratic organisations because everything is computer-centred. Simply making a phone call to a big organisation can be a huge challenge. Even the young and able-bodied cringe at the sound of “Press 1 for such-andsuch...”

Online interaction becomes a wall rather than a doorway. But many big organisations don’t, or won’t, recognise this. It is in their financial interest to compel their customers to become computer literate, and that is how they proceed.

Local government is just as much a part of this as any other big organisation. If you want to know about a planning issue or have a transport query or want to raise any one of the hundred other

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things that people contact their council about...you can’t. At least, not without a struggle. They don’t want you to write to them, and they certainly don’t want to write to you.

If you haven’t got a computer, well then go to your local library and use one there. You don’t know how to use a computer? The friendly librarian will help. Or call in at the council offices, which might be a couple of bus rides away. An SDN member recently came across exactly this issue with Shropshire Council. Only after a “rather challenging interaction” did the council accept that she had a right to receive the information she wanted as a letter, not as an email.

She says: “They conceded that if people do not have internet access they will have to provide paper but they are really reluctant to do so. They argue that people can go to libraries or into council offices. I am not convinced. This is not providing equality of access.

“Why should a council only provide information at their convenience in the place that they consider everyone goes to, and make no allowances for those who do not fit into the tidy scheme?”

YourVoice would like to hear your experiences on this. Please tell us if computers work with you or against you. And yes, we are also guilty of IT prejudice. Many of our articles end with a link to a website or an email address, but few end with a postal address or phone number. We will try harder! Let’s hope the council does the same.

Item 13

SDN general meeting

The next SDN General Meeting will be on Thursday 14 June, starting at 1.30, in the Trinity Centre at Meole Brace Church, Shrewsbury. Network secretary Dave Hewetson will be talking about Rett Syndrome, a little-known genetic condition which is in the front line of science's increasingly successful fight to understand and correct genetic neurological conditions. It is indeed an amazing story, don’t miss it.

Item 14

Partnership event

A ‘Stronger in Partnership’ event is being held by Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership at the Shrewsbury Barnabas Centre on 31 May. It will include an opportunity to share success stories and thoughts about the challenges the sector faces. [From SIP newsletter, 5 April 2012]

Item 15

How did your MP do?

Remember SDN’s recent challenge to local MPs to speak publicly about the Welfare Reform Bill? How did you rate their responses? You can still vote on our website [www.shropshire-disability.net] to say whether or not you're happy with how your MP responded. Please do. When MPs start taking their constituents for granted, they stop bothering.

Item 16

Breaking down the benefits bill

Someone has worked very patiently to turn a Treasury pie chart into numbers showing how the huge welfare budget is spent. It has come to us via the Shropshire ME Group newsletter and we are very grateful because just for once we can all see exactly how much is spent on what, both in money terms and as a proportion of the whole. This is how the figures break down: State Pensions: £67bn, 36% Other Pension benefits: £11bn, 6% Council Tax Benefit: £5bn, 3% Housing

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Benefit: £20bn, 11% DLA and other disability benefits: £16bn, 6% Employment & Support Allowance (ESA): £8bn, 4% Income support: £8bn, 4% Jobseekers Allowance: £5bn, 3% Carers Allowance and Maternity Pay: £3bn, 2% Child Benefit: £12bn, 6% Working Tax Credit: £8bn, 4% Other: £6bn, 3% The troublemakers among you will have added the percentages together and concluded that they only total 88%. Don’t blame us. Maybe the Chancellor is saving the other 12% for a party to which we will all no doubt be invited. As a total of 57% - that’s a cool £108bn - goes on pensions and children, it makes the spending on disability and caring look downright paltry. Yet it is the disabled who are being persecuted by the Government in the interests of saving money.

Item 17

Councils’ plan will really hit charity shops, says Scope

Scope is calling on local authorities to rethink plans to take away textile bank sites, because of the impact it would have on charity shops, the shoppers who visit them and above all the vital work that is funded by donated clothes. The Charity Retail Association has launched a campaign to make councils think twice, and this has now got the backing of the Sunday Mirror. “This will hurt us and the people we help,” said Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope. There are thousands of clothes banks across the UK, where people donate their old clothes to charity. But last year two county councils sold their sites to private companies and now a group of councils in London are looking at doing the same. The companies would sell donated clothes for a profit and give a cut to the councils. Scope’s 163 London banks raise more than £1.5 million for the charity. The CRA estimates that over 400 jobs and nearly 6,000 volunteering roles could be lost if these proposals go ahead.

The CRA is calling on councils to think twice before they consider selling off the sites. “When you drop clothes in a textile bank charities like Scope empty them and take them to our shops. We sort them and, hopefully find items that the many bargain hunters that visit our shops will like. If we don’t sell an item in one shop, we pass it on to another. If all else fails we sell it to a recycler. All the money we make goes to support disabled people,” said Richard Hawkes. “Make no mistake; this scheme will hurt charity shops that rely on the donations, the number of people charities like ours can work with, and shoppers on the high street. “We understand that all councils have to make tough spending decisions, but the real value of donated clothes to charity and society is when they are re-sold in shops. “When you donate clothes do you want them to line wealthy businessmen’s pockets?” [From BBC news]

Item 18

Doctors get website on learning disabilities

The General Medical Council has launched a website to help doctors provide better care for people with learning disabilities. Its intentions are to identify issues and highlight patient perspectives. There are various definitions of learning disability. A useful one is in The same as you? which is a review of services for people with learning disabilities carried out by the Scottish Government. This says: “People with learning disabilities have a significant, lifelong condition that started before adulthood, that affected their development and which means they need help to: understand information; learn skills; and cope independently.” The site’s address is: http://www.gmc-uk.org/learningdisabilities/104.aspx [GPs speak out - page 19]

Item 19

Disabled ‘ignored’ over major reforms

Whirlwind of change ignores those who are supposed to benefit from new policies

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There are growing concerns among disabled people and other social care service users that their voices are not being heard at a time when major reforms in social policy are taking place which are particularly impacting on them. This is the view of a report which publishes the results of a consultation, held last November, on social care reform.

The consultation was carried out by Shaping Our Lives, in association with the Centre for Citizen Participation at Brunel University, and was supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in line with JRF’s commitment to ensuring the voices of service users are heard in national debates about policies that affect their lives.

The report says it is important not to over-claim from the views of 27 people, but adds that they do represent a diverse range of independent adult social care service users from different areas in England.

The consultation was structured around the six strands of the Government’s Social Care Engagement Exercise. People were also asked to identify other issues important to them. They highlighted:

Funding

Damaging effects of public spending cuts

Hostility towards disabled people

Fears for the future

User involvement

At a time when the Government has embarked on a radical and far reaching programme of welfare, health and social care reform there is an increasing sense among disabled people and other service users that their voices are being lost in the storm of change.

The authors of the recent report Responsible Reform (also known as the Spartacus Report), a group of ‘sick and disabled people’, wrote: “Our input and opinions have all too often been ignored when, in fact, only sick and disabled people can know exactly how disability affects them. A return to a model that takes even more control out of our hands can only ever be regressive. This report aims to give a voice to the millions of sick and disabled people who rely on effective support to live productive lives. It aims to present a strong evidence base on which to build effective reform” (Diary Of A Benefit Scrounger et al., 2012). This is also the aim of the JFR report, which sets out the findings from a consultation with 27 disabled people and service users carried out towards the end of 2011 to feed into the Government’s own consultation about the future of social care. Services users in this consultation valued the commitment of many workers, but generally felt the social care workforce is patchy, under pressure, and unsuited to delivering quality support. They recommended better training, support and supervision; better terms, conditions and career progression; more support for the role of personal assistants; effective user involvement; and social work based on a social model of disability.

Service users raised concerns about personalisation and personal budgets. They felt these were being derailed by public spending cuts, poor preparation and inadequate support infrastructure. Some described a mismatch between the current social care market and person-centred support. They recommended effective user involvement and more support for user-led organisations as service providers.

Underfunding, rationing policies, means-testing and needs-testing were all seen as blocks to prevention and early intervention. Many felt this resulted in higher human and financial costs, as people were left to deteriorate. They recommended ‘that little bit of help’ as a cost-effective and rights-based way to meet people’s needs. Most respondents felt the lack of integration between health and social care creates serious difficulties. Some wanted full unification, including funding. Concerns included: whether integration might result in a narrow, medical approach; whether structural reorganisation would deliver; and whether focusing on health and social care was too

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narrow. They recommended seeing integration as a wider issue, including housing, education, equipment services, transport and leisure.

Many respondents were strongly opposed to increasing the role of the private sector in social care, especially financial services but also care services. The private sector’s profit focus was felt to be at odds with a focus on quality care. Some cited unfavourable treatment of disabled people as a bad risk for insurers. They recommended a continuing leadership role for government and adequate funding of care.

Everyone in the consultation reported the damaging effects of public spending cuts on themselves and other disabled people and service users, as services and support became restricted. They felt the debates about welfare reform are having a corrosive effect, stereotyping people as ‘scroungers’ or ‘a drain on society’. This was resulting in anxiety, despair, feeling scared, insecure and vulnerable, even suicidal.

Throughout the consultation, service users raised the issue of improving user involvement in social care. Many were worried about the effect of spending cuts in undermining user involvement and the capacity of user-led organisations at a time of growing need and crisis. They recommended effective user involvement should be a central part of transforming all areas of adult social care. Shaping Our Lives submitted a full report of the consultation to the Department of Health in November. You can read the full report on the SDN website - http://shropshire- disability.net

Item 20

Isolation fear for learning disabled as cuts go deeper

People with learning disabilitiesare becoming isolated because of cuts to support and dayservices in England, says a joint report by14 charities. The Learning Disability Coalition says 77% of the local authorities it questioned – almost half of those in England – were making cuts or savings and most also expected to make further cuts. Between them they care for some 69,000 people with learning disabilities. The Government has said urgent reform of the care and support system is needed, but half of the 312 people surveyed said they now got less or no support, or paid more for help. Some 75% of local authorities said they were facing difficulties in funding services for people with learning disabilities, and were making “efficiency savings”. The coalition also surveyed 61 organisations providing services to people with learning difficulties, and 72% said funding for their services from local authorities had been cut. Two-thirds are now expected to provide additional support to people without extra funding. Of the 312 people with learning difficulties questioned, 17% had had a reduction in their support hours, 13% had less money to pay for support, and 2% had lost their support entirely because their local authority had changed its eligibility criteria. [From: BBC News]

Item 21

The art and science of artificial limbs

Sarah Starkey reports on the rapidly developing world of artificial and bionic limbs

Artificial limbs, or prosthetics, are required after the loss or partial loss of a limb. Amputation is usually necessary because a limb has been affected by gangrene, or poses a life threatening danger to a person’s health, or has experienced serious trauma.

About 5,000 amputations are carried out in the UK every year on the NHS, with the most common cause being loss of blood supply to the affected limb (dysvascularity). This accounts for around 70% of all amputations.

After an amputation, it may be possible to fit a prosthetic limb onto the remaining stump. Prosthetic limbs have become increasingly sophisticated and can reproduce many functions of the hands,

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arms and legs. For example, many people with a transtibial amputation (removing the foot and lower section of the leg from beneath the knee) can walk or ride a bike using a prosthetic limb. Nevertheless, an extensive course of physiotherapy and rehabilitation tends to be required to help the individual adjust to life with an artificial limb. As well as the physical impact of losing a limb, there can also be psychological impact as well, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A prosthetic limb may not be suitable for all. Factors that must be taken into account include the patient’s age and how much of the limb they have lost. If a person is a suitable candidate they will begin a programme of activities while still in hospital in preparation for the fitting. A prosthetic limb is not bionic, it is an artificial replacement and won’t look as “natural” as a person’s limb. But it can enable amputees to do many things as effectively as they could previously with the real limb, given a combination of energy and willpower.

Each prosthesis will be different, depending on the requirements of the individual patient. If a person wants a “cosmetic look” prosthetic, supplements are available, however, most standard prostheses are comprised of conventional parts attached to a socket that fits over the residual limb.

The majority of people who lose a limb can get back to a normal mode of functioning within several months after a comfortable prosthetic fitting, depending on the location of the amputation. Good follow-up care and a “can-do” attitude are essential. In the early stages after limb loss many changes occur in the residual limb that can lead to shrinking of the limb, which could require socket changes or even a different device. The prosthetic measurements and fittings are usually carried out a few weeks after surgery, and a unique prosthesis will be created for the individual. A prosthetic can last from several months to several years, and once fitted comfortably and functioning as desired it will only need minor repairs and maintenance.

Bionic limbs: far more than science fiction ever dreamed

In recent years there have been great developments in technology in terms of bionic limbs. Bionic legs designed by two Scottish engineers have been approved for sale in the UK for people who have difficulty walking. Rex Robotic legs were developed by school friends from Fort William – Richard Little and Robert Irving. Rex Robotics is among a handful of firms across the world that have created exoskeletons. A total of 29 on-board computers and 100 sensors make the bionic legs extremely stable. The user controls the direction and size of step with a simple joystick; they can go up steps and ramps, but the limbs are best suited to man-made smooth surfaces. For wheelchair users, exoskeletons offer interesting possibilities: “We have engineers who use wheelchairs themselves and they’ll jump in Rex and wear it for eight hours a day” said Richard. “For somebody with a higher level spinal cord injury – and most people who use Rex have a spinal cord injury – they’ll use it for less time just to get some exercise and get some benefits from standing.”

Developers are hoping that one day exoskeletons will only cost the same as advanced electric wheelchairs and technology like Rex offers an incredible insight into the walking aids which may be possible in the future. Rex Bionics is currently in discussions with spinal injury units about using bionic legs to help people in their rehabilitation. Even though Rex has been approved for sale in Europe, the main obstacle remains the price. Current models cost around £95, 000, although this cost is expected to drop to £75,000 by this summer.

Item 22

New way to cut registrar bureaucracy

Tell Us Once is a new service which helps people when they are registering a birth or death. The service aims to reduce the number of calls that a relative has to make to government agencies and council departments. When using the service, people simply tell the registrar the details once, and he or she will, on the informant’s behalf, notify all government organisations and council

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departments that need to know. The service greatly reduces the amount of time that people need to spend contacting organisations about a birth or death, so easing added stresses and pressures. When people make an appointment to register a birth or death they will be asked if they wish to use the Tell Us Once service. If they do they will be reminded of all the details that they need to bring along to the appointment “When someone has died, there are lots of things that need to be done, at a time when you probably least feel like doing them,” says Shropshire Council. “We hope this new service will make things easier.” You can use Tell Us Once in person by booking an appointment or by telephone, calling the Department for Work and Pensions on 0800 085 7308. The lines are open Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm. This number is free to call from a BT landline, but other providers, including mobile phone providers, may charge. Interpreter services are available for non-English speakers. People calling from Wales can conduct the entire conversation in Welsh.

Item 23

Credit rule changes threaten families

Many families will lose out on Working Tax Credit from now. Couples with children will have to work 24 hours a week between them, with one partner working at least 16 hours a week in order to qualify for Working Tax Credit. Previously, as long as one person in a couple worked 16 hours then this would have allowed possible qualification for working tax credit, subject to a means test. In a joint open letter to David Cameron, USDAW and many charities claim it will affect up to 212,000 couples, leave many of those worse off in work than on benefits, and put 424,000 adults and 470,000 children at risk of falling into poverty. The difficulty is that during the recession many families will be hard pressed to find the few hours extra work required to keep them in the Working Tax Credit system and it seems a backward step seeing that Universal Credit (without any hours rule) will start to be introduced from next year. In another contentious change, an incentive to try work for those on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is being abolished. The “104 linking rule” allowed a claimant to go back on the same rate of benefit without penalty if they came off ESA to go into work but returned within 104 weeks. From now, it will no longer apply. [From Social Welfare Training, April 2012]

Item 24

Team helps volunteering

The Shropshire Volunteering Team can help promote volunteering opportunities. Visit http://shropshirevcs.org.uk/site/volunteering/ for details of many useful resources and the volunteering outreach service. [From Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership newsletter, 5 April 2012]

Item 25

PCTs slammed for attitude toward disabled children

Rejoice- there are no more disabled children (at least in some places). Five primary care trusts claim there are none in their areas, despite an estimated one in 20 under-16s having a disability. This was among the key findings of a “damning” review by the Care Quality Commission, based on the views of children and families and data from 151 primary care trusts. According to the report, Bury, Derby City, Islington, North Staffordshire and Warrington PCTs claim to have no disabled children in their areas. This raises concerns about commissioning, the CQC said. “Without a basic awareness of what the needs of the local population are, it is hard to understand how a PCT can assure itself it is commissioning services to meet them,” the report said. “We therefore urge commissioners to improve the quality of information they hold about these

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services.” The report also found a significant disparity between the experiences of disabled children and families, which were found to be “overwhelmingly negative,” and the services that PCTs claimed they offered. Families felt access to, and involvement in, services was a challenge and said they waited too long for access to services and initial diagnosis. Fifteen PCTs do not provide short breaks services for disabled children and young people, while 87 do not involve disabled children and their families in the interviews or assessment of those who deliver their care. A further 65 do not know how many referrals for wheelchairs they made between April and September 2010, while nine said children waited almost a year for a wheelchair. David Congdon, of the campaign group Every Disabled Child Matters, said the findings were damning and urged the Department of Health to take action. “We are extremely concerned. It is clear that many PCTs are not aware of the basic needs of local disabled children,” he said. [From Community Care]

Item 26

Forum works to give Telford parents a voice

The Parent Carer Participation Conference is an independent forum supported by Contact A Family and partly funded by the Department of Education to ensure that parents’ voices are heard and listened to across Telford & Wrekin. They do this in a number of ways - direct contact, newsletters (by email or post), consultation events, workshops and parent participation activities. Jayne, the co-ordinator and secretary, recently attended a Contact A Family parent carer participation event in Birmingham, which gave the Telford group the opportunity to meet other parent carer forums across the region. The event was also an opportunity to meet with key strategic partners - including representatives from Contact A Family, Department for Education, Department of Health, NHS Children and Young Peoples Outcomes Forum, SEND, Green Paper Pathfinders, Short Breaks, Early Support, Transition/Preparing for Adulthood and also Parent Partnership. The group is closely linked with the Regional Co-ordinator, who is based in Shropshire and feeds back at a national level to key partners and strategic groups. Visit www.nnpcf.org.uk for more information on the national and regional work. [From PODS newsletter]

Item 27

How much we give away - and who we give it to

The Directory of Social Change has published its latest overview of charitable giving in the UK, covering the year 2010/11. Here are just a few snippets from what is a long and detailed work, but it is a great read and can be downloaded as a PDF from the DSC’s website.

Almost six in every 10 adults donated to charitable causes in 2010/11, equivalent to 29.5 million people. The proportion giving increased slightly over the last year, from 56% to 58%, and continues the upward trend since 2008/09 when it hit a low of 54%. Looking at the trend over the seven years since the survey began, the relative stability of the proportion giving is more striking than the variations; charitable giving appears to be well-established behaviour. Although the typical amount donated, £11, was slightly less than the previous year (when it was £12), it was more than for the five years prior to 2010/11. Looking at the pattern over the whole seven years of the survey, it is the high median value last year that appears unusual. In real-terms, after inflation, there is no change and the value of donations remains at £11 billion. In 2010/11the donations from those giving more than £100 in a month accounted for 45% of the total amount donated. In a typical year there are also around 100 donations worth £1m or more made by individual donors. Medical research continues to be the most popular cause, as in all previous surveys. It was supported by 38% of donors, with the next most popular causes being hospitals (26%) and children and young people (24%). Medical research is also the cause that receives the largest total amount of donations, 17% of all money donated. The use of online giving is increasing, although it is still much less common than methods such as cash and direct debit. The proportion

13

of donors giving online almost doubled between 2008/09 and 2009/10, from 4% to 7%, and then remained at 7% during 2010/11.

The use of online donation varies by age but not by gender. It is most common among the 25-44 age group. Giving by cash remains the most common method, used by almost half of donors (47%). The typical median amount given by cash (£5) is smaller than for most other methods. The proportion of donors using direct debit continues to rise, and now accounts for a quarter of all giving. Women aged 45-64 continue to be the group most likely to give (67%). They also gave the largest median amount in 2010/11 (£20). The youngest adults continue to be the least likely to give, with less than half of 16-24 year olds donating. People in the managerial and professional occupations are the most likely to give (70%) and give the largest median amount (£20). The proportion of donors using Gift Aid in 2010/11 was 42%, continuing the steady increase in the proportion of donors using Gift Aid since the survey began. Between 2007/08 and 2009/10, the use of Gift Aid had appeared to be levelling off; but the latest increase reopens the possibility of a small ongoing increase. People who donate larger amounts are more likely to use Gift Aid; in 2010/11 70% of those giving donations of £100 or more used it.

Item 28

Gift aid on small donations

The Government is consulting on the proposed gift aid small donations scheme, which will allow charities to claim gift aid on £5,000 worth of small donations each year without needing to submit a gift aid declaration signed by the donor. For more information and to take part see http://bit.ly/HkTSJu(this will take you to the HM Revenue & Customs website) [From Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership newsletter, 5 April 2012]

Item 29

Self Care Week

Self Care Week will run from 12-18 November. The week is organised by the Department of Health and the Self Care Forum and provides an opportunity for voluntary sector organisations, the NHS and social care to raise awareness of what is available locally to help people take care of themselves. Resources such as communications packs will be available nearer the time to help plan local activities. [Health Information News, April]

Item 30

Stroke advertising campaign success

Figures show that the annual Act FAST stroke campaign has had a significant impact. Last year, in the two months after the advertisements finished running, the NHS in England saw a 24% rise in stroke related 999 calls, and a 16% rise in stroke sufferers being seen more quickly. The TV advertisements helped people to identify the symptoms of stroke - facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems – and then to act FAST. [From Health Information News, April 2012]

Item 31

Care home residents ‘less likely to end up in hospital’

Hospital admissions, A&E visits and outpatient appointments among people over 75 were lower among council-funded care home residents than those with significant home care packages, a study by the Nuffield Trust has found.

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The trust says the figures indicate that cuts in spending on care homes would increase pressures on the NHS, but adds that there could be a variety of causes for the distinction between care homes and home care. For instance, care homes could be particularly good at preventing hospital admissions through action to prevent falls. They could also be better able to manage health problems, for example by monitoring blood glucose levels among people with diabetes.

Homes could be providing services that effectively substituted for hospital care, such as nurses. However, it could also mean that there were problems in accessing hospital care for care home residents, something indicated by the fact that the level of outpatient appointments was lower for care home residents than those who did not use social care at all.

The study, based on data from 2006-7 in four local authority areas, is believed to be the largest to link together individuals’ social care and health records to evaluate interactions between the two systems. Of over 130,000 individuals whose records were examined:

14% accessed council-funded social care and 59% inpatient, outpatient or A&E hospital care.

17% of those using hospital care also used council-funded social care, compared with 10% of those who did not use a hospital service.

Of those accessing council-funded social care, 71% used a hospital service, compared with 57% of nonsocial care users.

Social care users were divided into four categories: those whose care cost less than £1,000 a year; those whose care cost £1,000 to £5,000 a year; those whose care cost £5,000 a year or more and who spent less than one month in residential care (the "home care" group); those with packages worth £5,000 a year or more who spent more than one month in a care home (the "care home" group).

It found that while 73% of the home care group accessed hospital care during the year, just 58% of the care home group did.

Despite widespread belief in the importance of care integration, the researchers pointed to a lack of data on overlapping health and social care use across large populations. They also pointed to limitations in the research, including that it excluded self-funding care users and those who used primary or community healthcare. [From Community- Care]

Item 32

Carers praise biggest training programme

Local charity involved in project

The largest programme of training for carers ever planned in the UK, with a budget of £15.2m over three years, is the subject of a new report from Leeds University.

Caring with Confidence (CwC) aimed to provide training and support to 37,000 carers in England. Management of the programme was commissioned from a consortium of four carers’ organisations, with delivery through a network of local training providers. Among the organisations involved was Shrewsburybased Omega, a national charity which does a lot of work with carers.

In the event, CwC operated for two and a half years of its intended three-year lifespan. It was terminated ahead of schedule when it failed to meet targets for carers’ participating and because of Department of Health concerns about delivery costs. Ambitious targets were set relating to carer numbers, which the programme had difficulty meeting.

Although the 37,000 target number was not met, the programme registered almost 14,000 carers who were reasonably representative of the wider population of carers. In addition, some success was achieved in meeting targets for some particularly hard-to-reach groups.

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The programme was well received by most carers who accessed it. Feedback from those who took part was extremely positive, with carers reporting beneficial impacts on their health and well-being, better access to social care support and improvements affecting those they cared for.

Eight recommendations resulted from evaluation of CwC, including:

Governance systems should be transparent, with unambiguous targets, outputs and outcomes specified in carers’ contracts.

Training programmes should be flexible in terms of local delivery and responsiveness to carer needs.

Output-related funding models should be considered.

Effective MI systems should be put in place.

Innovative marketing and recruitment techniques are needed.

Milestones, targets and costs need to be ambitious but achievable.

Innovative ways of supporting carers are needed, drawing on partnerships with independent sector providers and those who support, engage with or employ carers.

Practical issues to consider when offering support to carers should include: identifying suitable venues; establishing workable delivery arrangements; developing strategies for recruitment and referral pathways; and identifying the most appropriate ways to offer alternative care support.

Training and Supporting Carers: The National Evaluation of the Caring with Confidence Programme http://www.sociology. leeds.ac.uk/assets/files/research/circle/circlereport108pp-train-support-carers- withcov.pdf Practical guide for organisations seeking to provide carer training http://www.sociology.leeds.ac.uk/assets/files/Circle/delivering-training-tocarers.pdf

Item 33

Voluntary sector Wikipedia

The National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) has launched ‘iKnowHow’ which aspires to become the voluntary sector's Wikipedia. It is being piloted in three areas: collaboration, public service delivery, and setting up a charity. If the pilot proves successful, the wiki will be rolled out to other areas of the site. Have a look and contribute to this resource at http://www.knowhownonprofit.org/help/aboutus/iKnowHow [From Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership newsletter, 5 April 2012]

Item 34

Wheelchair providers for children

The NHS reforms are currently looking at new ways of delivering services and the area chosen for Telford and Shropshire is Wheelchair Services. There are many factors to be taken into account, including the views of parents. If your child uses a wheelchair call on 0777 534 2092 or email info@podstelford.org. A briefing document is available to view on www.podstelford.org. [From PODS newsletter]

Item 35

You are not alone. Going to our site is all it takes to meet others who understand what you are going through: www.shropshire.gov.uk/community.nsf Shropshire Self Help Groups Telephone 01691 656882 Sponsored by Shropshire Council, Telford & Wrekin Council, and the NHS

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Item 36

‘Better results’ when patients are involved in decisions

Involving and engaging patients and the public in decisions about their health and care improves outcomes, strengthens individual wellbeing and contributes towards more cohesive and healthier communities.

And collectively involving patients and the public in the design and delivery of health services improves services and care and engages citizens to contribute to decisions about how resources are used.

A new paper from the NHS Confederation explores what it really means to put people first when commissioning and providing services, and sets out what is known about the benefits. It ends with a selection of case studies that demonstrate where shared decision-making has already made an impact.

Everyone who provides or receives healthcare services needs to play a greater role in decision-making. It is an essential factor in the NHS becoming a truly patient-centred service and will undoubtedly help it face today’s enormous challenges and manage its finite resources. Points made in the Confederation paper include:

Greater shared decision-making for the NHS to become a truly patient-centred service.

Behaviour changes by both professionals and individuals to make this a reality.

Shared decision-making in situations where there is no clinical evidence in favour of one single best option.

Shared decision-making and collective involvement may contribute to reducing health inequalities, if interventions and resources are tailored to the needs of disadvantaged groups. Collective involvement of patients and communities in the design and delivery of services strengthens communities’ sense of ownership and moderates demand for healthcare.

The paper can be found at: www.nhsconfed.org/Publications/ Documents/putting_people_ first_270312.pdf [From Health Information News April 2012]

Item 37

Patients likely to be able to correct GP records

Patients look set to be allowed to add to their GP records and agree transfer of information to other parts of the NHS, under plans being considered by the Department of Health. Professor Steve Field, chair of the NHS Future Forum, revealed at a parliamentary meeting that it wanted ministers to go much further than plans announced to allow patients to access their full record by 2015. Patients should be able to correct errors, transfer data and enter information about their health directly into their records: ‘Patients should "own their records" and be able to input into them to keep information up to date. They also will be able to correct errors. This is what we mean by access. What you can't have is patients removing important clinical information. But [there are] examples of patients who have accessed records remotely when in hospital, which helped their care.' [From Pulse, 25 April 2012]

Item 38

Supporting Parents running new Donnington sessions

The Supporting Parents Programme - for families with children who have a life-limiting or lifelong condition – will be running new sessions from Thursday 17 May (10- 12.30pm) for six weeks, at Donnington Lifelong Learning Centre. They will cover: Finding time for you, Coping with difficult situations, Transition to adult services, Sibling issues, Dealing with family issues and tensions. To

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book or for further information call Deborah Hopkins on 01952 580 474 or email deborah.hopkins@telfordpct.nhs.uk [From PODS newsletter]

Item 39

New health campaigns website launched

The Department of Health’s newly launched online Campaign Resource Centre provides access to all DH public health campaign information and resources. The Centre also gives you access to the leaflets, posters, ads and toolkits available to support campaigns. http://campaigns.dh.gov.uk/

Item 40

Four commissioning ‘pillars’ spelled out

The new NHS Clinical Commissioning Coalition has published its mandate for supporting and championing clinical commissioning groups.

Established after a series of events for clinical commissioners, the mandate contains ‘four pillars’ for clinical commissioning. These are:

A focus on public health: improving health and not just healthcare; clinical commissioners must be able to leverage health improvement both by improving health care and by influencing others, such as through Health and Wellbeing Boards locally.

The need to avoid over-centralism: local commissioners should be able to focus on local needs and solutions.

Local flexibility: Whilst some direction from the centre is legitimate and appropriate, local commissioners should have freedom to keep decisions local; one size doesn't fit all.

Collective working: health and social care should be integrated at the point of delivery, which requires collective working both across primary care and with colleagues in secondary care

Dr Michael Dixon, chair of the NHS Alliance and a senior member of the Clinical Commissioning Coalition, said: ‘The coalition is determined to support and champion clinical commissioning groups and their leaders to ensure that they feel empowered and have the tools to deliver a new NHS that is shaped by local needs and solutions; an NHS that is committed not only to improving patient care but is also integrated and plays a key role in the health of whole communities.'

Dr Charles Alessi, another senior member of the coalition, said: ‘The time for primary care has arrived. We now have the opportunity to demonstrate, with our patients and local stakeholders, the transformation that can be achieved locally in the quality of service provision, in bringing care out of hospitals as well as other institutions, and in demonstrating value for money.' [From Pulse, 25 April 2012]

Item 41

Signing survey for deaf on healthcare

Action on Hearing Loss is conducting a survey on access to healthcare services for British Sign Language users. Anyone wishing to take the survey will find it at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BSLHealthcareSurvey For more information, or to tell the story of your own experience, go to: http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/news-andevents/all-regions/events/deaf-awareness-week-7- to-13-may-2012.aspx

Here are just a few questions from the wide-ranging survey:

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Is BSL your first or preferred language?

Have you ever been unhappy with the standard of Sign Language Interpreter provided at a health appointment?

Have you ever put off going to a health appointment because you were worried about communication problems?

Have you ever felt frustrated after an appointment because no Sign Language Interpreter was provided?

The survey is anonymous. Statistics gathered will be used to represent the needs of BSL users in healthcare.

Item 42

Charity resources

A useful listing of resources is now live on the Small Charities Coalition website, with many free or discounted services, guides and tools. The address is http://www.smallcharities.org.uk/small-charity-resources/

Item 43

Respite charity’s long success is down to one woman’s work

A charity which provides weeklong breaks for people with physical disabilities came into being through the determination of one woman.

Now called Vitalise, the charity was started in 1963 by Joan Brander as the Winged Fellowship Trust after she saw people with severe disabilities isolated at home 365 days a year with no opportunity for respite care.

She recognised the devastating effects this was having, not only on them, but on their carers and families, and set about doing something.

At the outset the charity had three objectives: to provide specially designed, equipped and furnished centres where physically disabled people could have an enjoyable break; to provide support through the holidays for carers; and to provide opportunities for voluntary service to men and women of all ages and backgrounds

Joan Brander’s energy, determination and passion helped the charity grow in size, influence and stature to the point where it now provides over 7,000 week-long breaks every year and opportunities for over 5,000 volunteers.

The name was changed to Vitalise in 2004, which, its website says, is “a statement that, whilst building on our historical strengths and successes, we will look to our future, expand our services and position ourselves as the modern, dynamic and visionary charity that we undoubtedly are.”

It adds: “We firmly believe that disabled people should have the same rights, freedoms, responsibilities and quality of life as those without disabilities.” Its centres cater for adults with a variety of physical disabilities and aim to provide an alternative to traditional residential respite care. Each centre offers short breaks in a relaxed, holiday style environment with a variety of trips and activities. Guests are supported by volunteers who provide companionship and assistance.

It also provides holidays for visually impaired people through Vitalise Holidays, organising a wide range of activities and holidays in the UK, Europe and other worldwide destinations. There is also a long-stay residential centre for disabled people in Southport.

Vitalise is based in Kendal. Its website address is http://www.vitalise. org.uk/, telephone 0303 303 145

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Item 44

Abuse hospital: campaign goes on to stop a repeat

Mencap, the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, and the Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group are campaigning to make sure the sort of abuse that happened at Winterbourne View is never repeated. Winterbourne View was a private hospital near Bristol, which was closed after the BBC’s Panorama programme secretly filmed staff verbally and physically abusing patients. A police investigation followed and several staff members were charged. The Government is reviewing into what went wrong and campaigners say it is important that it sets out how people with a learning disability and challenging behaviour get the support they need. Calls are being made for the closure of all large assessment and treatment units and for local services to replace them, which would allow people to stay close to their friends and family. Given this support, most people would never need to go to a unit like Winterbourne View. The three organisations are urging everyone to email their MP urgently and ask her or him to call on the Secretary of State for Health to set out plans to ensure people with a learning disability are protected from abuse and supported in their communities. For more information go to: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=78&ea.campaign.id=14616

Item 45

Long-term: New brochure advice

NHS Improvement has published 'Effective pathways for long term conditions'. This brochure identifies four key areas where patients and carers want improvements: stabilising the condition to get patients back to living their lives; supporting patients to live their lives through monitoring and review; timely intervention to the appropriate service when things go wrong; and providing choice and support towards the end of life.

Item 46

GPs speak out over ‘inferior service’ for learning disabled

Almost two-thirds of GPs believe that patients with learning disabilities receive a worse service than other patients, a General Medical Council survey has found. The poll – of 400 GPs and hospital doctors – found 64% of GPs thought patients with learning disabilities received inferior treatment, while 54% of hospital doctors felt those patients' care was worse. It comes as the Care Quality Commission uncovered “major concerns” at the care given to people with learning disabilities at some hospitals and care homes, as part of its unannounced inspections programme. The survey found that 35% of GPs said they had firsthand experience of a patient with learning disabilities receiving poorer care or facing discrimination, and 70% said they would benefit from online training and advice on caring for patients with learning disabilities. The poll was published as the GMC launched a new website dedicated to helping doctors provide better care for patients with learning disabilities [See p 7] Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said doctors needed to “see past the patient's disability to identify underlying physical problems. In many cases the evidence suggests small changes in the way care is provided can have a big impact on the patient's experience,” he said. [From Pulse 13.04]

Item 47

ME website A website called MEchat has been launched, primarily as an email support for ME sufferers and their families, and it is expected to be a lifeline for isolated sufferers who need to

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contact understanding people. There are also information and tips useful to anyone with ME, and much more. Visit www.mechat.co.uk [Shropshire ME newsletter, April]

Item 48

Personalisation ‘is central’ to management standards

Personalisation should be at the heart of good management in social care, according to revised management induction standards launched by Skills for Care. Skills for Care says managers are responsible for developing positive relationships between staff and service users and families, making the experiences of service users the measure of success, and promoting self-determination among clients (as opposed to risk aversion). There are eight 'core standards' for managers to adhere to: governance and accountability; systems and processes to promote communication; partnership working and relationships; using person- centred practice to achieve positive outcomes; team leadership and management; managing resources; equality, diversity and inclusion; and safeguarding and protection. [From Communitycare.co.uk]

Item 49

Charity recruiting more help

The National Association for End of Life Care, Omega, which is based in Shrewsbury, is increasing its work in Shropshire, Wolverhampton, Solihull and Powys. Anyone who would like to work with Omega to support family carers or frail elderly people can get in touch as follows: Email - carers@omega.uk.net; Phone 0845 259 3163; or write to Freepost RSGB-CYBY-HSCX, Omega, London House, Town Walls, Shrewsbury, SY11TX. The Omega website is www.omega.uk.net

Item 50

PAGE X

If your organisation or cause is not listed here please let us know. Email the editor at newsletter@shropshire-disability.net or write to him: Peter Staples, 8 Gorse Lane, Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, SY3 0JJ

Shropshire Council Disability Services

www.shropshire.gov.uk/disability.nsf

Telford & Wrekin Council Disability Forum

www.telford.gov.uk/info/200041/equality_and_diversity/925/disability_forum

A4U Disability Advice Centre 01743 251520; email advice@a4u.org.uk

Carers Direct 0808 802 0202

www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/Pages/CarersDirectHome.aspx

Community Council of Shropshire

www.shropshire-rcc.org.uk/

4 The Creative Quarter, Shrewsbury Business Park, Shrewsbury, SY2 6LG

01743 360641 fax: 01743 342179

Disability Arts in Shropshire: 01743 272939/271676; www.dasharts.org/

Disability Directory – Information, aids and mobility services

www.ableize.com/Disabled-Groups-and-Clubs-by-County/Shropshire/

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Disability Football Directory 01952 407198

http://www.disabilityfootball.co.uk/Madeleysports.html

Disability-friendly holiday accommodation

www.friendly-places.com/categories/disability-friendly/disabilityfriendly.asp?Location=Shropshire

Disability Resource Centre, Lancaster Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 3NJ

01743 450 912; email: robin.durham@shropshire-cc-gov.uk

www.the-svab.org.uk. RNIB: www.info.rnib.org.uk/exe/Agencies/Details.pl?480

Disabled and Wheelchair Athletics Directory

www.apparelyzed.com/disability-directory/adaptive-sports/disabled-athletics/

Headway Shropshire (brain injured and families)

Holsworth Park, Oxon Business Park, Shrewsbury, SY3 5HJ

01743 365271; www.headwayshropshire.org.uk/

Landau Limited - Supported employment services for people with disabilities,

5 Landau Court, Tan Bank, Wellington. TF1 1HE 01952 245 015, admin@landau.co.uk

Listen Not Label - User Led Organisation for disabled people and carers in Telford and Wrekin (Tina Jones, Manager), 01952 458021

Liz Yates Centre, The Poplars, Lightmoor, Telford, TF4 3QN

Marches Community Enterprise 01584 878402 or 07891094901

ME Connect - Helpline - 0844 576 5326 - between 10.00-noon, 2.00-4.00 and 7.00-9.00; email meconnect@meassociation.org.uk

Motor Neurone Disease Association - MND Connect 08457 62 62 62

mndconnect@mndassociation.org

Multiple Sclerosis Society - 01952 250038; www.mssociety.org.uk/telford

NHS Choices - www.nhs.uk/Pages/HomePage.aspx

Omega (National Association for End of Life Care) - www.omega.uk.net/

Parent Partnership Service - www.parentpartnershipshropshireandtelford.org.uk/#/useful-links/4551168089

PODS (independent forum in Telford for families of children with a disability or additional need). Jayne Stevens 0777 534 2092 or 07824 631 297; info@podstelford.org; www.podstelford.org

Primary Care Trust www.shropshire.nhs.uk/Get-Involved/

Scope (Cerebral Palsy) - www.scope.org.uk/services/shropshire

Shrewsbury Dial-a-Ride - Sundorne Trade Park , Featherbed Lane, SY1 4NS. Enquiries 01743 440350; Direct Line 01743 440744; Mobile 07891094901, linda@shrewsburydialaride.org.uk

Shropshire LINk - EarlyWorld House, Darwin Court, Oxon Business Park Shrewsbury, SY3 5AL; 01743 343223; www.shropshirelink.org.uk; info@shropshirelink.org.uk

Shropshire MIND - www.shropshiremind.org/

Observer House, Holywell St, Shrewsbury, SY2 6BL 01743 368647

Shropshire Peer Counselling and Advocacy Service

www.shropshirepcas.co.uk/default.htm

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Shropshire Volunteering Team -Promote your volunteering opportunities.

http://shropshirevcs.org.uk/site/volunteering/

Shropshire and Staffordshire Heart and Stroke Network

Lambda House, Hadley Park East, Telford, TF1 6QJ

Email: yuen-ting.cheung@shropshirepct.nhs.uk 01952 228490

Telford & Wrekin LINK - Suite 1, Conwy House, St Georges Court, St Georges Road, Donnington, Telford, TF2 7BF 01952 614180

Voluntary & Community Sector Assembly www.shrop.net/shropvcsassembly

Voluntary Association for the Blind (linked to RNIB)

Parent & Carer Council Shropshire

www.paccshropshire.org.uk/parent-and-carer-groups

PACC provides an index of support groups for children with disabilities in Shropshire. The following groups are listed on the PACC site. Where possible we list direct contacts, but refer to the PACC site for full details)

Allsorts (South Shropshire, for behavioural conditions) 07813043841

www.paccshropshire.org.uk/parent-and-carer-groups/71-allsorts

Bridgnorth Buddies (Parent-led, Special Needs) 07968 544182 or 07790 780631; email Buddies20@yahoo.co.uk

www.paccshropshire.org.uk/parent-and-carer-groups/72-bridgnorth-buddies

Haughton School, Telford, drop-in for parents of pupils with more complex special needs) 01952 387551 or 01952 387552; www.paccshropshire.org.uk/parent-and-carer-groups/83-haughton-school-drop-in

Onevision (visual impairment) 01952 385269

/www.paccshropshire.org.uk/parent-and-carer-groups/77-onevision

STACS (Aspergers,16+) 01952 254594 or 01939 260273; email louise.griffiths@carerscontact.org.uk

www.paccshropshire.org.uk/parent-and-carer-groups/76-stacs

Autistic Supporters (if you suspect your child is autistic, or has recently been diagnosed) 01743 356298

www.shropshireautisticsupporters.co.uk/?q=node/2

Deaf Children’s Society 01952 770019; email: nat4sdcs@aol.com

www.ndcs.org.uk

Down's Syndrome 01743 233802, 01948 880110 or 01588 640319

www.dsa-shropshire.org.uk

Dyslexia Association 01743 231205; www.thesda.org.uk

Wheelchair Users 01743 350460 or 01952 252243

SKiD (Shropshire Kids Insulin Dependent, associated with Diabetes UK)

01743 873724 or 01743 364366; email: home@morkot.go-plus.net

SPECTRUM (Autistic Support group) email: netgriffiths@fsmail.net

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www.spectrum.t83.net/

Telford STAA (supports parents/carers of children with ASD, ADHD, and challenging behaviour) 01952 457439 or 01952 617758; email: julie@parentpartnership-shropshireandtelford.org.uk or lesley@parentpartnershipshropshireandtelford.org.uk

Steps (help for parents/carers, lower limb abnormalities) 01743 355363

PODS (Parents Opening Doors - Telford, forum for views on services)

01952457439; email: julie@parentpartnership-shropshireandtelford.org.uk

Send your details and we’ll find space for them on Page X!

SDN seeks to provide a forum for information and all points of view on matters affecting people with disability, their families and carers. Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those held by SDN or anyone connected with it.

SDN and this newsletter do not endorse commercial products or services; any mentioned here are for information only. If you have a problem with any of the content, please contact the editor on newsletter@shropshire-disability.net