CEREDIGION UPDATE
2012
November
News and Developments Welcome to the Ceredigion update… Canolfan Meugan will close on Friday 26th October 2012 and will do so with a party for all who attend, the staff and for invited guests. We knew the centre was to close and this has been an anxious time for everyone involved however, let us not forget that the centre is not going to merge with Y Hafod thanks to the efforts of a number of people who came out in support of our very real concerns for both the service users of Meugan and Y Hafod at this proposal. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks to them. The closure of Canolfan Meugan does mean that there is now going to be a period of time when we all need to make the very best of the temporary situation in which the service users and staff now find themselves. The community support base centre will be moving to the Guildhall and I am pleased to say that the kitchen will be available so the cooking groups can continue. The Guildhall is not available on Monday afternoons and so ‘Our Lady of the Taper Catholic Church Hall’ will be used and again there is some good news as this has been identified by staff as a great opportunity to start the new Boccia Club. (The aim of the game is to throw balls as close as you can to a white target ball, or jack and can be played by individuals, pairs, or teams of mixed gender.) What we need to remember is the light at the end of the tunnel, a new purpose built centre and to this end a consultation meeting is to be held by Dr Neil Thompson on Thursday 15th November. The first part of the meeting will be for service users and then opened to parents, family and other interested parties to attend. So while we are dealing with the temporary situation lets do all we possibly can to ensure that your loved ones and the staff can settle quickly and comfortably into the Guildhall. Learning Disability Advisory Group (LDAG) In July of this year the Welsh Government invited a number of organisations and individuals to take part in the new Learning Disability Advisory Group, including Learning Disability Wales, Mencap Cymru, All Wales People First and us, All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People Learning Disabilities. The LDAG had their first meeting in Cardiff in September and will help the WG shape its learning disability policy on issues such as sustainable social services, tackling health inequalities, social integration and inclusion. DASH. Many congratulations to you for winning £5,000 from the Lloyds Banking Group Community Fund, and a big thank you to everyone that took the time to register their vote for DASH. The next big project is the UNO project, a proposal to The Big Lottery Bright New Futures aimed at providing much needed support for disabled young people aged 14-25 years going through transition. With a large number of children heading through transition towards Ceredigion’s already stretched adult services we need to give our full support to DASH for this exciting 5 year project.
Best Wishes, Roger
DATES & EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY Ceredigion Parents & Carers Forum Meeting Wednesday
7th November 2012 At 18:30 (6.30pm) Feathers Royal Hotel Aberaeron. Guest Speaker Sue Darnbrook Assistant Director Adult Services and Mental Health Please come and support your forum. A buffet will be provided. ++++++
‘LOOKING AFTER ME’ A 6 week course.
Thursdays 18th Nov to 13th Dec from 10 am to 12.30 pm Aberystwyth Fire Station. The course is free of charge and the cost of replacement care and transport can be claimed. TO BOOK A PLACE CONTACT Caroline on 01554 779 507 ++++++
CARERS RIGHTS DAY Friday 30th November 2012 Getting help in tough times 1:30 to 4:00 pm London House Aberaeron +++++++
AWF All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities
Elliot Buildings 21, Cardiff Road Taffs Well Cardiff. CF15 7RB Phone: 02920 811120 Email: roger.allwalesforum@ comeuro.co.uk Promoting the interests of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities
Other news… FORUM PARENT/CARER NEEDED FOR ASD GROUP You will be aware that in the last newsletter we asked for a parent carer to sit on the new adult service ASD monitoring group. Non Jenkins has agreed to represent your forum but this now leaves a vacancy on a similar group in Children's Services. So who would be interested in this role? It does not require a big time commitment but is an important one. Please contact me for further details and thanks Non for your continued commitment to the forum. PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT (PIP) I was present at a PIP presentation by Ken Davies of the DWP recently. Future PIP announcements should be out soon. Any claimant with a learning disability will have the right to be accompanied (parent / social worker etc.) at their face to face interview and I was able to get confirmation from Ken that the person accompanying will be allowed to play an active part. I also pointed out that most health professionals had no understanding of learning disabilities and claimants should be interviewed by specially trained health professional with an understanding of LD. I have followed this up with a written enquiry to the DWP and await their response. LEARNING DISABILITY WALES TRUSTEE RECUITMENT New trustees wanted to serve on the management committee from 2012 to 2014. Their mission: To create a Wales that values and includes every child, young person and adult with a learning disability. Interested? Contact Joanne Moore on 029 2068 1160 or find information on website http://www.learningdiasbilitywales.org.uk/manage_com.php.
Large Consultations Of Interest Framework for Action on Independent Living consultation. The framework covers priorities identified by disabled people, building on the Disability Wales Manifesto for Independent Living which was produced through engagement in 2010 - 2011. The priorities have been tackled by bringing together the experience and expertise of disabled people, public service and third sector organisations and Welsh Government officials, to identify the key issues and good practise, and suggest positive action which could be taken. The consultation document and an Easy Read version produced by Learning Disability Wales, can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/Rh6bvv The Framework for Action is based on the social model of disability. It examines the barriers to equality and inclusion faced by disabled people and the action needed to address them. This consultation provides an opportunity to comment on the contents of the Framework. Responses will help inform the Welsh Government’s future direction in this area of work. Closing date 20th December 2012 This is an important consultation, please take part.
Mencap Cymru are looking for comments or quotes from parents / carers on ways that their general wellbeing and health could be better supported. Contact Alli Maskell via telephone number, 0808 808 1111, the Wales Learning Disability Helpline. Respite care in Ceredigion The LA are currently looking at respite care within county to ensure that it is fairly allocated to both existing users and new referrals according to the needs of the adult with LD and that of their carer. A new six monthly respite booking request form will be sent out in December 2012 for bookings from April 2013. Decisions will then be made at the counties new Respite Allocation Meeting to be held in January 2013. The emergency bed will always be held at Brynsiriol from April 2013 to help reduce cancellations. Keep an eye on the website as I will provide more information as soon as possible. Any concerns then please get in touch—details below.
All Wales Forum Ceredigion Carer Development Worker Roger Colman E-mail roger.allwalesforum@comeuro.co.uk Telephone 01545 580232 Mobile 07977389505
www.ceredigionpcf.co.uk