What a wonderful way for our service to launch the new Carers’ Emergency Card – with lots of activities and events going on throughout the week and our service and all of our partners working together to reach and celebrate as many carers as possible of all ages in all circumstances. We had a fantastic turn out for our event at Stockton Riverside College on Friday 15th June but the highlight of the day was by far the fantastic performance from the SRC year one performing arts students who put on a thoughtful, emotional and original performance to capture the challenges faced by carers of all ages. The performance certainly made us all think and even brought a tear to a few eyes!

The week would not have been possible without all of the services working together and providing great support for one another as well as the people they support. Heartfelt thanks to all who supported at Stockton Riverside College, the year one performing arts students and their tutors, Tees Active, SNAPs, Eastern Ravens Trust, Stockton ARC, Lanark Close and every single service, carer and professional who participated and turned out for all of the events. Let’s hope next year will be even bigger and better!

NewsletterWelcome to the second edition of the Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service newsletter. The past 9 months have been incredibly busy and fast paced for our service with lots of new carers coming to us for support and the development of lots of new and exciting relationships. We are working hard to identify and offer support to as many carers as possible as well as developing new avenues of support, including educational/awareness opportunities for carers. Support for carers in employment and developing new peer support opportunities. As new services are developed we will bring you details here first. With this edition of our newsletter you will find a run down of our peer support groups and drop in sessions that are open to all carers for signposting and support and also a carers’ information sheet detailing some of the information you might find useful and informative. We would love to hear from you with your ideas, stories and things you would like to see on these pages.

Please contact the Carers’ Support Service on 01642 524494or email: carerssupport@stockton.gov.uk

Councillor Jim Beall, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Health

Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service

October 2018 | Issue 2

Carers’ week 2018

Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service Newsletter | Issue 2 | October 2018 | 1

Teesside Dementia LinkCarers working together with the service to develop support

Evening Carers’ Support Group, First Tuesday of the Month, 7-8:30pm

The Subway Store, Teesside Industrial Estate (next to Anson’s Farm)

Advice & Information | Friendly chat | Meet other carers | Have some supper or a drink

www.tdls2016.org | Charity No 1175890

2 | October 2018 | Issue 2 | Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service Newsletter

Caravan StaysDid you know that there is a specially adapted caravan available at Primrose Valley. This caravan was purchased by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and gifted to the Onsite Building Trust to manage in order to benefit families within Stockton-on-Tees who are affected by disability or support needs. The caravan is on a great site and the rates to rent it are very competitive. If you would like more information on the caravan you can contact:

Onsite Building Trust

caravan@onsitebuilding.org

lynn@onsitebuilding.org

Tel: 01642 688303

Mob: 07794249601

Stockton ARCJoin us at Stockton ARC for exciting cinema, theatre and comedy club events or our thought provoking theatre, dance and spoken word program or come along to Arctic Piranha, a club night led by adults with learning disabilities for other adults with additional needs and their friends.

ARC offers a free ticket to a companion accompanying a disabled person to an event, where it is an access requirement. If you or someone you support requires accessible seating or has any access requirements, you can download our access form here and either email it to box.office@arconline.co.uk post it to ARC, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LL, or bring this into our box office for this information to be added to your customer account. This will let ARC’s staff know your requirements so you don’t need to explain every time you book.

We’d love to welcome you to our upcoming performances and screenings!

www.stocktoninformationdirectory.org

Carer friendly services in Stockton-on-TeesWhat does your GP, pharmacy, opticians, dentist chiropodist etc do to support you as a carer? If you have a good example of somewhere you have been offered great support or services have been made more accessible for you then get in touch and let us know. We would love to acknowledge examples of great practice and share this information with other services who are maybe not doing as well in recognising and supporting people in a caring role.

Did you know… Letting your GP know that you are a carer means your GP can offer free regular health checks, late appointments, free vaccinations, longer appointments, back to back appointments, annual health checks and other additional support.

In addition, with signed consent from the cared for person, some GP’s will, for example, allow the carer speak on behalf of the cared for person to make appointments, discuss referrals and order prescriptions.

Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service Newsletter | Issue 2 | October 2018 | 3

Dementia Related Support Namaste Care: if you would be interested in learning some techniques to support people with advanced stage dementia there may be an opportunity for individual families to work with a specialist dementia nurse to learn some techniques and skills to interact with their loved ones. If you would be interested in the Namaste Care programme please contact the Carers’ Service on 01642 524494.

Dementia Research is looking for couples to take part in a new pilot where people with dementia create a digital life story to share with their loved ones. For more details and to register your interest contact the research team on 01482 301726 and/or send an email to ResearchTeam.hnf-tr@nhs.net

Flu Vaccination for CarersFlu can be nasty and unpleasant if you are otherwise healthy. However for some people who already have weakened immune systems it can lead to serious complications which is why every year the NHS recommend the flu vaccine for certain groups of people including informal carers.

The seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to prevent yourself from any such complications during the winter months and ensures you are still able to continue in your caring role.

If you are the main carer for someone who is elderly or has a disability or you are aged over 65, are pregnant or have one of a number of health conditions yourself then you may be eligible for a free flu vaccine from the NHS.

You should contact your GP or local pharmacist to discuss the vaccination for both yourself and possibly the person you care for.

Carers’ Emergency CardsJune saw us launch the new Carers’ Emergency Card. We have already had a great response from carers registering to ensure that if something happens to them, someone will find the card and plans will be put in place to ensure the cared for person is taken care of until their return. If you would like to apply for a Carers’ Emergency Card please contact the support service on 01642 524494 or email on carerssupport@stockton.gov.uk to provide your information and discuss contingency arrangements.

Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service Facebook PageDid you know you can keep up to date on what services and support are available for carers in Stockton-on-Tees by following our facebook page at @stocktonadultcarerssupport service. You can also join our closed group where you can discuss issues and support with others in a similar situation to yourself. It would be great to see some new members who would be willing to support each other.

Big plans for the care we provide

4 | October 2018 | Issue 2 | Stockton Adult Carers’ Support Service Newsletter

Carers’ Action Plan 2018 – 2020Earlier this year the Government released its action plan for carers, detailing how it intends to improve support for carers over the next two years. The plan detailed actions in the following areas:

• Services and systems that work for carers: That are flexible and responsive and recognise that there is no ‘typical’ carer and situations can be very diverse.

• Employment and Financial Wellbeing: Recognises the difficulties in balancing caring with paid work.

• Supporting young carers: Commitment to identifying young carers and ensuring they have access to the same opportunities as those young people without caring responsibilities.

• Recognising and supporting carers in the wider community: Building carer friendly communities.

• Developing research and evidence to improve outcomes for carers: Helps to understand what solutions would work best and supports developing future policy.

You can view the full plan and the responses to it online at www.gov.uk/government/publications/carers’-action-plan-2018-to-2020

The health and wellbeing of the Borough residents vulnerable to cold is high on the agenda this winter, as the Warm Homes Healthy People campaign returns to offer support which is targeted at the residents in most need of assistance.

There are set criteria to determine whether help can be provided to individuals through the scheme, including any of the following:· being aged 75 or over· being in receipt of disability benefits· having a long term illness that is made worse by cold weather· living with a child (under five) who has a long term illness made worse by the cold

The support on offer ranges from help with emergency heating, energy tariffs, debt and welfare advice, to a home handyman service.

Help with boiler servicing and repairs may also be offered to those in receipt of qualifying benefits.

To find out what support could be available through Warm Homes Healthy People – contact Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council on 01642 528215 or visit www.stockton.gov.uk/warmhomes

Lines are open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

If you have any questions related to the Warm Homes Healthy People Scheme an advisor will be visiting the Peer Support Group at Stockton Parish Church on 11th October between 1.00pm-3.00pm.

Artwork produced and replicated for Carers Week 2018 by SNAPS

Carers’ Action DayThursday 8th November Time: 1.30pm – 3pmRiver Tees Watersports Centre, The Slipway, North Shore, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2NLAre you an informal carer? Would you like to help shape the support available to you in Stockton-on-Tees? We are looking for people who are passionate about caring and would be able to offer some time to consult and inform the direction of the Adult Carers’ Support Service.Places are limited so please contact 01642 524494 to book your place

Warm Homes, Healthy People

Drop in dates and venuesEveryone is welcome to drop in for information, support or just a friendly chat.

10am – 12 noon Melrose Medical Centre Second Monday of every month

10am – 12 noon Tennant Street Medical Last Wednesday of every month

10am – 12 noon Norton Medical Centre First Monday of every month

10am – 12 noon Kingsway Medical First Friday of every month

10am – 12 noon Dr Rasools (Abbey Health) Last Monday of every month

10am – 12 noon Yarm Medical First Tuesday of every month

10am – 12 noon Queenspark Surgery Last Thursday of every month

10am – 12 noon Lawson Street Surgery (Densham/Dovecot practices) Second Friday of every month

1pm – 3pm Primary Care Trust (Ground floor – Thornaby Medical) First Monday of every month

10am - 12 noon Billingham Library Third Wednesday of every month

10am - 12 noon Thornaby Library Third Thursday of every month

12pm - 2pm Stockton Library Last Wednesday of every month

We will notify you of additional drop in dates and venue as they are confirmed.

Regular carers’ support groupsGroup Day Venue Who is the group for? To book

Peer Support Group

Every Thursday 1-3pm

Stockton Parish Church, High Street, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 1SP

Peer Support Group Any informal carer age 18+

Just turn up on the day

Lunch Club Second Tuesday of Every Month 12pm-2pm

Brewers Fayre, Preston Farm, Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3RT

Peer Support for both the carer and cared for aged 18+ social event

Just turn up on the day

Lanark Support Group

Second Wednesday of Every Month11am - 1pm

Lanark 1 Lanark CloseStockton-on-Tees,TS19 0UY

Parents and Carers’’ of an adult with learning disabilities

Just turn up on the day

We are hoping to set up additional carers’ support groups within Stockton and would love to hear your views on where you would like these to be held and what you would want for the group. Please contact us with your comments on 01642 524494 or email carerssupport@stockton.gov.uk

We want to hear from youWhat services and support would you like to see from the Adult Carers’ Support Service? What would you like us to offer? Tell us all about what would make your life better or easier. To get in touch you can email carerssupport@stockton.gov.uk or telephone us on 01642 524494

Join the Carers’ RegisterDon’t forget you can have access to the latest information by joining our Carers’ Register at www.stocktoninformationdirectory.org/carershub

11 October Stephen Shaw – Winter Warmth

18 October Macmillan Coffee Morning

25 October Peter Ridley – Community Safety

1 November Debbie – Little Sprouts

8 November No Group –Carers Action Day (Consultation Event) 1.30-3pmRiver Tees Water Sports Centre(Booking essential)

15 November Aiden Wheller – Illegal Money Lending

22 November Glyn Stinchcombe - Zumba Gold Taster Session

29 November Rebecca Gray – Carers Assessments

6 December Leslie Davies – Card making

13 December Angie Wallace – Chocolate Crafts

20 December Festive Celebration

27 December No Group

3 January No Group

10 January Claire Coulthard – Red Balloon

17 January Vicki Ellis – Personalisation and Personal Budgets

24 January Alistair Mathieson – Crafts

31 January TBC

7 February Lauren Coxon – Talking Therapies (Alliance)

14 February Rebecca Gray – Carers Assessments

21 February TBC

28 February TBC

Speakers may be subject to change

Stockton Adult Carers’ Support ServicePeer Support Group

Stockton Parish Church Hall, Stockton High Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1SP

Every Thursday 1pm – 3pm – Everyone Welcome