October 2015 e-bulletinWelcome to the Healthwatch Bristol e-bulletin. The content is a mixture of local, regional information regarding health, wellbeing and social care services.

Contents

Local EventsLocal InformationHealthwatch UpdateTraining

Visit: www.healthwatchbristol.co.uk

If you have any events or information that you would like us to include in our e-bulletin please contact us at healthwatchbristol@thecareforum.org.ukWe need information for the next edition by 16 October.

Visit the Healthwatch Bristol website and rate and review your health and social care services.

2Local Events Free information day: Housing Options for Later LifeWednesday 21 October, WE Care and Repair, Waterloo Home Independence Centre, 5 Hide Market, Bristol BS2 0LP.WE Care and Repair is hosting an information day for anyone who wants to learn about housing options for older people. The day will cover how older people can remain in their own homes and adapt them to meet their changing needs. There will also be advice on making informed house moves and a tour of the Waterloo Home Independence Centre. To book your place, contact Judy Mead. T: 0117 954 3923 E: judy.mead@wecr.org.uk

Second city wide Neighbourhood Partnership conference book nowSaturday 24 October, 10am-3.45pm, MShed, Princes Wharf, BS1 4RN.This event will bring together residents, councillors, Bristol City Council officers and others involved in Neighbourhood Partnerships. This resident led event will include workshops and more. W: http://tinyurl.com/p4vsw2f

Local Events Local Information

Bristols Secret Art ExhibitionThursday 29 October 2015, 10-4pm at OVO Energys Amphitheatre 1 Rivergate, Temple Quay, BS1 6ED. Admission is free.Local brain injury charity, Headway Bristol, is excited to announce details about their Secret Art Exhibition at OVO Energy. The exhibition will hold a selection of 100 pieces of artwork on the theme of the world we live in from a variety of renowned local artists, as well Headway Bristols own service users. There will also be drawing competitions for children during the day, as well as an indoor treehouse and slide. A limited selection of artwork will also be available to buy on this day.W: http://goo.gl/K0E7aiE: info@headwaybristol.org.uk T: 0117 340 3771

Bristol Pride Gala BallSaturday 31 October, Marriott Royal Hotel on College Green, Bristol BS1 5TA.This is the first ever Bristol Pride Gala Ball and will be a three course meal with awards ceremony followed by a special masquerade ball. The awards include best local business, best Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender staff network, best bar, best restaurant, best employer and some special Pride awards for performers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters. For more information and to book tickets visit: W: http://tinyurl.com/pbgnk55

Improving inclusion for people with dementia in community gardensTuesday 10 November, 1-4pm. Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, Hereford Street, Bristol, BS3 4NA.This event is about sharing best practice with talks and a discussion on how the barriers to the inclusion of people with dementia in community gardens can be overcome. Lunch is provided on arrival so please book your place. E: dalec@growingsupport.co.uk

3Local InformationAge UK: the Big Knit 2015The winter months can be tough for a lot of people as many as 25,000 older peoples lives are at risk because of the cold. Age UK has been tasked with knitting 800,000 hats which will adorn Innocent smoothie bottles. Deadline is 11 December 2015. If you would like to help Age UK and are able to knit or crochet then give it a go.W: http://tinyurl.com/q95kske

Health and social care for Deaf adults drop in sessionsMondays and Fridays, 9.00-12.30pm at RNIB, 10 Still House Lane, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EBThursdays, 9.30-12.30pm at Housing21, Hillside Court, Batten Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 8NLThe Sensory Impairment team is running drop in sessions for Deaf adults to help with: translating letters from English to British

Sign Language (BSL) to support with phoning and booking

appointments to support with paying bills or finding out

more information from service providers to support with contacting any services If you need more time for several issues, you may need to make an appointment, which you can do on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and these can be a home visit or public place for example a caf, or the RNIB offices.Text: 07775 646671 E: sensory.impairment@bristol.gov.uk

Full Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rollout updateDisability Living Allowance (DLA) is ending for people who were aged between 16 and 64 on 8 April 2013 and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now rolling out the final phase of PIP - the reassessment of all remaining people on DLA. The DWP is doing a controlled start so that they can test and learn, and review their approach and processes before scaling up further. From 1 September the area covered has been extended to include Bristol and DLA claimants do not need to take any action to claim PIP until they are told to do so by DWP. For more information:W: http://tinyurl.com/kxjwalz

Peer Advice Link: Peer volunteering with St Mungos BroadwayIf you have had a time in your life when mental health or addiction issues left you dependent on tenancy services and are thinking about the next step or wanting some meaningful way to use your time and your experience, volunteering with the Bristol Mental Health Floating Support Peer Advice Link Team could be for you.Peer Advice Link asks people to volunteer for two days a week between 10 4 pm. Travel and lunch expenses are paid. Volunteers will need references and DBS checks, will have a period of shadowing a worker and, once the probation period is over, will work with another volunteer. Regular supervision and training opportunities are offered, plus encouragement and support to develop skills for work. Contact Liz.T: 07736881740E: volunteerservices@mungosbroadway.org.uk

Local Information

4Public bodies make decisions and Avon and Bristol Law Centre can challenge those decisionsClients seeking advice for a wide range of problems including debt, housing, community care and discrimination, may well have been negatively affected by a public bodys decision. It is not likely to be the main reason they need help, but it could well be related and have made their situation worse. If you think your client may have been affected, even if you are not sure, contact Avon and Bristol Law Centre. Staff can help you decide either way and recommend the best course of action. For an informal, confidential discussion about your clients needs, contact Will Stone. W: www.ablc.org.ukT: 0117 924 8662E: wills@ablc.org.uk

New patient information leaflet on good care from nurses and midwivesThe Nursing and Midwifery Council has launched a new leaflet aimed at patients, service users and their carers called Good care from nurses and midwives. This leaflet explains what a professional code means for patients and service users and the standards of care they should expect. It also gives some information about how patients, service users and carers can raise concerns if they are unhappy with the care received. For more information on the code or to download the leaflet visit:W: http://goo.gl/v7KESTW: http://goo.gl/OKuGtx

New drop in sessions for people with aphasiaFirst and third Monday of the month 2-4pm, The Station, Silver Street, Bristol BS1 2AG.Sessions are led by people with aphasia and supported by trained volunteers. Relax

over tea and coffee, exchange ideas

Local Informationand meet people who understand. Contact Helen Mann for more information.T: 020 7367 0864E: helenmann@ukconnect.org

Healthwatch Bristol Update Local people have been telling Healthwatch Bristol about their experiences with health and social care services in Bristol. This month, a theme that is emerging from their feedback is those with learning difficulties would like more information about cancer that is easy to understand.What do you think? Have you or your family or friends had any experiences, good or bad, regarding experiences around information about cancer?We will take this information to the people who commission the relevant services, so they know what people think and can plan improvements for the future.Contact Healthwatch Bristol T: 0117 2690400E: info@healthwatchbristol.co.ukW: www.healthwatchbristol.co.uktext bris + your story to 07860 021 603

One way Healthwatch listens to what you have to say is by attending events and undertaking specific engagement activities. On completion all the feedback is collated and reports are produced. The reports are published on the Healthwatch website and also sent to the relevant service providers and commissioners so they can hear what you think. Each quarter we also collate all the issues and experiences Healthwatch has heard from you and put them into a report which is dealt with similarly. Visit our website todownload our reports and see what people are talking about.W: http://tinyurl.com/pdgszlt

5Young Healthwatch helps shape the future of Childrens Community Health (CCH) Services in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset Young Healthwatch is the name Healthwatch Bristol uses for its work with children and young people. Children and young people can tell Healthwatch about their experiences of using any health or social care service, or about their experiences of health related issues. Anyone aged 11-25 years old can also volunteer with Young Healthwatch. Young Healthwatch volunteers have been working with Healthwatch Bristol and Bristol Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to form and run the Young Peoples Reference Group (YPRG). The YPRG is an open access group for young people living in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset aged between 11 and 19 years of age. The YPRG meets every month and makes sure that young peoples voices are used in the current re-commissioning of Childrens Community Health (CCH) services. The YPRG designed the service pathway (which showed how a young person should feel as they entered, used and left a service) which was used right at the start of the planning of the new services. Since then the YPRG have met with commissioners, given feedback on specific CCH services, helped create and record their voices for an animation to promote the consultation phase of the re-commissioning and have helped make an amazing consultation website. For more information and to share your views on the future of childrens community health services visit the website.W: https://goo.gl/hrOYy2

Tell Us Your Story: carers, the Care Act and the Children and Families ActHealthwatch Bristols focus topic for October, November and December 2015 is carers, The Care Act and The Children and Families Act. The aims of the changes to the acts are: making care and support clearer and fairer; promoting peoples wellbeing; enabling people to prevent and delay the need for care and support; support carers to maintain their caring role, and to put people in control. It also gives carers the same rights as those they care for.Healthwatch wants to hear about your experience of health and social care services. As carers we want to hear about the support you receive and issues you face, as well as the experiences you have looking after the person/people you care for.Here are some questions that may prompt you to tell us your story: Are you a parent carer or a young carer?

Tell us about it. Do you get support in your home? Tell us

about it. Have you received a carers assessment?

What was your experience? Do you attend any groups or day centres

to support you? Would you like to attend groups, but do not currently do so why not?

Do you receive support from social care services? What support do you receive and are you happy with it? Was the support easy to access and arrange?

If you are part of a group or work with a group who would like to get involved and share their experiences get in touch and Healthwatch Bristol can come along to talk with you.For more information on the Care Act and the Children and Families Act visit:W: http://bit.ly/1I3ReJ0W: http://bit.ly/10l9oTk

Healthwatch Update

6The Healthwatch Wellbeing Show on BCFM radioEvery month Healthwatch Bristol hosts the Wellbeing show on BCFM 93.2FM. Healthwatch plans the shows in advance based on hot topics and what we are hearing from you, so if you have any ideas about a subject we should cover or if you are an organisation who would like to come on the show to talk about how you support people in health or social care services please get in touch. To listen to the show, tune your radio to 93.2FM on the second Tuesday of every month between 3-4pm. You can also listen back to all the shows on the BCFM website. W: http://bit.ly/1FtQZqG

New: UHBristol Involvement NetworkOver the next few months University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol) will be setting up a new way for patients and carers to get involved in planning and shaping the future of their hospitals. They are calling this an Involvement Network. They are inviting all kinds of people from all walks of life to think about joining this group and getting involved. UHBristol are holding an information evening on Thursday 15 October 2015 at the Education and Research Centre, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol BS2 8AE starting at 6.00pm.If you would like to take part in the information evening and find out more about joining the Involvement Network please contact Tony Watkin to book a place. You can contact Tony by email or on the phone (there is also an answer phone on this number so you can leave messages). If you cant make that date and want to find out more information still

National Informationcontact Tony and you can have a chat or he can send you some more information.E: tony.watkin@uhbristol.nhs.ukT: 0117 342 3729

TrainingSubstance misuse trainingWednesday 28 October 2015, 9.30am-12.30pm, in the Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds BS16 2QQ (room tbc).Bristol Drugs Project (BDP) is offering free training to services across the Bristol area who support older people (people over 50 years) but who do not specialise in substance use. BDP are keen to raise your awareness, give you the chance to ask questions and talk through situations that are unique to your work, and share what their service offers and how it can support you and the people that you work with.Please note spaces are limited and open to staff initially. If you wish to book on to this training session please email.E: events@thecareforum.org.uk

Street Fusion danceClasses run every Friday 7-8pm St Michaels Hall, 95 High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol BS36 1RD 4 per session, carers go free.Fun and friendly street dance lessons for people with disabilities and learning difficulties for 13 years and above. Book your place by contacting Sadie.T: 07740 835 739E: sadie-lev@hotmail.co.uk

A series of free Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) briefing sessions for health professionals Tuesday 3 November 2-5pm, James

Tudor Room, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2QQ.

Tuesday 17 November 9.30am-12.30pm, James Tudor Room, The Vassall Centre.

7 Tuesday 24 November 2-5pm, Kingswood Community Association, The Community Centre, High Street, Bristol, BS15 4AB.

Diversity Trust and the local Healthwatch projects in Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire are putting on a series of free briefing sessions for health professionals. These sessions will include the findings from the regions health needs assessments with LGBT communities. Each session will include: local research on the experiences of the

LGBT+ communities and the barriers faced in accessing services

best practice guidelines to help your organisation improve service delivery to LGBT+ people

practical ideas and tips on working with LGBT+ communities.

The sessions are aimed at GPs, practice nurses, reception, clerical staff, practice managers, allied health professionals and other health care providers, especially front line staff.E: events@thecareforum.org.ukT: 0117 965 4444W: www.thecareforum.org

Dementia Research Network The Alzheimers Society is inviting people with dementia and their carers and former carers to join their Research Network. Possible tasks include:

help set research priorities review funding applications sit on grant funding panels monitor ongoing research projects ensure research results are

communicated and outcomes translated into tangible benefits for people affected with dementia.

People would need to do two to three hours a month of volunteering from their home, and you can take a break at any time. Training is available to learn about research and acquire new skills. E: research@alzheimers.org.uk T: 020 74235153

National InformationThe Care Forum Online Monthly Regional and National News BulletinThe Care Forums regional and nationalhealth and social care news bulletin is now available online each month. Topics include national developments, adult social care, autism and learning difficulties, carers, children and young people, maternal and paternalhealth and social care and mental health.Visit: W: http://tinyurl.com/nqkxbsq

National Information

8Contact Us...

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Write to us at: Healthwatch Bristol, The Care Forum, The Vassall Centre Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 2QQ.T: 0117 965 4444 Fax 0117 965 0200 E: info@healthwatchbristol.co.uk web: www.healthwatchbristol.co.uk TCF: www.thecareforum.org

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This email message does not necessarily express the views of The Care Forum and should be considered personal unless there is a specific statement to the contrary.DisclaimerThe Care Forum makes every effort to maintain the accuracy of the information it uses but cannot accept responsibility for personal security, any loss or damage which may occur from use of the information. The Care Forum does not provide quality control of external links; the inclusion of any companys name within the pages should not be construed as a recommendation of that organisations products and / or services. If you find anything that causes concern, E: info@thecareforum.org.uk or T: 0117 965 4444 or write to The Care Forum, The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 2QQ.