The SouthGlos Post

NHS South Gloucesterhire and South Gloucestershire Council have developed a draft Strategy for Carers in partnership with carer representatives, which is out for public consultation from 1st July 2010 until 31st October 2010.

The Strategy’s vision is that: “By 2018, carers will be universally recognised and valued as being fundamental to strong families and stable communities. Support will be tailored to meet individual needs; enabling carers to maintain a balance between their caring responsibilities and a life outside caring, while enabling the person they support to be a full and equal citizen.”

The Council says: “We want to hear your ideas and priorities which will help shape our plans for the future and we would be grateful if you could complete a short online questionnaire.”

More information and related links:

• Consultation documents and online questionaire (SGC)
• South Gloucestershire Joint Strategy for Carers on Facebook

Source: NHS South Gloucestershire

A turf cutting ceremony is being held on Friday 12 March (11am until 11.30am) to mark the start of work on the latest South Gloucestershire Council extra care housing scheme.

Fiveways, as it is currently known, is located on New Cheltenham Road in Kingswood and will provide 40 one and two bedroom flats to rent.

There will be a range of communal facilities for residents as well as 24-hour onsite care and support.

Also, a ‘Wellbeing Centre’ is being built adjacent to the extra care housing development that will provide services for older people and people with learning difficulties. And there will be an onsite restaurant to provide meals for service users at the centre and residents living in the extra care accommodation.

The Fiveways scheme, which is being built in partnership with Housing 21, is due to be completed in Autumn 2011 by contractor Leadbitter.

Extra care housing allows people to live as independently as possible, in an affordable home of their own. Residents have their own front door, can live with their partner or friends, and have enough room to allow family and friends to stay too – while knowing support is available if they need it.

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council

The future of adult health and social care was the theme of the second major ‘Transforming Lives’ congress event hosted jointly by South Gloucestershire Council and the NHS South Gloucestershire.

More than 120 people representing a wide range of older people, individuals with health and social care needs, care organisations, community groups, disability groups and social care practitioners came together last week to hear guest speaker Professor Jon Glasby, a government advisor on health and social care, give a thought provoking talk. He talked about how far social care services have come in the last 40 years, and about the changes which are still needed to improve the co-ordination of health and social care needs and to implement the government’s agenda called ‘Putting People First’ .

In addition, Peter Murphy, director of Community Care and Housing at South Gloucestershire Council, explained about the joint vision for transforming the way health and social care services are delivered. “The future will see a move towards enabling individuals having much greater choice and control over their lives.” Roger Pedley director of primary and community care for NHS South Gloucestershire , said, “We have already started developing ways in which people can be supported to achieve their goals of living as independently as possible.“

(more…)

Source: South Gloucestershire Council