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Contact:
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Annette Scobie
Co-ordinator |
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34 Woodmarket
Kelso
TD5 7AX |
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Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
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01573 226969
0871 242 0426
admin@bvccf.org.uk
www.bvccf.org.uk |
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Key aims of the forum
- To act as a focal point for consultation and representation on matters to do with community care
- To enable users and carers to have a voice in the planning and provision of community care
- To promote the provision of accessible information and to raise public awareness about community care
- To assist in the provision of training to improve the quality of community care services
- To encourage and support the development of new community care initiatives in the field of information, advocacy and support
- To work in partnership with all agencies both locally and nationally to improve community care services
Membership/management structure
Membership of the Forum is free and open to anyone with an interest in community care, local user and carer groups and voluntary care organisations. From the membership, 15 representatives are nominated to serve for a period of 3 years on the Executive Committee of the Forum. The Forum of Councils of Voluntary Service are ex-officio members.
Key achievements 2004/2005
- Supporting user/carer involvement in the joint planning structures within the Scottish Borders Well-Being Partnership.
- Co-ordinating the local Carers Strategy group to monitor and develop ways of supporting carers through the update of the Carers Information Pack, Carers Outreach Project and a flexible Short Breaks Scheme.
- Continuing to support user led projects such as People First Borders, the Borders Disability Forum and provide development support to the Borders Direct Payments Agency.
Focus of work 2005/2006
- Through the additional post of the Mental Health Development Worker, find new ways of involving users and carers in the implementation of the new Mental Health Act.
- Provide on-going support to the development of Advocacy through the Borders Independent Advocacy Service, which has been commissioned to provide the new Mental Health Advocacy Service.
- Finding Out Project – by bringing together representatives of users and carers of people with learning disabilities, enable them to find out more about other community projects elsewhere in Scotland.
Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop
- Princess Royal Trust Borders Carers Centre
- Borders Independent Advocacy Service
- People First Borders
- Borders Disability Forum
- Borders Visual Impairment Network
- Borderline Telephone Helpline
- Borders Direct Payments Agency
Features that demonstrate Good Practice
- Developing different methods of user and carer involvement
- Raising key issues with MSP’s, local Councillors, Local Authority and NHS
Borders on behalf of users, carers and local voluntary organisations
- Working in partnership with Health and Social Work to improve community care services locally
- Widely circulated newsletter provides up-to-date information about developments in community care in Borders
Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement
We support users and carers to participate in the Forum through our open membership, having meeting in accessible venues and paying out-of-pocket expenses. We also have a User and Carer Working Group to support people to participate in joint planning and working groups. Carers are encouraged and supported to participate in the Carers Strategy Group. The Forum holds open meetings and seminars on specific topics such as Mental Health Act and Community Health Partnerships and Local Health and Care Partnerships.
Key Issues of concern
- Changes in NHS provision locally eg in-patient re-design – current proposals around reducing number of beds and possible cottage hospital closures
- Joint Futures – tension between NHS and SW due to NHS deficit and in patient re-design proposals means that it is a testing time for joint futures/integrated working
- Impact on carers of the above – need to safeguard funding for support to carers, short breaks and respite care.
- Forum is taking forward a list of key questions with MSP’s and the local authorities – general concern that a lot of consultation is taking place but is not followed through.
- Organisational changes eg Community Health Partnerships and Local Health and Care Partnerships are complex – concern about multi layered or parallel structures evolving – need to show improved services for patients/users/carers.
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