Community Care Forums in Highland

Contact: Job title:		Anne Howe Facilitator
Address:		c/o VABS 2 Inverewe Grampian Road AVIEMORE PH22 1RH
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01479 810004 . howeahowe@aol.co.uk

Key aims of the forum

• To involve service uses and carers in the planning/provision of services
  
  
• To identify gaps in services and work to fill them
  
  
• To support carers in their caring role
  
  
• To support service users

Membership/management structure

Implementation group directs the facilitator and maintains the focus of the Forum’s work.    Membership of around 60, some of whom attend meetings (around 25) and others who get minutes, comment by phone etc.

Key achievements of 2004/2005:

• We held a lobbying workshop for members.  The training was done by SCVO staff and we learned how to lobby on a local, regional and national level.
  
  
• In partnership with the Local Access Panel, we have planned a Disability Awareness Roadshow to go round the ten local primary schools.  We have sourced funding for a workbook resource and have volunteers to help.  Some volunteers have disabilities.
  
  
• Have supported local carers/service users to set up a project to provide supported training/ employment for adults with learning disabilities. This will be a second hand bookshop opening in Spring 2005.

Focus of work 2005/2006:

• The bookshop project will take a lot of work.
  
  
• Extending our network of contacts (perhaps formalising this)
  
  
• Patient Participation Groups.  More need to be formed and the existing group supported.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

Carer Support Group – Learning Disabilities.  Proved the need for and started to work on supported housing, respite care facility locally.

• Many of our members and Implementation Group are either service users or carers.
  
  
• Meetings are very open, informal and always advertised. Transport/child care costs can be paid.

Features that demonstrate user and carer involvement

• Users/carers are Forum members and attend meetings, others receive minutes and comment either by letter, phone or email.
  
  
• Meet with users/carers in community, in their own homes and also at ‘group’ meetings.

Key Issues of concern

• Out of Hours – changes to these services
  
  
• Podiatry – Highland wide issues
  
  
• Housing – lack of supported accommodation, residential care places
  
  
• Ambulance service review – how it will affect rural communities

Contact: Job title:		Elizabeth Jones Development Officer
Address:		Caithness Community Care Forum Telford House Williamson Street Wick KW1 5ES
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01955 609962 01955 609379 Elizabeth@cvg.org.uk www.cvg.org.uk

Key aims of the forum

To support access of users and carer to the planning process that affect their services, support the voice of users and carers and provide services to users and carers 

Membership/management structure

The forum is a membership body where all decisions are taken in open form.  There is no management committee as such. 

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• Issued 4 issues of our informational newsletter ‘Escorrie’ to 2,500 recipients.
  
   
• Delivered Handyperson scheme across Caithness. 
  
  
• Developed disabled access panel for Caithness

Focus of work 2005/2006

• Publish a community care directory
  
  
• Launch a website
  
  
• Forum to be involved in key issues relating to new health structures

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Handyperson Scheme
  
  
• ‘Escorrie Newsletter
  
  
• Disability Access Panel

• 'Escorrie' Newsletter

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• Users/carers are invited to participate in forum meetings to discuss issues at hand and to raise any issues they may have. 
  
  
• ‘Escorrie newsletter provides information covering a wide section. 
  
  
• Particular people from the forum are involved in focus groups and planning groups.

Key Issues of concern

• Key issues relating to new health structures
  

Contact: Job title:		Charlotte Gibson Chairman
Address:		West Kinnauld Rogart Sutherland IV28 3XB
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01408 641225 01408 641225 charlotte.westkinnauld@virgin.net

Key aims of the Forum

• Working with and on behalf of service users of CC facilities and their carers. 
  
  
• Partnerships/ working with local authority/health and voluntary organisations to improve CC services in East Sutherland areas. 
  
  
• Identify gaps indicated by service users/carers – take action.

Membership/management structure

Members include service users, carers, public agencies, voluntary groups and anyone with an interest in community care.  One part time facilitator, chairperson and members.  Facilitator’s time managed by organiser of local CVS voluntary groups East Sutherland (VGES).

Key achievements 2004/2005

• Production of access guide for Sutherland using symbols as much as possible to increase the client group range guide will be available in different formats including large print CD-ROM and tape.
  
  
• Commissioned by NHS Highland (Sutherland area) to produce patient and carer Information Booklet, individual pages can be photocopied to give patients specific details of local services, booklets, GP centres, Highland Council service points SWS bases and community hospitals etc

Focus of work 2005/2006

• Continuing on-going looking for funding to increase hours

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Sutherland Handy Person service. 
  
  
• Learning Disability Carers Group
  
  
• Sutherland Wheelchair Users Group

Close working with agencies voluntary and public.

Features that demonstrate users/carers involvement

• Attending meetings of groups
  
  
• Consultation documents
  
  
• Comments from service users/carers passed on to relevant agencies

Key Issues of concern

• GP Out of Hours

Contact: Job title:		Contact HCCF
Address:		HCCF, Highland House 20 Longman Road INVERNESS IV1 1RY
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01463 718817 www.hccf.org.uk

• Provide opportunities for users and carers feed-back, consultation and involvement in community care policy making and service provision.
  
  
• Identify local issues that affect the quality of life of service users and carers, and seek solutions to these, in conjunction with other organisations
  
  
• Provide good quality information and increased understanding on community care
  
  
• Support users and carers in their involvement in whatever ways are required and to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence of Forum members
  
  
• Liaise with service providers  for two way exchange of information, to present the u/c perspective, to identify opportunities for u/c involvement, and to take part in service development
  
  
• Evaluate, develop, and report on, the activities of the Forum take an active part in the wider HCCF network

Membership/management structure

ERCCF is an independent voluntary organisation funded by Highland Council, NHS Highland, charitable trusts and other sources, through Highland Community Care Forum (HCCF), of which we are part.  HCCF, also an independent voluntary organisation, supports us in a range of ways, including employing and managing our development worker, helping us with administration and, crucially, ensuring that our voice is heard as part of the collective voice of users of Community Care services and their carers across Highland.  This allows the members, committee and support worker to concentrate on the key purpose of ERCCF: working with users and carers to develop the confidence, skills, knowledge and networks through which users and carers can become the central influence on the services which affect their lives.

Most activities are planned in advance through an Annual Activity Plan drawn up at the start of the year and reflect the aims identified in our 3 Year Development Plan, although we try to retain enough flexibility to meet unforeseen challenges and take advantage of new opportunities. Both these documents are available on request.

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• We held open meetings on a range of issues, including:  Direct Payments, Out of Hours Health Services, the New Pension Service, Advocacy Highland and Dementia Awareness.  These have been attended by an average of 25 people per meeting, most of whom were users or carers
  
  
• We took a leading role in the development of the Handy Person service to meet the needs of those not able to do small practical tasks in the home through disability or old age
  
  

We took up a number of local issues for example:

• the need for a more discreet arrangement for the takers of methadone prescriptions in Tain, which was resolved by the positioning of screening in the pharmacy, making circumstances more comfortable for both the general public and prescription users
  
  
• in Fortrose, following a member’s representation, the local Health Centre agreed to install an extra phone line, so that patients will be able to get through to the surgery more easily and quickly
  
  
• We took part in exploratory meetings about setting up a Transport Forum for East Ross to represent the difficulties faced by people who cannot drive.  Unfortunately there was inadequate support for this development at the time, but we may try again in the future.
  
  
• Two newsletters have been produced and widely circulated.  They included articles on new community care-related developments, feedback on work done by Community Care Forum members and worker, and on new opportunities for involvement.  They were sent to 110 members and made available through Community Councils, Service Points, Libraries, Health Centre waiting rooms etc.
  
  
• ‘Only a Phone Call Away’, our small ‘signposting’ booklet on community care-related services, was updated in November 03, publicised and distributed.
  
  
• The Development Worker supported the local People First Group, which enables people with learning disabilities to raise issues and take part in service planning discussions, and the local Access Panel, which raises awareness of disability access barriers and solutions in relation to buildings and open air recreation spaces.
  
  
• Representatives from ERCCF attended meetings of: Community Economic Development Group, Local Action Network, Citizens Advice Bureau Board, Drug and Alcohol Forum.
  
  
• During the year, we also reviewed our activities, updated our activity plan, and appointed a representative to the Board of Highland Community Care Forum.

Focus of work for 2005/2006

The Management Committee and the new co-ordinator will review the development and activity plans in January 2005 to reflect the local dimension of HCCF’s aims:

• Facilitate and support local and Highland-wide discussion forums, which allow the voices of users and carers to be heard.
  
  
• Raise awareness and understanding of the issues affecting the lives of community care users and their carers in Highland.
  
  
• Influence the shape of policies affecting users and carers and be involved in the design and delivery of community care services.
  
  
• Promote independent advocacy.
  
  
• Exchange ideas and information.
  
  
• Build relationships through the development of effective communication and support systems.

Contact: Job title:		Kerry MacLennan Development Worker
Address:		Unit 2 Poolewe Village Hall POOLEWE Ross-shire IV22 2LD
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01445 781758 . Gairloch-ccf@tiscali.co.uk

Key aims of the forum

• Provide appropriate structures for user/carer consultation, involvement and feedback to service providers
  
  
• Provide Carer Support Service
  
  
• More informal style ‘get togethers’

Membership/management structure

• Management Group
  
  
• Forum membership – includes service users, carers, social work services, health services and the voluntary sector

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• Informal style ‘get togethers’ – attracting greater number of service users and carers
  
  
• Influencing the provision for the new Out-of-Hours service
  
  
• Advocacy and carer support in Wester Ross

Focus of work 2005/2006

• Engaging with service users and carers in ways that are easy for them.
  
  
• Informal meetings.  Less ‘business type’ meetings.  More relaxed setting. 
  
  
• Partnership working with other organisations ie Healthways Healthy Hearts.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Carers Advocacy Service in Wester Ross

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• Telephone contact
  
  
• Face-to-face contact
  
  
• Articles in local newspapers
  
  
• Informal meetings

Key Issues of concern

• NHS 24
  
  
• OT services
  
  
• Carer Support Services/Respite
  
  
• Shortage of Home Carers

HIGHLAND COMMUNITY CARE FORUM

Contact: Job title:		Sheena Munro Executive Director
Address:		Highland House 20 Longman Road INVERNESS IV1 1RY
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01463 718817 01463 718818 smunro@hccf.org.uk www.hccf.org.uk

Key aims of the forum

HCCF works with users of Community care Services and their carers to develop the confidence, skills, knowledge and networks through which they can become the central influence on the services which affect their lives.

Membership/management/general structure of your forum:

Full membership is open to Local Fora;  the Highland Users Group;  People First and the Highland Carers Project.   Associate membership is open to organisations and interested individuals.   The Board of Directors has up to 16 members, mainly users and carers.

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• Comprehensive Business Plan produced and launched following a thorough review of the organisation.   The review involved over 100 users and carers and other key stakeholders.
  
  
• Extensive use of technology (video / DVD ) to capture user and carer testimony for training and awareness raising.
  
  
• Funding secured to extend advocacy services – Carers Project and People First

Focus of work 2005/2006

• Find a way of working with Community Health Partnerships to ensure that the voices of users and carers become the central influence on the services which affect their lives.
  
  
• Participating in Community Planning to ensure that the concerns of users and carers are recognised and addressed both within the processes and the outcomes of community planning.
  
  
• To enhance our entrepreneurial capacity to develop income streams to help sustain the organisation whilst continuing to address the central issues facing users and carers.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Advocacy
  
  
• Community Transport
  
  
• Telephone Support Service for carers
  
  
• Handyperson Services
  
  
• Wheelchair Users Groups
  
  
• Patient Participation groups

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• Emphasis on building skills both among users and carers at grassroots level and among those who staff and run HCCF.
  
  
• Users and carers form the majority on the Board of Directors.
  
  
• HCCF network covers the geography of the Highlands.
  
  
• Local structure involves users and carers.
  
  
• Ability to follow through in issues.

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

Users and carers involved at all levels in Local Advisory Groups, Management Committees and Board of Directors.  Most excitingly users and carers are involved as key members of training teams raising awareness of issues and concerns; a good example of this is their involvement in the production of training videos/DVDs.   HCCF brings the whole network together 4 times a year to share information, debate the issues and decide on future action.

Key Issues of concern

• HCCF will continue to address and tackle issues of concern raised through the network, e.g. Podiatry, Out-of-Hours etc.
  
  
• HCCF is increasingly addressing issues relating to the wider determinants of Health, e.g. Housing, Social Justice etc.
  
  
• Central to the work that we do remains ensuring that users and carers involvement truly influences the development and delivery of the services that affect them.

Contact: Job title:		Highland CCF
Address:		c/o HCCF Highland House 20 Longman Road INVERNESS IV1 1RY
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01463 718817 01463 718818 Jpaterson@hccf.org.uk www.hccf.org.uk

Key aims of the forum

Ensure that users and carers have sufficient access to information, skills, opportunities, support,  to allow them  to take part and contribute effectively in the planning, developing, delivery and monitoring of the services they use and need to allow them to live in their chosen communities. 

Membership/management structure

Forum is made up of people who live in Inverness area and have some involvement in the delivery of community care services, either as unpaid carers, users, people who deliver services or are interested in the issues raised by the delivery of services.  The management committee together with the development worker work to run and develop the Forum.  Sometimes Working groups are set up to explore chosen topics and take forward plans towards solutions by working with the service providers involved.

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• Setting up discussions with the two leading Local transport Providers to explore the issues and difficulties that users and carers have when trying to use buses. People, who are deaf, hard of hearing, have learning disabilities, ASD, wheelchair users, mental health problems, and carers with multiple responsibilities all took part.  Received commitment from providers to use ‘expert’ experience during disability awareness training of staff.  To be continued.
  
  
• Collated information and raised awareness of issues resultant when NHS Highland changed its policy on Podiatry service delivery.  Many people were no longer able to receive the service they had always had.  There were no alternative resources available.  People now better informed of reasons for no longer being eligible for service and also informed about when, how and why they may become eligible again.  Also receive some information about alternatives that may be suitable.  Additional alternative service provision currently being explored.
  
  
• Increased awareness of difficulties in small rural areas that contribute to many community inequalities for some people, including health service delivery.  Local people set up a transport Forum to access funding and support to relieve recognised transport difficulties.  Work to engage other people in other aspects of local community inequalities, e.g. access to information and advocacy services ongoing

Focus of work 2005/2006

• To increase awareness of opportunities and understand what it means to ‘be involved’.
  
  
• Expect this to increase awareness of  (and participation in!) the various branches of opportunity for involvement, i.e. through Patient Participation Groups, Learning Disability Local Implementation Group, and general Forum Work.
  
  
• This work should take place through further work in the 3 ‘successes’ described above.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Patient Participation Groups and Joint steering group
  
  
• Learning Disability Local Implementation Group
  
  
• Wheelchair Users Group
  
  
• Ardersier Transport Forum
  
  
• Information Steering Group

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• including smaller rural communities in exploring local area issues – involves taking Forum issues out to small communities’ environment instead of asking them to come to city.
  
  
• 100% users and carer management committee
  
  
• Joint Working with Community Care (e.g. Social Work, Housing, Support and Care providers) Health (GP’s, Hospitals, Practice Staff, Local CHP management staff) Transport Providers, Voluntary Sector Focus groups, (Health condition, Geographical,  Users, Carer disability etc)

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• As management committee members
  
  
• As working group members
  
  
• To relate experiences and opinions on services they receive.
  
  
• To receive and pass on news about the work that the Forum is doing and so raise awareness, generate further interest and increase participation.
  
  
• To represent focus groups and the work that ICCF does, so acting as information and opportunity facilitators.

Key Issues of concern

• Involvement
  
  
• PFPI
  
  
• Podiatry
  
  
• Transport Accessibility
  
  
• Information packs to let Forum participants know what they can expect from the Forum and what they can do for it.

Contact: Job title:		Mervyn James Forum Development
Address:		An Drochaid Claggan FORT WILLIAM PH33 6PH
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01397 700311 01397 702424 lccforum@aol.com

Key aims of the Forum

• To develop the Forum as an organisation to support clients and carers
  
  
• To encourage communication between clients, carers, agencies and Forum
  
  
• To enable clients to have their say and influence the design and development of services
  
  
• To produce and disseminate information on services
  
  
• To identify gaps in services and to contribute to planning improvements
  
  
• To enable the community to contribute to service provision
  
  
• To improve access for clients and carers to services and opportunities throughout Lochaber
  
  
• To maintain links with Highland Community Care Forum

Membership/management structure

Charitable status but not limited company, volunteer management committee (acts as employer)

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• Secured a further 3 years funding for the Forum Handyperson Scheme
  
  
• Produced a 176 page comprehensive Directory of Community Care Services in Lochaber
  
  
• Completed first year of a consultancy process in part of rural Lochaber gaining the views of 42 community care clients.

Focus of work 2005/2006

• Continue consultancy work above
  
  
• Develop our Handyman service
  
  
• Investigate future management of our community car scheme

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Handyperson service
  
  
• Community Car Scheme

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• Quarterly Community meetings
  
  
• Newsletter
  
  
• Equal Opportunities Policy
  
  
• Independent evaluation of service projects

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• Quarterly meetings
  
  
• Newsletter
  
  
• One-to-one interviews on service provision
  
  
• We have 60 volunteers who support our service provision, including car scheme drivers
  
  
• Individual client interviews

Key Issues of concern

• Retention of acute hospital services
  
  
• Chiropody services
  
  
• Accessible transport
  
  
• Grass cutting service

Contact: Job title:		Liz MacDonald Facilitator
Address:		Druim Farm Lochloy Road NAIRN IV12 5LF
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01667 451281 01667 451281 Liz.macdonald.cllr@highland.gov.uk

Key aims of the forum

• To provide support to the Forum network and preserve Highland wide links through HCCF.
  
  
• To continue supporting local groups with an aim to identifying local user and carers concerns and any gaps or deficiencies in local services and to help find/deliver solutions.
  
  
• To provide information about services to users and carers and to promote community care issues locally.
  
  
• To encourage user and carer participation in the planning of local services and to contribute to the development of wider policy decisions.
  
  
• To collaborate with health and social service providers, and involve community care service users and their carers in identifying local needs in relation to Nairn Town and County Hospital development.
  
  
• To involve users and cares in discussions about the Community Health Partnership.
  
  
• To collaborate with departments of the Highland Council, Wellbeing Alliance, local housing agencies, Health Service Providers, Voluntary Organisations to provide information to enable the participation of users and carers in Local Implementation Group, Community Health Partnership and Community Planning.

Membership/management structure

• The membership of NCCF presently stands at 55 members. These include 21 users and carers, health and social service providers and voluntary organisations.
  
  
• In addition to this there are 44 members of Nairn Carers Support Group, 22 members of Highland Users Group, and 9 members of Nairn People First Group
  
  
• We have a management committee with members from representatives of People First, HUG, Carers Group, voluntary sector, health (SW position is vacant due to job vacancy).

Key achievements of 2004/2005:

• Transport– The transport co-ordinator for Inverness and Nairn attended a special NCCF meeting, and met with members of Nairn Mini-bus Association. This has led to Nairn mini-bus members receiving a grant of £87,763 from the Scottish Executive for Rural Community Transport Initiative funding to buy another mini-bus and employ a driver to widen access to the service.  There will be a lot of work over the next few months setting up a community transport company.
  
  
• Shopmobility – following promotional activities and a meeting arranged with Shopmobility and people in Nairn with mobility difficulties a service will be provided on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month taking people to Inverness for shopping and home again
  
  
• Highland Users Group.
  
  
• Members are actively involved in consultation about local mental health service developments including the redevelopment of Nairn Town and County hospital and various representations have been made to the NHS Trust, Locality Planning, Primary Care Trust, Highland Health Council and MSP’s. Recently the GP Practice manager attended a HUG meeting to update members of the position.
  
  
• A video was produced and shown to Nairn Locality Planning Group outlining the things that patients value about the gardeners cottage and hoping that a similar service could be provided if the hospital is developed
  
  
• Out of Hours consultation a thorough consultation about the GP out of hour’s service was carried out with people with learning disabilities, carers, Nairn Community Care Forum members and people with a mental illness, all this information was submitted to NHS Highland. A meeting organised by Nairn Locality Planning Group was well attended by users and carers.

Focus of work 2005/2006

• Members felt that the forum should have a higher profile and be more accessible, with this in mind a series of open days when the facilitator will be available in Nairn Community Centre. Open days were advertised in the local paper, and held in the community centre. This made the facilitator more accessible, advertised the forum and raised awareness of some of the literature produced by NCCF and the Carers Project i.e. Guide to Community Care Services and Carers Packs.
  
  
• Regularly advertising of the open day has caught the eye of some carers who said that the advert appeared just when they were looking for some advice. Sometimes the open days are visited by carers known to the facilitator, other times by new people who just want information, or by carers looking for ongoing support and involvement at the carers group.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

Transport group, Shopmobility coming to Nairn

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• Nairn Community Care Forum takes an active role in the Locality Planning process often putting items on the agenda for the meetings. This has led to much closer working arrangements, which has been beneficial to all partners involved. We have increased access to information, and this enables a two-way flow of
  
  information between service planners, forum members and users and carers.
• With the change of direction towards Community Health Partnerships more focus will be placed in this area. Considering and inputting to developments at Nairn Town and County Hospital has always been paramount to NCCF members and 2 of our members are on the planning group formulating the GP proposals for the hospital.
  
  
• The link between the carer and user groups is the facilitator who is responsible for reporting back to the forum, groups and individual users and carers. Significantly more users are now attending Nairn Community Care Forum meetings.

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• Nairn Community Care Forum members feel it is important to carry on with the existing work, supporting groups locally to:
  
  
• enable users and carers to participate and feed into the planning process at a local level.
  
  
• to provide users and carers with practical advice and information about local community care and health services.
  
  
• enable the Forum to have access to user/carer issues and concerns.
  
  
• Contact is established with Highland wide networks Highland Users Group and People First. It is important to retain these links, to enable users and carers to participate at a Highland wide level.

Key Issues of concern

• Nairn Town and County Hospital development
  
  Reprovisioning of Mental Health services
  
  Home carers terms and conditions of work.
  

Contact: Job title:		Miss Christian Goskirk Project Worker
Address:		Highland Council Service Point New Buildings Main Street LAIRG IV27 4DB
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01549 402597 01549 402588 Christian@northwestccf.fsnet.co.uk

Key aims of the forum

Working with people who use community care services, their carers and the local community N&WSCCF aims to:  provide accessible information, identify gaps in services and work with relevant organisations to develop projects to meet local needs.

Membership/management structure

Forty seven members approximately.  Membership is open to users, carers, representatives of voluntary or statutory agencies, or anyone with an interest in community care issues.

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• Forum has been working with the local community ?? Highland, Highland Council, Albyn Housing, NHS Highland etc to establish the need for and set up a Handyperson service in Sutherland.
  
  
• Funding secured from ‘Awards for All’ to update and publish the ‘North and West Sutherland Directory of Community Care Services – to be completed in Autumn 2005.
  
  
• Working alongside NHS Highland (Sutherland), Macmillan Nurses and ESCCF the Forum produced a patient information pack – a folder of individual information sheets for patients.

Focus work 2005/2006:

• The main focus of work will be to develop the Handyperson project.  
  
  
• To publish the updated Directory of Services. 
  
  
• To work with other agencies and planners in order to provide appropriate structures for user/carer consultation, involvement and feedback eg mental health and learning disabilities, carers groups etc etc.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Sutherland Handyperson Service.  A service that provides help for older people and the disabled with small jobs in the home.
  
   
• The Forum continues to work with North and West Sutherland Care Alliance, a home based respite service provider which it helped set up a few years ago. 
  
  
• Sutherland Access Panel and Sutherland Wheelchair Users Groups.

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• Rotating venue
  
  
• Newsletters
  
  
• Websites
  
  
• Visiting users and carers where they are eg Day Centres, Lunch Clubs, Social Clubs and Groups etc.

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• Users and carers are and can be Forum members.  They can attend forum meetings, receive minutes and agendas, newsletters and so on.
  
   
• Users and carers are also members of Sutherland Access Panel and the Sutherland Wheelchair Users Group, which N&WSCCF helps facilitate. 
  
  
• The Forum is also involved with facilitation of the Sutherland Learning Disabilities Carers Group. 
  
  
• For needs assessment work the Forum holds focus groups with users and carers throughout the North and West. 
  
  
• N&WSCCF has also held informal coffee mornings for users and carers.

Key Issues of concern

The Forum will continue to work on issues such as information, housing, care of the elderly, Access Panels, transport and any other issues identified throughout the year.

Contact: Job title:		Shonagh Strachan
Address:		Victoria Cottage Hedgefield Road Portree Isle of Sky IV51 9GF
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01478 613361 slccforum@yahoo.co.uk www.hccf.org.uk

Key aims of the Forum

The Forum works with service users/carers to promote good practice, develop appropriate activities and raise awareness of issues of concern.   We come together with service providers to share ideas, views and concerns about community care and its future.  Service gaps are identified and ways of filling them by working in partnership with others is explored.

Membership/management structure

The Forum has 205 adult members, many of whom link into local support groups and committees within the area.  An established Advisory Group provides advice, support and monitoring of Forum and project work.  An executive sub group has been established.  Service users and carers are active participants on all Forum activities, including the Advisory and Management Groups.

Key achievements of 2004/2005:

• We held 4 Forum Group meetings, each at a different venue in Skye and Lochalsh.  At each meeting we had guest speakers taking on different topics such as ‘Health and Happiness’, ‘Advocacy’ and ‘Winter Warmth’.
  
  
• We produced and circulated 4 newsletters covering general information and topical items.  These were sent to Forum members and also circulated to library, Community Councils and Lunch Clubs.
  
  
• A summer barbeque was held for carers and their families during Carers Week in June 2004.

Focus of work 2005/2006

• To work with local planning and consultation groups to ensure information gathered from service users and carers in terms of local primary and community care planning. 
  
  
• Develop in use of new technology to bring information to service users, carers and service providers.
  
  
• Work towards improving accessibility of information and the built environment.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• Access Panel – advice and information regarding access to built environment and information.
  
  
• Handyperson scheme
  
  
• Young Carers Project – support, advocacy link with services, awareness raising
  
  
• Parent Carers Support Group – set up a summer playscheme

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• Young Carers Project – young carers local development, identify their own and group’s needs and wishes.  Producing accessible information (leading by example).
  
  
• Access Panel – experience and knowledge of service users and carers leading activities and raising awareness.
  
  
• Open accessible Forum meetings – supported respite for carers to attend meetings and transport arranged on request.

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• Forum meetings – quarterly meetings involving users/carers and service providers
  
  
• Focus group meetings – regular meetings with Lunch Club organisers
  
  
• Local Implementation Groups for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities – work with care groups along with users and carers to help identify and implement areas for improvement.

Key Issues of concern

• Access to the built environment and information – offering guidance and support to local businesses.
  
  
• NHS out-of-hours provision – ensuring that patients’ views are taken forward to Clinical Forum meetings.
  
  
• Community Care – supporting the views of service users and their carers.     

See also Argyll & Bute for forums now in Highland Health Board area