Community Care Forums in Lothian

Contact: Job title:		Lesley Aitkenhead Development Worker
Address:		c/o Tynepark House Poldrate HADDINGTON East Lothian EH41 4DA
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01620 822212 01620 822051 lesley@elccf.fsnet.co.uk

Key achievements of 2004/2005

• The Forum has expanded the opportunity for involvement through developing Forums relating to statutory planning groupings.  This year we have initiated a Learning Disability Forum and an Older People’s Forum       and we are in the process of developing a Mental Health Forum.  These Forums are open to service users, carers and the voluntary sector and anybody with an interest in issues pertaining to the Forum.  The development of the new Forums has undoubtedly increased participation in the planning process particularly from service users and carers.
  
  
• The Forum carried out three major consultations on the future of the health services in East Lothian.  We also carried out a smaller consultation with people with physical disabilities regarding the future of their resource centre.
  
  
• The Forum continues to keep issues such as transport, respite care, advocacy, information, housing high on the Planning Groups agendas.  Progress is slow but change does happen!

Focus of work 2005/2006

• To continue to support the development of the new Forums and to look at initiating a Forum for People with Physical Disabilities.
  
  
• To provide a leaflet with information and practical tips for service users and their carers on how best to access direct payments
  
  
• To continue to develop effective service user and carer involvement and participation in the planning process.
  
  
• To support the rejuvenation of the East Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Forum.
• To work with statutory and voluntary partners in developing a strategy for advocacy provision in East Lothian.
  
  
• To monitor the development of Community Health Partnerships and Public Partnership Forums and agree a role for the ELCCF alongside or within this new structure.

Services that the Forum has helped set up and develop

• See achievements regarding development of new forums.
  
  
• The East Lothian CC Forum is in the early stages of rejuvenating the East Lothian Drugs and Alcohol Forum.
  
  
• The ELCCF has supported the development of a local mental health advocacy group.

Features that demonstrate Good Practice

• Service users, carers and voluntary organisations set the Forum’s work agenda for the following year through discussions at our annual event.
  
  
• The ELCCF has developed inclusive satellite forums to encourage more participation and involvement in the planning process.  ELCCF Representatives on the Joint Planning Groups feedback directly to these forums and take view from participants of the forums back to the planning groups.
  
  
• The development worker encourages representation from individuals and smaller groups to participate in the work of the new forums.
  
  
• The ELCCF holds management meetings every two months to direct the work of the development worker.
  
  
• ELCCF organises seminars on topical issues such as Community Health Partnerships, Joint Future, Direct Payments etc.
  
  
• We produce an annual report that outlines the work and achievements of the Forum over the year.

Features that demonstrate user/carer involvement

• We have users and carers on our management committee
  
  
• We hold an annual event to which is open service users, carers, the voluntary sector and the general public with an interest in community care issues.
  
  
• We produce and annual report and newsletter which is circulated throughout our membership and to the wider public
  
  
• We involve service users and carers on all issues that emerge from the planning process and encourage their participation on all planning groups.

Contact: Job title:		Dianne Morrison
Address:		c/o EVOC 14 Ashley Place EDINBURGH EH6 5PX
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		0131 555 9108 0131 555 9101 enquire@evoc.org.uk www.evoc.org.uk

Key aims of the forum

The Alliance brings together representatives from various voluntary sector community care fora in the city of Edinburgh to represent and promote the interests of for a members in planning and consultation and to participate effectively in matters of concern to the sector at a strategic level.

Membership/management structure
The Alliance has a rotating chair.  It is made up of two representatives from voluntary sector fora active in the field of social care.

Focus of work 2005/2006:
The focus is to engage with statutory partners in the process of establishing Community Health Partnerships and community planning.

Contact: Job title:		Eric Johnstone
Address:		c/o Midlothian Voluntary Action 4/6 White Hart Street DALKEITH Midlothian EH22 1AE
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		0131 663 9471 0131 663 9471 eric.johnstone@mvacvs.org.uk www.mvacvs.org.uk

2006 update not yet available

Please visit the website

Contact: Job title:		Catriona Scully & Andrew Baird
Address:		c/o Disability West Lothian West Lothian Ability Centre Carmondean Centre Road Livingston West Lothian EH54 8PT
Telephone: Fax: Email: Website:		01506 774030 01506 774031

2006 update not yet available