Connect, the Carers' Champions Newsletter

CONNECTThe Carers’ Champions Newsletter -issue 4

In this issue: • CarersReceivethePamperTreatment• TheRevampedWebsite• CarersRightsDay• AreYouFollowingUs?• TheAddedValueofaCarers’Champion• FlytheFlagforCarers.

Carer’s Rights Day

Carer’s receive the pamper treatment

AfunandrelaxingtreatwasonofferascarersgatheredatBolsoverMethodistChurchforawellearnedfreepamperdayorganisedbytheDerbyshireCarersAssociation(DCA)andfundedbytheBolsoverLocalStrategicPartnership.Holisticandaromatherapyexpertswereonhandofferingfreesessionsandcarerswereabletotaketimeoutandspoilthemselveswithanumberoftreatmentsin-cludingmassage,nailtreatments,facialsandpedicures.Withgentlebackgroundmusicplaying,lotsofchatandteaandbuffetforall,plusthearomaofnailpolishandaromatherapylotions,thedaywasagreatsuccess.Manypeopleattendedtheeventandgavegenerousandpositivefeedbackafterwards.Onecarerstatedthat,‘…thetherapieswereexcellentandeveryonewaskindandfriendly.Itwasamuchappreciatedbreakandsomespaceforme.ThankyouDerbyshireCarers!’Overall,thedayappearstohavebeenagreatsuccess.Theday,organisedbytheTransitionTeam,waspartoftheDCA’slineupofannualeventsthatsupportcarersnewandoldintheCounty.Thereareahostofeventsplannedfor2013sogivetheDCAacallon01246222373oremailtransition@derbyshirecarers.co.uk.Web:www.derbyshirecarers.co.uk

Revamped website

The new look DCA website now includes a transition section where information about the project, downloads, contact details and news can be found. Log on to www.derbyshirecarers.co.uk

Follow the Transition Team’s progress: @CarerTransition

The added value of a Carers’ Champion

Sinceour2012launch,TheTeamingUpforTransitionTeamhasworkedwithmanysurgerieswhohaveinplaceorhavedevelopedadedicatedCarers’Championusuallyfromtheirfront-deskstaff.ACarers’Championtakesontheroleinadditiontotheirusualdailytasksandisavitallinkinthereferralprocess.

Themaintasksareusually:

• Tobeacontactpointforcarersinthesurgery;• TomaintainaCarers’noticeboardinthesurgery;• Tochampioncarers’issuesinthepractice;and• Toencouragecarerstoregisterontheirpractice’sCarers’Register.

Continueddevelopment,trainingandsupportforCarers’Championswillensurethatcarers’registernumberscontinuetoincreaseinDerbyshire.Thiswillenablecarers’provisiontobebetterimprovedandmoreintelligentlytargeted-forexample,ensuringthatcarershaveaccesstoinformationandadvice,ensuringthatcarers’receivehealthchecksand‘fluvaccinationsandincreasingawarenessofcarers’needsamongGPsandwithinsurgeries

CarersinDerbyshireneedapivotalpersonwithinafamiliarsettingtoofferthemadviceandguidance.That’swhereCarers’Championscomein.IfyouwouldliketobecomeaChampionpleaseletyourPracticeManagerknowandgetintouchwiththeDerbyshireCarersAssociationsowecanupdateourrecordsandsupportyou–01246222373.

IfyouwanttogetinvolvedandflytheflagfortheTransitionprojectasavolunteerpleasegetintouch.Wewanttoworkwithyou,theCarers’Champions,togetourmessageoutthereandsupportcarersinallareasofthecounty.

TheTransitionTeamarefollowingaplannedroutethroughoutDerbyshireofferingadviceregardingcarers’breaksandrespitecare,theEmergencyCardSchemeandsupportofinteresttocarers,includingusefullocalkeycontacts.Pleasegetintouchbycalling01246222373ext3.

Connect,issuedquarterly,istheproject’sCarers’Championsnewsletter.IfyouwouldliketosubmitanarticleforConnect,thenpleasegetintouch.Thenextdeadlineis3rdJune2013.

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