Current News - Manchester Carers Forum - support and breaks for carers in Manchester, UK

Thank you to everyone that has helped us with our successful bid for Big Lottery Funding through the Manchester Evening News voting process. Want to know more click below!

There has been significant media coverage about the financial stability of Southern Cross, which Manchester City Council recognises will cause concern for residents and their families. Southern Cross is the largest provider of care home places for older people in the UK and has 6 homes in Manchester.

There are now parent advisers on the Contact a Family helpline from 9.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday.

Contact a Family has a number of guides that may be of help to the parents and families of people who have a disability. One such guide is the popular ‘Checklist for parents' taht many have foind invaluable. The parent advisers on the freephone helpline 0808 808 3555 can help check that families are getting the correct benefits.

Contact a family also produce a list of ‘Charities that may give grants to families caring for a child with a disability'

Individual copies of any of our guides are available to parents calling the freephone helpline 0808 808 3555 or by email to helpline@cafamily.org.uk

A new General Practitioners surgery has opened at Victoria Mill, Lower Vickers Street, (off Varley Street), Miles Platting, M40 7JL following the refurbishment of the Old Church Street Practice. If you are interested in registering as a new patient you can contact the surgery from Thursday the 9th September 2010 on 0161 861 2511.

All patients who are registered at the Old Church Street practice should have received a letter informing them of the new surgery and that Dr Murray Brown and Dr Lam are moving to the new premises. The new surgery plans to become a teaching practice that contributes to the training of new doctors and nurses and it is hoped that this will enable the surgery to offer better and expanding services.

If you do not wish to remain registered with the practice after it moves you will have to register with another surgery and the reception staff at Victoria Mill can provide alternative details.

If you have any queries about the new surgery you can write to Customer Experience Team at the following Freepost address:

For those who are not familiar with the situation of the new office the map below indicates its location. Also many buses travel very near to varley Street on Oldham Road ands Bradford Road. These are the 182, 184, 217, 218, 74, 76, 77, 82 and 83.

Would You Like To Help With Some Research to Improve Services for Carers Who Are Over 60?

• Within the last 3 months, have you or somebody you support spent some time in hospital and then come back home?

If so, would you be willing to help with some research

The University of Birmingham and voluntary sector organisations are working on a new project in the Manchester area. We want to find out what it is like for older people when they spend time in hospital and then return home. We also want to know what it is like for the person's family and friends. We will tell health and social care managers what we find out (but we will not tell them your name). We hope that this will help make going into hospital and coming back home easier for older people, their families and friends.

Two researchers will visit you at home or somewhere else you choose. One of the researchers will be an older person. The researchers will ask you about your experiences of being in hospital and how it was when you came back home. If you support someone who has spent some time in hospital recently, the researchers will ask you what the changes have been like for you.

If you want, you can ask somebody to be with you during the interview. We will ask you if we can record our talk with you, so we can listen again. All the recording and information will be kept secret. We'd also like to talk to you again six months after the first time. Before our interviews, we'll make sure that you have all the information you want, and that you are still willing to be interviewed. You can change your mind at any time.

If you would like more information about the project, please contact Iain Snelling on 0121 414 3212 or at I.N.Snelling@bham.ac.uk Iain works at the University of Birmingham and will be leading the research in your area.

If you experience or have experienced significant hearing loss you may find the information below useful. Please see the Links page for direct access to Hearing Direct's website.

Natural hearing loss, a common condition known as presbyacusis, often happens as people age. Although this may be more common for people in the 50's, it can be an issue for younger people due to damage to hair cells in the cochlea as a result of certain life style choices and exposure to loud noise. High-frequency hearing loss effects over 21% of the over 50 age group and 26% of the over 70 age group in the UK. if you are effected by hearing loss follow the guildlines below.

If you suspect that you are suffering from hearing loss, the first point of action is to seek professional advice from either a hearing centre of a general practitioner, where an individual should receive a hearing test. Such a test should be administered as soon as possible because the longer a person waits, the longer the sound processing areas in the brain are left unstimulated. Hearing tests usually involve a speech-in-noise check which exposes an individual to contrasting types of background noise from which levels of hearing loss can be detected. Hearing tests can also be acquired online which provides instant results and advises a recipient with a course of action to take in relation to the results. Although such tests are instant and easy to access, they are not as thorough as a hearing test that is administered by a general practitioner.

At this point an individual should have been informed by a professional of the magnitude of their hearing loss and ideally been advised on several courses of action. Such courses of action may include making simple lifestyle changes such as using protective hearing aids such as ear plugs or muffs. If however hearing loss is a result of a medical condition then a course of medication such as anti-biotics may be prescribed by a general practitioner. In most cases of hearing loss that is age related, people may be advised to wear digital hearing aids to boost auditory capabilities. Such hearing aids are available online and from hearing centres but prices and quality can vary and so it is advisable to shop around.

Choosing the correct hearing aid is not a complicated procedure but there are certain details that people will look for in a device such as comfort, discretion, cost and quality. Hearing aids are divided into two main categories, these being BTE (behind the ear) and ITE (inside the ear). Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so those interested in purchasing a device should ensure that the correct choice fits their personal circumstances.

If you are a homeowner, or rent from a private landlord, you could get free, or discounted, energy efficiency measures to make your home more comfortable and cut your heating bills. The Warm Homes Project, a partnership between Manchester City Council, Scottish Power and Insulation UK offers cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing, loft insulation, reflective radiator panels, hot-water cylinder jackets and low-energy lightbulbs. The work is free (up to a maximum amount) if you are 60 or over, or have a child under six, or get certain benefits.

Even if you don't qualify for free improvements you can still get great discounts: it's just £50 for cavity wall insulation, and £50 for loft insulation; or you can get cut-price draught-proofing or reflective radiator panels. To apply for this fund please contact 0161 234 5312 or email energyteam@manchester.gov.uk.

Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) aims to make sure that in each local area parents are involved with decisions about the provision of services for their disabled child. As part of the Aiming High agenda parents and carers are being encouraged to get involved in the decision making and planning of disabled children's services by setting up a parents' forum, which will become recognised as the ‘parent's voice' in each local area. In Manchester there are already a number of small groups and forums and we would like to see these come together and grow to form a collective voice. On the 1 st July, 2010 we held a consultation event at the Midland Hotel to ask parents to help us establish and shape an independent forum for parents and carers of disabled children. The event was attended by 78 parents and carers from Manchester. These parents and carers were from all parts of the city.

There was also representation from different communities within Manchester .

All the parents/carers who attended took part in a world café consultation exercise to help us to inform the setting up of a parent's forum in Manchester .3 questions were asked and discussed within the Focus Group Consultation.

1 Thinking about Parent Participation- what currently works for you in Manchester?

Parents feel supported in groups and are more confident to voice their opinions. This view was shared by all three tables.

2 Thinking about Parent Participation – what should Manchester avoid and why?

Parents feel that they are not always given the full information by professionals and their views are not always respected.

Information overload – parents feel often they are given too much information in a short period of time.

Support groups in schools – parents feel that these can limit participation when there are staffing issues.

Lack of flexible meetings as meetings are sometimes in venues that are difficult to get to and not always at times to suit the whole family.

3 Thinking about Parent Participation and what we have heard today what do we want to do in Manchester?

Support groups should feed into a central group and also to professionals and local services.

Make sure that information gets to families through a wide range of venues and media.

Pay parents to develop participation, fund parent's groups to pay for flyers, room hire refreshments etc.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today (19 May 2010) said it would work closely with the adult social care sector in developing a new system to replace quality ratings (star ratings) for registered services. The Commission said the current quality ratings system would cease ahead of the new registration system and new standards, which come into force on 1 October under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The Commission has already begun talks with stakeholders to discuss how a new system might work. It will also draw on feedback from the recent consultation on assessments of quality in 2010-11 and will launch a programme of work later this year to develop different options.

The Commission said that inspections due to take place between now and September would be brought forward. By the end of June, CQC will have completed inspections at all “poor” and ” adequate” services that are due an inspection and “good” and “excellent” services that have not been inspected for three years. Until 1 October, CQC will continue to conduct risk-based inspections when it receives information indicating concerns about safety and will continue to publish the inspection reports on its website. These may be key inspections, which could result in change to a rating, or a random inspection, which will not involve a rating change. CQC will also inspect services if it needs further information to assess applications to re-register under the new registration system.

From 1 October, inspections will be conducted under the new model of regulation to assess compliance with the new essential standards of quality and safety. Findings from inspections will be published on CQC's website. Cynthia Bower, CQC's chief executive, said: “From 1 October, we will have new standards and a new registration system, so it makes sense to develop a new way to compare quality across adult social care services. “We want to work with the sector to develop a fair and transparent system. We are very open to different ideas and will be calling on people to tell us how they think it should work. “Although the current quality rating system will stop, we will still be conducting inspections and publishing information about standards of care. “Our biggest priority right now is introducing the new registration system that, for the first time, will bring NHS, independent healthcare and adult social care under the same system of regulation. This is a big task and we want to make sure that it goes as smoothly as possible. “We are also committed to providing clear, useful and fair information about standards in adult social care services. This is extremely important for people making choices about services, as well as for councils that are commissioning services.”

CQC said it would work closely with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) at a national and regional level to provide it with information that informs decisions about commissioning. CQC is also redeveloping its website to better present information about services that the public can use in making choices about their care. In the interim, current quality ratings will continue to be displayed on the website alongside historical inspection reports. The website will clearly display the date on which the quality rating was awarded.

For further information please contact the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of all health and adult social care in England. We inspect all health and adult social care services in England, whether they are provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. We also seek to protect the interests of people whose rights are restricted under the Mental Health Act. We make sure that essential common standards of quality are met everywhere care is provided, from hospitals to private care homes, and we work towards their improvement. We promote the rights and interests of people who use services and we have a wide range of enforcement powers to take action on their behalf if services are unacceptably poor. Our work brings together (for the first time) independent regulation of health, mental health and adult social care. Before 1 April 2009, this work was carried out by the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Our aim is to make sure that better care is provided for everyone, whether it is in hospital, in care homes, in people's own homes, or anywhere else that care is provided.

Registration: The Health and Social Care Act 2008 introduced a new, single registration system that applies to both health and adult social care. The new system will make sure that people can expect services to meet new essential standards of quality and safety that respect their dignity and protect their rights. The new system is focused on outcomes, rather than systems and processes, and places the views and experiences of people who use services at its centre.

Caring can have a devastating impact on carers' finances. One in five carers are forced to give up work, losing on average £11,000 in income. Carers are being short changed by an outdated benefits system that doesn't recognise their contribution to society. The main benefit for carers - Carer's Allowance - is just £53 a week – the lowest of its kind. Unfair rules act as a disincentive for carers who are able to work, while some, including those over 65 or sick, miss out on carers' benefits altogether.

The government has promised a review of carer benefits, but no action has taken place.

Carers UK is calling on the Government to radically reform the tax and benefit system so that it is:

The social care system is in crisis and severely under funded. This has devastating consequences for disabled people and a knock on effect for carers who have no option but to fill the gap. Many carers are outside the social care system and get no help whatsoever. Many face a constant battle for the most meagre of services. Carers pay a price with their health, income and careers. The public's expectations of what the state will provide should a person require care are widely different from the harsh reality.

What should happen
Carers UK is calling on Government to radically overhaul and invest in the health and social care system. We want a care system which is funded through a clear, simple and sustainable deal, entered into by the state, community, family and individuals.

A social care system should:

1 in 3 carers are unable to return to work because the right alternative care is not available. 1 in 5 carers are forced to give up work because of their caring responsibilities and can end up isolated and living in poverty. Carers are being discriminated against in the workplace due to their caring role.

Carers UK is calling on the Government to introduce changes to health and social care services and the tax, benefit and pension system that help carers return to and stay in work. We also want employers to implement flexible working.

On 14 July 2010, the House of Commons was asked, under the Ten Minute Rule motion, to give leave for this Bill to be introduced. The sponsor was allowed 10 minutes to support the Bill and there was ten minutes for other MPs to comment. The House agreed and the Bill was read a first time. Private Member's Bills are often not printed until close to a Second Reading debate. If the text of the Bill is not available on the link below and you want information about the Bill then you would need to contact the Member sponsoring the Bill. This Bill will be on the Order Paper for a Second Reading debate on 12 November 2010.

Summary of the Bill

A Bill is to require health bodies and general medical practitioners, and certain other organisations, to identify patients who are carers or who have a carer; to require identified carers to be referred to sources of help and support and to make further provision in relation to such arrangement. The bill is also designed to make provisions in relation to the responsibilities of local authorities and schools for the needs of young carers and their families; and for connected purposes.

Copy and paste the link below into your web browser to be kept up to date with the Carers (Identification & Support) Bill 2010-2011 progress.

The White Paper on Health has the potential to create one of the biggest changes to the structure and function of the NHS since its creation in 1948. Within the White Paper there are 5 consultations which are all open until early October. Although the ‘what' in the White Paper has largely been decided, the ‘how' is very much still being shaped.

During September, there will be a series of consultation events held across England. The North West event is being organised by Voluntary Sector North West in partnership with Regional Voices (VSNW's national network) and Manchester City Council.

These will give you the opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes through the White Paper as well as having the chance to attend four interactive consultation workshops during the day to discuss issues in depth and to provide feedback directly to those leading on the consultations from the Department of Health.

This online information service is designed to provide a single and comprehensive online resource to help carers manage their lives around caring. It includes guidance on the different stages of caring, information for claiming benefits and contact details for local authorities. It also includes video clips of other carers telling their stories and news articles about different conditions and topical issues. There is also a section for young carers. The online service can be accessed via the NHS Choices website. Click here for more information.

The MCF newsletter is now available electronically. The newsletter covers all the activities that are available to carers during the month throughout Manchester. Click here to view it. If you would like any additional information or have any questions please contact a member of staff at the office on 0161 819 2226.

Manchester Carers Forum have teamed up with the Health Matters Project to provide a Health Point at Manchester Carers Forum's office.

The Health Point is a collection of books and publications covering areas such as caring, medical conditions and mental health. It also contains other useful resources and selected fiction.

If you would like to borrow a book from our collection you can come into the office to have a browse, complete a quick form enjoy. We don't charge any late fees and will allow you to borrow books for up to 3 months (maximum). After the time period is elapsed we'll just send a quick reminder to you to return the book. If you'd like more information on this project or have any questions please feel free to email us or ring us at the office on the number above.

A new website called "Patient Opinion" has been set up to enable people using NHS services to record their experiences (good and bad) and provide ratings and comparison information between different services. It has been established by Paul Hodgkin, a GP who wanted to "find a way to make the wisdom of patients available to the NHS" and is run as a not-for-profit social enterprise. The site is free to use and covers all hospitals in England and Wales. MACC and MCF strongly supports the principle that the stories of people using services should be used by those planning and delivering services to shape their work and Patient Opinion is a welcome new means of bringing this about. There are already many comments on Manchester services and we would encourage service users and carers to make use of this new opportunity to have their voices heard.

Manchester Carers Emergency Card has been introduced to provide you, as a Manchester Carer, with peace of mind when you are away from the person that you care for. In the event of an emergency, the card will allow information about your needs, as well as the needs of the person you care for, to be accessed by services that can help.

For an application form please click here or contact the Manchester Carers Centre on 0161 835 4090.

Manchester Health Watchdog wants to hear your experiences and comments about your local GP practice. This new city-wide survey is available by calling 0161 214 3909/3967 or by following this link.

All of the information collected will be kept confidential and the survey can be filled in anonymously. The results of the survey will be collated and recommendations made to Manchester PCT based on your experiences and comments.

*that everyone has information on where to go for advice and treatment,such as the nearest Walk-in Centre or Pharmacy

A new leisure course is due to start soon. It is aimed at carers across Manchester and is free to those who are interested.

Gardening Online is an internet-based gardening course that teaches the essentials for creating a thriving and wildlife-friendly garden. It contains tutorials that are lively, colourful and user-friendly. You'll learn about creating the best soil conditions, making your own compost and fertilisers, how to grow different plant types including fruit and vegetables, flowers and trees, container gardening, and sowing seeds indoors and out. You'll also get to grips with essential garden maintenance such as weed and pest control, preventing and coping with plant disease and pruning.

Carers UK publish a monthly carers newsletter via email which will allow you to learn more about your rights as a carer, to take part in Carers UK campaigns and to have your say in current issues. To subscribe to this newsletter simply complete the short registration form. You can unsubscribe at any time and your details will not be passed on to other organisations. If you would like more information about Carers UK click here.

This is a public service website which looks at the support available to carers and it also explains carers' rights. To visit this website click here.

Free guides to: Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Incapacity Benefit & Employment. Plus training, news and forums. For people with long-term physical or mental health conditions, carers and support workers.

From 1 April 2006 it is anticipated that over 60's and disabled people will travel free between 09:30 a.m. and midnight, Monday - Friday and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays. At other times (before 09:30 a.m.) they will travel for the current standard concessionary fare, which is 50p.

People who already have a disabled or over 60's bus pass will not need to get a new one as the one they have will be valid for the new free travel. Also, those who have a free disabled pass and are currently able to travel free before 09:30 a.m. will continue to do so - they will not have to pay the 50p for travel before 09:30 a.m.

People who do not have a travel concession at the moment may apply now (provided that they are eligible) but the free fare scheme does not start until 1 April 2006.

Over 60's can get a bus pass from Manchester Advice in the Advice Centre in the Town Hall Extension. You will need to take two passport style photos and proof of your age and address.

Ring and Ride provides a door to door accessible minibus service for people of all ages who find it difficult to use ordinary public transport. The service operates throughout Greater Manchester and is available from Mondays - Saturdays 8am - 10.45pm. The Ring and Ride service is designed to help you make short local journeys i.e. to complete your shopping. The service also runs a programme of special day trips and evening outs from visits to the Peak District to garden centres.

This benefit helps people to pay their Council Tax. The amount you get depends upon who is in your family and the level of your Council Tax. Both your income and your savings are taken into account. You cannot claim if your savings are more than £16,000, unless you get Pension Credit.

If you receive Carer's Allowance, you may be able to get extra help paying your Council Tax through Carer Premium

You may be able to get reductions to your Council Tax which don't depend on your income or savings. For instance, the tax may be reduced if your home is adapted for a disabled person or if a carer or paid care worker lives there.

To qualify for this 25% discount you must provide care for at least 35 hours a week and...

Not be the partner of the person you care for, or their parent if you care for a child under 18

Care for someone who receives either the highest rate of the care component of DLA (Disability Living Allowance) OR the higher rate of attendance allowance or constant attendance allowance

Please note: You don't have to claim Carer's Allowance to qualify for this discount. If there is more than one carer in the property, each carer might qualify for a discount. The carer's council tax discount can be backdated, so long as you met the conditions above in previous years. To apply for this, contact your local council tax office.

The disabled person's railcard allows you to buy discounted rail tickets. If another adult is accompanying you on your journey, they are also entitled to travel at that discounted fare.

At the moment, there is one type of railcard available but, from the 6th September 2006, there will be two types of Disabled Person's Railcard - the one-year railcard and the three-year railcard. Both railcards give you the same level of discounts to you and one other adult traveling with you.

From 6th September 2006 the Disabled Rail Card will be available to those claiming the DLA lower mobility rate and long term Incapacity Benefit.

For more information and to check whether you qualify for a Disabled Person's Railcard please click here