Les Bonner

North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus has been recognised regionally for innovations in dementia care. Five local services for people with dementia were recently showcased at an event in York including the Gardens, the Haverstoe Suite, the dementia academy, dementia care mapping and Admiral nurses. 

The Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Partnership (YHIP), which is coordinating the regional response to the National Dementia Strategy (published by the Department of Health in 2009), hosted a launch event earlier this month. ‘The Big Event’ showcased regional innovations in dementia care.  

The CTP was represented by all five innovative services, with one service holding an informative workshop, two others holding desktop discussions and two others having marketplace displays. 

Jeanette Logan, head of older people’s mental health services for the CTP, said:

“We are proud that locally we are striding ahead in terms of improving the quality of local services for local people, especially at a time when reports are disappointing around the national response to the challenges of the National Dementia Strategy.

 “We are developing and designing services that offer new solutions which not only enhance the quality of care for people with dementia and their carers but also go some way to addressing challenges posed by the rising numbers of local people with a type of dementia.   

“This is and has to be a multi agency approach and we are fortunate to have built a local network of key individuals and agencies that enables us to ensure services will be commissioned and provided according to the specific needs and demands of the local area.” 

The CTP is currently developing its commissioning strategy for dementia services and commissioners have been instrumental in terms of support and backing for the both the dementia care mapping and Haverstoe initiatives as well as supporting proposals for the development of the dementia academy. 

The five services have also been included in the soon to be published Yorkshire and South Humber innovations in dementia care directory and are among other services that have been identified as part of a baseline assessment of PCT/CTP positions against the National Dementia Strategy.

Andrea Parr, strategy coordinator, older people’s mental health services, said: “A significant amount of hard work by a number of people has gone into designing and delivering services of this standard. 

“The shared goal of the health and social care community within NE Lincs should be to enable people to maintain their independence and remain in their own homes for as long as possible.  There still remains a significant amount of work to be done, but having our efforts recognised in this way makes us feel proud of our achievements and spurs us on with other developing projects.” 

Project details:

The Gardens – acute inpatient and assessment suite. An innovative design and staffing structure which allows for the highest quality of care provision both while in hospital and on discharge.  A new element to the staffing means that care and support can also be offered in the home to prevent an admission where possible. 

The Haverstoe Suite – a specially designed and staffed unit at Huntleigh Lodge in Cleethorpes which caters for people with dementia with more complex needs, providing intensive input from specialist OPMHS services and preventing out of area placements.  

The dementia academy – a joint project with the local independent and third sector as well as other key partners which will establish North East Lincolnshire as a centre of excellence for dementia care. Offering training, advice and support to anybody delivering care or interacting with somebody with dementia from specialist staff to members of the public. 

Dementia care mapping – a method of assessing the impact of one to one or group care provision on a person with dementia.  Feedback allows for individuals and teams of staff to identify areas of good practice as well as areas for improvement. 

Admiral nurses – The CTP is fortunate to have two of 80 national Admiral nurses.  Working in partnership with the charity For Dementia, the CTP is able to offer specialist support and advice to the carers of people with dementia and to work on developing and rolling out programmes of information and training for carers.

“The Liberal Democrats will guarantee that a million unpaid carers who work the longest hours get a week’s break every year – to be taken in whichever way they choose,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.

Commenting on today’s Princess Royal Trust for Carers report, which reveals that next year Primary Care Trusts only plan to spend 25% of the £100m they have been allocated to increase services for carers for this purpose, Norman Lamb said:
 
“This report makes clear that Labour has completely let down millions of hardworking unpaid carers across the country.
 
“Yet again we see that ministers have chased headlines with grand spending commitments but completely failed to make sure the money gets through to the people who really need it. This is tantamount to a fraud on vulnerable people.
 
“The Liberal Democrats will guarantee that a million unpaid carers who work the longest hours get a week’s break every year – to be taken in whichever way they choose. Only a guaranteed right will stop vital funds for respite being diverted into other parts of the NHS.”

“Giving children a greater choice of sports will increase sporting take up and decrease drop outs,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary.

Commenting on today’s Government announcement that 3000 new after school clubs offering Olympic and Paralympics sport will be provided for young people, Don Foster said:

“We have been calling for more after school sport provision for a long time. Giving children a greater choice of sports will increase sporting take up and decrease drop outs.
 
“Currently fewer than a third of children do the five hours of sport each week this Government promised. This one-off sum won’t be enough to produce the huge boost in sports participation needed.
 
“Grassroots sport has lost out because of lottery money being diverted to pay for the Olympics. By changing the way the national lottery is taxed, we could produce long term dividends for all good causes, including grassroots sport.”

“If the Home Secretary hadn’t meddled in the work of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs we would already have had their advice and the Government would be able to act,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary.

Commenting on the legal drug methedrone following the deaths of two teenagers, Chris Huhne said:

“The failure to classify methedrone is a direct consequence of the Government’s interference in the independent advice of its scientific advisers.

“If the Home Secretary hadn’t meddled in the work of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs we would already have had their advice and the Government would be able to act.”

“Labour promised mothers a choice over where to give birth at the last election but they simply haven’t delivered,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.

Commenting on Gordon Brown’s announcement that expectant mothers will be given new rights about where they give birth, Norman Lamb said:
 
“Gordon Brown is living in a fantasy land. Labour promised mothers a choice over where to give birth at the last election but they simply haven’t delivered.
 
“Mothers aren’t being given a choice because there simply aren’t enough midwives to handle the growing birth rate. Nothing that Labour is proposing will address that problem.
 
“Rather than reeling off even more undeliverable pledges, Labour should concentrate on delivering on the promises they’ve already made. Recruiting extra midwives so that everyone can have a safe birth should clearly be the number one priority.”

“Both parties need to agree to a cross-party Commission designed to reach agreement within a year,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.

Commenting on today’s King’s Fund report on social care, Norman Lamb said:

“Today’s report supports the Liberal Democrat view that the fairest way to fund social care in the future is through a partnership between individuals and the state.

“While everyone agrees that the social care system is in urgent need of reform we have to be realistic about the state of the public finances. That’s why it’s so important that all the major parties sit down together and work this out.

“Older voters won’t be fooled by Labour and Tory attempts to win their votes with piecemeal policies. Both parties need to agree to a cross-party Commission designed to reach agreement within a year.”

“Labour has failed when it comes to our children’s health,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary.

Commenting on the Chief Medical Officer’s report released today which calls for fitness tests for children in secondary schools, Norman Lamb said:
 
“Sir Liam Donaldson is right to raise concerns about the state of our children’s health but routine ‘bleep tests’ won’t by themselves solve the obesity crisis facing the country.
 
“Labour has failed when it comes to our children’s health. Gordon Brown claimed three years ago that every child would get the chance to do five hours of sport each week but less than a third are doing it.
 
“It’s hardly surprising that physical activity has declined and obesity soared when ministers spend all their time obsessing about targets, process and surveys.

“Physical activity should be a central part of our children’s lives, not an optional extra. This means protecting playing fields, ensuring lottery money is spent on facilities and improving links between schools and community clubs so kids have somewhere to keep playing sport once they leave school.”

“Liberal Democrats want to put an end to the political bickering. We are willing to work with the other parties to solve this problem once and for all,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb. 

Commenting following today’s cross party Age UK, at which the health spokespeople of the three main parties met to discuss the reform of social care, Norman Lamb said: “It’s clear from today’s social care summit that voters want politicians to come together and solve one of the biggest social challenges facing our country.

“We need long-term solutions to this problem so that older people are treated with the respect they deserve. We cannot continue with the current system where people have to sell their homes to pay for care and the quality of care on offer is not up to scratch.

“There was broad agreement that solving the crisis in social care is going to require a partnership between the state and individuals and if the other parties are willing then there is no reason why the current differences in opinion should be insurmountable.

“Liberal Democrats want to put an end to the political bickering. We are willing to work with the other parties to solve this problem once and for all. There should be no preconditions and we are open to all ideas that seek a solution that will be fair, affordable and sustainable.

“Rather than shouting at each other let’s have a commitment from all three parties to start finding a solution now.”

The North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus ‘Open Door’ service is offering a new opportunity to people with autistic spectrum conditions.  

The new ASC outreach service is designed to provide outreach support to people over 16 who have an autistic spectrum condition. Autistic spectrum condition (ASC) is an umbrella term and includes a number of different conditions including autism, Rett’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and Asperger syndrome. While these are distinct conditions, they all share common features and are seen as lying along a spectrum which ranges from mild symptoms to severely impaired. 

People with an ASC have difficulty making sense of the world. These difficulties are primarily around social interaction and communication, meaning that they can often find social situations difficult and distressing, and as a result can become very isolated.  

The new Open Door service, based as 13 Hainton Avenue, will offer one-to-one support from dedicated and trained outreach support workers including social inclusion, signposting to other agencies, advocacy and support to attend activities and appointments as well as access to all other Open Door services. 

Rob Baty, social care manager for Open Door, said: “Many people with autistic spectrum conditions suffer enormous limitation on their life opportunities because of the absence of adequate support to enable them to fulfil their potential.

“Open Door’s new ASC service works with individuals to develop the skills and confidence to ensure they can aspire to a better tomorrow.” 

Residents wanting further information about the ASC outreach service or Open Door should contact Rob Baty social care manager or Carin Pollexfen senior case worker, 01472 722000 or visit the website at www.opendoorcare.co.uk  

Open Door is an affiliate of the Big Life group.

Serious concerns have been raised about Conservative plans for an £8,000 payment for residential care after figures released today by the Liberal Democrats have revealed that 3.5m pensioner households (66%) do not have assets of £8,000 excluding their homes.

The figures, released ahead of tomorrow’s cross-party social care conference, undermine. Conservative claims that their plans would enable older people to pass their homes on to their children as two thirds of pensioner households would have to sell or release equity from their homes to pay for the private insurance scheme.

The figures reveal that:

Ø       63% of pensioner couple households (1.4m) do not have non-housing assets of £16,000 (cost of insurance to cover both pensioners)

Ø       71% of single female pensioner households (1.6m) do not have non-housing assets of £8,000

Ø       64% of single male pensioner households (600,000) do not have non-housing assets of £8,000

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said: “The reality is that Conservative social care plans are unworkable, unfair and unaffordable for the majority of pensioners in this country and do nothing to pay for the costs of care at home. 

“This is basically a ‘poll tax’ and many people on modest means will be wondering how the Tories could think it’s fair that they should pay the same amount for care as multi-millionaires.

“David Cameron needs to start being honest with older voters. Most couples don’t have a spare £16,000 to cover an insurance premium and it’s incredibly dishonest to say this will stop people from having to sell their homes to pay for care. 

“The Tories need to explain how they’re going to get the numbers to add up on this plan especially as the private insurance market has failed to get people interested. Perhaps this is yet another example where the Tories need a little help when it comes to using a calculator.

“Whoever wins the next election cannot avoid the fact that we’re facing a crisis in funding for care. What we need is a long-term solution which is both fair and affordable in the long-term.”