Parent Carers Forum (Falkirk) Consultation

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Parent carers in the Falkirk area told us last year they would benefit from a dedicated Parent Carers Forum in which they could come together to have an opportunity to have a say in services such as health and social care, provisions and support which affect the child, them as a carer and the wider family.

To help roll this out, we are hosting an informal chat on Wednesday 9 February from 6pm – 7pm via Microsoft Teams. All parent carers who are interested and wish to participate in the Parent Carers Forum are invited!

For more info or to get involved please contact Susan on susandocherty@centralcarers.co.uk or by phoning 01324 611 510 (option 4).

Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

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The Carers Centre will be closed from Monday 27 December 2021 until Tuesday 4 January 2022 (inclusive), re-opening on Wednesday 5 January 2022.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

Finally, the staff and Board of the Carers Centre wish carers a happy, healthy and safe festive season, and we look forward to continuing to offer support in 2022.

Carers Right’s Day 2021

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CARERS RIGHTS DAY 2021 will be held on Thursday 25 November, and to mark the day, the Carers Centre is hosting a special video call from 12 noon.

We’ll be joined by Allan Robertson from Social Security Scotland, who will provide information on the changes to certain benefits and what this will mean to carers; our own Laura McKenzie, who will give an update on the Local Carers Strategy Review; as well as the carer representative on the Falkirk Health & Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board, Morven Mack.

Click here to view the full agenda!

Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, we believe that it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support. Each year, Carers Rights Day helps us:

  • ensure carers are aware of their rights
  • let carers know where to get help and support
  • raise awareness of the needs of carers.

This year’s Carers Rights Day campaign will focus on raising awareness of the rights that unpaid carers have. The pandemic has had a massive impact on the lives of carers, affecting access to services, the ability to juggle work and care and much more. That’s why it’s more important than ever that carers are aware of what they have the right to.

 

Carers UK

To find out more, or to join the session, please contact Susan Docherty on 01324 611 510 (option 4), or email susandocherty@centralcarers.co.uk.

Election of the next carer representative to Clackmannanshire IJB

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At the next Clackmannanshire Carers Forum, taking place on Thursday 18 November, a vote will be taken to elect the next Clackmannanshire carer representative to Clackmannanshire & Stirling Health & Social Care Partnership’s Integration Joint Board (IJB).

There is one nominee for this post, Paul Morris. You can find out more about Paul below. If you would like to attend the forum, please contact Nicola Weedon on 01324 611510 (option 2), or email nicolaweedon@centralcarers.co.uk.

 

My name is Paul Morris.  I am father to two boys, married and work full time as Project Manager for the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

 

I, alongside my wife Susan, am a full time carer to my eldest son, around all aspects of his life and across every aspect of my own.  My family lives in alloa and has done so for 20 years.  I have lived in Clackmannanshire since I was a toddler.

 

My eldest son, Lachlan, is a bright, outgoing 14 year-old boy, who attends Alloa Academy.  He has quadriplegic choreo-athetoid cerebral palsy and requires support in every aspect of life. Lachlan communicates using an eyegaze device, the Tobii i-12+, which also acts as his window to the world via the worldwide web.

 

Educated to postgraduate level, I have two decades of work experience in policy, politics and economic development.  I have worked with elected representatives at all levels and developed policy and strategy documents in many fields, including two manifestos at Glasgow level, a report on the Scottish Labour Market in 2006, a Social Enterprise Strategy for Glasgow and others.  This work experience has provided me with valuable insights into the processes in place to effect change.

 

Alongside my extensive experience through work, I have been a trustee of Cerebral Palsy Scotland (previously Bobath Scotland) since 2015.  This national, multi-million pound charity, provides support to children and adults with motor difficulties associated with cerebral palsy.

 

My biography is available on LinkedIn.

We’re hiring – again!

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We’re looking to fill two full time positions for our Adult Carer Support Team in Falkirk:

    • Telephone Support Worker

Applications close on Monday 4 October! 

You can find out more about the roles and how to apply at our VACANCIES page!

New phone system

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In the last few months we have implemented a new telephony system, which we hope will enable us to better support you when you get in touch.

Moving forward, ALL calls, including from those living in Clackmannanshire, should be made to 01324 611 510. Once you call us, you will be given 4 options to pick from to access the appropriate team:

  • Option 1 – Adult Carer Support (Falkirk)
  • Option 2 – Adult Carer Support (Clackmannanshire)
  • Option 3 – Young Carers and Young Adult Carers Support
  • Option 4 – All other enquiries

If you need to call us when we’re closed, you will be given the option to leave a voicemail message. If you do, please leave you name, phone number, and reason for calling – someone will call you back as soon as possible!

 

📸 by Museums Victoria on Unsplash

Carers Week 2021 – Manager’s Report 2020-21

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The last year has certainly brought about more unusual challenges than we might have expected going into 2020!

Here’s a review of what we’ve been able to carry out since the beginning of the pandemic, and the ways in which we’ve adapted to continue helping as many carers as possible!

Care with Confidence

Care with Confidence (Thursday) Programme – June 2021

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Care with Confidence sessions are due to take place on Thursday’s throughout June. Due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, all sessions will take place on Zoom between 10.30 am and 12 noon.  All carers are welcome and there is no cost to attend sessions.

The programme overview for this session is:

  • 03 June 2021                 Brave Heart
  • 10 June 2021                 Carers Week
  • 17 June 2021                  Exercise for the Brain – Learning a Second Language
  • 24 June 2021                 Walking Aids

Please click here to see the full programme.

If you are a carer living and would like to attend any of these sessions, but are not sure how to go online, or how to join a Zoom meeting, please call Catherine Brunton on 07857 671347 or email catherinebrunton@centralcarers.co.uk.

Carers Week 2021!

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“This year, carers across the country are continuing to face new challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.

 

They need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, and provided with information, support and understanding. So during Carers Week, we’re coming together to help Make Caring Visible and Valued.” ~ www.carersweek.org

 

Carers Week 2021 will run from Monday 7 June until Sunday 13 June. To celebrate Carers Week, we have put together an extensive programme of events running throughout the week, including: The Big Carers Week Raffle!, a Cool Creatures Watch Party, and more! To find out more about what’s happening, click this link!

Please note, all of our Carers Week activities and groups will use Zoom, so if you would like any help with accessing Zoom, please contact us on 01324 611510 (option 4) or email centre@centralcarers.co.uk and one of the team will be happy to help.

For carers who have no access to the internet, our support workers are here daily and available to help with any information, advice or support you need as a carer. Please call us if you need to talk on 01324 611510.

Patricia Cassidy, Chief Officer of Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership said: “I hope this Carers Week not only celebrates the invaluable work of unpaid carers across the Falkirk area, but also helps raise awareness of the many different ways someone can be a carer.

 

“Many people don’t realise the support they provide for their family member, close friend or even their neighbour, could make them a carer. I would encourage everyone to share the campaign’s messages, and if they see themselves in the stories of carers, please access the wonderful support provided by the Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Carers Centre.

Care with Confidence

Care with Confidence Falkirk Programme – May to June 2021

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The next Care with Confidence sessions for Falkirk will begin from Tuesday, 25 May. Due to the current restrictions that are in place, all sessions will take place on Zoom and take place between 10.30 am and 12.30 pm.  All carers are welcome and there is no cost to attend sessions.

The programme overview for this session is:

  • 25 May 2021                    Sensory Issue and Dementia
  • 01 June 2021                    Electric Cars & E-Bikes
  • 07-11 June 2021               Carers Week

Please click here to see the full programme.

If you are a carer living in Falkirk and would like to attend any of these sessions, but are not sure how to go online, or how to join a Zoom meeting, please call Donna Mulder on 07824 381280 or email donnamulder@centralcarers.co.uk.