Festive Opening Hours and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from 1 PM on Monday 26 December 2022 until Tuesday 3 January 2023 (inclusive), re-opening on Wednesday 4 January 2023.  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 2023.

We’re hiring!

The Carers Centre is a growing and forward-thinking organisation with ambition to support an increasing number of children, young people and adults who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend due to disability, illness, addiction, or frailty.

We are currently looking to fill the role of:

        • Young Carer Support Worker (21 hours per week)

Applications for this post close on Monday 5 December 2022.

You can find out more about this role at our VACANCIES page! Or if you’d like to apply, click below!

Falkirk Carers Strategy Consultations

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership are currently consulting for a new Carers Strategy – a list of things we know are important to carers and the ways we can try to make things better.

There are two consultations open – one for adult carers, and one for young carers and young adult carers. The surveys will close Friday 23 December 2022.

You can complete the adult carers strategy consultation and find out more by clicking here.

To complete the young carer & young adult carer strategy consultation, click here.

If you have any further questions or would prefer a paper copy, please contact: carers@falkirk.gov.uk.

Join the Falkirk Integration Joint Board (IJB)!

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: Friday 26th August

Recruitment of the Carer Representative for the Integration Joint Board

Background

The Integration Joint Board (IJB) for the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership is made up of representatives from NHS Forth Valley, Third Sector representatives, service users and carers. It has responsibility for the planning, resourcing, and the operational oversight of a wide range of local health and social care services.

Why we need you

Over the last two years carer representatives or their substitutes have contributed to the workings of both the Integration Joint Board & the Strategic Planning Group.

In line with the governance arrangements of the Board, the partnership seek nominations for selection of a carer representative for the next three-year term of office.

Benefits

  • Being the voice of local carers
  • Helping shape local services for carers and those they care for
  • Fantastic opportunities for personal development

The role requires the representative to:

  • Attend 4 IJB meetings & associated meetings (development days) per year
  • Update and feedback to the Falkirk Carers’ Voices meetings
  • Support consultations with local carers

The Carers Centre will support you in your role as the IJB carer representative, and expenses incurred in the role will be covered.

How to apply

Tell us in 200 hundred words on why you think you should be the Integration Joint Board representative.

Want to know more?

If you wish to discuss this, please contact Susan Docherty, Carer Involvement & Engagement Lead at the Carers Centre, Falkirk.

Email: susandocherty@centralcarers.co.uk

Telephone: 07818 592990/01324 611510

Summer 2022 newsletter now available!

The summer 2022 edition of the Carers Centre’s newsletter has now been sent out to all carers and organisations currently on our mailing list to receive information by post or email. If you haven’t recevied a copy of the newsletter, you can download the digital version by clicking below.

In this latest edition:

      • We’re sharing the story of Stewart, a carer in Clackmannashire, and his carer support journey
      • We have updates from our Young Carers Project
      • Information about our monthly Professionals Afternoon
      • and much more!

If you’ve missed this edition but would like to sign up to our e-mailing list to receive future newsletters, you can do so here.

 

Come and work with us!

The Carers Centre is a growing and forward-thinking organisation with ambition to support an increasing number of children, young people and adults who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend due to disability, illness, addiction, or frailty.

We are currently looking to fill the roles of:

        • Carer Support Worker x2 (28 hours)
        • Office Administrator (25 hours)

Applications for these posts close on Friday 20 May 2022.

You can find out more about the roles at our VACANCIES page! Or if you’d like to apply, click below!

Website feedback survey

We know that our website is one of the main ways that you interact with us, and we’re now looking for some feedback on it – what you like, what you don’t like, what’s missing, and more.

It should only take a few minutes to complete the survey, and your feedback really is vital to help us make sure that our website is the best resource it can be!

You can complete the survey using this link: form.jotform.com/CentralCarers/website-feedback-survey-2022.

 


Easter Weekend and Support Services

The Carers Centre will be closed from Friday 15 April 2022 until Monday 18 April 2022 (inclusive), re-opening on Tuesday 19 April 2022.  Details of local support and emergency services are available below:

Health & Social Care Training

Do you want to represent your community and inform how health and social care is delivered in Falkirk?

We are looking for carers and people who use health and social care services to become representatives and join a range of groups to help ensure that lived experience is central to planning and decision making.

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership have teamed up with key organisations to deliver free training so you have everything you need to take part, feel supported and share your ideas, and together we can design services that reflect your needs.

What can I expect from the training?

  1. Once training is completed, individuals will feel empowered.
  2. The training will be easily digestible and relevant to the individual’s area.
  3. The training will develop on new and existing skills of the individual.
  4. Individuals will have the ability to represent their own views while remaining objective and able to speak on other people’s behalf.
  5. Individuals will improve their conversation/decision-making skills.
  6. Those who participate will be involved in follow-up discussion to help frame future training sessions.
  7. Individuals will feel motivated to carry on engagement and make a positive difference in their area.

Who is this training suitable for?

  • People with lived experience of health and social care.
  • People with an interest in health and social care.
  • People who want to join a supportive community.
  • People who are willing to share their ideas and experience to create positive change.
  • People who are willing to take on an advocacy role and represent their wider community.
  • People who want to make a difference to improve health and social care in their communities.

When will the training be delivered?

  • Wednesday 27 April, 10.30am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 4 May, 10.30am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 11 May, 10.30am – 1pm

Each session will include a 15-minute break. You will also have opportunities to ask questions and to get involved in discussions.

How do I sign up?

Registration is now open so click the link here to book your space.

What is the training like?

When we delivered this training for carer representatives in March 2021, they found the training informative and enjoyable. They told us:

  • “Really interesting course.”
  • “Good to hear about how things work in social work, it seems complex.”
  • “I hadn’t seen myself as a carer but now see myself as an advocate to other carers.”
  • “Course has good content and timings were good.”
  • “I learned a lot – found the negotiation part really interesting.”
  • “Gave me confidence to speak out.”

Do I have to become a representative if I sign up to the training?

There is no commitment to join as a carer or service user representative when you sign up for the training sessions. This training is your opportunity to learn how you can make a meaningful contribution to the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as meet other people just like you.

If you decide to become a representative, then ongoing support will be provided so you can get the most out of your experience.

Do I need any special skills or qualifications?

You don’t need any prior qualifications or skills. We will cover everything you need to know in the training.

I want to get involved. How do I sign up again?

Complete the registration form by clicking the link here. We know you have opinions about health and social care, so this is your opportunity to shape how we deliver our services. Further information will be provided in due course.

If you have any questions, email HSCPComms@falkirk.gov.uk.

We hope to see you at the training.

Development Worker – Young Adults

The Carers Centre is a growing and forward-thinking organisation with ambition to support an increasing number of children, young people and adults who provide unpaid care for a family member or friend due to disability, illness, addiction, or frailty.

We are currently looking to fill the role of:

    • Development Worker – Young Adults (35 hours)

Applications close on Monday 25 April 2022.

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