Falkirk Carer Representatives

Introduction

A massive thank you to all Carer Representatives who have completed the Carer Representative Training and sit on various Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP) groups or are involved with alternative Carer Representation roles!  Their time and commitment to helping others are highly appreciated!

The Carer Representatives regularly engage with carers via carer groups and local forums to gather views and information to understand issues affecting carers. This ensures their input reflects carers’ views, not only personal experience.

When participating in meetings, Carer Representatives contribute to discussions and provide advice and scrutiny from a Carer’s perspective. Where possible, they may add relevant items to meeting agendas and are prepared to raise relevant points and ask questions.  If you’d like to share your experiences, please contact Sharlene, who will ensure the relevant Carer Representative shares your views on your behalf.

Carer Representation

Integration Joint Board (IJB):

• Sharon Mwale (IJB Carer Representative)
• Amanda Winters (IJB Depute Carer Representative)

Carers Strategy Group:

• Dana Horsburgh
• Ruth Forrester (currently on leave)

Dementia Strategy Group:

• John Giovanacci
• Aprilanne Ferguson (currently on leave)

Digital Health and Care Programme Board:

• Danny McLean

Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP Lived Experience Panel) / Authentic Voices Group:

• Mandy Winters

Representation on other local groups:

• Bamidele Bamgbopa (Central Locality Steering Group).

Updates

• Integration Joint Board – A milestone

We’re pleased to share a major milestone: lived-experience representatives will finally have an equal voice by having full voting rights from 1 September 2026 on the IJB Boards, which means IJB Carer Representative, Sharon Mwale, and the Depute, Amanda Winters, will have voting rights, as well.

• NHS Annual Review

Carer Representatives Mandy Winters and John Giovanacci were invited to the closed session of the NHS annual review, where they raised carers’ experiences of hospital discharge and spoke about the need for suitable supports for dementia care due to an aging population, with dementia figures set to rise. As a result of the meeting, we held a consultation in the Centre with NHS Chief Executive Ross McGuffie and Karen Goudie, Executive Nurse Director. Notes from the meeting can be found here.

• Carers Strategy

Dana has been meeting regularly with Jennifer Faichney, Policy and Research Officer, from the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership (FHSCP) during the development of the new Carer Strategy.  Meetings will continue as the strategy is still being developed. We hope to bring you specific updates soon.

• Dementia

As a result of John regularly attending the Dementia Strategy Group, we have regular consultations, held in the Centre, with Yvonne Cairns (Dementia and Delirium Lead NHS Forth Valley) and Emma Douglas (Community Mental Health Team Lead for Older Adults NHS Forth Valley). These sessions are an opportunity for carers to learn new information and share their experiences of NHS services relating to dementia. You can find out more about the sessions by emailing Sharlene Ramage, Carer Participation Development Worker – sharleneramage@centralcarers.co.uk. Minutes of previous meetings can be found on our Publications page, under Falkirk Consultations: https://centralcarers.org/information/publications/

• Other updates

  • • Sharon has reached out to Carrongrange High School to raise awareness and support more parent carers to share their views. As a result of this, we have started conversations with professionals and held consultations in the Centre. You can read the minutes from the consultation with the Children with Disabilities Social Work Team here.
    • Danny has been involved with some outreach work, visiting local workplaces to support staff to be Carer Aware.
    • Bamidele has recently joined as Carer Representative on the Central Locality Planning group. She is taking carers’ views from the Falkirk Carers’ Voice and other community groups to the Central Locality Planning. More updates to follow how this will impact services.
    • Bamidele has also been to the University of Stirling to meet with medical students. As a result of her work, in May, we held a consultation in the Centre with Joanne McNaughton, Nursing Programme Director of the University of Stirling, who sought carers’ views and experiences to help integrate these into the education of future nursing staff. Minutes of this meeting can be found here.
  • • Mandy featured in the Sunday Post, highlighting the experiences of unpaid carers in Scotland who are caring for both children and ageing parents at the same time, often referred to as the “sandwich generation”. The article describes the reality of juggling multiple caring responsibilities alongside family life, health pressures, and in many cases, employment. Read it here.
    • Bamidele shared her powerful personal story in the Sunday National newspaper about caring for her son, from the early challenges of navigating health systems to finding vital support after moving to Scotland. In this honest and moving piece, she reflects on the realities many carers face—including isolation, stigma, and lack of awareness—and how connecting with the Falkirk & Clackmannanshire Carers Centre became a turning point for her. Read the full article here.