CARING FAMILIES
Swale Carers Centre and Family Action are working in partnership to deliver the new 'Caring Families' pilot project in association with the Princess Royal Trust and Comic Relief.
Swale Carers Centre, covering the Swale and Canterbury Districts of Kent, aims to reduce the stress and stigma caused as a result of the caring role, and in the case of Young Carers, to restore lost childhood.
We support Adults caring for another Adult, Young Carers aged 5 -18 years
(Swale only) caring for any family member, Parent Carers of a child with a disability or special needs and Alzheimer and Dementia Family Support
In order to deliver our new 'Caring Families' programme we now wish to recruit :
·
Young Carer Support Officer - Full Time
NJC 20 £18, 453 p.a. + allowances (initially 1 year)
Young Carer Support Officer-Part time (8hrs +)
NJC 20 £18,453 pro rata + allowances
As part of the Swale Carers Centre Staff Team you will be working with
Young Carers to assess their needs and to provide support, advice,
advocacy and respite opportunities for them.
You will have experience of working with vulnerable children and adults and an
understanding of the complex needs and issues facing children and young
people with caring responsibilities. You will need excellent communication skills
at all levels. You must be able to engage in flexible working hours including
occasional weekend working.
Appointments are subject to the Swale Carers Centre receiving an
enhanced disclosure from the ISA/CRB which is considered acceptable.
Swale Carers Centre is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974.
For further information and an application pack please contact:
Sandie Hornby-Chief Operations Officer
Swale Carers Centre, Suite 9, Bank House, Broadway, Sheerness, Kent ME12 1TW or telephone 01795 583440 or visit www.swalecarers.org.uk
Closing Date for Receipt of Applications: 17th February 2010
Interview Date: 26 February 2010. To be held in Sheerness.
Swale Carers Centre is a member the Princess Royal Trust for Carers Network
and offers good working conditions, a comprehensive training programme,
essential car users & mileage allowance and pension contribution.
Family Action has been a leading provider of services to disadvantaged and socially isolated families since its foundation in 1869. We work with over 45,000 families a year by providing practical, emotional and financial support through over 100 services based in communities across England. A further 150,000 people benefit from our educational grants and information service.
Temporary Family Support Worker - Caring Families Project
£18,630 - £21,064 p.a., 37 hours per week
You will be working with young carers and their families to assess their needs and facilitate Family Network Meetings with the aim of relieving the burden of care placed on children and young people.
You will have experience of working directly with children and families with complex needs and an understanding of the issues facing children and young people with caring responsibilities.
You will need excellent communication skills and a relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 or above. You will be able to engage in flexible working hours.
Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving an enhanced disclosurefrom the Criminal Records Bureau which we consider acceptable.
· For an application pack and further information, please visit www.family-action.org.uk/workingwithus
· For postal applications, please send an A4 self-addressed envelope to Sue Crabb, Family Action, Sheppey Young Persons Project, Seashells, Sheerness Children & Families Centre, Rose Street, Sheerness, Kent ME12 1AW.
· Closing date: 10am, 17 February 2010.
· Interview date: 26 February 2010.
· Family Action offers good working conditions, a comprehensive training programme and a final salary pension scheme. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Kent Volunteers launches recruitment drive
Superheroes wanted - cape optional
You don't have to dress like Superman to be a superhero. In fact, many Kent professionals have super powers at their finger tips that could make a real difference to someone's life.
The 'Volunteer your skills and make a difference' campaign is asking Kent residents to volunteer their professional skills and make a difference to voluntary organisations that desperately need helpers and trustees with specific knowledge and abilities.
A survey carried out by the Kent Volunteers partnership found that the top three skill areas needed in Kent are finance and accountancy, marketing and communications, and IT and technology. They are also looking for expertise in other areas including business administration, sport and legal services.
As well as giving something back to the community, volunteering can help people keep their professional skills alive and can often provide a way into future employment. For some, the benefit is simply being able to use their skills in a different environment that allows them to try something new.
Carole Kincaid, County Co-ordinator for Kent Volunteers hopes the campaign will encourage more people to get involved. She said:
"Volunteering doesn't have to involve giving up a lot of time. Even small amounts of time can make such a difference to the way organisations operate.
"More importantly it can be a lot of fun and a way to be part of something different."
To find out more about the organisations looking for help and how to start volunteering, people can visit the Kent Volunteers website: www.kent.gov.uk/volunteers
Southern Water Trust Fund Debt/Money Advice Project
'Keeping Your Head Above Water'
Since October 2009 the Shepway CAB has been running workshops entitled 'Keeping Your Head Above Water'. The project is funded by the Southern Water Trust Fund. The team are now seeking to expand the programme beyond Shepway into other areas of Kent.
Each workshop is a one-off session lasting for two hours with a break of fifteen minutes in the middle. They usually run for small groups of no more than eight participants at a time.
The workshops look at budgeting, prioritising bills, maximising income; they include information on benefits and advice on how to save energy and water. Participants receive a help and information booklet that includes verything covered in the workshop itself as well as information on where to go for further assistance.
The workshops are designed to be relaxed and informal and encourage a lot of group discussion as well as some group and pairs exercises and tutor led activities with flipcharts. Participants do not have to share any personal information about their debts or individual circumstances if they don't wish to.
Anyone that is interested in hosting the courses or who wants any further information can contact the Project Coordinator, Katie Johnson, by:
e-mail: katiej@shepwayCAB.co.uk
mobile: 07760 764524.
Or via Shepway CAB on: 01303 244511.
NHS Car Park Parking:
Consultation on Improving Access for Patients
On 29th December 2009, the Secretary of State for Health launched a consultation on NHS Car Parking, consulting on improving access for patients. A copy of the consultation document and the initial impact assessment is available from the DH website via this link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_110557
We have been requested by the Sectary of State for Health to hear and gather a range of views of the understanding and acceptance of car parking charges within the NHS. These views will assist in developing a more consistent and fairer approach to car parking charges within the NHS that will be understood and accepted by patients and public everywhere. It is hoped to see car-parking charges for in-patients phased out over the next three years, as savings from back-office costs allow. The Department of Health want to hear what people, both public and staff, think about this, as well as other ideas about how to make things fairer for outpatients too.
The Secretary of State for Health has acknowledged that others may say that car parking should not be a priority when the NHS faces such a considerable productivity and quality challenge. These are the choices he wants to bring out in this consultation as we decide together on the next steps.
The charge for parking at NHS car parks is a highly emotive and significant issue for all patients, family, friends and staff across the whole of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, therefore suggesting that the response to this consultation will be good. I hope you will take part and help us improve the patient and staff experience across the NHS.
The Department has requested all regional reports to be sent back to the national
NHS Car Parking Consultation Team by 23rd February 2010. We would therefore appreciate it if you could send your contribution by the 16th February 2010.
To make this easier we have set up an online form which takes only 10 minutes to complete: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2NX7Q75
Alternatively please write to us or send us an email:
consultation@southeastcoast.nhs.uk we would be delighted to know your views.
Candy Morris
Chief Executive
NHS South East Coast
Grandparent carers in Kent
Kent County Council (KCC) has commissioned BMG Research to conduct a study about grandparents who are caring for their grandchildren due to parental substance misuse. KCC would like to gain a better understanding of:
- what support and advice do grandparents receive?
- what are the ongoing issues for grandparents who are full time carers or are providing substantial childcare?
- what additional help and guidance do grandparents need?
For more information or to take part in the resreach contact:
Kate Tree Cooper, KCC, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XQ
Kate.Tree@Kent.gov.uk or 01622 221676
Mary Costello/Stacey Hughes, BMG Research, Holt Court, Heneage Street West, Aston Science Park, Birmingham, B7 4AX
Mary.Costello@bmgresearch.co.uk
Stacey.Hughes@bmgresearch.co.uk
0800 358 0337 or 0121 333 6006
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