Chairman's Report
 Developing the Network
 Exchanging Ideas
 Awareness Raising
 Building Relationships
 Involving People
 Independent Advocacy
 Spreading the Word

 Work with Other Agencies

To work with other agencies and organisations to achieve their shared aims and influence the design, delivery and resourcing of community care policies and services at all levels

What have we achieved?

The HCCF Network is a partnership ' joining with others in everyday work and developing some remarkable alliances that make the real difference.

Many of the partnerships are not the stuff of headlines, but nevertheless provide the glue to bind things together so that they can advance. HCCF staff enable, stimulate and act as catalysts:

• The Carers Project Development Officer supports The Childrens Forum and the Carers Strategy Steering Group.
• The Local Forum Manager has contributed to the Healthy Living Centre bid and has supported members of the deaf community in a funding application to form a Deaf Action Group.
• The Executive Director supports the North & West Sutherland Care Alliance Advisory Group and The Modernising Community Care Reference Group.
• In Sutherland the Forum works with the Sutherland Partnership to operate its Campanach Car Scheme and with the Community Care Alliance to carry out assessments of local needs.
• All the Fora work with their Local Health Care Co-operatives ' in Skye & Lochalsh the appointment system was changed as the result of the Forum raising issues from parents.  
• The Badenoch & Strathspey Forum supports the Friends of Caberfeidh, a carer support group in Kingussie for Adults with learning Disabilities.
• In Gairloch the Forum works with the Community Councils and the Palliative Care Working Group.
• East Sutherland Forum works with others to research the need for a counselling service.
• People First groups are supported by the Advocacy Project and some Local Fora staff. In some areas Highland Council provides transport and premises. Some other agencies, such as Lochaber Action on Disability, provide ongoing support to their local People First Group.

In Inverness users and carers put their concerns about cuts in home care services to councillors, MPs and officials - some services were re-instated and there is now regular communication between Senior Social Work staff and Forum members monitoring planned changes in the way that services are provided.

Users and carers from Inverness and Lochaber have contributed to the Scottish Executive Working Group on National Standards - so the real life experience of users and carers from different parts of Scotland influences what the standards cover, how they are worded and what has to be achieved by service providers.

and more locally...

Marj Donaldson from the Inverness Forum has been involved in the re-design of services for older people ' now there is a working partnership with service providers.

And partnerships of a different kind - along with the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, the Carers Project is involved in administering applications from local carers to the Wooden Spoon Society, Scottish Return to Work Educational Bursary Scheme, Carers Relief Fund and the Educational Bursary Fund.

In the last year these Trusts have given over £5000 to 14 carers in Highland.

Kirsty Riach who received a grant from the Scottish Return to Work Educational Bursary Fund says  'The course was wonderful and added to my skills and confidence'.

Bringing in Resources

Without reliable funding sustainable growth in the activities of the HCCF Network is not possible.

The Network's core funding is provided by Highland Council and Highland Health Board. Progress has been made in negotiating a Service Level Agreement and we look forward to signing the document.

This sound financial base is essential in helping us to attract additional funding from other sources - providing real added value which allows us to continue to make new connections with users and carers and communities.

In 2000 ' 2001 HCCF attracted £ 95,465 from outside sources.

In addition, our best Christmas present was the news of our successful Lottery application  Connecting Communities - £354,000 over 3 years, to develop new ways of reaching out to users and carers.  An innovative response to the barriers that the geography and cultures of the Highlands present.  

We will do this by:

• Using Information Communication Technology.
• Building capacity through training.
• 'Awareness Training.
• Underpinned by Action Research.

   Evaluating Our Work
   Funding 2000 / 2001

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