| Influencing
the Shape of Policies and Services
The
HCCF network is a living thing that goes on evolving. Our work is about
directing our voice to where it can be heard and can exert proper influence.
Speaking up and speaking out can seem to be transient processes, but
the results of our influence are the tangible products of what we do.
Local
Forums
- commented on
Dental Health shortages, Day Care and Sheltered Housing, Direct Payments,
Occupational Therapy, Out-of-hours Services, New Pension Service,
Advocacy Highland, Dementia Awareness, Podiatry, Respite Care
- identified needs
for: lunch clubs, good neighbour schemes, training for home carers,
local housing, health and community facilities
- took part in
planning and development of transport services, new local groups,
hospital projects, out-of-hours support
- Gairloch: introduced
issue book to meetings for forum to list notes for action
- Inverness: people
with learning disabilities helped to contribute to Local Implementation
Groups
- received funding
for Community Car (Lochaber) and Handyperson schemes (Caithness and
Lochaber)
- Nairn: carried
out Nairn and Inverness Integrated Transport Feasibility Study
- North &
West Sutherland: Handyperson Scheme to be launched in 2004
- Skye & Lochalsh:
helped young carers produce a Drug and Alcohol training pack for service
providers and contribute to the National Children’s Bureau involvement
handbook
 Highland
Users Group
- commented on
the new Mental Health Act to the Mental Health Services Assessment
team, and contributed to planning its local implementation
- gave views on
a range of services: out-of-hours, psychological services, places
of safety, men’s health, hospital services (including bed numbers
and their use)
- established
new subgroups on drug, alcohol and mental health issues, self harm
and suicide
- raised issues
via established networks: the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities
Management Group, the Mental Health Network Group and Local Implementation
Groups
- published reports
on Stigma, Current Issues in Mental Health and Admission to Hospital
(used in NHS Quality Improvement Scotland best practice statement
on admission to hospital)
met representatives of the Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities
Committee and were quoted in their report
met the Training and Guidance Unit and the Clubhouse Movement to look
at developing Clubhouse in the Highlands
HUG member on independent committee looking at the siting of the West
of Scotland Medium Secure Unit
Highland
Carers Project
- influenced national
debate on structural independence – reflecting carer and Highland
dimensions
- delivered awareness-raising
training to service providers across Highland in implementation of
Carers Support Plan
- wrote Young
Carers’ High School policy
- facilitated
continued influence of New Craigs relatives group throughout resettlement
process
- worked with
Young Carers to develop an awareness-raising strategy for support
in Highland
- supported carer
involvement in learning disability Local Implementation Groups
- supported carers
to put across their views on local respite provision
People
First
- took part in
a survey for Objective 8 of the local Partnership in Practice agreement
to ensure that people with learning disabilities have what they need
to understand what happens when they are in hospital
- invited to take
part in selecting service providers for people being re-homed from
New Craigs hospital
- took part in
an inter-organisational meeting with coach operators Rapsons and Stagecoach
to highlight problems using public transport
- continued active
role in Local Implementation Groups and Health and Happiness
 HCCF’s
links with communities are valued by Community Health Partnerships.
|
Annual
Review 2004
Get
PDF File (1.3MB)
|
