Maidstone Weald Locality Planning and Monitoring GroupFriday 9th September 2011 at 10:15amKingswood Community Mental Health Centre, 180-186 Union Street, Maidstone ME14 1EY |
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Present |
Initials |
Organisation |
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Neil Bunker – Chair |
NB |
Voluntary Action Maidstone Platform |
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Emma Crawford - Minutes |
SAM |
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Stephen Meades |
SM |
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Sandra Marchant |
SMa |
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P Warnett |
PW |
Voluntary Action Maidstone V-Team |
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Shaun Neaves |
SN |
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WE |
WE |
Service User – Maidstone Mind |
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Chris Beach |
CB |
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Aileen Davis |
AD |
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M Iley |
MI |
Voluntary Action Maidstone V-Team |
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Maureen Belcher |
MB |
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Paul Absolon |
PA |
KCC Mental Health Commissioner |
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Desderia Pulise |
DP |
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GA |
GA |
Service User – Brenchley Platform |
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Andrea Norley |
AN |
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JB |
JB |
Service User – Maidstone Mind |
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Susan Iverson |
SI |
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RN |
RN |
Service User |
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Apologies |
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Organisation |
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Gloria Bacon |
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VAM Maidstone Carers Project |
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Jenny Hogben |
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Yvonne Lindley |
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Carer |
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Jill Martin |
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Medway PCT |
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Alan Heyes |
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Mental Health Matters |
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Theresa Hughes |
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Kent Carers at Home |
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Justin Morris |
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Voluntary Action Maidstone |
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Bob Ditchburn |
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Maggie Bowman |
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Merryl Chesher |
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Charlotte Osborn-Forde |
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DS |
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Service User |
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1. Welcome, Introductions and Apologies The Chair welcomed the attendees to the meeting and all of the attendees introduced themselves. Apologies noted above.
2. Gateway Presentation from Stephen Meades Stephen Meads introduced himself and the Manager of the Maidstone Gateway, Sandra Marchant. He went on to briefly explain his background as a former Gateway Manager in Margate. He is now working across Kent to assist the local gateway Managers to improve and develop their services.
The Gateway is about providing a coherent starting point for citizens to find out about and meet with statutory and voluntary service providers. It emerged from a government report in 2007 identifying easier routes and points of access, and streamlining the way in which public sector partners worked. It is a shared front office for many organisations, with a focus on the customer. The service needs to be delivered to where the people are, hence the accessible high street locations.
There are currently 8 Gateways in Kent. A new Ashford Gateway Plus, replacing the earlier pilot Ashford Gateway, opened recently. Approximately 35,000 people a month pass through the Gateways, the busiest is Thanet with between 8-9,000 people a week. This creates a lot of opportunity to present services to a representative slice of the community, and to cross-refer to other agencies. The partner mix in Thanet is some 45 separate agencies, doing a mix of days, half-days and full weeks. The concept of Service Hubs is used to help make sense of this. So for example the Health and Independent Living Hub has representation from Adult Social Services, Occupational Therapy services, Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), Kent LINk, Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team (KDAAT), Health Trainers, Kent Association for the Blind and so on. Other services, like Housing and Benefits, know of the existence of this hub, creating the opportunity to collaborate in real terms with the customer who is not simply being signposted away. Using Ashford as an example, typically 37% of the activity is around benefit advice and particularly housing, and 50% is relevant to working and learning, including volunteering.
Gateway is about trying to pass control back to citizens, and ensuring that services respond to citizens, rather than saying ÒHere we are, this is what we do.Ó Gateway has been an enabler for change and some quite different service models are emerging from this approach. Each Gateway has learned from previous experience and is slightly different. It is a 15 year strategy that has only been running for 3 years. There are many plans for the future, including eventual 24/7 access to services on the phone, via the internet and in time through people's television. Thanks to a pilot funded by the Migration Impact Fund, there are 2 Gateway vehicles in operation promoting the services locally, and there is hope that this will expand in the future, whereby outreach services will visit communities, furthering a new era and approach.
The reception areas are open, welcoming spaces, with the arrival point quite a way back from the door. This is to give time to those coming in, avoiding the sense of being confronted and of having to interact before they are ready. People can go straight to the service they want, or alternatively there are additional staff, often local volunteers, acting as navigators or ambassadors out on the open floor who are able to respond to those who look lost or uncomfortable, subsequently providing a softer arrival point. This also enables volunteers to gain some valuable work experience, confidence and improvement in many other social skills, so both parties benefit. All Gateways are DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant, with fully equipped changing places that are easily accessible to everyone.
Sandra noted that there was the opportunity to book space at the Gateway as they have access to meeting rooms She also encouraged members to think about how they could use the space in relation to their existing services. For example Maidstone will be piloting a new project looking at social care and healthcare within the Gateway environment. There is also the potential for people who are accessing Mental Health Services in Maidstone to be able to meet with their respective Mental Health Practitioners within the Gateway, as an alternative to meeting in Kingswood or Pagoda. PA wondered whether this could possibly lead to holding other meetings in the Gateway, to which Sandra replied this could be a possibility. PA said he would contact Meryll Cheshire of Maidstone Mind, regarding this.
SN noted his positive experiences at the Gateway, except perhaps with the issue of parking. Sandra noted that unfortunately the car park did not belong to the Borough Council, however, there was a separate access point for people with disabilities to make their experience easier.
Lastly DP asked whether they found BME (Black, Minority and Ethnic) communities using the Gateway Service? SMa noted that they did have many different communities coming in and they provide many facilities, such as interpreters to help. However, she noted that there is no particular data or figures confirming access from these communities.
NB thanked SM for his presentation and SMa for her contribution.
3. Minutes of the Previous Meeting The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
4. Matters Arising Regarding the Action point from the last LPMG in relation to funding decisions made by County Hall, PA explained that due to the current financial climate KCC are expected to make cuts of 25% over the next 4 years. As such, they hope to maintain the same current level of services but with slightly lessened budgets. This financial year PA managed to safeguard most of the voluntary sector funding, with only a few cuts taking place. PA confirmed that they should know by December 2011 what will be occurring in the new financial year. PA also noted that the ways in which organisations would be granted money was changing and that in the future organisations would need to put in a bid, or tender for a particular service. PA advised all organisations to register with the South East Business Portal for information on how to put forward a tender, how the tender process works and what services are out for tender and other information is also available. This new tender process is not yet in full operation but will be evolving during the coming months.
PA noted that following the successful Aspergers day, he had been able to identify some key issues and to subsequently pass these on to the newly formed KCC Steering group of which he is a member. The group aims to look at Autistic Spectrum conditions so as to better understand them and thus provide a more comprehensive service. The Aspergers day findings will influence better what is needed in terms of the future provision of community services.
5. Service User and Carer Issues GA said that she had been attending a number of meetings recently and asked for clarification as to how meetings such as those organised by Platform, the LPMGÕs and the Expert by Experience meetings organised by Nick Dent all related to one another? NB responded that while groups such as those facilitated by Platform are able to feed into the LPMG and from the LPMG issues can be passed onto the JCB (Joint Commissioning Board), meetings such as Expert by Experience are often more directed to KMPT (Kent and Medway Partnership Trust) although on occasions issues from other meetings could also be bought to the LPMG.
MB raised, on behalf of carers who were unable to be present, the continuing issue of a lack of carers assessments being carried out in the Maidstone area. She also noted that in principle only people who were under Secondary level services were receiving these assessments by the CMHT (Community Mental Health Teams). It was noted that there has been in the region of 1000 carers assessments carried out, but not many of these had taken place in the Maidstone locality. MB raised the issue that if a carer is looking after a person who is being supported by their GP, they would not necessarily receive an assessment, even though they are entitled to one. Owing to the lack of assessments being carried out, MB is finding that many carers are self-referring into the Maidstone Carers service. PA responded by explaining that although this didnÕt help with the short term problem, in the future the redesign of the Carers services will mean that Carers projects in the community will be required to fulfil this role of providing CarerÕs assessments and will hopefully provide improved availability and a more comprehensive service.
6. The Work of the LPMG - Neil Bunker NB explained that earlier in the year, the ÔMeeting with Coffee groupsÕ he facilitates made a list of potential improvements and changes that they would like to see implemented so as make the LPMGÕs more user friendly, accessible and beneficial. NB formalised these abbreviations into a document which he was going to present at the LPMG. However, NB noted that nearly all of the requests made, had since been addressed and resolved. NB went on to say that the second part of the document relates to GPÔs and the Transfer of Care. Owing to the changes that are taking place with the evolvement of Primary Care Commissioning Groups he proposed to defer this discussion to a later date, perhaps during 2012.
7. KMPT Service Redesign CB reported that there was very little news to report since the last meeting. He reiterated that the new format began on 1st June 2011 with the Recovery Team based at Kingswood and the Access Team based at Pagoda. Both teams are still in the early stages of their evolvement, as well as having to embrace a new Trust-wide computer records system that is being put in place . CB asked people to remain patient as their adjustments and changes take place.
NB once again noted that he had received lots of positive feedback regarding the services that are provided both at Kingswood and Pagoda and the appreciation of the work being done despite the upheavals.
8. Service Round Up RN – Voluntary Action Maidstone (VAM) Some of the V-Team volunteers have formed a group which meets at Mote Park. As well as carrying out some work, there is the opportunity to learn about various aspects of local conservation. RN would welcome any new volunteers who may be interested in joining, as they are hoping to expand this interesting group. RN also reminded people of the fun days the V-Team hold to raise money and NB suggested details of these days could be circulated at the LPMGÕs. NB thanked RN for this and reflected upon the positive successes of the V-Team.
Susan Iverson – Winfield Owing to WinfieldÕs closure for 2 weeks during August, they have now had an influx of new people and are very busy. Winfield have had Primary Care referrals through IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and recently 1 person has left to go directly into employment.
Maureen Belcher – Maidstone Carers Project Currently very busy supporting now 253 carers. The Carers Breaks Fund has been well used and appreciated by all who have benefited.
Service User – V-Team The SU noted how helpful the V-Team are and have been towards each other and in helping one another to recover and move on.
Service User – V-Team Wanted to thank the V-Team and let them know how appreciative she has been of the work they have done for her.
Shaun Neaves – Stonham Homegroup In the last 4 months 3 clients have moved out into independent living but the house is now full once again, with new clients.
Andrea Norley – Intouch This service provides floating support services, who as of the 1st August 201 are now part of Family Mosaic.
Desderia Pulise – Rethink As a CDW (Community Development Worker) DP works to improve integration and provision of services amongst the local BME (black, minority and ethnic) communities. There is a continuing desire to develop the mental health ambassador training, with a view to breaking down barriers and reduce stigma. The service is also engaging with the Nepalese community in trying to encourage access to services.
Aileen Davis - Rethink Very busy at present and continuing working towards building relationships and contact with KMPT (Kent and Medway Partnership Trust) and the CMHTÕs, (Community Mental Health Teams).
9. Working Group None of the group members were present and therefore no update was available.
10.Joint Commissioning Board (JCB) The group decided following the issue raised by MB regarding the lack of carers assessments, that they would raise this issue at the next JCB (Joint Commissioning Board) in November.
11.Any Other Business There was none.
The next meeting was set for 10:15am on Friday 11th November 2011 at the Kingswood Community Mental Health Centre, 180-186 Union Street, Maidstone, ME14 1EY
The Chair thanked everyone for attending and the meeting closed.
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