Welcome to the latest entry of our Joint Working Journal. This instalment focuses on the regional programmes of work reporting to Steering and Advisory Board 1 (SAB1), which met on 18^th February. 

Firstly, Board members discussed some important changes to the SAB meeting schedule which will impact on the frequency of our journal posts.

From 1^st April, SAB meetings will be held on a quarterly rotation. As there are three SABs in total, this will mean journal updates will be brought to you on a monthly basis. It’s a small change, but a significant one as it will allow everyone more time to deliver the work set out during the SAB meetings.

Here are some other key updates following SAB1…

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Bonymaen House: In the spotlight! 

You may be aware of the fantastic reablement service at Swansea’s Bonymaen House. The facility offers short-term support to older people who may be experiencing a period of ill health and need a bit of extra support to help them feel stronger and avoid being admitted into hospital. Some residents are also hospital leavers who are well enough to be discharged but need some help to regain the skills they need be able to return to live independently at home.

The service is part of the regional Communities and Older People programme, and SAB1 members viewed a video created by the West Glamorgan Communications and Engagement Team highlighting the benefits of Bonymaen House and its impact on the lives of those who have spent time there:

 

Staff and residents at Bonymaen House were also delighted to host a visit from Rhian Bowen-Davies, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, on 7^th February.  The Commissioner was hugely impressed with what she saw and was pleased to be able to chat to those using the service about the action she should be taking to deliver positive change for older people.

Another key area of progress for the Communities and Older People programme is the ongoing work around the development of a new Strategy aimed at supporting older people to feel well and live independently in their own homes for as long as possible. The title and vision have now been agreed, and funding has been allocated to the region’s two Councils for Voluntary Service to undertake an engagement piece to shape the Strategy.

We will update you on next steps for this piece of work in a future edition of our journal.

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Dementia update

SAB1 members received an update on the work of the Dementia Programme Board, which has seen some changes in the form of a new Chair. Stephen Jones of Swansea Bay University Health Board has taken up the role in readiness for the retirement of the current Chair, Malcolm Jones. Malcolm plans to retire at the end of March and we’d like to thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best for his retirement.

In the meantime, a review of the Board’s membership and individual workstreams will take place over the next few weeks.

A significant update in terms of projects funded via West Glamorgan is the recent launch of the British Red Cross ‘Dementia Connectors’ service. This initiative helps people with dementia and their loved ones to navigate the health and social care system, providing valuable guidance on matters ranging from well-being support to financial advice.  

The service is now up and running and ready to accept referrals from Memory Assessment clinics across the region.

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Carers Liaison Officer continues to make great progress

In an earlier edition of our journal, we announced the appointment of Rebecca Platt as the new Carers Liaison Officer. Rebecca has now been in post for 6 months and we caught up with her this week to check in on how she’s finding the role. Here’s what she had to say:

“I’m really enjoying my new role. I’ve met some passionate people and fantastic community groups, all of whom champion unpaid carers and the work they do. As a region we know that there is a lot of work to be done to improve unpaid carers’ lives, and through co-production with unpaid carers and partners we can shape local services for the better.”

In her short time in the position, at Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service (NPTCVS), Rebecca has made great strides in creating important connections with unpaid carers and organisations across the region. Her key areas of work for the coming year will be to help organise and facilitate the annual unpaid carers engagement event; support engagement around the development of a new unpaid carer strategy; and to continue to amplify unpaid carers’ voices in the region.

That’s all from us for this instalment. We look forward to continuing our work and sharing more updates with you in our next journal entry 😊