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Consultation Advice and Design Service :: User and Carer Participation :: Older People’s Network :: Governance
As well as undertaking statutory and commissioned consultation and participation activities, CPU offers advice and support to individual services/members of staff, who wish to carry out activities themselves. Again, assuring compliance with the RGF and MCA are part of this advice service.
An example of a statutory activity:
User Experience Surveys
These are required by the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families to be carried out annually. These surveys are targeted at particular groups of users in a three year cycle, including people over 65 years, who use home care services, people with physical and sensory disabilities, who use community based services, children in need aged 10 to 17 years and carers. In 2007-8 the Survey will be targeting users of Community Equipment and Minor Adaptation Services.
Some current commissioned activities:
Telecare Scheme Evaluation
This is a two year project commissioned by Older People’s Services involving various methods of feedback from users, their carers and staff. Self completion questionnaires sent to carers at four monthly intervals, approximately 380 distributed from first 12 months with a 39% response rate. Face to face interviews with users, approximately 25 completed from the first 12 months. Self completion questionnaires distributed to County Care Managers and Telecare Provider Staff, 290 sent out at end of first year with exercise to be repeated in April 2008. ‘Key Messages’ summaries will be prepared and sent to all above participants, and an Interim evaluation report to be prepared for Members in September 2007.
Quality Standards in Independent Care Homes
Commissioned by Older People’s Services and Contracting Unit. Following a pilot exercise during 2005/06, a rolling programme of obtaining feedback each year from a sample of residents living in independent care homes has been agreed. 35 face to face discussions with residents in East Cheshire took place in November 2006 and Jan 2007. A ‘Key Messages’ summary to be prepared and sent to participants, all independent care home managers and Older People’s Service/Contracting Managers.
Preparations are underway for face to face discussions with approximately 50 residents in Central Cheshire in September - November 2007.
Physical and Sensory Disability (PSD) User Feedback System
Commissioned by PSD Services. The Previous QS System was reviewed with users and staff resulting in a new annual PSD User Feedback System launched in June 2006. (819 questionnaires distributed with a 39% response rate). Another distribution of this year’s questionnaires was sent in June 2007. A system is in the process of being established with ongoing support by CPU staff of assistance by volunteer users for those people unable to complete the questionnaire by themselves.
Mental Health User Feedback System
Commissioned by Mental Health Services including Health. Previous Mental Health QS System was reviewed with users and staff, which will result in a new annual Mental Health User Feedback System to be launched in October 2007. A pilot exercise was undertaken in October 2006 (950 questionnaires distributed with a 44% response rate). A ‘Key Messages’ summary to be prepared and sent to users and staff. A system is in the process of being established with ongoing support from CPU staff, of assistance by volunteer users for those people unable to complete the questionnaire by themselves.
As well as the Consultation and Participation Unit, Older People’s Adults’ and Children’s Social Care Services also have key staff, who work alongside users and carers to encourage their participation in service planning and development. CPU members work closely with these staff and offer advice and support on a regular basis.
The Older People’s Network (OPN) is a group of older people recruited by Community Services from across Cheshire, who have an interest in giving their views on health, social care and other related issues. Current membership is approximately 700. There is a Core Group of some 25 OPN members, who meet regularly with the OPN Coordinator and who take an active role in the planning and development of services for older people, working with the Council, the City and Borough Councils, PCTs and NHS Trusts and the Voluntary Sector. For more information about the OPN, contact the Coordinator, Viv Woodburn, on 01606 815703 or see the Older People’s Network website.
The Research Governance Framework (RGF) in Social Care applies to all research, including consultation and participation projects, involving service users and carers, their data, and / or staff / volunteers, where a Council with Adult and Children’s Social Care Responsibilities (CSSR) has a duty of care, whether that care is provided directly or is contracted out. The core principles and standards enshrined in the RGF complement those within the Council’s Participation Promise.
The Consultation and Participation Unit has the responsibility for assessing all social care research projects to ensure they comply with the RGF requirements under the five key standards of ethics, science, information, health and safety, and finance. Anyone undertaking a project of this nature should contact CPU for further advice.
From the 1 October 2007, the Mental Capacity Act Research Guidelines will also apply to any social care research project, including consultation and participation activities, involving service users, who lack capacity either on a permanent or temporary basis. Anyone undertaking a project of this nature should contact CPU for further advice.
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