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SURGe Minutes

Submitted by patricia on Thu, 18/09/2008 - 8:35am.

SURGe MEETING 1st MAY 2008

 

                                 Present:           Alec Watson                 Bernie Sheehan

                                                            Helen Stalker             Lisa Phillips

                                                            Theo Holland       Maggie Weston (SW)

                                                            Richard Chidzik         Josephine Judge

                                                            Marie Gercs                 Mary Bowie

                                                      Heather Clelland - V4C Tricia Wood - V4C

                                                            Katharine Ray         Rebekah Dryhurst

                                                                                   

                                 Apologies:      Peter Cadman                                  

                                                           

                                                           

 

  • 1. Introductions of SURGE members

New members were warmly welcomed and introduced to the group and given a brief outline of what SURGe do and who Supporting People are.

  • 2. Update from last meeting

Members watched a dvd about the support that 3 very different service users had received from Supporting People and how the help they received had changed their lives for the better.  Then they were split up into 3 groups and undertook the following tasks:

  • Story Boards.
  • Practice Filming.
  • Teaching how to use a video camera.
  • Practising being filmed.
  • Writing questions that an interviewer might ask.

 

3.   Feedback from CSG

  • Lisa and Bernie updated the group about the April CSG meeting.
  • CSG discussed that there had been some alterations to the SP 5 year consultation and that an Easy Read document will be sent out to the public.
  • It was discussed that not enough older people were taking up the Fairer Charging service and they are now working to rectify this.
  • There were some discussions with reference to strategic reviews.
  • Lisa said that other SURGe members are welcome to go to CSG if they wish.
  • Lisa informed SURGe that Phil Deakin had been very impressed with the SURGe presentation that was given to the Supporting People funded organisations in Nuneaton.
  • Mark informed the group that he had heard good feedback from the manager of his service about the service user presentation.
  • Katharine said that a lot of the managers from the funded organisations  had been very positive after the service users had done the presentation.

    4.
Voices 4 Choices

Voices 4 Choices attended this meeting to introduce themselves to the SURGe members, as they won the    contract from Supporting People to take over the SURGe

 groups.

Heather Clelland and Triciaa Wood represent Voices 4 Choices, they had come to meet the group for the first time.

Heather handed out invitations for the group to attend a lunchtime workshop with themselves being held on Monday 19th May in which Voices for Choices want to plan with the

members how they would like to be involved in the project.

A networking day for providers has been arranged for    Friday 6th June and the SURGe members were invited to go along to the event on the day and help out.

Heather also encouraged all of the members of SURGe to have a go at applying for any of the job vacancies within Voices 4 Choices, as she pointed out that all the V4C staff had been service users at one time or another and not to be afraid to have a go.

Ultimately she explained that Voices 4 Choices are keen to work closely with providers to ensure that the right information.

                                 5.   Diversity Event - Warwick

Katharine Informed the group of a Diversity Event being held by Bromford & District Council at Dormer Place, Leamington Spa on Friday 30th May from 10am - 2pm.  The event will include:

  • African drumming
  • Food from around the world
  • MH awareness
  • Belly dancing

Rebekah will arrange the transport for Theo, Alec, Josephine and Marie and Lisa, Richard will use his pass.

 

  • 6. Strategic Reviews
  • Katharine explained that Supporting People check on 260 different services available to service users around the country.
  • The aim of Supporting People is to provide these services to as many people as possible, without reducing the quality of the service to service users. Supporting People team will now be looking at the types of services and decide whether these types of services are the best way to provide support to people in Warwickshire.
  • 7. Group Activity 1 - Questionnaires for current and future Older Peoples services questionnaire

 

Katharine gave the members of SURGe who are over the age of 55 a questionnaire asking for information on the benefits of where they are living now and what their aims are for the next 10 years.

After having filled in the questionnaire, the members gave these comments:

 

  • Very difficult if you are not an "older person yet" or using an older persons service.
  • Very difficult if you only have a community alarm and not a sheltered service.
  • Questions weren't always relevant.
  • Too long.
  • More counselling oriented, there needs to be more reference to actual tasks being done, such as handy persons services, changes to buildings.
  • Is difficult to think of how you want to end up in 10 years time, when you're confused already about what you need.
  • Some questions need re-phrasing (some ideas were given)
  • 8. Group Activity 2 - Blue Salmon Computer Package

Service users and Support workers with different levels of community skills were as asked to try out an online computer programme called Blue Salmon, this is a computer package. It  is said to help people to build on their self-esteem and confidence.  After having filled this in, the following comments were raised:

 

  • Line of Life doesn't make sense, it isn't mirroring the questions asked beforehand.
  • Not very user friendly, doesn't explain things very clearly.
  • Most of the options are too positive, need more variety.
  • Difficult to follow and to fill in.
  • Doesn't make you feel confident, so doesn't do what it claims to do.
  • 9. Group Activity 3 - Interview Questions

Heather worked with the third group and went through the Voices 4 Choices recruitment process with the people who were going to help do the recruitment process. The group discussed a variety of questions for the interviews, that service users may well ask. Lisa, Bernie and Theo talked about the work that SURGe had already done, specifically pointing out the full involvement of the group in the development of the SURGe poster, the consultation on the strategy, the consultation on the supplementary objectives and many other areas.

  • 10. Date of Next Meeting

Voices 4 Choices Lunchtime Workshop - 19th May 2008 at

12-2pm - The Gap Community Centre, Warwick. Please let Voices 4 Choices know if you will be attending and they will organise transport. Rebekah will send out the invitations to all the other people on the SURGe mailing list.