Newsletter 20 November 2008

MRHF send out a regular weekly email bulletin on Thursdays, containing information for all our newsletter email group. For the convenience of our stakeholders and for those who might want to find out more about the Forum, we are also publishing that information to the BHA website. Feedback would be very welcome. If you have any information that you would like us to circulate in a future bulletin, please forward it to MRHF by Wednesday 12.00 pm the day before. Please ring us on 0161 872 4600 or email us at mrhf@btconnect.com if you have any queries.

Events/Meetings/Groups

Research influences policies and services - true or false?

Ethnic Health Forum is holding a free workshop in Manchester looking at such questions as 'Why is it important to take part in health and social science research?' and 'Do you think minority ethnic communities need similar or different health care services?'

Don't miss out on this chance to discuss the issues and share your views!

Monday 24 November 9:30 am - 1:00 pm
Lunch included.

See flyer for details.

300th Anniversary Celebrations of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib(The Sikh Holy Book)

The Sikh community of Manchester and Greater Manchester is planning to mark the anniversary by holding a Seminar and exhibition on 29 November 2008 at the Manchester Town Hall.

See invitation letter and programme.

MCCR Equalities Programme

MCCR has launched a new Equalities programme supported by funding from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It will bring together VCS interest groups that have not traditionally worked closely together to promote equalities in services and employment. It will also work directly with public service providers.
The programme focuses on understanding the new Single Equalities Bill and Equality & Human Rights Commission.
It will offer a series of open workshops, a small number of short model consultancies using a new Equalities Assessment Guide and a concluding Equalities conference.
See the explanatory leaflet. To participate or get further information please contact Khan Moghal or Hugh McWilliams at MCCR 0161 227 8708 or nkmoghal@mccr.org.uk

Putting People First, and the move towards personalisation is something that is radically transforming the social care sector.  Personalisation is the idea that service users should have much greater control over how they receive care, and will prompt a move towards many service users receiving individualised budgets and direct payments to access care services that best suit their needs. This radical shift will require employers in the social care sector to deliver many services in ways that are different to how they have done so in the past. This will affect providers from all sectors, including the voluntary and community sector.

Skills for Care is the Sector Skills Council for adult social care. It is currently looking at ways that it can support employers to adapt to this new environment, alongside a number of downloadable resources that can be accessed via the website (www.skillsforcare.org.uk), Skills for Care North West is also delivering a provider development programme in the north west. This will initially take the form of a number of sub-regional events that will take place across the North West in late 2008 and early 2009. The dates are:

Cheshire – 13 November 2008
Lancashire – 9 December 2008
Greater Manchester – 27 January 2009
Merseyside – 5 February 2009

They are also hoping to host an event in Cumbria, with dates to be confirmed. If you would like further information about any of these events please e-mail northwest@skillsforcare.org.uk .

A conference later this month is to look at support for black and minority ethnic victims of domestic violence
See the article in the Guardian

The Manchester LINk is in the process of electing a new Steering Group to lead its work. 

Members will need to be able to commit to 3-4 hours per week and attend monthly meetings.  Individual members will need to reside in the city of Manchester, and group members will need to be part of a voluntary group or commercial organisation that operates in the city of Manchester.
 
 21 November - nominations with Statements to be received
5 December – ballot papers sent out by email and post
19 December – closing date for completed ballot papers to be received
22 December – vote count by external independent adjudicator
23 December – people to be notified of outcome of ballot
 
If you would like to be considered for a place on the LINk Steering Group please submit a ‘pen picture’ of yourself detailing the skills, experiences and interests you have, and how these show that you can represent the views of Manchester residents in relation to your health and social care concerns. This needs to be submitted no later than 21 November.

Manchester LINk Support, Black Health Agency, 2nd Floor, Gaddum House, 6 Great Jackson Street, Manchester, M15 4AX
Tel: 0161 214 3909
E-mail: manchesterlink@blackhealthagency.org.uk
Website: www.manchesterlink.org

There are vacancies available for Language Support Assistants with Manchester City Council. The role would involve working with newly arrived children and young people in a school environment. If anyone is interested please contact Ambreen Jameel on 0161 223 3158 for more information.

The organisation has been successful in securing 3 year Big Lottery funding for an African and Caribbean Men / Fathers Project.

The role is that of an Information and Resource Worker, the post is part time (17 hours per week): see the job description for more details.

Application is by comprehensive CV to Sowing Seeds, P.O.Box 1, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 9ZB.

NB The closing date for this position has been extended to 28 November 2008.

Salford
£29,628 - 33,231 + 7.5% pension contribution. 35 hours per week. Fixed to 31 March, 2011

Local Involvement Networks (LINks) are the new statutory way to involve local people in the commissioning, provision and scrutiny of local health and social care services (including public health).

The LINk Investment Manager will manage and develop the LINk Host service and staff team, within the resources provided, to ensure delivery of outputs and outcomes to meet and exceed participant, customer and other stakeholder requirements. They will support and advise the LINk to create and carry out its work programme, including commissioning local groups and organisations to do projects.

An excellent communicator, the LINk Investment Manager will have a strong ability to engage, motivate and persuade others. They will have strong project, planning and financial skills. They will have good knowledge of public involvement, the health and social care system (including public health) and issues for disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

For further information or discussion, contact Chris Dabbs on 0161 743 0088.

To request an application pack, contact Rose O’Hara on 0161 743 0088 or roseohara@chapltd.co.uk Please quote code CHAP/LIM/01

Closing date for return of applications is 10:00 am on Monday 15 December, 2008.

CHAP encourages applications by people from all backgrounds, especially those groups that are under-represented within the organisation.

A Criminal Records Bureau disclosure will be requested when the post is offered, but a criminal record is not necessarily a bar to obtaining this position.

Comic Relief has extended the deadline for its small grants funding under its mental health programme. The new deadline is Friday 12 December - applicants can apply for grants of up to £5000. The scheme is for projects that get people with mental health problems more involved in developing mental health policies and services, and to reduce stigma and discrimination. The funding is for user led projects only. "User led" is defined as having a majority of the management committee as service users.

For more information, follow this link: http://www.comicrelief.com/apply-for-a-grant/uk/

NHS Manchester have recently established a Maternity Services Liaison Committee.

The Committee is made up of locally-based people who are involved in planning, providing and receiving maternity care, including users, so they are well placed to advise on developments in local maternity services and monitor progress towards agreed standards.

Members are currently gathering evidence of good practice and patient/family experiences of maternity services in Manchester to inform their work plan for 2009.

They would like to hear from you if you have experiences to share about maternity services at the following hospitals:

- North Manchester General Hospital
- Manchester Royal Infirmary, St Mary's Hospital
- Wythenshawe Hospital

You can share your experiences both anonymously and confidentially by using the methods below - all information will be used to improve the patient experiences of maternity services in Manchester.

Call:  0161 217 4311 – if there is no answer, please leave your name and contact number and you will be called back
Email: talkinghealth@manchester.nhs.uk  
Online: http://tinyurl.com/657vqw
Write to: Maternity - FREEPOST RRSS-EKKJ-RRKY, Baguley Clinic, M23 1NA

If you are a provider of services and have already collated evidence of patient experiences, please feel free to email or post them directly to Val Bayliss-Brideaux (details below).. All hard copies of reports can be returned if needed.She is in the process of gathering reports and survey results to pull out the themes around patient experiences – any of the information used will be referenced accordingly.

If you have a drop-in or regular meeting you would like Val to attend to talk about this work, please do not hesitate to contact her on 0161 217 4311 or by email val.bb@manchester.nhs.uk

Postal address: 2nd Floor, Southmoor House, Southmoor Road, M23 9LH