Health Department

 

NHS MEL (1999)34

Dear Colleague

INCLUSION AND INVOLVEMENT AT CONTINUING CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR EVENTS

Background

1. The annex to this letter reflects our joint views on the importance of offering a number of free or subsidised places to those who require care in the community and their carers, at conferences and seminars on issues of relevance to continuing care and care in the community. The annex also encourages organisers and sponsors to explore ways in which reasonable associated travel costs can be provided.

Action

3. Health Boards and local authorities are invited to take account of the attached document when involved in organising such conferences themselves; and to draw it to the attention of others organising or financing continuing care and care in the community conferences or related events.

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

KEVIN J WOODS GILLIAN M STEWART DAVID BELFALL

NHS in Scotland Social Work Services Group, Development

Management Home Department Department

Executive

1st April 1999
______________________________

Addressees

For action:
General Managers, Health Boards
General Manager
State Hospitals Board for Scotland
Chief Executives, NHS Trusts
Chief Executives, Local Authorities
Directors of Housing/Chief
Housing Officers
Directors of Social Work/Chief Social Work Officers
Chief Executive, Scottish Homes

For information:
Chief Executive, COSLA
General Manager, Common
Services Agency
Executive Director, SCPMDE
Scottish Federation of Housing Associations
Chief Executive, Health Education Board for Scotland
Scottish Association of Health Councils
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

______________________________

Enquiries to:
Health
Mr P D Harley
Health Care Policy Division
Room 264
St Andrew’s House
EDINBURGH EH1 3DG
Tel: 0131-244 2426
Fax: 0131-244 2970

Social Work
Dr D Bruce
Room 48B
James Craig Walk
EDINBURGH EH1 3BA
Tel: 0131 244 5458
Fax: 0131 244 3502

Housing
Mr W Moore
Room 1G
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ
Tel: 0131 244 5523
Fax: 0131 244 5529
_______________________

 

Dear Colleague

INCLUSION AND INVOLVEMENT AT CONTINUING CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR EVENTS

Background

1. The annex to this letter reflects our joint views on the importance of offering a number of free or subsidised places to those who require care in the community and their carers, at conferences and seminars on issues of relevance to continuing care and care in the community. The annex also encourages organisers and sponsors to explore ways in which reasonable associated travel costs can be provided.

Action

3. Health Boards and local authorities are invited to take account of the attached document when involved in organising such conferences themselves; and to draw it to the attention of others organising or financing continuing care and care in the community conferences or related events.

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

 

KEVIN J WOODS GILLIAN M STEWART DAVID BELFALL

NHS in Scotland Social Work Services Group, Development

Management Home Department Department

Executive

______________________________

Addressees

For action:

General Managers, Health Boards

General Manager

State Hospitals Board for Scotland

Chief Executives, NHS Trusts

Chief Executives, Local Authorities

Directors of Housing/Chief

Housing Officers

Directors of Social Work/Chief Social Work Officers

Chief Executive, Scottish Homes

For information:

Chief Executive, COSLA

General Manager, Common

Services Agency

Executive Director, SCPMDE

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Chief Executive, Health Education Board for Scotland

Scottish Association of Health Councils

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

______________________________

Enquiries to:

Health

Mr P D Harley

Health Care Policy Division

Room 264

St Andrew’s House

EDINBURGH EH1 3DG

Tel: 0131-244 2426

Fax: 0131-244 2970

Social Work

Dr D Bruce

Room 48B

James Craig Walk

EDINBURGH EH1 3BA

Tel: 0131 244 5458

Fax: 0131 244 3502

Housing

Mr W Moore

Room 1G

Victoria Quay

EDINBURGH EH6 6QQ

Tel: 0131 244 5523

Fax: 0131 244 5529

_______________________

ANNEX

 

 

INCLUSION AND INVOLVEMENT AT CONTINUING CARE AND COMMUNITY CARE CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR EVENTS

Introduction

1. There are those who cannot afford to meet the full costs of attending seminars and conferences organised by or for health boards and local authorities on matters of interest to those who require care in the community and their carers. Some but not all events already offer a number of free places.

Inclusion and Involvement

2. The Framework for Mental Health Services which was issued in 1997 set the example of best practice, with the emphasis properly placed on involving users and carers in the planning and development of mental health services, to help ensure the effective implementation of policy at local and national level. The White Paper Designed to Care followed with the message of co-operation and collaboration, and encouraged the increased involvement of those who use health services and those who provide care. This inclusive approach has been reaffirmed in Modernising Community Care: An Action Plan and the White Paper Aiming for Excellence: Modernising Social Work Services in Scotland. The Learning Disability Review taking place this year is holding a series of national conferences and a number of sponsored places at each event will be reserved for users and carers. The review members include users and carers, and they will be deciding how further consultation with users and carers takes place during the course of the review.

3. Those who use health services and those who care for them, have a unique perspective to offer conferences and events, and should be involved as part of the planning and development of services with which they have first hand knowledge. For their voice to be heard, they should be given every encouragement and opportunity to attend and participate at set piece events. Those responsible for organising conferences and events should routinely consider how to do this.

4. There are many ways in which free or subsidised places can be made available; for example through sponsorship; or setting fees for others at a level which allows a cross subsidy to cover the costs of free places. It is for organisers to determine how best to provide a number of free or reduced cost places in each case.

Travel costs

5. Organisers are also encouraged to consider what contribution can be made towards the reasonable associated travel costs incurred by those offered the free or subsidised places.