NCoA 05/14
NORFOLK COUNCIL ON AGEING
Minutes of the Norfolk Council on Ageing Meeting held at 10.30am
on Wednesday 22 January 2014 in the Training Room, Great House
Training Centre, Age UK Norfolk, 300 St Faith’s Road, Old Catton,
Norwich, Norfolk NR6 7BJ
Members
Present:
Dr Peter Forster (Chair of Age UK Norfolk), Ann Baker (South Norfolk
Older People’s Forum), Bett Barrett (Co-opted Member/Trustee of
Age UK Norfolk), Maggie Beat (British Red Cross), Jonathan Bolton
(Vice-Chair of Age UK Norfolk), John Bracey (Broadland Older
People’s Partnership), Judith Brown (West Norfolk Carers), David
Button (Age UK Norwich), Stephen Drake (Co-opted Member/Trustee
of Age UK Norfolk), Margaret Drury (Age UK North Norfolk), Dr
Graeme Duncan (Co-opted Member), Joyce Hopwood (Norwich
Older People’s Forum), Helen Jones (Co-opted Member/Trustee of
Age UK Norfolk), Dr Derek Land (Civil Service Pensioners Alliance
[Norfolk]), Ann Leigh (Co-opted Member/Trustee of Age UK Norfolk),
Rachel McLean (Co-opted Member/Trustee of Age UK Norfolk),
Jacqueline Middleton (Age UK Norwich), Emily Millington-Smith MBE
(President of Age UK Norfolk), Jack Sadler (Norfolk Association of
Local Councils), Paul Slyfield (Treasurer of Age UK Norfolk), Cllr Sue
Whitaker (Norfolk County Council Adult Social Services Committee),
Jean Wilson (Norfolk Federation of Women’s Institutes) and Pat
Wilson (Norfolk and Norwich Pensioners Association / Norfolk Older
People’s Forum)
In
Anne Bunting (The Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind),
Attendance: Maddie Copley (Age UK Norfolk), Mary Ledgard, Hilary MacDonald
(Chief Executive of Age UK Norfolk), Eamon McGrath (Age UK
Norfolk), Nikki Morris (Big C), Annie Mosley (Age UK Norfolk), Paula
Skelton (Age UK Norfolk) – minute taker and Peter Walker
Apologies:
*Denotes
Voting
Member
Chris Carter* (NIC [Norfolk Independent Care]), Colin Chambers*
(The Royal British Legion), Colin Futter* (Norfolk County Council
Unison Branch [Retired Members Section]), Margaret Hardingham*
(Vice-President of Age UK Norfolk), Polly Hauxwell-Baldwin* (Coopted Member/Trustee of Age UK Norfolk), Pat Kingerlee* (U3A
Wymondham Group), Aliona Laker* (Norfolk Deaf Association),
Barbara Lock* (Age Concern Swaffham and District), Catherine
Morgan* (The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation
Trust), Chris Mowle* (Co-opted Member/Trustee of Age UK Norfolk),
Age UK Norfolk is the operating name of Age Concern Norfolk, a Charitable Company limited by guarantee
Registered in England No 03783205. Registered Charity No 1077097. The Registered Office is 300 St Faiths
Road, Old Catton, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 7BJ
Dr Charlotte Salter* (Norwich Medical School, UEA), Vernon
Simmons* (Breckland Older People’s Forum), Richard Watson* (Coopted Member/Trustee of Age UK Norfolk), John White* (Norfolk and
Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust) and Dr Peter Woodhouse* (Norfolk
and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)
The Chief Executive gave details on a number of domestic items. The Chair
welcomed everyone to the meeting and wished the President a happy birthday.
Action
1.
Minutes of the Norfolk Council on Ageing Meeting held on
Wednesday 23 October 2013 (NCoA 18/13)
The minutes of the Norfolk Council on Ageing (NCoA) meeting held
on 23 October 2013 had been circulated prior to the meeting. With
the addition of apologies for absence from Cllr Whitaker and Ms
Middleton, the minutes were agreed as a correct record and signed by
the Chair.
2.
Matters arising
2.1 Palliative Care
The Chief Executive reported that she had met with Sue Spooner to
hold an initial discussion about palliative care in Norfolk. Another
meeting would be arranged and the Chief Executive would report HM
back to the next NCoA meeting.
3.
Board of Trustees Report to the NCoA (NCoA 02/14)
A report prepared by the Chief Executive on behalf of the Board of
Trustees had been circulated prior to the meeting. The Chief
Executive reported that a Strategic Planning Event for managers and
Trustees had been held in December and plans included increasing
income generation.
The Chief Executive invited Mr McGrath to report on the Cut Cake not
Care Campaign.
Mr McGrath thanked members for their support with the Campaign
against the proposed Norfolk County Council (NCC) cuts and reported
that the petition had received approximately 2,000 signatures. The
Campaign had achieved good levels of publicity in the local media
and culminated in a roundtable event held the previous day, which
Cllr Whitaker had attended. Mr McGrath thanked Cllr Whitaker for
attending the event, listening to what was said and for accepting the
petition at the end of the event.
Mr McGrath reported that further to the query raised at the last NCoA
meeting, he had written to Age UK to ask if there were any plans to
campaign against energy price increases. Age UK had responded
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that there were no plans to campaign on this issue, although it was
supporting the Energy Bill Revolution campaign for warm homes and
lower bills. The campaign also called on the Government to use the
money it was receiving from carbon taxes to make homes more
energy efficient.
Mr McGrath reported on the Care in Crisis Campaign. The campaign
was focussing on the loophole which could result in two people
receiving care having different levels of protection from abuse and
neglect, because one was self-funding and the other was arranged by
the Local Authority. In the current situation, the Human Rights Act
only applied to those people who had their care arranged by a public
body. Anyone who paid for their own care in a residential setting or
received care in their own home was not directly covered by the
Human Rights Act. This meant if they experienced abuse or neglect,
they had fewer rights.
The House of Lords had voted to ensure everyone needing care had
equal protection under Human Rights Law. This was Clause 48 of the
Care Bill but the Government was trying to remove Clause 48. Age
UK was campaigning against this. Mr McGrath encouraged everyone
to sign the online petition. It was agreed that Ms Skelton would PS
circulate the link to members by e-mail. Mr McGrath apologised that
the petition was only available online and explained that this was
beyond Age UK Norfolk’s control.
Mr McGrath reported that he had been at Acle Day Support Club
when it launched on 20 January 2014, following the closure of
Herondale. The Club was based at Acle War Memorial Recreation
Centre and Social Club which had made great efforts to welcome staff
and service users, and was providing a very pleasant environment for
the new Club. The Chief Executive clarified that the Club offered a
day centre with specialist support although there were no bathing
facilities. Consideration was currently being given to transport
arrangements for service users and the Chief Executive undertook to HM
report back on this at the next NCoA meeting.
The Chair thanked Mr McGrath for his report and invited Cllr Whitaker
to say a few words.
Cllr Whitaker reported that NCC was considering an internal report
which recommended that the Council should subscribe to the Energy
Bill in order to improve the energy efficiency of people’s homes, as
well as consider how gas supplies could be extended within Norfolk.
Cllr Whitaker reported that the Council’s proposed budget would be
decided upon at a meeting of the Cabinet taking place on 17 February
2014. Cllr Whitaker reported that there had been three changes to
the proposed cuts. With regards to Adult Social Services, this
included a face-to-face re-assessment of people currently receiving a
Personal Budget, with any changes to their Personal Budget being
implemented next year.
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Impact assessments for the proposals had been undertaken and
could be accessed online in a document containing 147 pages, 14 of
which related to Adult Social Services proposals.
Cllr Whitaker reported that papers for Cabinet meetings were
available online. Also, Cabinet meetings were open to members of
the public and included a slot for written questions from the public.
The Chair thanked Cllr Whitaker for her report.
4.
Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership Board
4.1 Verbal Report from NCoA Representatives (David Button,
Chris Mowle and Carole Williams)
Mr Button reported that Mrs Hopwood had been re-elected as Chair of
the Norfolk Older People’s Strategic Partnership (NOPSP) Board and
Kate Money had been elected as Vice-Chair.
Mr Button reported that the last two NOPSP Board meetings had
focussed on dementia.
Mrs Copley reported that Age UK Norfolk was discussing with the
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) about helping staff,
particularly in food outlets, with how to support people/patients with
dementia.
Mrs Hopwood reported that there had been follow up meetings on
dementia issues and she had been asked to produce a draft strategy
on how progress could be made. This was considered at the Health
and Wellbeing Board meeting held on 08 January 2014. The report
had been accepted and was now going back to a strategy group to
consider and take forward. Mr Button thanked Mrs Hopwood for
preparing the strategy at short notice and it was agreed to circulate a PS
link to members to download the report from Age UK Norfolk’s
website.
4.2 Norfolk Bus Forum (NCoA 03/14)
The Chair reported that a report prepared by Mrs Williams had been
circulated prior to the meeting. The Chair asked that any queries be
addressed to Mrs Williams via Ms Skelton.
5.
Joint Health, Social Care and Voluntary Sector Strategic Forum
and the Health and Wellbeing Board – Joyce Hopwood, NCoA
Representative
5.1 Health and Wellbeing Board
Mrs Hopwood reported on the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting
held on 08 January 2014 and said two-way working between the
county and localities was important as well as a culture change. Also,
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co-production could be a useful way forward on dementia issues.
Breckland District Council had announced it was becoming a
dementia friendly council.
Mrs Hopwood reported that the five CCGs (Clinical Commissioning
Groups) in Norfolk were drawing up their five years plans by the end
of June. Included would be details of current achievements.
The Better Care Fund provided a substantial opportunity but
contained no new money.
CCGs were having to make cuts in acute care.
Mrs Hopwood reported that she had raised the discrepancy around
why some people with dementia received continuing care money and
others did not.
It was planned to consider palliative care issues at the March 2014
meeting.
5.2 Joint Health, Social Care and Voluntary Sector Strategic
Forum
Mrs Hopwood reported that concern had been raised about the
structure in mental health services being different to those in other
services. There was a suggestion that NCC revisit and update the
map of how commissioners engage with stakeholders and potentially
a joint map with the third sector could be developed.
Mrs Hopwood reported that the consultation on the proposed NCC
cuts was discussed and it was decided to make a joint response by
the voluntary sector after the end of the meeting.
Members
expressed concern about cuts to preventative services and the
potential knock-on costs to acute services.
A report on developments in West Norfolk had been provided where
good progress was being made on integrated working.
Mrs Hopwood reported that Harold Bodmer (Director of Community
Services, NCC) would be invited to the next meeting to provide an
update on Personal Budgets and the Commissioners for the
Transformation Fund would also be invited to give an update on work
to support sector changes.
6.
Presentation: Nikki Morris, Head of Clinical Services, Big C – Big
C Past, Present and Future
The Chair introduced Ms Morris who is Head of Clinical Services at
the local charity, the Big C and who had a background in specialist
oncology nursing.
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Ms Morris thanked the Chair for the invitation to talk about the Big C
and explained that she headed up the support and information
services of the charity.
Ms Morris explained the Big C had been started by two cancer
patients 34 years ago who had had to travel to London for treatment
and wanted to improve cancer services in Norfolk.
Ms Morris said that the name of the charity, the “Big C” reflected a
time when the word “cancer” was not mentioned or talked about.
A milestone for the charity had been in 2006 when the Big C opened,
in partnership with the NNUH, its new centre at the NNUH. The Big C
paid for the capital build and ongoing costs and provided the service
via a contract with the NNUH who paid staffing costs. The centre
offered:
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A drop in centre, refreshments and a listening ear.
Information.
Support services.
Complimentary therapies.
Welfare advice.
Ms Morris said that the complimentary therapies provided received
support from the Hospital’s Doctors.
Average statistics showed there were 800 drop in visits per month
and 300 to 400 booked appointments. 80% of people in the centre
were in treatment which was also used by carers of patients with
cancer.
The Big C had 10 shops in the county and some of those provided
access to services too. Services provided inside the shop were
indicated by different colour schemes on the outside of the shop.
The Big C Centres in Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn provided
similar services to the one at NNUH, as well as a shop.
Ms Morris said that the common non-medical queries received were
around welfare and benefit advice, and travel information.
Following a national Government initiative, the Big C had launched
Cancer Awareness Champions recently. The aim was to raise
awareness of cancer symptoms amongst the public in Norfolk and
Waveney and improve earlier diagnosis rates.
Ms Morris reported that future plans for the Big C included opening a
new shop and possible centre in Cromer, and developing information
and advice services.
Ms Morris responded to a number of queries and comments:
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Volunteers were always required and the Big C took care to
match each volunteer to a role that suited their experience and
skills. Volunteers who had experienced cancer themselves or
where a loved one had, needed to be able to handle their
volunteering role in a professional manner.
Increasing dementia awareness of staff and volunteers.
How to measure the success of a centre/hub.
Potential practical barriers and sensitivity issues for patients
recovered from cancer then returning to visit the Big C centres.
The Chair thanked Ms Morris for her presentation and wished the Big
C well in its future work. There was a round of applause.
7.
Any Other Business
7.1 Chair of Age UK Norfolk
The Chair reminded members that he would be stepping down as
Chair of Age UK Norfolk on 31 March 2014. He reported that an
election process had taken place by the Board of Trustees and
Jonathan Bolton had been elected to serve as Chair from 01 April
2014.
The Chair wished Mr Bolton well in his new role and Mr Bolton
thanked Dr Forster for his service as a Trustee and Chair over the last
five years.
The Chair thanked members for the support they provide to Age UK
Norfolk.
8.
Date of Next NCoA Meeting: At 10.30am on Wednesday 30 April
2014 in the Great House Training Centre, Age UK Norfolk, 300 St
Faith’s Road, Old Catton, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 7BJ.
There being no further business, the Chair closed the meeting at 12.10pm.
Signed ………………………………
Position ……………………………..
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Date ………………………………….
Circulation:
NCoA Members
NCoA Non-Members
Age UK Norfolk Website
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