SNIPPETS

• The monthly CSIP e-bulletin gives lots of information about forthcoming events in the region and this can be found on this website www.westmidlands.csip.org  and then key ‘e-bulletin’ into the search box
  
  

• Action learning sets allow staff within the service to have protected peer-learning time with the support of a trained facilitator.  Learning sets are an important part of CSIP’s course for leaders in NHS service improvement, so several carers have first-hand experience of their benefits.  Sets often continue to meet for peer support. We have been invited to provide input to an ongoing learning set supporting the implementation of New Ways of Working and also the commissioning and management of out of sector placements and whole systems working.  It is possible that opportunities may arise for direct involvement of active carers so if you would like to know more please contact us

“Compact” is intended to ensure proper standards in public-voluntary sector relationships, including funding and contracts – how they should work most effectively together.  The Commission for the Compact is working with the Audit Commission, which monitors how public money is spent at local level, and the Charity Commission to include aspects of the Compact in Comprehensive Area Assessments. These are working agreements between private, public and voluntary sectors in local authority areas which will replace the current system for reviewing local government performance in 2009.  They will assess local strategic partnerships. There is talk of widening the BME code or encompassing other minority groups. There are established MH Compacts in some WM localities.  Compacts seek to involve representatives of service-users and carers and it would be helpful to know of carers who are already involved in a local Compact in order to facilitate the comparing of experiences and/or form a virtual discussion group.  If you would like to know more please contact us.

A Message to Psychiatrists from Carers
A group of carers from Coventry and Warwickshire got together a while back at the instigation of the Chair of the West Midlands Executive of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. They produced a short leaflet entitled ‘A Message to Psychiatrists from Carers’.  This leaflet was subsequently approved by the Royal College and can be found on the following web link:http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/college/divisions/westmidlands/usercarerlinks.aspx