Learning Disability Development Fund Family Carers Project

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project
Rose Barker Fon-Lai Wong
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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• In January 2006, the North Somerset Learning
  Disability Partnership Board supported a report
  that recommended the appointment of a Family
  Carers Worker.
• An application was made for LDDF money to pay for
  1 FTE family carer work, equipment and 0.5 FTE
  admin support.
• The original bid was for 40,500. The sub-group
  of the Partnership Board offered 18,000 and this
  was increased by the Board to 31,000.

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• The report recommended employing a social worker
  with the dedicated responsibility of engaging
  with family carers.
• Time scale for post
• April 06- March 07.
• Grade of post JG 7 (Salary Scale 23,952-26,187)

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• While recruitment took place agreement was
  reached that an agency worker (already working
  within the CTPLD and with past experience of
  Family carers work) be asked to cover the post
  for two days per week.
• This worker was Fon-Lai Wong
• Fon- Lai began work as the family carers worker
  for 2 days per week from 8/5/06.

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• Work undertaken by Fon-Lai
• First task was to develop a Data base of family
  carers for the CTPLD and information re national
  trends /events for carers. This has been
  achieved and is now held centrally by the admin
  team and is accessible to all social care staff
  by the use of the internal K Drive.
• NB this data base is a live tool and it is
  important that all social care/admin staff
  continue to input new data on to it.

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• Other areas undertaken by Fon-Lai include
• Established links with the NS Crossroads carers
  centre and the Development Officer (Disabled
  People). Fon-Lai raised the needs of carers of
  people with a learning disability with the
  groups.
• She liaised with and attended Learning
  Disabilities Partnership Board Carers subgroup.
  Fon-Lai raised the profile of the Community Team
  for People with Learning Disabilities.
• Information sent out to carers to raise the
  awareness of the existence of the carers LD sub
  group. Further development in these areas are
  needed.
• Completed 4 specific Carers Assessments.
• Arranged two mail shots to all family carers of
  people with learning disabilities re national and
  local carers events.

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• Other areas undertaken by Fon-Lai continued
• Contributed to North Somerset Learning Disability
  Website (www.ld4u.org.uk).
• Attended the Community Team professional
  clinical case discussion meetings to raise
  profile of carers.
• Used social care team meetings to raise the
  profile of Carers.
• Began to formulate approach to carers re
  developing carers support networks (this work
  curtailed by Fon-Lais appointment to a permanent
  social work post and therefore waits further
  redevelopment).
• Unfortunately despite two attempts at internal
  advertisement it has not been possible to fill
  the temporary post.

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Learning Disability Development Fund Family
Carers Project

• Conclusion
• The family carers post has not been covered since
  September 06.
• Fon-Lai as part of her social work duties has
  indicated she is willing to be the named social
  worker for specific interest work re carers, but
  her statutory role does not allow time for
  further development work.
• The Valuing Families Tool Kit (produced by the
  Valuing People Support Team) has many
  recommendations that it has not been possible for
  the family carers worker to cover in the short
  time she was available to the Team.
• A small start has been made but for further
  progress to be made it will be vital for a
  further identified worker to be recruited.