Can you believe you've got us to nearly 1900 signatures!?!!? Huge, massive achievement and well done to you all 😊
To celebrate that here's a photo of my little mum with her bestie at club, her ever gentle and kind friend Ann who always has my mum's back when she's been a bit too saucy 😁 Throughout the day, every day, they are on the phone to each other. Most of the time it's repeating the same things and every time they're either laughing and giggling or being kind and giving each other advice on how to keep going when living with dementia. Without fail every single conversation will include a countdown of when they'll be back at club together. That's what this petition is about. It's keeping the joy, the comfort, the heartfelt friendships made, the consistency of familiarity and to feel part of something special with these superbly run groups. Those smiles below their Easter bonnets express all and more of the above. Yet another reason to keep fighting for what is right, to keep happy faces like those being given what they deserve and nothing less 💙❤️
So on to the admin stuff. I got an email today from Kristy Thakur, the Head of the Community and People Wellbeing Team within Adult Services. The email I sent to all of the 18 councillors from the wards of the groups were apparently forwarded to her. I imagine Tony Kingsbury also had them forwarded to him considering his statement roll out yesterday. Both the Tony Kingsbury statement and the email I received from Kristy Thakur still fail to answer the three things I said we need. I have explained this in my email reply to Kristy Thakur, Melanie Barton and Tony Kingsbury. You can read my reply below. Let's hope we get some clarity soon 🤞💙❤️
Thank you for your response outlining the steps you have taken prior to awarding the contract.
From your response It seems that you must be unaware that at least 6 of the existing weekly dementia groups will not continue unaffected into the “co-production consultation” process. The 3 members of staff that run these have been told that their role is at risk of redundancy and that there is no suitable alternative role available. This is certainly the case of the group my mother and I attend.
I have indeed watched the video, attended a carer consultation on Zoom only to have the next one unceremoniously cancelled – presumably from the lack of a clear answer to the questions a number of carers asked, obvious flimflanning by Jenny Brace on current groups remaining open, and the need to seek further clarity on what Alzheimer’s Society have planned and just how much they were prepared to actually share with us.
We have been told that one of the four proposed local service managers, Annie Mitchell of Alzheimer’s Society, will be visiting all of the groups by the end of August – indeed is set to visit us next Wednesday.
I am genuinely extremely grateful that you have taken the time to provide such detail about the pre-award process, and the findings with regard to the areas where significant improvements are needed.
It would be fair to say that as a carer I experienced most, if not all, of the challenges you have outlined. Improvements in these areas are clearly long overdue.
However, if the excellent work being done at our groups is to continue it seems to be simple maths that there will be significant changes.
Existing funding has been maintained - but we all recognise that venue, activity and staff costs have all increased.
Service provision in areas other than existing groups needs to be improved.
Alzheimer’s Society have said that it is National policy to not charge anything for groups.
We currently contribute at least £5 for each client attending groups, with many carers also donating an addition £5.
I appreciate that having awarded the tender to Alzheimer’s Society you must have confidence that they are able to deliver against your expectations. However the “mobilisation period” you mention seems to have achieved little to date other than causing significant distress to literally hundreds of people living with dementia across the county.
Which brings me to my three original questions which sadly remain unanswered…
Hertfordshire County Council and the Alzheimer’s Society to be open and transparent about the shape of services to be provided under the new contract – something which has been refused to date.
Alzheimer’s Society to live up to their stated aim of a genuine co-production consultation, during which time existing staff will remain in position. Specifically, as they are to be made redundant on the 1st October, current Team Leaders who also run groups in addition to managing their locality workers.
Hertfordshire County Council and Alzheimer’s Society to take note of the outcome of the consultation process and to build on, not reduce, the effective contribution these groups make to our lives, health and wellbeing.
Myself and the many carers, that are just as concerned as me, will not rest until we have these important points addressed as the value of support both my mother and I receive along with all the other people living with dementia across the county through this service is immeasurable and on this all carers I have spoken with fully agree.
We believe there are significant planned reduction in this specific service as part of the broader overhaul of provision for dementia in the county. Well meaning and long outstanding though these improvements may be, a genuine “co-production process” should protect the incredibly valuable service that is delivered through these groups to some of the most vulnerable people in society.
Transparency and openness is what is needed now, not smoke & mirrors. I would be most grateful if you could address directly the point I have raised and encourage Alzheimer’s Society when they come to see our groups to bear this in mind – we deserve the truth about our future.