Events and Training for Carers

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Moving People Safely

Monday 26 March 2012

To make this training available to as many carers as possible, we are repeating it throughout the day.

Morning session: 10am - 12noon

Afternoon session: 1 - 3pm

Evening session: 6.30-8.30pm

This two hour training session is for carers who want to learn safe techniques.

• What is manual handling?
• Managing or avoiding risks
• Supporting or helping someone:
  - in or out of a chair
  - in and out of and around in a wheelchair
  - to walk
  - in or out of bed or turning them
• Equipment –see what is available and try it out
• Shoulder Joint / Drag Lift
• What to do if someone has fallen or is falling
• Dealing with emergencies

Training will take place at Tolworth Hospital, Red Lion Road, Tolworth. Booking is necessary. For more information or to book a place on one of the above sessions, contact Kirstie on 020 8547 6124 or email kirstie.cochrane@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Looking After Your Back

Thursday 29 March 2012

To make this training available to as many carers as possible, we are repeating it throughout the day

Morning session: 10am - 12noon

Afternoon session: 1 - 3pm

Evening session: 6.30-8.30pm

This two hour training session is for any carer who wants to take care of their back - to learn about the things they should and should not do and what they can do to prevent problems.

• Back pain
• Back care generally and in the home (chores)
• Computer at home
• Think before you lift
• Safety in the home
• Exercise techniques
• Inanimate loads

Training will take place at Tolworth Hospital, Red Lion Road, Tolworth. Bookings necessary. For more information or to book a place on one  of the above sessions, contact Kirstie on 020 8547 6124 or email kirstie.cochrane@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Basic First Aid Training for Carers

For people who are looking after a friend or relative who cannot manage to live at home without their help.

Would you like to know what to do if someone

• is choking?
• has a heart problem or stroke?
• has epilepsy or diabetes?
• burns themselves?
• is unconscious?
• falls or breaks a bone?

Knowing what to do in the first few minutes when someone has an accident or becomes ill suddenly can save a life.

Managing and Coping with Stress

For carers to find out what stress is, how to recognise the signs and symptoms, and learn ways to help reduce or manage their stress.

A range of activities are arranged by Kingston Carers' Network and the programme of events for the end of August, through to October can be seen in the document below. Here are some examples of the sort of things arranged by Kingston Carers' Network.

Book Club for carers

Meets 10.30 - 11.30am, on the first Thursday of every month

Hairdressing for carers and the person they care for

A local hairdresser, who is also a carer, understands how difficult it can be to get or afford appointments. She also knows that many hairdressers and barbers are not accessible or suitable for some disabled people to use. Therefore, she provides her service for no charge on a monthly basis, but you neeed to book!

Counselling for Carers

Using final year students, Kingston Carers Network can arrange for carers to receive counselling

Holistic Therapies

A range of times throughout the week

Reduced rates for carers

Standing Commission on Carers fact-finding site visit to Kingston

This independent body provides expert advice to ministers across Government. In a fact finding exercise, they came to Kingston to find out about what we do, how we do it and what carers think about local services and support.

We have received a letter from Dame Philippa Russell who chairs the Standing Commission on carers, which gives a general overview to the findings from the site visits across the country. Please see a copy of the letter below.

Carers Week 2012

This year was deemed a great success by all that took part in the range of activities and events held in the borough during Carers' Week in June. Much of what we arranged this year was fairly typical of how we have celebrated in the past, Mental Health Carers' BBQ; the Young Carers' Party; the boat trip down the Thames; the sponsored walk to raise money for Kingston Carers' Network and the Information and Pampering Day.

However, this year saw two new additions to the programme: Managing and Coping with Stress session and the True Face of Carers Event, where carers met with our local MPs Zac Goldsmith and Ed Davey to hear about the coalition plans to support carers and for carers to ask questions about the things that are important to them. (See True Face of Carers document below for details of the messages for MPs to take away with them and questions asked by carers on the day.) Both carers and MPs felt the event was very effective and worthwhile, with the MPs going away having a greater understanding of the needs of carers to represent carers in a more informed and effective way in their role in Westminster. The MPs agreed that another meeting with carers would be welcome and in the meantime, carers are encouraged to come along to the Carers Forum to raise and address any concerns and suggestions for local and national improvements.

Carers' Week will take place in June next year and we welcome any thoughts or ideas about what we should do locally to celebrate.

Please contact Kirstie on 020 8547 6124 or email kirstie.cochrane@rbk.kingston.gov.uk