Somerset Engagement and Advisory Group
The Somerset Engagement and Advisory Group met this week to hear more about Fit For My Future.
The Fit For My Future programme paused during the pandemic and has been going reasonably slowly since. With the work picking up, we need to think about where we go next. The group was asked the following questions. Is the strategy still right? Have we learnt anything in covid that we need to consider in a future strategy? We also wanted to ask, are we missing anything?
The pharmacy team also came along to ask for input on the role of pharmacies in providing help to communities. A Public Health Specialist came to discuss Somerset’s Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and welcomed the group’s views on minimum access criteria.
Learn more about Fit for My Future
Goodbye Emily
Yesterday, we said goodbye to Emily Taylor who has moved on to a new job in a hospital trust. Emily had been with Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group as Engagement Lead Officer for the last two and a half years.
We thank her for all she has done during her time with us. She will be missed but we wish her luck in the future.
Sam and Abi will be continuing to oversee our public engagement and can be reached by email using the link below.
ARK at Egwood
Acts of Random Kindness (ARK), is a land-based day facility at Egwood, near the village of Merriott in South Somerset. On 12 acres of land, it comprises animals, horticulture and communal buildings, and offers a range of activities, experiences and support services to improve health, wellbeing and opportunities for all.
ARK at Egwood were visited by NHS England’s South West Integrated Care Team during the summer to record a short film covering the personalised care and choices they offer people.
Young Listeners
Following on from the Healthwatch Somerset Young Listeners project, they are setting up a Young Readers Panel, to provide advice to health and social care services on how to communicate better with young people.
Their Young Readers will be able to review communications materials being prepared to promote and explain services for young people and suggest how to make these more accessible and appropriate for a younger audience.
If you would like to volunteer as a Healthwatch Somerset Young Reader, use the link below.
Lesuire Survey
Do you live in South Somerset? Freedom Leisure’s Active Communities Team are asking what activities you want in your community!
We want to hear your ideas so we can provide the best opportunities, at the right time, place and cost. Let’s make the community happen and improve lives through leisure.
Please click on the link below to complete the survey and you will be entered into a free prize draw to win a £25 Love to Shop voucher!
Click here to complete the survey
COVID Update
We have been responding to a large number of Covid-19 vaccination enquiries over the last few weeks. All of these are being logged, considered by the team and actioned appropriately, for example, used in informing our further communications.
We know people have a lot of questions and we are doing our best to answer them. We also know that many of our partner organisations are also receiving questions. Because of this we have recently updated our frequently asked questions on our Covid-19 vaccination web page.
Please click here to see our FAQs
Careers
Do you have experience working with unpaid carers, and do you understand their challenges? Are you passionate about empowering people to have their voices heard? If so, you could be part of an exciting new project.
Evolving Communities want to ensure that unpaid carers from across the county are listened to and heard by the people who buy, plan and run health and social care services in Somerset. They are looking for a dynamic, experienced Carers Engagement Project Officer to lead this exciting new project.
You will lead the project and recruit and support a group of unpaid carers to co-produce a new carer engagement service that aims to understand the current and future needs and concerns of the unpaid caring community in Somerset. It will be a varied and exciting job and no two days will be the same.
To find more information, download the application pack or contact the advertiser. Please click the link below.
Click here for more information
Next week
Do you have something that you want to feature in the next engagement bulletin? Get it to us at somccg.engagement@nhs.net by Monday at 5 pm and we will try to include your content in the next bulletin.
Important Dates for your Diary
The Engagement Team would like to share the details of important upcoming events for your diaries. Please be aware that given the current situation with coronavirus, this may be subject to change.
The Governing Body meetings will be virtual. You can register to attend using the link below. The next meetings are scheduled to take place on:
Thursday, 27th January 2022 at 9.30 am
Thursday, 31st March 2022 at 9.30 am
Thursday, 07th April 2022 at 9.30 am
The Primary Care Commissioning Committee meetings will be virtual. You can register to attend using the link below. The next meeting dates will be available shortly.
Public Questions can be submitted to the Committees in advance of their meetings. You can find out more about how to do this by clicking on the link below.
Please click here for Somerset CCG Governing Body papers
Please click here for Somerset Primary Care Commissioning papers