August - September Updates from the Public Engagement Network

Community Engagement Officer for the Public Engagement Network, Diane Lewis, attended a dementia group who meet in Hawkesley Community Centre, Birmingham.

She introduced PEN to the group’s attendees and listened to their lived experiences as carers of people living with dementia.

Diane explained how invaluable the group’s insights are in helping the CQC understand the services being received by people whose voices aren’t usually heard and how they can help improve them.

Thank you to all in the group who shared your views and experiences with us.

Kyrebrook Day Care Centre provides much-needed respite care for carers and families in Worcestershire.

Their clients are adults of all ages, particularly the elderly. Kyrebrook offer the opportunity for these people to remain in their own homes for longer, and keeps them in touch with their communities, encourages friendship and keeps them mentally alert and physically stronger and more flexible.

They also welcome younger adults with learning difficulties.

Community Engagement Officer for the Public Engagement Network, Diane Lewis, met with the Centre Manager to discuss some of the barriers to care facing the people the Centre supports.

We received valuable feedback into the experiences of care of those who use the service. Thank you to all at the centre for engaging with us and for sharing your insights with us.

Adhar are a Leicester-based charity open to all and with a particular focus on supporting the mental health of Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME) in the area.

Our Community Engagement Officer, Diane Lewis, was welcomed to an all-female wellbeing session in September, where she spoke to people about the care in their area. She heard about barriers to care they have experienced and about waiting times at GP surgeries.

Thank you to the Adhar Project and all who engaged with us there. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon.

Our Community Engagement Officer, Diane Lewis, met Age UK’s dementia group for carers in August, where she introduced the Public Engagement Network to its members and spoke of the importance of receiving the group’s feedback to inform CQC’s work.

She learned about the experiences of the carers who attend the group and gained an understanding of the care provision within the local community.

The group members also made recommendations for how care could be improved based on their own experiences.

We’re thankful to all at Age UK in Acocks Green, Birmingham, for engaging with us.

Alz's café meet fortnightly. It is a place where people with memory loss and their family and friends can be together in a safe welcoming environment. It aims to provide emotional support, reduce isolation, and gives the opportunity to socialise and have fun. The café is run by volunteers who raise funds themselves.

Diane Lewis, our Community Engagement Officer for the Midlands, joined the group in August at a large celebratory event they were hosting. She was able to chat with some of carers there and to gain insights into the health and social care they and the people they support have received.

Diane gained insight into the care experiences of people who had been recently diagnosed with Dementia and Alzheimer's. She found that many people experienced a lack of support during this time and that which was available came largely from the voluntary sector. She learned also of additional barriers to care from the group.

Thank you to Alz’s Café and to everyone there who kindly shared their experiences with Diane.

Quirky Kids is run by volunteers. They offer support groups and events for families who have children, young people and adults with a disability and/or autism.

Community Engagement Officer, Diane Lewis, attended a session they hosted one morning in August to speak with families about their experiences of health and care.

She heard from parents and carers about accessibility to GPs becoming increasingly more difficult, especially where there are additional digital barriers in appointment booking systems.

Thank you to all at Quirky Kids for taking the time to speak with us. We appreciate your feedback and insights into your experiences of health and care.