Posted By: Pauline Maguire
Date Posted: 13/02/2008

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Older People Portfolio.

Developments for older people are still progressing through two main strands:
 POPPs – Partnerships for Older Peoples projects
 Initiatives linked to the Council’s strategy for older people

Both sets of initiatives are progressing well and I am hopeful that we will see positive outcomes for older people in the near future.

POPPs

The position on the individual elements of the project is as follows:

Project management
The focus of the work has been in ensuring that the team has worked effectively during the quarter to implement the Implementation Plan and to address the areas of work where remedial action was required from the previous quarter.  Regular weekly team co-ordination and planning meetings have taken place throughout the quarter as well as outreach meetings and a monthly full staff meeting with managers from the multi-agency team.  Also in attendance has been the cabinet member for older people, which has assisted communication between the project, the cabinet and the Townships.

Outreach work
Unfortunately during this quarter there have been two members of the outreach team on long term sick leave.  However despite this the team has been able to begin to address the discrepancy between the projected targets for outreach visits to older people reported at the end of last quarter and the actual number of outreach visits undertaken.  Although we are still under target we are working towards significantly reducing the shortfall.  During the quarter there has been targeted publicising of the service within the BME communities and in areas where the older people population is at is highest within the borough.  This work has generated an increase in requests for an outreach visit.

In each of the four townships the initial identified unmet needs are being highlighted and services are seeking to meet these needs.

TOPPs Development
The TOPPs groups in each of the 4 townships have a programme of dates for the coming year and are meeting on a regular basis to monitor the development of services and to address unmet needs within the township.  The Chairs and Vice Chairs of the TOPPs are meeting together on a regular basis to support each other, share knowledge, skills and co-ordinate shared needs and the learning gained.

The commissioning process for the development of services had been developed with the TOPPs members and approved by the POPPs Board.  The TOPPs members have been fully briefed on their role within the commissioning process and this process is now being implemented.  Commissioning has now begun in all TOPPs groups for their projects.

Volunteering
During this quarter the Volunteer Co-ordinator has been targeting community venues to advertise volunteering opportunities with the POPPs projects.  During the quarter the recruitment of volunteers has been very positive and targets projected within the Implementation Plan have been met.

Transport
Throughout the quarter there has continued to be a significant demand for transport support from POPPs members in order to access services across the borough, particularly in the Pennines Township which is a rural area.  During this quarter the background work to the set up of the Volunteer Driver Scheme has been significant.  During the next quarter this work will be implemented and a pilot scheme will commence.  Up to 1,000 people a week are using transport provided through POPPs and more volunteer drivers are being recruited.

Carers
A significant number of new carers and carers who were not previously registered or known to the Project have been visited and informed and linked into services and activities available to them.

The Carers Enterprise Development worker is working with a small number of carers within the project, who have shown some initial interest in setting up and developing a social enterprise to address some of the unmet needs identified within the project.

Targeted advertising of services for carers has been carried out in various parts of the borough, and an outreach surgery has been set up in one of the Townships (Heywood).

Initiatives linked to older peoples strategy

Pre Retirement seminars
The company who deliver pre retirement seminars on behalf of the Council have agreed to deliver a day long seminar for any residents of the borough wishing to attend.  Letters have been sent to local businesses asking them if they have any staff who may wish to attend the seminar.  As soon as sufficient responses have been received, a date will be set for the seminar and delegates invited.  The seminar will cover all the issues that the Council’s pre retirement seminar covers.  There will be no charge to the Council for the seminar and no cost will be passed on to delegates either.

Information booklet for older people
The information booklet for older people has been completed in draft form and copies are available in party rooms.  The document lists in alphabetical order information and services that might be of interest to older people.  This document is not meant to be read in its entirety but to be used as a source book for information as the need arises.  The document has been sent to the four pensioners associations in the borough and their comments sought.  Feedback so far has been extremely positive.  There is also a checking process in progress at the moment to ensure that phone numbers and websites quoted are accurate.  I hope to have the final version of this document published and circulated to older people within the next two months.

Older Persons Strategy Action Plan – update on leisure associated issues
The actions below show the continuing progress on older person’s leisure issues.

OBJECTIVE OUTPUT PROGRESS REPORT

SPORT AND LEISURE SERVICE
  
Initiate new marketing leaflet advertising primetime sessions. Increase availability of information.  Appropriate distribution of leaflet to older people
 Primetime sessions have been included in individual centre programmes.
Review and extend range of activities provided for older people. Enhance provision of suitable low impact activities to include,
• Swimming
• Aquafit
• Pilates
• Tai Chi
• Yoga
Activities provided in local and accessible venues. Middleton Healthy Living Initiative now offers six activity sessions per week.

Two new Pilates sessions at Littleborough Sports Centre.

Taster Bowls sessions held at Springhill Sports Centre in October 2007 & will be offered as a regular winter activity.

New fitness packages aimed at older people has been introduced and new leaflet should be available in December 2007.

New weekly dance activities have been introduced at Middleton Civic Centre.

 The securing of additional funding continues and develops the service. Joint bids submitted to Heywood Health Activity Development Programme to introduce supported Tai Chi session & chair-based exercise session in Heywood.

Support new prime time sessions throughout the borough. • Increased numbers of designated sessions available for older people.
• Introduction of activities in local and accessible community venues.
• Increased numbers of older people participating in physical exercise.
 Awaiting feedback from TOPP’s & POPP’s outreach teams on demand.

As above.

Annual customers profile surveys will be carried out in November 2007.
Extend the range of health promotional activities in partnership with other agencies. • Additional exercise referral sessions.
• Introduction of community based cardiac rehabilitation sessions.
• Introduce healthy lifestyle classes. Awaiting recruitment of two new Exercise Referral Officers to fill vacant posts.
Bid submitted to Heywood Health Activity Development Programme to fund new cardiac rehab session in Heywood.
New Healthy Lifestyle leaflet produced.

Monitoring the usage of older people accessing leisure facilities to ensure service planning reflects local demographics. Service Delivery Plans will establish service planning and delivery. Annual customer profile survey to be undertaken in November 2007.

Data available from National Active Peoples survey on participation rates for over 55s.

ARTS AND HERITAGE SERVICE
  
Extend range and number of courses provided for older learners at Touchstones and link to exhibition programme and collections. • Increase numbers of learners on courses.
• Increase visitors to exhibitions.
• Increase learning opportunities. Family History courses – Making sense of the census/BMD – It Grows on You/Where do we go from here.

Renewed programme of adult workshops.

Two archive film shows.

Widen marketing and promotion distribution by linking with other service providers. • Increased opportunities for mailing and distribution to target markets.
• Increased numbers of older learners on courses and attendance at exhibitions. Services promoted in target publication i.e. Seniors magazine.

Outreach talks to various groups.

Promoted the service via Tourist Information stands at exhibitions and Great Days Out (group market).

Extend the provision of reminiscence boxes. • Increased numbers of older people visiting centre in organised groups.
• Engage housebound in cultural activities.
• Engage older people in care homes and hospitals in cultural activities.
 Millscapes project –
Multi-media reminiscence resource recording people’s memories of mill working and the creation of reminiscence box.

Provided reminiscence material to care home.
Increase provision of Arts and Heritage projects suitable for older people. • Increase the numbers of older people engaged in Arts and Heritage projects. Produced Heritage Trail around Rochdale centre.

Arts on Prescription bid to Heywood NDC.

Councillor Pauline Maguire