Sharing Practice Network

Shared Care Scotland facilitates a network of local authority and health board officers who have a strategic responsibility for the planning, commissioning and development of short break and respite services.  The Sharing Practice Network normally meets twice a year in conference but smaller task groups or learning sets meet throughout the year on specific project related work.  The network also communicates via an online discussion forum.

The full terms of reference for the group can be downloaded by clicking here.

Anyone interested in joining this network should contact Don Williamson at the Shared Care Scotland office or by email at: don.williamson@sharedcarescotland.com.

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Feedback from our last Sharing Practice Network event

Self-directed Support and Short Breaks - Exploring the implications for planning and commissioning

Date: Tuesday 23rd October 2012
Location: Marryat Hall, Dundee
Cost: The event is being hosted by Dundee City Council.  There is no cost to attend. 

Who are these events aimed at?

These events are aimed at those involved in the local planning, commissioning and coordination of short break (respite care) services within local authorities, health boards and their community planning partner organisations - across all care needs groups. 

What we discussed

On this occasion the main topic for the day was the development of self directed support and how it will impact on respite care services in the future, and how they are planned.  We heard from our hosts, Dundee City Council, about recent short break developments in the city and future plans, and from a range of service providers already exploring more flexible models of provision. 

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who came along (our largest network event so far) and to everyone who helped to faciltate a discussion group or run a workshop.  Thanks also to Laura, Margaret and Jack for leading us into to our discussions in the morning, to Dundee City Council for hosting this event and to the staff at the Caird Hall for their hopspitality. 

Click here for delegate feedback from this event.

Resources

Please find below links to various resources from the event:

• Agenda
• Short Breaks Directory - Early Bird Workshop - Ben Hall
• Self Directed Support & Short Breaks...What Lies Ahead? - Margaret Petherbridge
• Discussion notes - Are we ready for self directed short breaks?
• Rest Assured? Research Report website
• The Era of Open Innovation - Charles Leadbetter video

Weblinks to workshop hosts:

• Dundee Carers Centre Short Breaks
• Timebanking in Perth and Kinross
• Short Breaks Bureau leaflet Dumfries and Galloway
• Short Breaks Bureau Argyll and Bute
• Amina Muslim Women's Resource Centre
• Carr Gomm
• Barnardo's Dundee Family Support Team
• VOCAL Short Breaks Fund

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Previous Events

The last SPN event took place on the 10th November 2010 (not including our National Conference.)  See below for downloads from the day.

On this occasion you will have the opportunity to hear about a major new research report entitled, Short Break (Respite Care) Planning and Provision in Scotland.  The report presents the findings of research carried out between April and August 2010 to: improve knowledge and understanding of the landscape of respite care and short break provision for adults in Scotland; identify good practice in the planning, commissioning and design of respite care and short break services; and better understand the challenges and identify solutions to moving towards more flexible, personalised respite care and short break services for adults.

The research has been undertaken for us by Dr Brian Henderson of Reid Howie Associates, with the help of funding from the Scottish Government.  The report will be published towards the end of October.  All delegates will receive a copy of the report in advance of the day. 

As well as the author of the report, we also hope to be joined by Meg Lindsay OBE, the lead author of the ‘Patchwork Quilt’, a 1993 report which looked at respite provision at that time, and Moira Oliphant, Head of the Carers Policy Division at the Scottish Government.  Moira led on the development of the new Adult and Young Carers Strategies for Scotland which were published in July.

You will also have the opportunity to hear about alternative models of short breaks and, perhaps most importantly of all, catch up with colleagues from around the country.

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Click here for Programme

Click here for Reply Form

Click here for Brian Henderson slides - It's About Time

Click here for Meg Lindsay slides - Patchwork Quilt to About Time

Click here for Moira Oliphant slides - Carers Strategy

Link to Befriending Network Scotland here

Link to Nickirian Care here 

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 Renfrewshire on the 12th November 2009

The programme for the day included items on the latest national planning guidance on short breaks (respite care), progress towards the government’s target of an additional 10,000 weeks of respite provision by 2011, and an update on the development of a new National Carers Strategy for Scotland.  During the day we also explored alternative, creative approaches to short break provision with colleagues and invited speakers.

Contributors included:

• Gordon Paterson, Policy for Unpaid Carers, Scottish Government
• John Paterson, Head of Community Care, Renfrewshire Council
• Mike Stevenson, Director, Thinktastic
• Florence Burke, Director, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Scotland
• Anne Fernie, Scotland Development Officer, Shared Lives
• Emma Clarke, Director, Direct Short Breaks, KIDS

As with previous events, the day inluded a mixture of briefings, discussion, group work and an information & ideas exchange.

Click here to download the programme 

The previous Sharing Practice event took place in Stirling on Tuesday 11th November 2008. On this occasion the event was hosted by Stirling Council.  Topics for the event included: Achieving an outcome focused approach to the planning and commissioning of short break services; developing a Short Break Bureau & Managing Risk.