The forum on the 17th December is from 4.00pm to 6.30pm at Southwark Resource Centre, 10 Brandenham Close, SE17 2QP. Book on our website here or email the Healthwatch Southwark team at: info@healthwatchsouthwark.co.uk or call
020 7358 7005.

Tell us your experiences
As usual we ask please for any recent experiences with health or social care services in Southwark, let us know! This helps us build our understanding on what is going on in our local services.
Best wishes,

Alvin Kinch & Sec-Chan Hoong

Local News

Get the best from your medicines
The ‘Get the best from your medicines’ campaign returns to Southwark. We are helping patients with long-term conditions to take their medicines in the right way. This leads to improved health and reduces the amount of medicines that are wasted.
Plenty of advice and support is available from community pharmacists in Southwark for patients who are unsure about their medicines. Read more.

Southwark Advice Plus project is temporarily moving
The project is moving to Leonard Cheshire Disability head office in Vauxhall. They are moving to a permanent location in Southwark in January 2014. For full details on our new location and drop-inn changes view here.
Southwark Advice Plus provides information, advice and access to help disabled adults live more independently in Southwark.
Read more.

Autism provision in Southwark for 18-25 year olds
Care Trade has been commissioned to look into current provisions within Southwark for young people (18-25) with an Autistic Spectrum Condition, including Asperger Syndrome (ASC). We hope to collate what is currently available within the borough and look at what may be needed in the future. Read more.

CoolTan Arts Shortlisted for Guardian Charity Awards
The Guardian released its 2013 shortlist and from 1300 original entrants, CoolTan have made the final stage. With its tagline, “Small charities, big impact”, The Guardian Charity Awards aims to recognize small to medium-sized social welfare charities that “delivers a clear benefit to people – adults or children – who are disadvantaged by poverty or disability. The winning charities will be announced on Tues 3 Dec.

Your National news and updates

Useful guides and information from Contact a Family
These Contact a Family guides are for GP practices and health professionals. There is also a poster which summarises issues relating to parent carer engagement with GP practices when visiting with their child with additional needs. The aim is to ensure that, when CCGS are commissioning services that the needs and experiences of  families are given all due consideration.
Read more.

Fuel Poverty: Integrated approaches to health, energy, social justice and climate change | Tues 10 Dec
This is a free event organised by LVSC’s Climate Change Leaders for a Low Carbon London project, chaired by Chris Church, Community Environment Associates . Fuel poverty is a major problem across London. Despite many positive projects a combination of rising prices and static incomes means that many more households will face this problem this winter. Read more.

Useful Breast Cancer Care December events
Breast Cancer Care are holding some small engagement events in December in London. One of the events is for Black women who have had treatment for primary breast cancer. They are also holding an event for healthcare and community professionals and people who work with women of Black origin.
Read more.

Workshop on FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) | Thurs 12 Dec

Come listen and gain a better understanding of a Global and Local issue that affects 66,000 women in England and Wales, 20,000 Girls up to the age of 15 years are at Risk. The workshop is designed not only to raise awareness of the subject but to help participants to recognise the need for. 2 works shops available: 12pm and 1.30-3.30pm. Book today.

Health and Social Care Reform and Govtoday are delighted to announce ‘Care for all’ | 19 March 2014
This is the 2nd National Social Care Conference set to examine how the reforms to the healthcare provision across the nation have affected the services delivered. It will examine the Care Bill presenting a forum for debate, bringing together those at the forefront of this agenda and those responsible for delivering high quality care to listen to the real concerns and issues. Book today.

Recent NICE published guidance

NICE approves treatment for hep C in its 300th technology appraisal
– read more

Judging whether public health interventions offer value for money
– read more

NHS urged to become smoke-free, says NICE – read more

Your local community events:

Forum for Equalities and Human Rights in Southwark and Southwark Disability and Mobility Forum | Tues 3 Dec
Invite you to a FREE event to celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities. The event will be opened by Councillor Catherine McDonald. Speakers and workshops from:
Southwark Disablement Association, Leonard Cheshire – on geting into work, Lambeth and Southwark Public Health – on mental health and wellbeing, Blackfriar’s Advice – on keeping warm and saving money. Read more.

CAS Members’ Day AGM | Wed 4 Dec
Register now for the CAS Members’ Day and AGM. We are delighted that Cllr Richard Livingstone (Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Community Safety) will be joining us. Richard will talk about the future relationship between Southwark Council and the voluntary and community sector. There will also be an update on Value the VCS Campaign. Any queries call 020 7358 7020. Book today

InDesign taster sessions | Tues 3 & Thurs 4 Dec
For people with mental health needs. This FREE 5 week course will cover: Getting to know InDesign | Working with Typography | Working with colours | Working with effects | Working with Images to produce eye catching posters, leaflets & flyers.
Venue: BLACKFRAIRS SETTLEMENT, SE1 0RB. The next course starts December 10th 2013. Read more.

Anchor Trust’s Christmas events | Fri 5 & Sun 7 Dec
Join us for a day of festive celebration as we switch on our Christmas tree lights – Thursday 5th December from 11am. Enjoy freshly baked mince pies, hot chocolate, tea and coffee. Take part in our decoration competition and activities.

Christmas Bazaar and Tombola – Come and join the residents and staff at Rose Court care home for their Christmas Bazaar and Tombola on 7th December. Take part in the tombola, look round the various stalls on display. Various items on sale including cakes knitted items, books, decorative items.
Read more.

Guy’s and ST Thomas’ Patient and Public Engagement Strategy | Wed 11 Dec

A final reminder that Southwark community organisations have been invited to this event. This will take place on the afternoon of the 11th December, and will help inform how the Trust engages with patients and the public in the future.
This event is for community organisations and it is being run in partnership with Healthwatch Southwark and Healthwatch Lambeth. Places are limited, please register here:

‘Building Our Network’ Public Forum Event | Tues 17 Dec
Come to our Health watch Southwark public Forum event and find out about our priority areas of work and what we have been up to since the launch in June.
The event will be from 4.00pm to 6.30pm and held at Southwark Resource Centre, 10 Brandenham Close, SE17 2QP. Book here today or email: info@casouthwark.co.uk or call 020 7358 7005.

Skills Training on Risk Management (Suicide Prevention) | Thurs 30 & Fri 31 Jan 2014  
STORM utilises the most effective, evidence-based methods in skills development training – role-rehearsal and videotaped role-rehearsal with cself-reflection and structured feedback. The skills learned through this method are specific to suicide prevention and are transferable to all practices.To register send your details to: claudia.craig@southwark.gov.uk