Minutes of DRC Service User Meetings

For confidentiality purposes names have been removed from these minutes.

Minutes of DRC Service User Meeting 7^th October 2009

Present:

7 Service Users, 1 member of the DRC Team and 1 member from(IMPACT) attended

Apologies:

Apologies were received from 1 staff member

Staffing:

One staff member is back at work on a phased return

One staff member is on medium term sick leave and is expected to return to work at the begining of November

One staff member is currently on sick leave

Trust Board Meeting:

To be held on 7^th October 2009 at St Andrews Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford from 13:00 until 17:00

Features presentations on Specialist Services including Drug and Alcohol by Sheralynne Verby and Flu Pandemic Update by peta Birch

All welcome to attend. Please confirm your intention to attend in advance by contacting Secretary to the Board, Penny Bolam on (01582) 708 959

Day Trip:

The next trip is planned for Friday 23^rd October to Cambridge

Coach leaves Bedford Bus Station at 09:45 arriving in Cambridge at 10:55

Coach leaves Cambridge at 15:10 arriving in Bedford at 16:20

Please bring a packed lunch or money to buy lunch out. You may also wish to bring some spending money

Trip 27^th to Cologne Christmas Market at Southbank Centre. More details to follow

No trip in December due to Christmas Party

Christmas Party

Service User would like Christmas Party on 16^th December 2009. To run from 12:00 until 14:00. Staff member to source musician and manager to be contacted regarding refreshments

Groups:

Relaxation Group: Thursday Relaxation Group to be facilitated by a Complimentary Therapist while the team member that usually facilitates the group is on sick leave

Sports Group: Currently running on Tuesday afternoons 13:30 until 15:00. Please speak to your Linkworker if you are interested in joining the Sports Group

Ladies Leisure: Currently running on Thursday mornings 10:15 until 12:30 at Oasis Pool, Bedford. Please speak to your Linkworker if you are interested in joining the Ladies Leisure Group

Anxiety Management: To run for eight weeks commencing 5^th November 2009 from 13:00 until 15:00. Please speak to your Linkworker if you interested in Joining the Anxiety Management Group

Art Group: Runs on Tuesdays 09:45 until 11:45 and Wednesdays 13:30 until 15:30. Currently run by Bedfordshire Spark adult learning. If you are on benefit course costs £10.00 or £1.00 per week

LGBT Forum

If you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or trangender Service User, Staff Member or Carer

If you have an interest in LGBT issues, would like to make mental health services more LGBT friendly for all LGBT people

if you would like to have more information and knowledge about the experience of LGBT people

Next Meeting 16^th 2009 from 11:00 until 13:00 at the Day Resource Centre

Posters on display

for further information contact your linkworker

Tea & Talk

To mark World Mental Health Day the Day Resource Centre will be holding a Tea & Talk fundraising event on Friday 9^th october 2009 from 10:30 until 11:30

The Day Resource Centre will provide refreshments i.e. tea, coffee, squash and cake. A donation of £1.50 per person is suggested to raise funds for the Mental Health Foundation. All welcome

Trust Transition News:

Discussed, leaflets distributed

Advised that South Essex Partnership Trust have been announced as the preferred bidder

The regulator has now come into BLPT and SEPT to satisfy themselves that by bringing both Trusts together the new Trust will be robust in relation to financial health and governance

One Servuce User said "The preferred bidder selection to take over BLPT was the least prefered by Service Users and Carers" and stated that "I have no confidence that Service Users and carers have been listened to."

Renaissance Café:

New furniture has now arrived and is in situ

Service users would like there to be a clock in the dining room

Café Re-launch on 25^th September 2009 was well attended

Caafé now open on Thursday evenings from 18:30 until 21;30

Menus will shortly be available offering discounted rates for Service Users

Well-Being Festival:

To take place 10^th - 15^th October 2009 at various locations

Posters and leaflets on display

Service Users complained that event not well publicesed outside of Day Resource Centre. Nothing noticed in local press

The Voice:

Leaflet on display

Greetings Cards:

There is currently a section of handmade greetings cards available at reception for sale. The cards are all made by a Service User. Special requests can be catered for upon request

Complimentary Therapies:

A qualified therapist is offering complementary Therapies to Service Users and Carers at the Day Resource Centre. Concessionary rates are available: 25 minutes £7.50 and 50 minutes £15.00. Please contact reception to arrange an appointment.

Swine Flu:

Clients advised that if they are suffering flu like symptoms not to enter the building, to go home stay warm and cantact their GP or NHS Direct. Discussed, posters on display

Carers Café:

Discussed,, leaflets handed out. Posters on display

Next Meeting:

Wednesday 4^th November 2009 at 11:30 in the Dining Room at the DRC