KJSA showcased at national conferences

Our innovative approach to presenting content via the new KJSA web site recently received a glowing endorsement by LARIA (Local Area Research and Intelligence Association). The KJSA was shortlisted for its annual Research Impact Awards in the category of ‘Most Engaging Presentation of Local Area Research’, with the winners announced at the LARIA annual conference on 23 May 2017. Although the KJSA didn’t win, the judges were impressed with our entry and gave it a rating of highly commended. You can read more about the LARIA awards here.

The LARIA conference also showcased our endeavours to develop a more asset-based KJSA. Kirklees Council and Gloucestershire Council co-facilitated a workshop on ‘Understanding Community Assets: Local initiatives and innovations’ which generated a lot of interest and a new online group (called ‘Understanding Community Assets’) on Knowledge Hub which anyone can join after registering.

In other news, the Public Health Intelligence team will be presenting an e-poster entitled ‘Online and redefined: Refreshing our approach to the JSNA’ at the Public Health England annual conference in September 2017.

All in all, this recognition suggests our new approach, with its focus on assets and the use of an online platform, is being well received.

Teenage pregnancy

Unintended teenage pregnancy can significantly impact, on teenage parents, their child and families in terms of equality, life chances and their health and wellbeing.

Understanding the issues and needs relating to teenage pregnancy is vital if we are to provide the support needed by young people. This can be explored in more detail in the Teenage Pregnancy section of the KJSA.  The section includes local and national data which identifies possible gaps or unmet needs in particular areas. Reviewing this data, will help services consider where they need to provide early, coordinated and continuing support to young people.

 

It’s Carers Week!

Carers Week is a UK-wide annual awareness campaign aiming to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for.   This year’s theme is Building Carer Friendly Communities.  Part of this is each of us simply, within our everyday lives, appreciating the pressures carers are under and trying to be a bit helpful and flexible where we can.

As it’s Carers Week we asked guest blogger Fatima Khan-Shah, Co-creator of the Carers Charter, Co-Founder of Investors in Carers and Lay Member of North Kirklees CCG to write a post about what being a carer means to her:

My career is devoted to ensuring that the patients, carers and the public voice is heard when commissioning decisions are being made. In order to do this effectively we as commissioners need to understand not only the statistics of our population but also the intelligence. In order to commission effectively it is crucial that we design by demand; particularly when resources are limited and we need to make every decision count.

As a Carer myself there is an expectation from society that we manage and make do on our own. However it is only now due evidence from projects like the KJSA that demonstrate the value and contribution that Carers make financially to the economy as well as the Health and Social system. As a working Carers I understand the stress of balancing my caring responsibilities, my career and my young family. I am not alone in that 1 in 6 people in Kirklees is a Carer; 10,000 of which provide more than 50 hours a week unpaid. This was the intelligence behind the project which resulted in the development of the Kirklees Carers Charter created to address the inequalities faced by Carers.

Fatima Khan-Shah Co-creator of the Carers Charter, Co-Founder of Investors in Carers and Lay Member of North Kirklees CCG.

So why not pledge to do something to support carers this Carers Week?

• Understand what a carer is (hopefully you’ve already done that by reading this!)
• Be flexible, especially if someone else can’t due to caring commitments
• Go along to an event in Kirklees celebrating carers
• Encourage someone you know who is a carer to ask for more info about what is there to help them.
• And for all you fashionistas, Carers Count and Carers Trust are running a ladies fashion evening.  Get Ex-High Street fashion at 50% or more off!  And the proceeds from ticket sales go to fundraising for Carers Count and Carers Trust!

A great place to start for information is Carers Count, who give information and advice to carers and can help with all sorts of things.  (They’re a charity which the Council contracts to support carers).  They might provide some help themselves, or might suggest other support such as attending a Looking after Me course or getting a Carers Assessment from Gateway to Care.  There’s quite a lot of support available for carers here: info and advice, courses, groups, and more…