Older Peoples Parliament Les Billingham Head of Adult Social Care and Community Development 27th June 2017

Older Peoples Parliament The partnership board is held quarterly and has been co-chaired by Les Billingham and Gerry Calder since 2013. The purpose of the board is: It gives people over the age of 50 the opportunity to ‘Speak up for their Age’ and take part in ongoing consultations. It is a chance to bring together people with lots of experience and knowledge to work together to bring about change and influence decisions. To make sure Older People have the same opportunities as everyone else and improve the quality of life for Older People in Thurrock. Find out about future plans, what is happening in the borough and nationally. The Board is central to our belief that co-producing key strategies and policy is crucial if we are to get it right. For example:

Older People’s Parliament have helped shape action to implement Thurrock’s Health and Wellbeing Board GOAL 1 – Opportunity for all GOAL 2 - A healthier environment GOAL 3 - Better emotional health and wellbeing GOAL 4 - Quality care, centred around the person GOAL 5 - Healthier for longer

A sample of key suggestions made by Older People’s Parliament and how they are reflected in our work Programmes are also being developed in partnership with local Higher Education providers to up skill local residents and improve the likelihood of securing higher skilled based employment. Also continuing to work with local employers to increase apprentice opportunities at all levels. There should be more focussed on skilled labour and opportunities to obtain vocational skills and qualifications Girls under pressure to be skinny and smoke to lose weight. They need to be taught self-worth, they do not have to be a standard size. Parents and schools require education on reducing smoking in Thurrock Schools have a duty to address healthy lifestyles with pupils, and our Providers are tasked with working in partnership with schools to enhance their core offer within the curriculum. In addition, our sexual health Provider offers programmes to educate girls and young women on self-esteem and body image. Schools do endeavour to engage parents and carers to help address such matters via home-school liaison, parents’ evenings, bespoke training events and such-like To provide a high quality GP service in Thurrock it will be important for Thurrock to reduce the proportion of locums across the authority area and recruit more doctors This is a national issue more pronounced in Thurrock but is being looked at through our workforce strategy with the aim to retain and up-skill existing workforce and recruit/attract clinicians from outside the borough

NOTHING ABOUT ME WITHOUT ME Thurrock Council Charter for Older People This Charter is a pledge of the values and standards Older People should expect from the Council and its partners. This Charter compliments the Building Positive Futures programme in which Housing, Adult Social Care and Health (alongside many other partners) are working together to find a local solution to enable older people to age well in Thurrock. The Charter recognises both the challenges faced by older people but also the contribution they make to Thurrock. As such this document pledges to improve the quality of life of Older People by undertaking to; Provide good information and advice Treat older people with dignity and respect Give older people a voice and an opportunity to shape services Give older people choice and control over the services they receive and where they receive them. Develop health and care solutions that can be accessed close to home Ensure that older people don’t suffer discrimination because of their age. Create communities where people who are diagnosed with dementia and their carers are nurtured, understood and supported. Focus on prevention to enable older people to stay healthy and live as independently as possible Work across service and professional boundaries to support and care for older people in a way that meets older people’s needs not ours. Support older people to be free from abuse and harm Build more hospitable, age friendly communities. Reduce social isolation and loneliness and help older people to enjoy life. Build high quality housing with the right neighbourhood facilities for older people. As regeneration takes place in Thurrock, ensure older people benefit equally from this.   We also commit to review and develop the Charter with Older People on a regular basis

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