1. ADASS Spring Seminar 2015 Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Dementia Action Alliance “How developing a dementia friendly community contributes to improved quality of life” Vicky Rowley, Commissioning Manager Older People Commissioning Team, Staffordshire County Council

2. Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Dementia Action Alliance County Council signed up in January 2013 Staffordshire & SOT DAA has been in place since January 2014 We wanted to come together as a communities with a shared interest in order to make a difference for people with dementia Create links with our dementia strategies Find ways in which we could support communities to feel empowered & get involved

3. Outcomes we want to achieve Create awareness Reduce the stigma Encourage & empower community involvement &leadership Create county-wide and localised networks Create a community of dementia friends A couple of examples Hednesford Town – Dementia Friendly Parish and Town Councils Launch event Local children’s storybook Dementia Friendly Churches Diocese of Lichfield Churches involved across the Diocese Dementia friends sessions with congregation

4. How did we get started? Clear about the outcomes we wanted to achieve Leadership sign up – good support from directors and politicians Dedicated management time Support for regional DAA lead Staffordshire is very passionate about dementia and lots of people wishing to get involved Good network links across providers and commissioners Part of our commissioning intentions and team business plan Investing time in the beginning but trying to make it business as usual

5. What have been our key milestones? Identifying a lead officer Establishing a steering group Regular member updates/making plans DAA formal recognition process – use of the Dementia Friends symbol Creating our action plan Hosting dementia friends sessions Development of local alliances

6. Contact me Email: vicky.rowley@staffordshire.gov.ukvicky.rowley@staffordshire.gov.uk Landline: 01785 895123 Mobile: 07976 191 331