News
September 2024
3 September 2024
Planning
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner News
Queen Victoria Hospital News
Message from Jane Dickson Chief Nurse at Queen Victoria Hospital:-
I am really pleased to be able to share some excellent news today: our hospital has been ranked top in the country in the national inpatient survey.
The results of the latest Care Quality Commission Adult Inpatient Survey released today ( Wednesday 21 August) show that across the 49 questions our patients rated their experience of receiving care in our hospital as the best in the country.
Every single member of our staff and volunteers contributes to the positive experience patients have of our hospital. Thank you for your excellent clinical care. Thank you for your hard work behind the scenes. Thank you for every time you have stopped for somebody in the corridor, helped somebody in the line for coffee, or talked to a visitor in the carpark who’s looking for the right place to be.
In questions specifically about nurses, QVH came top in the country. Patients felt nurses answered questions in ways they could understand, included patients in conversations about their care, and patients felt there were enough nurses on duty to care for them.
QVH also came top in the country for the experience of leaving hospital. Patients felt they left hospital with the right information about how to care for themselves in the days ahead, and felt involved in decisions around leaving hospital. Patients also said that they knew what would happen next with their care after leaving QVH.
We improved in questions relating to the hospital overall and the ward or room a patient was staying in, in the confidence patients had in their nurses, and in how a patient was treated with dignity and respect when they stayed with us.
The Adult Inpatient Survey asks patients to rate their whole hospital journey from time on the waiting list before admission, through choice and quality of food, help with eating, wards quiet enough to sleep at night, being involved in decisions and given the right amount of information, being supported to leave hospital and go home safely.
Paralympian Fabienne Andre
Many of you may have met Fabienne Andre at the Mid Sussex Marathon or the Bluebell Railway accessible train carriage opening. Fabs is a Paralympian and while not from East Grinstead is a Sussex girl.
She will be competing in Paris for the parlympics starting next week – she is a wheelchair racer and she is in the T34 women’s final on Sunday 1st September (around 7.30 UK time) and the T34 800m women’s final Saturday 7th Sept (around 8.20pm).
Please cheer her on!
With best wishes
Julie Holden
Mid Sussex District Council Community Grants Programme
Mid Sussex District Council is delighted to announce the opening of the next round of applications for its Community Grants Programme. groups can apply for grants of up to £5,000, with the deadline for submissions set for 23rd September.
Councillor Anne-Marie Cooke, Interim Cabinet Member for Communities and Communications said: “Our District has many local organisations and charities that are all making a difference in our communities, and the programme is designed to celebrate and support these groups.
“We want to encourage groups to be creative in supporting sustainability goals and ensure that funding is actively benefiting our communities.”
Please see the full release below. For anything further, please get in touch.
Mid Sussex District Council opens applications for Community Grant applications
Mid Sussex District Council is delighted to announce the opening of the next round of applications for its Community Grants Programme. This initiative underscores the Council’s commitment to fostering a vibrant community by supporting local groups in the delivery of their projects and events. Eligible groups can apply for grants of up to £5,000, with the deadline for submissions set for 23rd September.
The Council has recently expanded the programme’s criteria to include pressing challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, poverty, and climate change. These updates reflect the Council’s dedication to promoting sustainable development and enhancing the well-being of residents across the district. Importantly, applicants will now need to demonstrate how their projects contribute to the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Councillor Anne-Marie Cooke, Interim Cabinet Member for Communities and Communications said: “Our District has many local organisations and charities that are all making a difference in our communities, and the programme is designed to celebrate and support these groups.
“We want to encourage groups to be creative in supporting sustainability goals and ensure that funding is actively benefiting our communities. I urge all local organisations to review the criteria and consider applying.”
Earlier this year, the grants panel approved 9 community grant applications, totalling over £35,000. These grants have supported a variety of impactful initiatives, including the establishment of a repair café for The Dudley House Trust, the procurement of musical instruments for Burgess Hill Marching Youth, and the facilitation of dementia-friendly film screenings for The Chequer Mead Arts & Community Trust.
Community groups interested in applying for a grant are encouraged to visit the Council’s website for more information and to review the updated criteria. Where possible, we advise groups to arrange a call with the communities team before submitting for a higher chance of success. For any questions, groups can contact the Council directly via email at communities@midsussex.gov.uk.
Gatcom News
West Sussex County Council News
GCSE results : congratulations to West Sussex Students
Students across West Sussex are celebrating today as they receive their eagerly anticipated GCSE results, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey. West Sussex County Council and partners are once again offering support to students opening their results.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills said: “Congratulations to everyone receiving results today, you should all be proud of your achievements. I would also like to highlight the work put in by West Sussex schools, teachers, parents and carers who have helped students fulfil their potential.
“Our careers team are on hand to provide support for you, whatever you choose to do next. There are plenty of opportunities available including further education, apprenticeships and other training, or employment, and support is available to help you fulfil your potential.”
Careers advice available
West Sussex County Council’s careers advisors are available to provide free, one-to-one advice.
It could be the grades you received weren’t what you were hoping for, or you’re wondering if further education, training or employment is the right route for you.
Chat with the careers team by calling 0330 222 7175 or emailing careersadvice@westsussex.gov.uk. You can also visit the careers guidance webpage for more information.
Supporting your wellbeing
Whether you’ve just had your GCSE grades today or you opened your A-Level results last week, if you’re feeling down, stressed or anxious after opening your grades you can find support, advice and plenty of useful resources to help you with your emotional wellbeing on the Your Mind Matters webpage. Mental health and wellbeing support is also available via NHS Sussex. Text SUSSEX to 85258 to access free, discreet and confidential support via your mobile phone.
A breakdown of all grades by region can be found on Ofqual’s website.
Ofsted praises West Sussex County Council for helping care leavers flourish
West Sussex County Council has been praised for its ‘substantially improved’ services that help young people leaving care to develop and flourish.
Ofsted said the council has created ‘a culture of excellent support’ for care leavers and that ‘leaders value them, their opinions matter to them and their work translates into meaningful change in how services are delivered.’
Inspectors visited the county council in July when they assessed arrangements for care leavers aged 18 to 25, including support into adulthood and for care leavers with specific needs.
Cllr Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and Skills, said: “I am incredibly proud of all of our staff who support care leavers. I’m delighted that their hard work and dedication, and the positive impact it has on young people’s lives, has been recognised by the Ofsted inspectors.
“Their findings are testament to the amazing work done every day by our teams to help care leavers fulfil their potential as they move into adulthood, and to continually improve the services we offer to those who need our support.”
Cllr Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council, added: “We have invested in people and infrastructure, including our Children and Young People services, to deliver the sustainable services our residents need as part of our council priorities.
“I’m pleased that the positive impact this has had on our services to support care leavers has been recognised by Ofsted.”
A letter to the county council from Ofsted, published today, says services for care leavers in West Sussex have substantially improved since a previous inspection in 2023. It adds that improvements have been made to help young people make the transition into adulthood safely and at their own pace.
The success of the West Sussex House Project, which provides young people leaving care with a safe home and supports them to live independently, was also highlighted.
Launched in January 2023, the project has already seen eight of the first 11 young people to take part now living in their own homes.
WATCH: Welcome to the West Sussex House Project video.
The council’s localised approach to housing support for care leavers was also hailed by Ofsted. This means that many young people can maintain local links and have access to local services, such as colleges, employment and training opportunities.
Ofsted inspectors did identify a need to reduce caseloads on personal advisors who work with care leavers. It also said the transition into the care leaver service for some young people is sometimes happening too late. However, it said the council recognises this and is actively recruiting to bring in additional staff to resolve these issues.
Read the letter in full on the Ofsted website.
West Sussex social work staff shortlisted for three prestigious national awards
Social work staff from West Sussex County Council have been shortlisted for prestigious national awards in recognition of their outstanding work and extraordinary practice.
Susan Banyard, a long-serving social worker for West Sussex County Council, has been shortlisted for the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Social Worker of the Year Awards.
Susan, who dedicated more than 30 years to working with children and young people, has been recognised for her passion, commitment and enthusiasm for social work. This includes her contribution to improving the wellbeing of children in foster care, as well as furthering the support provided to foster carers.
Susan has recently retired from her role as a social worker but continues to play an active role in the local fostering community through groups and supporting with training foster carers.
West Sussex County Council’s Children’s Mental and Emotional Health Team has also been shortlisted for the Children’s Services Team of the Year Award. This nomination is in recognition of the council’s pioneering approach to suicide prevention and the role played by the local authority and social care.
The third nomination, for the Supportive Social Work Employer Award, is in acknowledgement of the council’s work to support a cohort of overseas social workers who are new to the UK.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Learning and Skills, said: “I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work from all our staff working to help and support children and young people.
“I’m delighted that these efforts have been recognised by peers from across the country. They highlight not only the work of those nominated, but also the significant steps forward we have made on our continued journey of improvement.
“I wish all of our nominees the best of luck for the awards.”
The winners will be announced at a special event this November in London.
The finalists were chosen by panels of independent judges including previous award winners, social workers, industry leaders and people with lived experience of social work.
The Social Worker of the Year Awards is the only major national awards event for social work in England, attracting hundreds of entries every year.
County council plan to reduce emissions and increase climate resilience in West Sussex
The first phase of a six-year plan to become carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030 has been set out by West Sussex County Council.
A Climate Action and Adaptation Plan for 2024–2027 has been published which identifies 20 priority actions to be taken across the council and in partnership with key stakeholders in the county.The actions are broken down into six pathways focusing on issues such as buildings and energy, transport, and nature and environment. Key actions include:
- Continuing to decarbonise county council buildings, following the recently completed works on seven libraries, six fire stations, and a day centre
- Installing electric vehicle chargepoints at key depots to enable county council vehicles to switch to electric models
- Working closely with schools to help them address their most pressing sustainability challenges
- Working with partners to produce the West Sussex Local Nature Recovery Strategy
- Supporting the clean energy transition for the community through Local Area Energy Planning and solar PV group purchasing schemes
Cllr Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “Protecting the environment underpins everything we do and all the priorities in Our Council Plan. Through this plan and our Climate Change Strategy we have made a commitment to be carbon neutral and climate resilient in the county council’s own operations by 2030.
“We have already made significant progress, we’ve helped to install 2,500 solar systems in people’s homes, and generated almost 17 million kWh of renewable energy last year from our solar farms and solar panels installed on our buildings.
“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we will ever face so it’s important we do all we can to protect our environment. The significant changes we are now seeing in our climate are not only presenting difficulties for our communities, but also the work we do as a council to support them. It’s vital that we take steps now to address our carbon emissions and ensure we are ready to cope with the impacts of our changing climate.”
Read the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, find out more about how the county council is tackling climate change, and what you can do to help by visiting www.westsussex.gov.uk/ClimateAction
You can also sign up to receive a monthly environment and climate change eNewsletter.
West Sussex Secondary School places application process opens online
Applications for secondary school places in West Sussex for September 2025 are now open. The easiest way to apply is online via our website. The process is quick and simple to do, and you will receive an automatic confirmation when your application has been submitted.
Applications close on Tuesday 31 October 2024. It is vital applications are made on time for the best chance of being offered one of your preferred places.
Cllr Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills said: “Our priority is to ensure all young people have access to education which helps them to achieve their potential.
“To make the process as simple as possible all the information needed to make an application is available on our website. Additional support is available at our libraries across the county and there is the option to complete a paper version of the form if you don’t have access to the online application.
“I encourage parents and carers to look on school websites or contact schools directly to find out about open evenings for prospective students when considering preferences.”
Free use of computers with internet access is available in all West Sussex libraries. Parents and carers can visit and use them without booking. The library service also offers digital support, which includes help with filling in online forms, on 0330 222 3455.
If you are unable to apply online, please request a form through the post by calling 03330 142903.
Important information to consider when making an application:
- Parents and carers are strongly encouraged to apply for three schools and list them in order of preference
- Parents and carers need to select the catchment school as part of their application for it to be considered You can find out more about catchment areas on our website.
- Living in a school’s catchment area does not guarantee a child a place at that school
- If you do miss the deadline, you must still submit an application form, as a child will not automatically be allocated a school
West Sussex County Council staff are available to provide support and advice to parents/carers on the admissions process. Parents can telephone 03330 142 903 or email the admissions team north or email the admissions team south.
Primary and junior school applications for September 2025 will open on Monday 2 October 2024 and close on Monday 15 January 2024.
West Sussex Highways
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NALC News
NALC announces new website launch date – News
NALC gears up for 80th anniversary of VE-Day with county association officers – News
NALC and LGA launch joint online event on democracy in action – News
Chief executive’s bulletin
NALC and county associations fortnightly meeting
In this week’s online meeting between NALC and county association officers, we were pleased to be joined by pageantmaster Bruno Peek CVO OBE OPR who briefed us on next year’s commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VE-Day. This year, many local (parish and town) councils led commemorations for the D-Day anniversary, and councils are again being encouraging to organise similar events in 2025. The meeting also saw a further update on the new NALC website, in particular looking at the communications plan for its launch and how county associations can be part of that.
On the blog: Parish Domain Helper Service
This week’s blog, from the Parish Domain Helper Service team, informs local councils about the current funding status for moving to a .gov.uk domain. Currently, 50% of the available £100 +VAT funding per council has been claimed, with nearly 50 councils taking advantage of the offer. The funding is expected to be fully allocated by late February 2025, so councils are urged to act quickly to secure financial support. The blog post also highlights the ongoing support available, including workshops, virtual sessions, and educational resources, which will only be offered during this financial year. Councils are encouraged to register their interest promptly to access funding and support. Read the blog to find out more!
LGA event on handling online abuse
The Local Government Association (LGA) held an event on 23 July 2024 on handling online abuse and intimidation for newly elected councillors. The event provided practical advice on handling online harassment and stalking, cyber bullying and threats and being a responsible digital citizen. Although the event was aimed at principal authority councillors, I’m sure the guidance is also useful for local councillors. The presentations from the event are now available, do check them out.
National Allotment Week
Last week was National Allotment Week! National Allotment Week emphasizes the importance of allotments in communities as essential green spaces that benefit wildlife, enhance air quality, boost health, and help reduce carbon emissions. And it was great to see many local councils actively engaging with 2024 National Allotment Week. Hook Parish Council in Hampshire celebrated the week by encouraging local engagement with allotments and sharing gardening tips. In Essex, Buckhurst Hill Parish Council hosted an Open Day at their allotments, inviting residents to explore and learn about growing their own produce. And Weymouth Town Council in Dorset marked the occasion with the “Top of the Plots” awards, recognising outstanding local gardeners and fostering community spirit around allotment cultivation. These initiatives emphasise our councils’ role in tackling climate change and community wellbeing. If you also got involved this year, please do let us know what you did to policycomms@nalc.gov.uk.
Office for Place mini conference on urban design and placemaking
The Office for Place will be holding an online mini conference on 18 September from 10am-12pm. Called Places at Pace, the conference will look at how urban design and placemaking can contribute to economic and social outcomes, champion the benefits of raising place quality, and how the different organisations involved in the planning system can effectively work together to deliver better homes and places. Sessions at the event will cover good placemaking, the benefits of design codes, creating sustainable neighbourhoods, the opportunities of digital and data, and the role of the Office for Place and local government. This event is free to attend and open to all. Anyone interested in attending can register here.
And finally…
At the end of this month, we say goodbye to Steve Walker, our head of finance and administration, who is retiring. When Steve joined NALC at the end of the last century there were just five members of staff. This rapidly developed to meet the changing needs of the sector, and whilst numbers have varied, we currently have 21 based in London and across the country. Steve has travelled around the country and met many of you at events and conferences, considering many to be friends as well as colleagues. I understand his initial plan when he started was to put our financial records in order and move on after a couple of years, which seemed appropriate given at the time a government minister made a remark about abolishing local councils! Needless to say, we ensured this didn’t happen, and local councils remain an important part of communities and local government, outlasting Steve after all and well placed to outlast us all. I’m hugely grateful for Steve’s dedication, contribution and hard work over the years and wish him well for his next chapter
| Celebrating climate champions
Is your parish or town council a trailblazer in climate resilience? Does it demonstrate a deep understanding of climate change impacts and take proactive steps to mitigate, adapt, and build resilience for its community? If so, it’s time to shine a spotlight on their efforts! The Climate Response of the Year award honours parish or town councils that lead by example in climate action, showcasing long-term strategic thinking, robust community engagement, and effective partnerships. This award is a testament to local councils’ vital role in preparing and protecting their communities against climate change. To nominate someone, complete the nomination form available on our website. Along with the form, provide a concise 150-word supporting statement for each criterion, showcasing strategic planning, community engagement, preparedness measures and collaborative efforts. Anyone can submit a nomination, and council members or staff can nominate their council. Don’t miss this chance to honour the unsung heroes in your community. Nominate your council today, and let’s celebrate the champions of climate action! Nominate them for the Star Council Awards today! The deadline for nominations is 6 September 2024, so submit your nomination before then. Clear Councils Insurance, Blachere Illumination, CCLA, Cloudy IT, Facilitating the Future, Unity Trust Bank and Utility Aid sponsor the awards. |