IN TH

ISED

ITION

Supporting vulnerable older people isyour top priority. For the fourth yearrunning that’s what you’ve told us

through our Listening Learning Changingcampaign.

It’s our top priority too and our biggest area ofspend. It accounted for £140m of our spendlast year - a staggering £383,000 a day andan increase of £8m over three years.

People are living longer and within the next15 years we expect people aged 65 or over to make up more than a quarter of thepopulation across the county, and in somecommunities more than 50 per cent. That’sgreat news, but the rising cost of care is oneof the big issues that we, like other councilsacross the country, are wrestling with.

More people are seeking social care support.Crucially, the number of people living withmore than one long-term health condition,like high blood pressure or diabetes, isgrowing rapidly. It’s estimated that around

26,000 Somerset residents are living with twoor more such conditions, an increase ofaround ten per cent over five years.

Helping people manage these conditions tolive active, independent lives is what socialcare and health services are here for, but itcomes at a financial cost. We know peoplewant to stay living independently in their owncommunities for as long as possible and onlyhave contact with care support when it’sreally needed. We also know that preventionis better than cure and that people recovermore quickly out of hospital and in their ownhomes.

All this means everyone has to thinkdifferently and more creatively about care -how it’s provided, who it’s provided by andwhere. We’ve started doing this in WestSomerset (see page 7) and we will beworking with communities in the near futureto take this work forward across the county.Continued on page 3

Winter 2016

MendipYourSomerset

HINKLEY POINT C - a big boost forSomerset’s economy see pages 4 & 5

Your priority, our priority

We spend £383,000 a day on supportingvulnerable people

Foster to Adoptpage 17

A day in the life of...pages 12&13

Child Sexual Exploitationpage 14

Stay well this winterpages 8&9

02 News

ForewordJohn OsmanLeader

To get in contact with Your Somerset or toadvertise in this publication, contact Lauren Fellingham on (01823) 359176, email yoursomerset@somerset.gov.uk or writeto us at Your Somerset, Somerset CountyCouncil, FREEPOST NAT 9109, County Hall,Taunton, TA1 4DY.

We gratefully acknowledge the support oforganisations that advertise in Your Somerset,but Somerset County Council can accept noresponsibility for the products or servicesadvertised. We advise readers to make theirown enquires before purchasing products orservices.

Pssst... Your Somerset costs 5p per copy to produce.

Through our Listening LearningChanging initiative, you’ve toldus once again that looking after

vulnerable adults is your top priority.As winter takes hold – a season that alwaysputs extra demands on health and social care– it’s a very timely reminder of just how vitalthese services are.

Our population is ageing and the figures speakfor themselves: we spend £383,000 a day tosupport vulnerable adults. That’s a figure thatreally brings home the cost of care.

Like councils across the country, our budgetshaven’t kept pace with social care demandand we’re looking at how we can do thingsdifferently. In the coming months and yearsyou’ll see a growing emphasis on preventingillness and encouraging and helping morecommunity-led support (page 3).

‘Investing in the economy’ and ‘attracting jobsand apprenticeships’, were next on yourpriority list - two areas we are keenly aware of.Prosperity pays for everything and we’recommitted to making sure that the HinkleyPoint development gives Somerset long-termeconomic benefits (page 4-5) and investing inthe county’s transport network to make sureit’s a place people want to come to dobusiness.

Thanks to everyone who gave their views. Youcan read the full Listening Learning Changingreport on our website atwww.somerset.gov.uk/listening

Editor’s Info

Buildingbusiness

New businesses and jobs are on the way forHighbridge next year with the expansion ofthe town’s Enterprise Centre.

Planning permission has been granted to addthree more light industrial units on the site, whichis already home to 14 businesses and 25 jobs.

Jointly funded by Somerset County Council andthe Heart of the South West Local EnterprisePartnership, the £490,000 expansion isscheduled to be completed by September 2017providing 234 square metres of new space.

Businesses with five staff or less are responsiblefor most economic growth in Somerset, andavailability of suitable space is a real barrier totheir start-up and expansion.

Highbridge is one of five Enterprise Centresacross the county providing light industrial andoffice space to meet those needs, particularly inmore rural areas.

Together with the others in Frome, Dulverton,Wheddon Cross and Minehead; the networksupports 45 businesses and more than 100 jobs.

By telephone0300 123 2224 Phone lines are open from 8am to 6pm,Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 4pmon Saturdays.

By postSomerset County Council, County Hall,Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4DY

By emailgeneralenquiries@somerset.gov.uk

Please phone the numbers below for the following services:

Fostering and Adoption enquiries0800 587 9900

Somerset Heritage Centre(01823) 278805

Somerset Road Safety (01823) 423430

Somerset Skills and Learning0330 332 7997

Somerset Waste Parnership(01823) 625700

Other useful numbersCitizens Advice Consumer ServiceHelpline 0345 404 0206

Street Lighting Faults0845 601 0939 (office hours) and 0845 795 9639 (for out of hours emergencies)

Student Finance Direct(Higher Education Students only)0845 607 7577

Wellington Community Office(01823) 667279

District CouncilsMendip District Council 0300 303 8588 Sedgemoor District Council0845 408 2540 South Somerset District Council(01935) 462462 Taunton Deane Borough Council(01823) 356356 West Somerset District Council (01643) 703704

Contact us

Secret Somerset winners revealed…

Congratulations to the four lucky winners of the SecretSomerset tourism competition, which appeared in thesummer edition of Your Somerset.

The winners:Victoria Hughes from WellingtonRussell Hide from BagleyMartyn Gould of SomertonMargaret Norvell from Wellington

Secret Somerset used local knowledge to highlightand promote some of the hidden gems and lesserknown places in our beautiful county. Readers wereasked to answer three questions based on 50 secretSomerset locations. To discover new places to visit,see www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/secrets

0300There’s now justone numberto phone for all SomersetCounty Council services.

News 03

Our population and its needsare changing. We need tochange the way care

is provided to reflect this andmake sure our services arefinancially sustainable in thelong-term.

Many relatively low level care needscan be best met without any needfor the Council to be involved. Andwhen we do get involved, our careshould be for a short period of timeand geared towards giving peoplethe skills or equipment to live wellwithout it.

It’s easy for a small amount of careto lead to a cycle of dependenceand need for more care. Regularsocialising, physical activity or asmall home adaptation, on the

other hand, can easily lead to independence regained for the long-term.

Increasingly, we will look toencourage and stimulate more of this kind of informal support andmake it easier for people to find and access it - support in thecommunity, by the community. Wehave been developing this approachin West Somerset and will be lookingto take this across the county in thecoming months.

Closer working between social careand health services will be key. Oneof the ways this is happening isthrough the Sustainability andTransformation Plan, which looks totransform the system over the nextfive years. You can find out morehere www.somerset.gov.uk/stp

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) isgearing up for the festive ‘internet

avalanche’ of cardboard and all theextra recycling and rubbish that makesits way onto kerbsides over Christmas.You can help keep services runningsmoothly by doing a few simple things:

Cardboard – one of the biggestChristmas issues. Once this section of therecycling truck is full, it must stop workand return to the depot to unload, evenwhen space remains for everything else.Please flatten boxes and cut up largesheets to make as much room aspossible.

Rubbish bins – make sure lids areclosed and don’t leave any wasteoutside your bin. Card and any otherexcess recycling orrefuse can eitherbe stored to add to your weeklycollection over the following fewweeks or taken to any recycling site.

Collections – All collections will be one day later during the post-Christmasfortnight, and there will be no gardenwaste services. But severe weather cancause delays. If snow or ice preventscollections, crews will make a return pick-up as soon as possible. So keep puttingyour containers out by 7am and checkthe SWP website for advice. Collectionsresume on their usual days from Monday9 January.

For more information about Christmascollection days andrecycling centre openinghours, visit www.somersetwaste.gov.uk.

PS: You can takeundecorated naturalChristmas trees torecycling sites forcomposting. Gardenwaste subscribers canput them out on theusual collection daybeside their bin or sacks.

Winter waste

Changing the careconversation

04 Hinkley

HINKLEY POINT C -

Six major joint ventures oflocal companies to provide

services, such as catering,transport and construction site

maintenance, have already been setup with the support of the SomersetChamber of Commerce.

It’s the largest engineering project in Europe, costing .

It is set to bring almost to the regional economy over its lifetime.

Our role is to make sure that Somerset seizes the opportunities that this projectpresents for the county’s economy, both during its construction and in the longer term.

Somerset and the wider economy

During construction it could generate over £200m per year for the local economythrough local contracts, salaries paid to local people, and the spending of workerscoming into the area.

Around 30 per cent of the workforce is expected to come from the local area.

The project will create 25,000 on-site job opportunities when underconstruction and another 900 direct jobs during its 60-year lifetime.

EDF Energy hasawarded a number of

contracts worth morethan £465m to businessesacross the South West,creating 650 jobs.

In the autumn the Hinkley Point C project, to build a nuclear powerstation in Somerset, was finally given the official go-ahead. This once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost jobs and economic prosperitywill generate thousands of training opportunities for local people.

More than 3,000businesses in Somerset

and the wider South Westhave already registered theirinterest on EDF Energy’s supplierdatabase.

Benefits for business

the future is bright for Somerset

£18bn£4bn

The project is investing £130m to support the local community in areas such astourism, health, leisure, infrastructure, training facilities, education and skillsprovision, and a community fund.

It will bring around £1.5bn to the regional economy during the construction phaseand £2.4bn when fully operational.

Hinkley 05

The stunning new Somerset EnergyInnovation Centre in Bridgwater wasofficially opened for business inFebruary. The centre is a hub for local businesses and investors in the growing low carbon and nuclearenergy sectors. It provides 2,400square metres of flexible office,meeting and informal networkingspace.

The multimillion pound state of the art centre was commissioned bySomerset County Council and hasbeen funded by Somerset CountyCouncil, Heart of the South WestLocal Enterprise Partnership, GrowthGroup, the European RegionalDevelopment Fund and EDF Energy.

Most importantly, the centre willprovide a huge boost to the localeconomy and lays the foundations for long-term sustainable growth,creating a lasting legacy of energyinfrastructure in the Heart of theSouth West.

Ben Powis, Director at SomersetEnergy Innovation Centre, said:

“The Somerset EnergyInnovation Centre has30,000 sq ft of highquality office space andis there to provide aplace where businesses

can collaborate andexploit opportunities in the low carbonand nuclear energy sectors.”

Somerset Larder Description: a coalition of South West caterersContract value: £50m Jobs created: 150Additional information: Over 30 local suppliers will support the six Somerset Larder partner businesses, resulting in anincrease in turnover

HOST of Somerset Description: provides temporary accommodationContract value: £150m Jobs created: 190, including landscaping staff, cleaning,catering, post, security, and maintenance

TCiDescription: providing furniture, fixings and equipmentContract value: £10m Jobs created: 6Additional information: 300% increase in turnover

Greenslades Ground MaintenanceDescription: MaintenanceContract value: £2m (interim contract)Jobs created: 4Additional information: 200% increase in turnover

Local businesses to profit

Education and trainingAs part of inspiring the next generation of workers,EDF Energy will help prepare young people to takeadvantage of the huge opportunities that theconstruction and operation of Hinkley Point C willbring. The organisation has committed to:

Taking on 1,000 apprentices.

Working with Job Centre Plus to match people to thethousands of job opportunities generated by the project.

Contributing £15m to education, skills and employment inSomerset.

Launching the UK’s first commercial degree apprenticeshipprogramme, taking on 15 to 20 young people every year.

As part of the early investment into the project, EDFEnergy has already:

Built the Construction Skills and Innovation Centre inCannington and opened the Cannington Court training centrein June 2015.

Invested £3m in Bridgwater College’s Energy Skills Centre.

College Principal, Mike Robbins said: “Today’sschoolchildren are tomorrow’s technical and professionalworkforce, and at Bridgwater and Taunton College they willfind superb facilities, experienced, industry-aware staff andan employer network that is second to none. Bridgwater andTaunton College is delighted to be at the forefront of trainingactivity, as work starts on the Government’s flagship NationalCollege for Nuclear at the College’s Cannington Centre.”

education

Somerset Energy Innovation Centre

As part of the planning process, around £100m was secured toaddress the impact of the development across a broad range oftopics, including:

• £16m Transport • £15m Skills and Training • £11m Accommodation / Housing • £20m Community Impact Mitigation • £6m Community Safety • £1m Landscape • £800k Flood Defence

30,000 sq ft of high qualityoffice space

Reducing the impact

£100m was secured

1

06 Working in care

Pr ud to care

What do careprofessionals do?Care workers help peoplewho may have an illness,disability or something thatmay affect their day-to-daylife. Carers support peoplewith their overall care,comfort and wellbeing. This can include anythingfrom personal care, forexample, washing, dressing and helping withmedication, to practicalsupport, such as cooking,shopping and lighthousework.

She cares! Lorna, Registered Care Manager at Candlelight Care “I left school with very few qualifications andno career expectations, but I knew I wanted aworthwhile career. I started my career in careas a support worker and after gaining somequalifications I was soon able to progress andclimb the ladder to become a Registered CareManager.

“Care is a great field to work inbecause it’s so rewarding toknow you are making adifference to someone’s life.And it opens doors to otheraspects of health andsocial care, such asoccupational therapy ornursing. The work can bechallenging though andrequires a particular set ofskills, some of which can belearnt, while others are

personal qualities. I never dreamt that I would go on to become aregistered manager supporting more than 80 clients and 25 staff.”

If you want to find out moreabout starting your career incare, visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk/care-careers

In Somerset, andnationally, there is a shortage of careprofessionals.

More are needed to

provide vital care to help

people stay independent

and well by caring for

them in their own home.

A career in care isrewarding, flexible andhugely satisfying. Whynot start your newcareer today?

Why care? Are you?

2345

Connecting with people – If you like people,there’s nothing better than care work. You getthe chance to work with people of all agesand backgrounds.

Supportive – Although care professionalsusually work on their own, you will be part ofa supportive network of carers.

Flexible working hours – Care professionalsgenerally work in a regular shift pattern withina set number of hours. You can manage yourshifts around your other commitments, suchas another job or childcare.

Career progression – You will receive all thetraining you need to be able to do your job.Most care companies encourage staff to gaina vocational qualification, and offeropportunities for career progression.

Variety – No two days are the same. The workis extremely varied but you will also see thesame clients and develop a bit of a routine.

You don’t necessarily need qualifications orprevious work experience. What’s reallyimportant is your values and attitude towardsworking with people who need care andsupport.

123456

A ‘people’ person – You must enjoy talking topeople, be friendly and approachable. Empathyand sympathy are also really important.

Respectful and professional – It is important torespect clients and their homes and help themin a way they are comfortable with.

Practical, positive, level-headed and flexible –You will see lots of different clients, so youneed to be flexible and be able to adapt tosituations. You need to be level-headed andable to remain calm.

Independent, but enjoy working in a team – Youwill mainly work with vulnerable people on yourown, but you will also be part of a team withlots support around you.

Patient with a good sense of humour – You arelikely to come across all sorts of situations. Youneed to approach your job with a smile and agood sense of humour helps too!

Mobile with your own transport – as you willneed to be able to travel between appointments.

Working in care 07

Compassionate nursing care in charming surroundings – at a realistic costBeauchamp House is a Care South Country House home, offering the highest quality nursing care for all levels of need, from short term respite to high dependency and palliative care.

Registered Charity No. 1014697

To request a brochure, arrange a visit or fi nd out more, contact

www.care-south.co.uk or call Beauchamp House on 01823 481500

Hatch Beauchamp | Taunton | TA3 6SG

CARE SOUTH IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF RESIDENTIAL AND HOME CARE ACROSS THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND

West Somerset social care services are part of aninnovative pilot to encourage people in communities to support each another.

The social care team has been working with communities in WestSomerset to look at what support services and groups are alreadyon offer, and what additional services local people really need. It’sall about working with the community to help the community.

The team has also set-up local monthly drop-ins where people canpop in for a chat and get information and advice. A social worker orvolunteer will work with them and their family to find out if a localgroup, service or even relative or neighbour can meet their needs.

Meet Michael & DougMichael was concerned about his 90-year-old father, Doug, andvisited the drop-in. He spoke to Hazel, a member of the AdultSocial Care team, about his father’s needs and what his mainconcerns were. Hazel suggested that he look into getting Doug anindependent carer and put him in touch with a local provider. Oncein place they could pop in several times a week to see him, takehim out and help him prepare meals and do his housework.

Michael also told Hazel how Doug had stopped going to church ashe couldn’t get there. Hazel contacted the minister who foundseveral people in the congregation who were happy to give him alift. She also arranged for a local village agent to go with him to alocal lunch club, which he really enjoyed. Michael explained howDoug was also struggling with his bin collections, and although hehad been trying to help out, he couldn’t always get there everyweek. Hazel arranged for an assisted collection to take place so hedoesn’t have to carry his bins out or rely on Michael.

So after a bit of advice and a couple of calls Doug can continue tobe independent, live at home and go to church.

Williton at Becket House on the first Tuesday of every month, from 10am to 1pm.Minehead at the Baptist Church on the first Friday of every

month, from 10am to 1pm.Nether Stowey at The Church Centre on the second Tuesday of

every month, from 1pm to 4pm.Watchet at The Santuary on the last Tuesday of every month,

from 10am to 1pm.The pilot is expected to be expanded to other areas in Somerset inthe near future.

Back to thecommunity

Then you could be an idealcandidate to become a

County Councillor. With theCounty Council electionstaking place in May 2017, this is your opportunity to get involved in public life as a member of Somerset County Council.

Councillors can help to resolvecommunity concerns by actingas a voice for their localcommunities and play a key rolein delivering services that affectthe lives of the residents ofSomerset.

You can either stand as acandidate for a particular party or as an independent.

If you’re thinking of standing for a political party, then youshould first get in touch withthat party’s organisation.

It is important that ourcouncillors represent thepopulation as a whole, and aredrawn from as wide a group ofpeople as possible. Differentbackgrounds and experiencesare needed and valued.

We are hosting two eveningevents in January for anyoneinterested in becoming a County Councillor.

So for more information, visitwww.somerset.gov.uk/electionsor phone (01823) 357628.

STAND for what you believe in

Passionateabout yourarea?

Hoping to shape the future of yourcommunity?

Looking to make adifference?

Areyou:

The drop-ins currently take place in:

08 Stay well this winter

Lots of people, for one reason oranother, will find a family member inhospital over the winter months. This

may be for a planned operation ortreatment, or for something that needs more urgent attention.

NHS hospitals are exceptionally busy at thistime of year. Older people, in particular, maydevelop difficulties as the colder seasonbrings bugs and viruses, and cold weathermakes it harder to stay fit and well.

Hospitals in Somerset work very hard to lookafter everyone who needs their care. But it’s abig help if families can plan ahead, and startthinking about the arrangements they mayneed to put in place to look after a relative,once they are medically fit to leave hospital.

This may be as simple as making sure thatmeals are organised, that someone is going to

be in the house overnight, or that help is onhand for washing and bathing.

For those who have finished their medicaltreatment but aren’t yet ready to go home,hospital staff work with social care and otherhealth professionals to make sure the rightcare is in place, whether that is a nursinghome or a community hospital. It really helpsif families can be actively involved in thoseconversations and the planning as early aspossible.

Older people, especially, make a betterrecovery outside hospital. All the medicalevidence shows that if they stay longer thanthey need to in hospital, they are likely to losestrength and may become less independent.

By families planning ahead it helps hospitalsto make sure that beds are always availablefor people who really need them.

‘Tis the season to be jolly… but being unwell atChristmas is no one’s idea of seasonal fun! So, as theChristmas period gets underway here are a few simplethings you can do to take care of yourself this winter andavoid giving those around you any unwanted presents!

On average, 330 peopledie due to the cold eachwinter in Somerset

If you need help over theholiday period when yourGP surgery or pharmacyis closed, phone NHS 111or visit www.nhs.ukVisit www.nhs.uk/staywellfor more information.

Coughs and colds – makesure you go and see your localpharmacist at the first sign of acough or cold for advice before itgets more serious.

Keep warm – seems simple,but may help prevent colds, fluor more serious healthconditions, such as heart attacks,strokes and pneumonia. Wearinglots of layered light clothing canreally help.

Get stocked up – make surethat you pick up prescriptionmedications before the Christmasholidays start as many GPs andpharmacies will close over theholidays. Also, speak to yourpharmacist about medicines youshould have in stock over winter.

Eat well and look afteryourself – with all the rushingaround over Christmas, andadded stress, make sure you eatwell. Food gives you energy,which helps to keep you warm.

So, try to have regular hot mealsand drinks throughout the day.

Get a flu jab – If you haven’thad your flu jab there is still timeto protect yourself and yourfamily. If you are eligible for a freeflu jab, get it now, it is freebecause you need it!

Hospital stays - planning ahead

Stay well

Stay well this winter 09

Please spare a thought for the thousands of people acrossSomerset facing the festive season alone. Small things can

make a big difference to someone living on their own, from asmile or hello in passing, to a quick chat, text or phone call.

Making an effort to build good relationships with your family, friends and people within your community can have a really positive affect onyour own wellbeing. But, on the other hand, being lonely can seriouslyincrease your risk of suffering mental and physical illness.

Loneliness can affect anyone at any time. For some, Christmas time,when families traditionally get together, can be particularly tough – soreach out to those around you.

If you’re lonely this Christmas there are people you can turn to. Phone The Silver Line on 0800 470 80 90 for a confidential and freechat. Lines are open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Or, you can phone the Age UK befriending service on (01823) 345610.

Check out the Somerset Choices website for more help and advice atwww.somersetchoices.org.uk

1 in 8 Somersethouseholds live in fuel poverty

Don’t leave anyone outin the cold this Christmas

1 in 6 olderpeople in

Somerset feelisolated

www.somersetcare.co.uk

Stockmoor LodgeSpecialist nursing and dementia care

Opening in spring 2017

Stockmoor Lodge is located in Stockmoor Village, Bridgwater.

To enquire, contact us on: 0800 9884 337

enquiries@somersetcare.co.uk

this winter

We need your help this winter

Last winter the SomersetCommunity Foundation

(SCF) helped nearly 400older people with their fuelbills through the SurvivingWinter Appeal. Thanks to the generosity of over300 donors who ‘recycled’ theirown Winter Fuel Payments,hundreds of Somerset’s olderpeople were helped to keep warmand access essential services,such as lunch clubs, mealservices and communitytransport.

Set up by the SCF in 2010 it hassince risen over half a millionpounds for the people ofSomerset.

How to donateYou can support the SurvivingWinter appeal by:• Phoning the SCF on 01749 344949.• Making a BACS bank transfer to CAF Bank, Sort Code: 40-52-40, Account Number 00090372 (please use reference 'Surviving Winter').• Donating online at www.somersetcf.org.uk/winter

The costs of running the SurvivingWinter appeal are met entirelyfrom your Gift Aid contributions,so you can be confident that yourdonation will reach those whoneed it the most.

For more information, phone01749 344949 or visitwww.somersetcf.org.uk

TAUNTON

Cromeytrowe

Galmington

A38

J25

Halcon

Priorswood

Holway

B3170

A39A39

A38

A372

Sydenham

Northfield

Newtown

Chilton Trinity

FROME

A362

A362

A3098

A361

LittleKeyford

SpringGardens

BerkleyDown

Keeping you on the move

A3090

MarstonGate

A38

Glastonbury

SheptonMallet

Frome

Taunton

Yeovil

Chard

Wellington

Dulverton

Bridgwater

Wells

Cheddar

Pre-Salting Network

Motorway/Trunk Road

County Boundary

Key

Minehead

A37

A361A39

A37A358

A303

A303

M5

A38 A37

A361

A361

A358

Hamp

BRIDGWATER

© Crown Copyright and database Right(2016). Ordnance Survey 100038382.

A Guide to SaltOnly 7g of salt is neededper square metre toprevent ice forming –that’s less than atablespoon. The saltused by SomersetHighways on the roads is covered in molasses.

This means that it sticks to the roadsurface better where it is needed andprotects vehicles against corrosion.

For more information about Somerset County Council’s winter maintenanceprogramme, including a searchable map showing all the roads treated,please visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk/gritting.

Keep up-to-date this winter with gritter twitter! If snow falls or itgets a bit icy, you can get live updates from our Highways teams byfollowing @somersetgritter on twitter. If you’re not on twitter, thenyou can still check the latest at www.travelsomerset.co.uk/gritting.

magine travelling in a straight line from Taunton to Vienna. Well that’s the distance our fleet of 23gritters cover in just two and a half hours every

time they salt our roads.

We have a fleet of 23 gritters and a stockpile of 7,000 tonnes of saltat depots across Somerset, ready to treat around 900 miles of roadevery time ice is expected.

What roads do we treat?We treat just over a fifth of Somerset’s roads, marked in red on themap. Our job is to keep the busiest routes clear whenever ice isexpected. We try and prioritise roads that link towns, villages andhospitals, communities on high ground and the important routesacross the county for long distance travel. The M5, A303 and A36 are looked after by the Highways Agency.

Why don’t we salt every road in Somerset?We can’t salt every road for several reasons. Firstly, it would meanhaving enough gritters, drivers and depot staff to organise sendingthe gritting fleet from Taunton to Alaska five times within that twoand half hour window. This would cost an astronomical £20m a year -£3m of that just on salt!

When do the gritters come out?We carry out gritting when road surface temperatures are predicted to drop below zero and frost or ice is expected. Precautionary saltingnormally takes place in the evening or early morning, but we willusually do more during extreme weather.

Rain can wash salt away and in very low temperatures salting maynot be enough to prevent freezing – so drivers are always advised totake extra caution in winter.

Getting aboutAlways take extra care in cold weather. Only the busiest roads aresalted and most are not. So plan ahead and drive carefully,particularly if frost has followed rain. Remember to:• Prepare your vehicle for winter• Allow extra time for your journey• Give gritter and snow ploughs plenty of room• Carry a shovel and blankets in your vehicle.

YEOVIL A359

A37

A30

A37

A30

Preston Plucknett

Summerlands

Hollands

Penn Mill

A3088

I

12 A day in the life...

A day in the life of… a Streetworks Co-ordinator

9.30am - I attend a meeting with a utility firmto discuss a scheme in Mendip. The firmneeds to replace equipment under the roadso there will be deep excavations lastingseveral weeks – a road closure is needed tokeep both workers and road users safe. Theutility firm want to start next month but itclashes with other roadworks in the area, so Iexplain that this is not possible at such shortnotice. We find a slot and I remind them thatit is their responsibility to inform the localcommunity.

11am - I get an update about the A39. Thecongestion is due to a water leak andtemporary traffic lights are in place while theutility firm fixes the problem. They aresupposed to notify us of emergency works,but sometimes this gets overlooked in anemergency. I phone the company and theysay that they’ll be finished by lunchtime. Weask them to manually control the lights tominimise disruption and I update@TravelSomerset.

Ever wondered who isresponsible for planningand co-ordinating all theroadworks in Somerset?

You might be surprised by how muchwork takes place every day to preventclashes and minimise disruption. Findout more about the daily life of aSomerset County Council Streetworks Co-ordinator…

9am - One of the Traffic Control team spotssome unusual congestion on the A39 nearShapwick. There are no accidents reportedand we can see from the Travel Somersetwebsite (www.travelsomerset.co.uk) that noroadworks are scheduled. I phone one of ourstreetworks inspectors and ask him to checkit out. Meanwhile, we tweet an update towarn the public through our@TravelSomerset Twitter account.

8.30am - My day begins at County Hall inTaunton in the Traffic Control Room. Wehave a wall full of TV screens linked to 60traffic cameras across the county so we cankeep an eye on Somerset’s 4,200 miles ofroad - this is staffed from 7am until 7pm. I start by looking through all the newroadworks applications – we receive around85 requests on a typical day. These cancome in from utility firms, such as water, gasand electricity companies, developers or ourown highways teams. Every newdevelopment requires access, power,heating, water, phones, broadband... And then we have maintenance, repairs,improvements... The list goes on!

Permission is required for everything from anew roundabout to a skip in the road, but wecannot stop roadworks taking place – allthese parties have a right to carry outroadworks. Our role is to work with them,ensure the correct processes are followed,co-ordinate the schemes to keep disruptionto a minimum, and make sure the work iscarried out to the correct standard to protectour highways for the future. As you canimagine, with more than 16,000 roadworksapproved last year this can be quite achallenge!

www.travelsomerset.co.uk

A day in the life... 13

12pm - Another letter about diversions…“lots of people are ignoring diversion signsand rat-running through my village. Dosomething to stop them!” This is the flip sideto the previous email. The bottom line is thatdiversions are advisory not compulsory. Ifthere is a traffic restriction in place, forexample a weight limit, then we will put upwarning signs, but we don’t have the powerto enforce traffic laws – only the police cando that.

1.30pm - I receive a request to dig up one of the main roads into Bridgwater forinvestigative work. This is denied as the road was recently resurfaced and a Section58 order has been placed on the road –meaning no routine works can take place for three years. The only exception to this is emergency works or new supplies.

2.30pm - I meet with our Sedgemoor AreaHighways team to discuss a scheme inBridgwater. They need to resurface the roadnext year and are trying to find the leastdisruptive time. The simplest and cheapestoption would be a daytime road closure – butthe road is classed as traffic sensitive, so thisis not acceptable. We consider workingnights, but there are homes nearby whowould not appreciate the noise. We agree tolook at working evenings and off peak hoursduring the school holidays (as there is aschool nearby). There’s never a ‘good’ timefor roadworks – but we always do our best tofind the least bad time wherever possible.

11.30am - Time to sort out some paperwork.Inevitably the Council receives a lot of lettersfrom people who are unhappy aboutroadworks – I can understand that.Disruptions are never welcome, but it’susually done to make sure that we all getuninterrupted supplies of water, gas orelectricity – or to keep our roads wellmaintained and safe.

One email is about diversions – “why are you forcing traffic to use a 20-mile diversionwhen only 500m of road is closed and thereare clearly shorter alternatives?” This is acommon question with a simple answer. By law we have to make sure the diversion is suitable for all traffic – so if an A road isclosed, the diversion must be on an A road.This stops lorries and other large vehiclesgetting stuck on unsuitable routes. We don’tforce traffic to use them - diversions are onlyadvisory. There is nothing to stop driversusing their own local knowledge andjudgement to seek their own alternatives.

4pm – I get a call from a gas firm about a suspected gas leak on the A372 inBridgwater. They need an emergency roadclosure for safety reasons while they dig upthe road and find out what the problem is.This will have a major impact on trafficparticularly during the rush hour. A quicklook on the Travel Somerset website showsa clash with surface dressing work on thenearby A361 – the obvious diversion route.I ring and ask if they can suspend worksASAP and fully open the A361 before 5pm.This will help but there will still besignificant disruption for commuters later. I flag this up with our Traffic Control Team.They update @TravelSomerset and passthe details to Inrix, who update local radio.They’ll also keep an eye on all the linkroads and make tweaks to traffic lights ifneeded to help keep traffic moving asmuch as possible.

5pm - That’s it for today. Each day our teamhelps to prevent huge amounts of disruption– and tomorrow we’ll do it all again.

!

Why are you forcing traffic touse a 20 mile diversion whenonly 500m of road is closedand there are clearly shorter

alternatives?

unplannedemergency worksdue to a leak

To find out more about current andfuture roadworks in Somerset, checkout our searchable map atwww.travelsomerset.co.uk. You canalso stay up-to-date with live travelincidents, including roadworks, byfollowing @TravelSomerset on Twitter.

CONTACT

14 CSE

Child SexualExploitation– know the signs

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) isthe sexual abuse of children andyoung people under 18 for moneyor power. The police, CountyCouncil, health services and all the organisations involved in childprotection are working together totackle CSE. But parents, family,friends and the public can alsoplay an important part.

The internet can be a funplace for children to explore;to learn, play games and chat

to friends. Butsocial media isincreasinglybecoming a routefor child sexualexploitation. Abuseonline through thesharing ofinappropriate textsand images canlead to meetings inperson and physical and sexual abuse. Smart phonesand tablets mean this can takeplace while your child is at home,even when you are in the sameroom.

In a recent survey of nearly 7,000pupils from Somerset schools, 28per cent of secondary school pupils

said they chat to peopleonline who they don’tknow in real life. That’snearly 2,000 children.But with over 110,000children and youngpeople in Somerset thetrue number could befar higher.

CSE happens in everypart of the country, includingSomerset. It happens in towns andvillages, and to boys and girls fromdifferent kinds of backgrounds, notjust those you might usually thinkof as being at risk.

What are your children doing online?

Staying safe online• Get online yourself, understand your child’s online habits and start that all important conversation with them• Set parental controls or change privacy settings. But remember, controls and filters are only one part of digital parenting

More informationwww.sscb.safeguardingsomerset.org.uk the SomersetSafeguarding Children’s Board has a range of information.

www.thinkuknow.co.uk developed by the National CrimeAgency to help children and young people to reduce the riskof online abuse. Also has information and advice for parentsand anyone working with children.

In Somerset, 20% of primary pupils

responded that they havereceived a chat message

that scared them or madethem upset.

Help your child understand:

• That personal details should never be s

hared

with anyone online they don’t know offli

ne

• What information is ‘personal’ - email address,

mobile number, school name, pictures of

themselves

• That they need to think carefully about

what

information and pictures they put on their

profiles• That it’s very easy

for people to pretend to be

something or someone they are not online

Make sure your child: • Sets their social networking profile to private so only their real friends can see their information• Never meets anyone they have only met online unless accompanied by an adult they know• Knows they can always talk to you or another trusted adult if they have any concerns

In Somerset, 27% ofYear 6 primary

pupils said that theyhave seen images orvideos online that

were for adults only.

Contact numbersIf you know or suspect a childis in immediate danger, youshould dial 999 straight away.

4

1

32

PCC 15

Your re-elected Policeand Crime CommissionerSue Mountstevens“I am delighted that you haveonce again chosen me as yourPolice and Crime Commissioner.I look forward to grasping theopportunities and facing thechallenges ahead. My focuscontinues to be keeping yousafe and feeling safe, ensuring I represent your views in mydecision making and remainyour voice in policing.

“Listening to local peopleremains a priority for me so it’simportant that I hear from you.I’m delighted that nearly 2,000people took part in my policingpriorities consultation over thesummer. The thoughts andfeedback we received has beenused to ensure that the issuesthat matter most to ourcommunities are reflected inthe new Police and Crime Plan for Avon and Somerset.”

PLAN FORPOLICING

NEW PRIORITIES…Sue will join police, local authorities, health and charitiesto raise awareness of domestic abuse, particularlycontrolling and coercive behaviour this winter. Visitwww.thisisnotanexcuse.org for more information.

Strengthen and improveyour local policing teams

– ensuring the police areaccessible and tackle the crime

that matter most to you.

Sue with the Rural Crime Teamgiving out signs to remind dogowners to keep their dogs undercontrol around livestock.

Ensure Avon and SomersetConstabulary has the right people, rightequipment and right culture – working withthe Chief Constable focusing on supporting therepresentative workforce programme, providingsuitable equipment and technology for officersand staff; developing leadership capability toembed a positive culture and to reform how

complaints are handled.

Sue and Andy having a demonstration of body worn video cameras.2,300 Body worn videos will be rolled out to police officers and PCSOs in 2017.

Work together effectively with other policeforces and key partner agencies to providebetter services to local people – working withother Constabulary and other public sector partners to:share estates and enabling services and make savings forreinvestment in priority areas; and transform the criminal

justice system locally into a criminal justice service.

Sue & Cllr John Osmanlaunching the child sexualexploitation campaign inTaunton.

Sue has launched her new Plan for policingfollowing feedback from residents,community groups and local partners.The new Police and Crime Plan for Avon andSomerset tells you what the police will beconcentrating on over the next four years.

COMING SOON - There will also be a local planfor Somerset visit www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk to find out more.

NEW

HELP FOR COMMUNITY GROUPSSue MountstevensYour Police & Crime Commissioner

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone.Look, listen, ask, ask again…thisisnotanexcuse.org

P lease join us to celebrate 25 years of…Love

BlameHumiliation

AbuseControl

F or now and always…

Protect the mostvulnerable from harm -acting as a fierce advocate forvictims and ensuring the most

vulnerable are protected.

Communities and voluntaryorganisations will once againbenefit from the Commissioner’sCommunity Action Fund totackle issues in their local area.

During Sue Mountstevens’ first-term she awarded £600,000 toover 180 projects, from skateparks to street pastors.

Sue said: “It’s a privilege to beable to continue to support such a

variety of projects and initiativeswhich are clearly making adifference on the ground.”

Local community groups areinvited to apply for grants of up to £3,000 to help initiatives, which support the PCC’s priorities.

Applications are welcome all year,visit www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk to find out more.

Hello

16 School term dates

School Term Dates

2017Term 3: 3 Jan - 10 Feb 2017Term 4: 20 Feb - 31 Mar 2017Term 5: 18 Apr - 26 May 2017Term 6: 5 Jun - 24 Jul 2017

2017/18Term 1: 4 Sept - 20 Oct 2017Term 2: 30 Oct - 21 Dec 2017Term 3: 8 Jan - 9 Feb 2018Term 4: 19 Feb - 23 Mar 2018Term 5: 9 Apr - 25 May 2018Term 6: 4 Jun - 24 Jul 2018

Please note: These are the termdates and holidays for communityand voluntary controlled schools.

Academies, free schools,foundation schools and voluntary-aided schools have the freedom to

set their own term dates.

NCS is a once in a lifetime opportunity for all 16-17 year olds.

In 2017 your teen can have the chance to develop new skills, take part in exciting activities, and learn how to make their mark on

their local community.

Secure their place today, visit NCSWEST.CO.UK, call 01278 722 100

@NCSWESTNCS WEST

POWERED BY

NCSYES @NCSYES

notice

ConsulatationSchool admissionsarrangementsThis is an important notice for allparent and carers with children agedbetween two and eighteen.

A six-week consultation about schooladmissions arrangements for allchildren who are due to start,transfer or move schools during the

2018-19 school year is starting mid-December.

This consultation applies to all voluntary controlled andcommunity schools, and those voluntary aided andfoundation schools and academies that have contracted the local authority to consult on their admission arrangementson their behalf.

This consultation allows parents, other schools, religiousauthorities and the local community to raise any concernsabout proposed admission arrangements. The closing date is31 January 2017.

For a copy of the admission arrangements and details of howto make comments, please phone (01823) 356146 or visitwww.somerset.gov.uk/admissions

2-18

Foster to Adopt 17

Fostering for Adoption is about placing children from birth to four-years-old with approved adopterswho have been temporarily approved as the child’s foster carer. It gives babies and young children incare greater stability in their early life. This means that more of the child’s early months or years will bespent with people committed to becoming their adoptive parents. While adoption is very likely, it is stillpossible the child may return to their birth family if this is the best option for them.

FosteringCould you consider caring for a baby or a young child where adoption is likely, but not certain?

If you’re interested in any of our Fostering or Adoption schemes, includingFostering for Adoption or Concurrent Planning, please phone 0800 587 9900 or visit www.fosteradoptsomerset.org.ukto enquire.

‘Like’ the Adoption inSomerset Facebook pageor follow @adoptsomerset on Twitter.

What are the benefits of Fostering for Adoption?

Fostering for Adopters

who go on to adopt

will have met the child’s

parents and have a

goodunderstanding

of theirbackgroundand why they are

not able

to care for the child

It speeds up theplanningfor the child’s life

If adoption becomes the plan, the child will have

bonded withtheir adoptive

parents very early on

They willsuffer lessupset and

loss frommoving several

times

Children will have

a more stableearly life

Suzie’s storySuzie, a 49-year-old single mum fromShepton Mallet, became Rosie’sadoptive mum earlier this year throughthe Fostering for Adoption initiative.

Initially Suzie’s reservationsabout Fostering for Adoption

put her offthe idea.Butwhenshe found

out aboutthree-year-old

Rosie and hercircumstances, Suzie

decided she would considerFostering for Adoption.

Suzie says: “With Rosie, the circumstances weredifferent. The things I felt I was looking for – a childwho was verbal and about whom there was quite a lotof information – came together. Rosie's social workerhad known her family for a long time. When this socialworker came to my house to speak to me and mysocial worker about Rosie, she talked for almost twohours, which brought Rosie alive. She sounded reallylikeable. Suddenly, Fostering for Adoption seemed theright thing to do.”

“I feel fantasticallylucky to have Rosie inmy life. She is happyand I am happy.”Fostering for Adoption seems a better option forchildren in care than a foster placement followed by an

adoption, as it reduces the number of huge changes achild will experience and allows them to achievepermanence earlier.

“Also, I found it helpful to know Rosie while the veryfrequent contact with her birth parents was takingplace, before the decision was made that she would beadopted. Those weeks gave me a glimpse into heroriginal world and made me really think about what shewas going through. I feel that I'm possibly better able tomeet her needs as an adopted child as a result.”

Read Suzie’s full and reflective account of herexperience of Fostering for Adoption atwww.fosteradoptsomerset.org.uk

You can find out more about Fostering forAdoption on our website atwww.fosteradoptsomerset.org.ukor phone 0800 587 9900.

for Adoption

Volunteer driver, Tony Berthon fromTaunton, shares the reasons why heloves his role and encourages morepeople to volunteer their time for thisworthwhile cause.

“I always felt comfortable and happydealing with all sorts of people ofdifferent ages and abilities. When Iheard about the Volunteer DrivingScheme I applied and have neverlooked back.

“I thoroughly enjoy it. I really enjoy meeting avariety of people, helping them get to importantappointments and giving something back to mylocal community.

“It can be very varied, including drivingdementia patients, dialysis patients and peoplewith many different medical conditions.

“You hear about their working lives and learn alot, like the engineer who helped construct theM5 and found a fossilised hippo family whileexcavating around Exeter.

“You have to be able to empathise witheveryone you transport and I never tire oflistening, which helps no end. Sometimes (notoften) you just listen for the whole journey.

“I would have no hesitation in recommendingthis very worthwhile voluntary ‘job’. If you enjoylistening and meeting people then do nothesitate, give it a go.”

The volunteer drivers scheme, run by SomersetCounty Council, provides transport for eligiblenon-emergency NHS patients and social careusers, ranging from the elderly to youngchildren. This includes trips to hospital formedical appointments, or transport to activityday centres.

Around 200 fantastic drivers across the countycurrently act as volunteers, but the ageingpopulation in Somerset means demand fortransport is growing and more volunteers arealways needed.

Anyone can be a volunteer – the only criteria isthat you must be over 18, have use of your own four-door vehicle, and hold a fullUK driving licence with no more than six points.

To find out about becoming a volunteerdriver and a whole range of othervolunteering opportunities, phone SomersetYou Can Do on (01278) 664180 or visitwww.somerset.gov.uk/volunteering

Why become a volunteerdriver?

“I would have no

hesitation in

recommending this

very worthwhile

voluntary ‘job’. ‘18 Volunteer drivers

Your mileageexpenses will bereimbursed at

up to 50p per mile

Domestic abuse can come in many differentforms and includes emotional, physical andsexual abuse. It impacts everyone aroundyou, including your family and friends andespecially your children. They watch, listenand learn from you every day.

It is also more commonthan you think. One in four women and one in six men will experience some form of domestic abuseat some point in their lives. If applied toSomerset’s population that would equate toaround 43,000 female and 23,000 malevictims.

If you’re worried about your own behaviourtowards your partner or family, or areexperiencing any form of domestic abuse, our Somerset Integrated Domestic AbuseService (SIDAS) can help.

Run in partnership with KnightstoneHousing and Barnardo's andcommissioned by Somerset CountyCouncil, the Somerset Integrated Domestic Abuse Service (SIDAS) supports men, women and childrenaffected by domestic abuse.

Don’t let your children think abusivebehaviour is normal. Contact us to take the first step to getting the help andsupport you need.

Visit www.stopthecycletoday.co.uk.Or for free confidential advice, phone 0800 69 49 99 or emailheretohelp@knightstone.co.uk

For more information about SIDAS, visit www.somersetsurvivors.org.uk

Look out for a newanimation, which showsthe damage the cycle ofdomestic abuse can do tofamilies and children. Take a look atwww.youtube.com/user/KnightstoneHousing

Stop the cycle of abuse

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