We can’t do everything for everyone and even if we did have seven arms it wouldn’t be enough. For everyone who is a parent, teacher or carer – you are doing an amazing job, you really are. Even if sometimes it may not feel like that to you.
For anyone who feels like they have to be octopus armed, we are only humans not magical super robots or an octopus. Be kind to yourself in terms of your expectations. Humour helps as does managing your boundaries – see Further reading below.
If we know others are struggling with juggling, we can ask how we can help or find a way to make their day a bit easier. We can be realistic in our requests of others, acknowledging what they are managing at the moment and reminding them that we can’t do everything for everyone.
NHS Education for Scotland has launched a new phase of the Coaching for Wellbeing service to continue the support for the health and social care colleagues during the pandemic, with an aim to have the service in place until March 2022.
We now offer one option of two hours for online coaching, designed to support staff with issues they may be facing during these challenging times. Experienced coaches will provide support in building resilience and improving well-being and where relevant, provide a space to explore how to lead and support others.
Please find attached more information on the updated flyer. I would really appreciate it if you could please circulate widely.
Alzheimer Society have recently published a new “Activities Handbook” aimed at supporting family and carers to support people living with dementia to remain active. The handbook can be viewed online or a copy ordered by post.
There will be three sessions taking place via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday the 20th of January 2021, Thursday 18th of February 2021 and Friday 12th of March 2021 all at 10 am. The sessions will conclude by 1pm at the latest.
Participants will engage in an interactive session exploring how to be the best Corporate Parents they can be. We will explore the current landscape and outcomes for Care Experienced people; what this journey can look and feel like; discuss a variety of Corporate Parenting plans, and how you can play a key part in realising Scotland’s ambition for young people:
That they all grow up loved, safe, and respected in order to realise their potential
To listen to the voice/s of Care Experienced people and what they need from your Corporate Parenting leadership Identify key areas to improve Corporate Parenting and collaboration with Care Experienced People
Discuss how you can implement The Promise within in your organisation
East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) has commissioned three third-sector organisations – Penumbra, Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) and We Are With You – to deliver a Community Links Worker service. The service will support all people accessing Primary Care services across East Lothian. Each organisation will be responsible for their own specified areas of the county.
Community Link Workers use a social-prescribing approach to working with people aged 18 and over. They support individuals to look at what matters of them, and help support them to connect with their local community resources in way that will help them reach their identified health and well-being goals. Individuals are able to seek help for a broad range of needs, for example, if they are feeling lonely, or having money worries.
GP practices and ELHSCP primary care staff will be able to refer people to this new service from early in 2021.
IJB Chair Councillor Fiona O’Donnell says:
‘It’s great to be able to launch our new Community Links Worker service, particularly now when concerns and worries stemming from the pandemic are affecting so many people.
‘The appointments were made on the back of a tendering process that involved consultation with patients, communities and practitioners, and also learnings from our previous extended pilot at four practices in East Lothian. We think we have come up with a service that takes account of what people have told us and will deliver high quality community-based services.
‘Penumbra and RVS already have a number of services operating in East Lothian. We Are With You has a proven track record of delivering a high quality Community Links Worker service in Glasgow and is already building its East Lothian networks.
‘I am very excited about what the Community Links Worker Service will be able to do for patients whose problems aren’t just medical – and that’s a lot of patients. I think Community Links Workers are going to make a real contribution to improving health and wellbeing in East Lothian.’
Dr Jo Smail, GP at Tranent Medical Centre adds:
‘Its wonderful news that all adults in East Lothian will have access to a Community Links Worker (CLW) from January 2021.
‘The expansion of the CLW programme was one of the aims of our local Primary Care Improvement Plan and it’s very exciting to see this coming to fruition. The CLWs will help people access community resources that will support them to live well. They will be an extremely valuable asset particularly as people continue to face the multiple challenges of living through a pandemic.
‘GP practices are looking forward to working closely with the three Provider organisations Penumbra, RVS and We Are With You as the new CLWs start supporting our communities.’
Want to apply?
Penumbra Community Links Worker recruitment is underway. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3pm8UZF
RVS Community Links Worker recruitment is underway. Find out more at https://bit.ly/35BcZkP
We Are With You Community Links Worker recruitment is underway. Find out more at https://bit.ly/35EJ9Ms
The Life Changes Trust are developing an online conference to take place on Thursday 26 November, from 10-12.30. This conference is specifically aimed at communities and their stakeholders within the Edinburgh and the Lothians health board area. We have already hosted others in Highlands, Grampian, Orkney, Western Isles and Ayrshire and Arran. This will be our first online.
We have a number of things taking place including presentations that have a ‘focus on local’ and what communities are doing to support people affected by dementia. A key part of the morning will be to hear back from the “storytelling sessions” we are hosting with the Glasgow Village Storytelling Centre on the 5th, 9th, 11th and 12th Nov with people with dementia, unpaid carers and those working with people affected dementia day to day in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The feedback will be summarised into key priorities for the area and it is this that will be presented and discussed as part of a Q&A at the conference. We plan to send the priorities out ahead of the conference to those signed up and can take questions in advance as well as on the day in the time we have allocated. A fuller report will be shared after the conference about the Storytelling sessions and what people have said.
Registration is now open and can be done here, using this link:
