New dates for ASC restructure meetings confirmed

The employee consultation on the Adult Social Care redesign has been extended and will now end on the 31st May 2019.

Mid-point consultation meetings with staff are taking place next week (see timetable below). If you are part of this consultation there is no requirement to book a place, just turn up to the meeting that works best for you.

Mid-point meetings dates/times/locations:

• Tuesday 14th May - 10:00 People First Centre, Barrow
• Tuesday 14th May - 13:30 Stricklandgate House, Kendal
• Wednesday 15th – 10:00 Oval Centre, Workington
• Thursday 16th – 11:30 People First Centre, Carlisle

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback so far, your feedback on this consultation is really valued. 

+ The consultation documents, including FAQs, can be viewed on the Employee Information Website.

Jam sessions hit the high notes

Whinfell Office Skills Project (WOSP) have started flexing their musical muscles by taking part in jamming sessions with local charity Music Links. Music Links work with people of all ages, introducing them to new musical experiences.

WOSP are planning to take a group of service users to Kendal Calling later in the year and will take part in music sessions and perform in the jamming tent.

+ MORE INFO AMANDA.CLEASBY@CUMBRIA.GOV.UK

Dementia project kicks off

Life can be difficult for people with dementia and their carers, especially in remote rural areas and as the population ages, more and more people are affected by this.

In response a range of organisations and groups have come together to launch the Northern Fells Dementia Action Alliance. 

At the launch event in Caldbeck on 30 April, Ian Sherriff, a Member of the Prime Minister's Dementia Champion Group and Rural Dementia Friendly Group was the key note speaker, along with Val Ayre, Public Health Locality Manager. 

The local ukelele band entertained everybody whilst they enjoyed a cream tea and wandered around the information stalls.

+ MORE INFORMATION VAL.AYRE@CUMBRIA.GOV.UK

Best foot forward for Applethwaite line dancers

Last year Applethwaite Green was one of the first to take part in the Assistant Director workshadowing scheme and invited AD Cath Whalley to visit. Cath was impressed and encouraged the home to think about how they could open up the home to the local community.

Applethwaite has embraced the idea and among other things now hosts a weekly line dancing club, open to all. The sessions are well attended by the local community, visitors, staff and even one of Applethwaite's residents participates who was a keen line dancer previously. 

+ FANCY A SHUFFLE? Monday's 7pm-8.30pm.

Keswick and Solway ICC health action group launch

Do you care about your health & wellbeing and that of your family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues? Whether you are an interested person, a 3rd sector organisation, community organisation, statutory body or private business we’d love to see you.
Please come along, have a brew and let us have your thoughts about what health & wellbeing priorities we can tackle together in Keswick & Solway. There will be a 10 minute presentation and then you will have an opportunity to share your views and have your input.

• 1st session will be on Friday 10th May 2019 @ 3pm Senior Citizens drop-in centre, Heads Road, Keswick or
• 2nd session will be Thursday 23rd May 2019 @ 11am Wigton Methodist Church, High Street, Wigton, CA7 9PG
  

+ MORE INFORMATION

Invitation to attend UoC Social Work Conference

University of Cumbria is extending an invitation to social workers to attend its 2019 Social Work Conference on 17 May.  With the theme of "Social Work Synthesis: What can we learn from different  specialisms and sectors to improve practice?", speakers include Dr Andrew Turnell, University of Cumbria’s first Social Work Professor in Practice and Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Advisor to the Scottish Government.

+ BOOK YOUR PLACE 

Learning from Safeguarding Adult Reviews workshop dates confirmed

Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board (CSAB) are inviting staff from across the partnership to attend a half day workshop which will facilitate multi-disciplinary discussion and learning through the use of a case study. Workshops will be taking place on 18 and 28 June in Kendal and Workington.

+MORE INFORMATION 

Colin said:

It was a privilege to be able to shadow Charlie for the morning and to observe the way in which he deftly supported and challenged clients with very different patterns of need and potential for making changes in their lives. He obviously had developed a good relationship with them and was able to get them to identify themselves what needed to change and how they were going to go about doing it. Sometimes that took quite a bit of prompting to get people moving from the general to committing to specific action that could then be followed up or supported further in some way. Coaching like this is in many ways more difficult than just giving advice or doing something for someone, but it’s much more sustainable as it builds a genuine commitment to behaviour change in the longer term – and the HAWCs are really showing the benefit of this approach.

As for the tennis…unfortunately the client Charlie was meant to be meeting there cancelled at the last minute, but it was a good opportunity to see how the HAWCs are working with other organisations to build capacity and opportunities in the local community rather than relying on services that we provide – or indeed buy – as a Council. This is an important principle of supporting independence and reducing our costs and it was hugely positive to see how this was being used by lots of people who might otherwise struggle to access opportunities for physical activity and the associated social interaction.

I’m really grateful to Charlie for facilitating this time, and to the clients who were willing to let me sit in on their conversations.

Charlie said:

I feel the shadowing has been a valuable opportunity for Colin to meet some of our customers and observe the process of discussing and completing the shared agreement between a customer with complex needs and a Health and Wellbeing Coach. The shared agreement is a document that focuses on a strength based approach that explores customer aspirations and goal setting, begins to overcome barriers the customer faces as well as how they stay safe and well. It was really good to hear Colin’s reflection and observations on the interventions.

I also invited Colin to attend a newly formed group at Chatsworth Tennis Club promoting activity and social inclusion. This has been very popular with a wide range of people who have received coaching through HAWC, and were looking to increase their activity level and enjoy spending time with other people..  

We finished off with a game of tennis and although I would like to say, I let Colin win, he beat me fair and square.

Book your AD Workshadowing

Take the opportunity to invite an AD to visit you to see the work that you and your team do.

If you're keen to get involved but your AD's name isn't mentioned below or the times listed don't work for you, please get in touch and we'll look for an alternative.

See below dates, times and locations that are available:
• Dan Barton; 14th May - 09:00-12:00 - West 
• Lynn Berryman; 17th May - Afternoon - West & 13th June - 09:30-12:30 - South & 8th July - 11:00-16:00 - South
• Colin Cox; 11th June - 09:30-13:00 - South 
• Jo Atkinson; 7th June - 12:30-16:00 - South & 25th June - 13:00-17:00 - North

Remember, we will ask you for your reflections on the visit to include in People News (and don't forget to take some pics!)

+ TELL US WHICH AD YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE