Focused inspection of Children and Young People's Services this week

Colleagues in Children and Young People's Services are preparing for a short focused Ofsted inspection which is taking place this week (13-14 August).

All affected colleagues should have been briefed. Please contact your manager if you require more information.

+ VIEW BRIEFING EMAIL

Sign up for Tri.x procedure updates

Tri.x locates all national and local documents, policies, procedures and guidance in one place as a one stop shop.  

These procedures should be used as required by practitioners across all adult social care teams and services in Cumbria. If you work in Adult Social Care and haven’t yet done so, please sign up for updates using the link below.

+ SIGN UP FOR TRI.X PROCEDURE UPDATES

New posts soon to be advertised for new children's homes

We are investing in new residential homes for Children Looked After in Penrith and Kendal. The new homes will help to support our looked after children and young people by ensuring more are able to live in Cumbria, closer to their home communities. The Kendal project is due to be complete by December 2019 and the Penrith project is due to be complete by Spring 2020.

These projects provide exciting new recruitment opportunities in the Children Looked After Service. We are encouraging anyone who is enthusiastic about making a difference to the lives of young people of Cumbria to get in touch. Jobs in the new homes will be advertised soon, keep your eyes on the Cumbria County Council jobs web pages to find out more.

+ CCC JOBS PAGES

Cumbria Care's countywide recruitment drive continues 

The recruitment drive for roles in Domiciliary Care continues. These roles provide a brilliant opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable adults in Cumbria. Successful candidates will be welcomed into Cumbria Care’s Reablement and Domiciliary Service and provided with development opportunities, training and support within their new role.

Take a look at the Cumbria Care jobs pages to find out more.

+ WORKING FOR CUMBRIA CARE

DHSC send thanks for Shared Lives carers support 

The Department of Heath and Social Care (DHSC) recently wrote to our Shared Lives team to pass their thanks to Alex (carer) and Liam, pictured here. Alex and Liam took part in a photo shoot to support the DHSC's national recruitment campaign 'Every Day is Different'.

The campaign featured Alex and Liam on social media and their photographs were displayed at the Houses of Parliament. They have also agreed to be part of the second wave of the campaign later this year. The DHSC are using Alex and Liam's case study to encourage more people to share their story.

Alex gave the DHSC her views: "The campaign was a great opportunity for Liam and myself to show how Shared Lives has enriched our lives. It was a great honour to be asked to be part of the campaign. The photo shoot was fab and the photographer quickly put us at ease and soon had us laughing and enjoying every minute of it. Being a Shared Lives carer is a fabulously wonderful job. Opening up your home to young adults with a disability enables them to live an independent life as much as possible. I couldn't do that for Liam without Shared Lives, and for that we are both extremely grateful."

+ VIEW CCC SHARED LIVES FACEBOOK PAGE

Our Mental Health professionals present at International Conference

In July members of our Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) Team represented Cumbria County Council at the Ninth International Conference of Social Work in Health and Mental Health, which this year was held in the UK at York University.

The team (pictured here) delivered a presentation on AMHP good practice, research and experience. The presentation follows a piece of collaborative work between the team and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Their research is to be published as a journal article next year.

Follow the link below to view a copy of the presentation.

+ VIEW PRESENTATION

Would you like to become an Approved Mental Health Professional?

Training available for children and adults practitioners who would like to become an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP).

In conjunction with our AMHPs Team, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) will deliver the training to provide learners with the qualification to become an AMHP.

The training which starts in November, involves part-time attendance at university (in Cumbria) over a year, as well as a three month AMHP practice placement. You will require agreement from your line manager to begin the training.

For further information on the course or to find out how you can apply, please contact Becky Squires, Professional Practice Coordinator using the link below:

+ EMAIL BECKY SQUIRES

Cumbria Outdoors launches new Lake District activity breaks

Cumbria Outdoors are now offering the opportunity to book activity breaks where their team of experienced staff can guide you through a range of canoeing and trekking expeditions in the Lake District.

The team are also rolling out a new programme of discounted team development days for Cumbria County Council staff. Activity options include archery, fell walking, orienteering, ghyll scrambling and canoeing. Teams can go for the day or have an overnight stay. Their team of experienced staff can guide you through the booking, planning and delivery of your visit. Activities can also be adapted to any key themes that you may want to focus on e.g. communication, team work or delegation. Contact the team to find out more.

+ CUMBRIA OUTDOORS WEB PAGES.

Appreciation for support to revive vandalised gardens

Bankfields Garden in Workington is maintained by people with learning disabilities and enjoyed by the local community, schools and residential homes.

They have recently had a number of vandalism attacks while awaiting the judging of Cumbria in Bloom 2019. Following the attacks they have received donations and support from various people, schools and the community and would like pass on their thanks.

All at Bankfields Garden would like to say a big thank you to:

• The Community Nursing Team who raised £230.01 by holding a coffee morning and cake sale and all the businesses who kindly donated cakes and tray bakes from Cockermouth as follows:
• Veeva
• The Norham House
• Wild Zuccinis
• Julie’s Sandwich Shop
• West Lakes Academy – The student’s school garden group in Egremont who donated £20.00  
• Lakes College and Age Concern donation of bird boxes.
• The local dog walkers and local community that keep a watchful eye on the gardens in the evenings and over the weekends due to mindless vandalism, which they have experienced recently.

All the help and support is greatly valued. Staff at Bankfields Garden would like to encourage people to pay them a visit to see and enjoy the wonderful garden.

Cumbria Police launch new domestic abuse campaign

We are supporting a new Cumbria Police campaign to show domestic abuse (DA) the red card. These crimes impact many people across the county and we want to help bring an end to the suffering.

Cumbria Police are linking up with Carlisle United, the Cumberland FA and the wider Cumbria football community to send the message that DA is not to be tolerated. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the support available for victims. Picture shows representatives from Cumbria Constabulary, Carlisle United and the Cumberland Football Association.

As part of the campaign, Cumbria Police are running a competition with the Cumberland FA where amateur teams across the county are invited to post pictures (using the #UnitedAgainstAbuse hashtag) of their players wearing a red stripe on their face during matches/training – this is inspired by a campaign ran in Italy where footballers sported this mark to raise awareness of violence to women. The winners will win a kit which will be branded up with the campaign message.

+ FULL DETAILS ON THE CAMPAIGN

University of Cumbria social work conference

Next year's University of Cumbria annual social work conference will take place on Friday 22 May 2020.

The university's professor of practice Dr Andrew Turnell will be one of the speakers and the focus of the 2020 event will be on the wisdom and experience of practitioners and services users as the experts of services.

Further details will follow but the university are eager that practitioners at CCC are informed as soon as possible and save the date.

New independent organisation formed to help those affected by suicide in Cumbria

A new independent organisation has been created for Cumbria to extend and strengthen the support available to people who have been bereaved by suicide.

Suicide Bereavement Support (SBS) aims to support local people by using local resources whilst continuing to work in partnership with national colleague and local agencies. The organisation will cover Cumbria, south Scotland and north Lancashire.

Colin Cox, Director of Public Health at Cumbria County Council, said:
“I very much welcome the establishment of Suicide Bereavement Support. Cumbria has a higher rate of suicide than the national average, and every death by suicide has a huge impact on family, friends and the wider community. The volunteers are experts through personal experience and I know that as the group develops further they will continue to be an important part of the Cumbrian approach to preventing suicide and supporting those affected by it.”

+ SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Organ Donation Week 2019

This year’s Organ Donation Week is held between 2nd-8th September 2019. This national awareness week provides the opportunity to highlight the generosity of donors and the incredible impact that they have on transplant recipients. The week also helps the NHS to educate, inform and inspire people, to save and improve more lives.

In support of the week and to help in raising awareness buildings and landmarks are illuminated pink. If you see a building or landmark illuminated pink for Organ Donation Week, share a photo on social media to help us to raise awareness and get people talking about organ donation.

If you want to register as a donor or to find out more go to:

+ WWW.ORGANDONATION.NHS.UK

Famous faces to visit Carlisle for a fantastic programme of events

The Borderlines Book Festival returns to Carlisle from Thursday 26th September to Tuesday 8th October, 2019.

Events will take place across Carlisle, in the Crown & Mitre Hotel, Carlisle Library, Cakes and Ale Café, Tullie House Museum, the Tithe Barn, and Stanwix Arts Theatre. The festival welcomes well-known names like BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin, former Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron and author Razwan Ul-Haq.

Tickets to this brilliant event are now available and can be purchased online (see link below) or at Bookends Bookshop, Castle Street, Carlisle. For more information visit the website.

+ VISIT BORDERLINES BOOK FESTIVAL WEBSITE

Coaching Champion training - last chance to book

Spaces are nearly filled on this round of Coaching Champion training. Final places are available in Penrith and Workington; hurry to grab one of the last slots!

The council is seeking passionate employees, with or without experience of coaching skills, to develop as coaching champions. 

+ MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK

PAT Testing

The testing of electrical equipment, or Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), is important to ensure that the equipment that we use is safe and in good condition. That's why the Property Team are continuing to run a schedule of equipment testing across the county. When a PAT scheme is being carried out in your workplace, it is important that you bring in any electrical equipment you have. Please see below list of up and coming dates:

• West Cumbria House - 12th-16th August 2019
• Cumbria House - 9th-20th September 2019
• Parkhouse Building - 23rd September-4th October 2019

Please ensure that laptops and phones are fully charged before handing in chargers for testing.
If you are unable to attend then please advise your manager so they can arrange for you to attend another session or make arrangements for the equipment to be tested on your behalf.

Improving health and safety in the workplace

The roll out of staff Health and Safety events continues with the dates below. Pop along to any of the below events to help us improve Health and Safety in the workplace.

• County Hall, Kendal - 12th September 2019, 9am-12pm
• Bridge Mills, Kendal - 12th September 2019, 1pm-4pm
• Cumbria House, Carlisle - 25th September 2019, 9am-12pm
• Parkhouse, Carlisle - 25th September 2019, 1pm-4pm 

+ READ THE LATEST HEALTH AND SAFETY MESSAGE OF THE MONTH

Become a Workplace Health Advocate

Join the council's network of over 100 volunteer health advocates and support your colleagues to better health at work.

Upcoming training:

- Monday 16 September, 10am-4pm, Lady Gillford House, Carlisle

+ BOOK YOUR PLACE.

New round of work shadowing

Work shadowing gives the People Assistant Directors (ADs) an opportunity to see first-hand the great work that you do. It also provides you with an opportunity to share your insight directly with your AD, and get their views on the challenges that you and your team face.

The People Assistant Directors are;

• Fiona Musgrave, Assistant Director Integration & Partnerships
• Colin Cox, Director Public Health
• Cath Whalley, Assistant Director Adults
• Lynn Berryman, Assistant Director Children & Young People
• Dan Barton, Assistant Director Education & Skills
• Pam Duke, Assistant Director Provider Services
• Jo Atkinson, Assistant Director Strategic Commissioning

Let us know if you would like to invite any of the above to shadow you or your team. They can visit you for a couple of hours, half a day or you might want to invite them with you to attend a special event or meeting. Use the link below to share your invite with the Communications Team, please specify who you would like to invite and confirm your preferred date and time (if you have one).

+ INVITE YOUR AD TO SHADOW YOU OR YOUR TEAM