Director's Welcome
Happy New Year and a very warm welcome to our latest East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership newsletter.
I hope you’ve all had a wonderful festive break and have had a chance to recharge your batteries and spend some quality time with friends and family. 2022 looks set to be an exciting year and I hope you’ll join me in looking forward to everything it holds in store.
In this issue we have some fantastic stories of achievement and teamwork, as well as praise for the kindness shown by our staff, who go above and beyond to make the people they work with feel valued and supported.
Queen's Nurse
In November we congratulated Community Learning Disability Charge Nurse, Zoe Lightbody, on being presented with the Queen’s Nurse Award from the Queen’s Nurse Institute Scotland. This prestigious accolade recognises care and dedication at its highest level and we couldn’t be prouder of Zoe for her incredible work.
Karaoke success
One of East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities’ local area groups also enjoyed success in November, when their karaoke group was awarded £1,000 prize money from Kilmarnock restaurant, Meat in the Middle. Definitely something to sing about!
November was also Mouth Cancer Action Month, during which our NHS Ayrshire & Arran Oral Health Improvement Team visited no less than 14 venues across Ayrshire and ran an advert on local radio to raise awareness of mouth cancer’s signs and symptoms.
Kindness
We received some wonderful feedback from service users on the kindness shown to them by our staff, including the hilarious NHS worker whose empathy and reassurance made a little boy’s vaccine appointment a fear free experience.
The determination and empathy of our staff was also perfectly demonstrated when our Kilmarnock District Nursing Service helped make a terminally ill young woman’s final days everything she wanted them to be, providing comfort and normality at an extremely difficult time.
All in all, we have an excellent selection of stories for you to enjoy this month – which I’m sure you’ll agree is a fantastic start to 2022.
Here’s to many more throughout the coming year, which I hope will be one of health and happiness for you and your family.
Craig McArthur
Director of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership
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Give us a name!
In our last issue we asked for your help in choosing a name for the newsletter. We received a great selection of suggestions - thank you to everyone who submitted one!
We've now created a shortlist of four possible newsletter titles and need you to tell us which one is your favourite. The winning title will be revealed next month.
So, which will it be...?
- CollEAgue
- East Ayrshire Messenger
- HEArt and Soul
- The TEA Break
East Ayrshire nurse receives Queen's award
The incredible work of an East Ayrshire nurse has been recognised with a prestigious accolade.
Community Learning Disability Charge Nurse, Zoe Lightbody, was one of eight learning disability specialist nurses to receive the award, which is presented in recognition of dedicated work in communities across Scotland
The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 24 November at Edinburgh’s Sheraton Grand Hotel and was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate learning disability nursing.
Zoe was understandably delighted at receiving such esteemed recognition:
“I still have the biggest smile on my face. The QNIS programme has been such an amazing experience and I feel so privileged to have had this opportunity.
“Our learning disability cohort will continue the journey throughout 2022 by completing a project on Criminal Justice & Learning Disabilities. I look forward to telling everyone more very soon.”
Congratulations to Zoe on her remarkable achievement – thoroughly deserved!
 To read more about the QNIS Award:
Local group are 'Mighty Cash Winners'
A local group for adults with learning disabilities has won £1,000 prize money from a Kilmarnock restaurant after entering their competition.
Established by East Ayrshire Vibrant Communities, The Karaoke Group runs every Wednesday in Kilmarnock with members often heading to local eatery, Meat in the Middle, to order their lunches.
Local Area Co-ordinator, Connie Wilson, told us more:
“We entered Meat in the Middle’s competition, ‘Mighty Cash Winner’, as we use the business frequently.
"The competition awarded customers who spent the most throughout the month of November, so due to our large group and frequent visits, our total was the highest out of all their customers.
"The funds will be put towards other local area co-ordinated groups, for people with learning disabilities across East Ayrshire, and for groups, trips and outings for LAC clients."
Something for everyone
"Myself and my colleague Leeanne Brown, the Local Area Co-ordinator for Kilmarnock and surrounding area, both create, run and facilitate all the groups across Kilmarnock on a weekly basis.
"The number of people attending various social groups each week is now well into the hundreds."
Congratulations to The Karaoke Group on this very ‘mighty’ win!
To find out more about the LAC service and the groups they run,
High praise for ICT care
Our Intermediate Care Team recently received some fantastic feedback on the dedication of its staff members and the quality of care they provided.
We’re delighted to share these kind words for everyone on the team and to see them receive the recognition they deserve:
"I could not have had more support...
“My mum was under the care of the ICT team just recently. I wanted to say how grateful I was for everything they have done, and indeed are still assisting me with, prior to her being transferred to her current home care service.
"She received care at an unbelievable level. Under the ICT umbrella, she has had help from carers, nurses, an OT, and a dietician. I was extremely grateful for all their assistance as I work full time and could not have coped otherwise.
"My mum has had adaptions fitted in record time, OT assessments, food supplements, nurses checking blood pressure and carers who have tried their utmost to get my mum to eat and bathe.
"I could not have had more support from the team and I just want them to know how much I appreciated it.
"These hardworking and dedicated staff need to know how their work affects not only the person being cared for, but the families trying to do the best for their loved ones.
"Obviously everyone deserves our thanks and I wish I could remember all their names but, after so many calls, I can remember Julie the OT and Sam the dietician who, as well as everyone else, listened to me and I felt they heard me.”
Congratulations to everyone on the ICT team!
We’re immensely proud of all your hard work and your continuing commitment to make life better for individuals and families across East Ayrshire.
Bitesize training for dementia
Microsoft Teams training sessions will shortly be available throughout March, April and May, for staff who have attended dementia training and would like to know more about specific topics.
These sessions are designed to provide increased knowledge and skills required by staff working in public, health, social care settings, private and voluntary sector, care homes, and in a person’s own home.
Mouth cancer action month
To highlight Mouth Cancer Action Month (MCAM) last November, the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Oral Health Improvement Team (OHI) visited 14 venues across Ayrshire and ran an advert on local radio to raise awareness.
During their visits, the OHI team handed out bags containing a checklist of mouth cancer signs and a disposable mouth mirror, allowing people to familiarise themselves with their own mouths and to look out for any changes.
A dentist would normally examine a patient’s teeth and the soft tissues of their mouth at their regular check-up appointments. However, Covid-19 has made this extremely difficult, meaning the OHI team’s visits were even more important.
The team visited 14 venues in total, including the new Barony Campus in Cumnock, leisure centres, supermarkets, hospitals, Dumfries House and Ayrshire Colleges, and hosted a word search competition at each one (with the six winners receiving an electric toothbrush as their prize). All attendees received goody bags, which was another great way to encourage everyone to engage with the team.
The event was hugely successful and the OHI team’s goal was achieved: to have more people talking about mouth cancer and knowing how to spot the signs.
If you’d like to learn more about mouth cancer:
Trauma training is a valuable opportunity to learn
Following the success of their trauma training course in May last year, local charity Break the Silence are delighted to announce further dates in 2022.
Focusing on the impact of trauma and disrupted attachment on children’s emotions, relationships and behaviour, the course is open to the public, offering a valuable learning opportunity to anyone interested.
The 2-day courses will be delivered in May and September by Dr. Karen Treisman MBE, a specialist clinical psychologist who has worked in the NHS and children’s services for several years. She has also worked cross-culturally in Africa and Asia, with groups ranging from former child soldiers to survivors of the Rwandan Genocide.
For course content, prices and booking
Kind NHS worker made vaccine appointment a breeze
Following her young son's flu vaccine appointment, a local mum recently contacted us to express her gratitude.
Amanda Stevenson visited the clinic in Auchinleck to accompany her son, Jax, as he received his flu vaccine.
"I was greeted by the most friendly, funny and kind man, Steven.
"He was amazing with Jax, playing games and making him laugh, making his experience in receiving the vaccine great and without issue.
"What a fantastic service, with kind and caring staff who made our visit an absolute pleasure.
"Thank you for taking the time to make Jax feel special, at ease and included."
Well done to health visitor Steven Beattie on going above and beyond for little Jax and thank you to Amanda for these lovely words!
Occupational therapy a great support for children and young people's wellbeing
Occupational therapy can support children and young people to learn, play and thrive; promoting their independence skills so they can reach their full potential.
Since June 2021, Jane Ritchie has worked with children, young people and their families as the Children and Young People's Occupational Therapist for NHS Ayrshire & Arran in East Ayrshire.
"Occupations for children include all the things they need and want to do on a daily basis, like getting dressed, eating, playing, and participating in nursery or school.
"The purpose of my role is to provide universal and targeted support for children and young people, focusing on their mental health and wellbeing needs from an occupational therapy perspective."
Jane is currently working with children and young people living in Sunnyside, Montgomery and Benrig children's houses, using sensory resources to support them with emotional and behavioural regulation skills, and has developed training materials for staff to give them further information on sensory processing.
She also visits primary schools within East Ayrshire, focusing mainly on children aged 4-5, and works with secondary school inclusion hubs.
To find out more about Jane's role, and how to contact the Children and Young People's Occupational Therapy Advice Line, see our
Online delirium awareness training for all health and social care staff
Delirium awareness training is now available for all health and social care staff. Participants will require access to a computer or laptop which is installed with Microsoft Teams.
Empathy of staff made all the difference in young woman’s final days
At East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, we believe in treating people as individuals, listening to and respecting their wishes and taking the time to get things right for them when it matters most.
We received the following story from Charge Nurse, Jennifer Welsh, involving a young mother admitted to the Kilmarnock District Nursing Service with a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
Although heartbreakingly sad, this young woman’s story is a testament to the compassion and care shown by our community nurses and a shining example of everything we stand for at EAHSCP.
Well done to everyone in Kilmarnock District Nursing Service for perfectly demonstrating what it means to put the person first, even assisting this young woman on her wedding day, and helping to make her last experiences of life exactly as she wanted them.
East Ayrshire hub aims to create ‘recovery culture’
Plans for a dedicated East Ayrshire Recovery Hub are gathering pace, says newly appointed service manager, Steph McCutcheon...
The hub will offer confidential support and advice for anyone struggling with substance use, and will be a collaboration of partner agencies within Kilmarnock and outlying areas.
“We are seeking to secure premises in the town centre of Kilmarnock, with direct links and pathways to local recovery resources.
"Support has been assured by many partner agencies such as NHS Ayrshire & Arran, East Ayrshire Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, We Are With You, Open Doors, Patchwork and Recovery Enterprises.
"I have also made links with organisations not directly linked to recovery but who offer vital services that people with substance problems find difficult to engage with, such as Housing and Financial Inclusion.”
Bringing recovery to rural East Ayrshire
The Hub also aims to encourage community groups in East Ayrshire’s more rural areas to raise awareness of substance use recovery and make it a more important part of their daily agenda.
Find out more about the Recovery Hub and its goals in our full length article.
Read more about the Recovery Hub in our full length article
Community spirit at Riverside Centre’s Christmas Fayre
The Riverside Centre’s Christmas Fayre was a huge success, thanks to the joint effort of service users, staff, carers and volunteers.
The event, which took place on Friday 3 December from 10,00am to 2.00pm, was held outside in the centre’s grounds, with items being sold from the windows of the building. To maximise safety amid Covd-19 concerns, staff organised one hour slots throughout, for ten visitors at a time.
A community effort
Day services manager, Eileen McBlain, was delighted at the turnout and said the fayre would not have been possible without the time, energy and generosity of everyone who helped out and attended.
The Riverside Centre is situated on Cumnock’s Ayr Road and provides day care to adults with learning disabilities.
Farewell Senga!
Our friend and colleague Senga McCulloch is retiring from East Ayrshire Council on Friday 28 January, after over 20 years of service.
Senga is well known within the Council, and over the years she has worked within elderly care and with adults with learning disabilities.
For the last few years Senga has managed Cumnock’s Riverside Centre’s Day Service and, to quote one of their carers, “she has left a great legacy”.
All staff at the centre have this message for Senga as she leaves to enjoy her well earned retirement:
"We would like to wish Senga all the best for her retirement and would like to thank her for all her support."
Everyone here at East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership would also like to take the opportunity to wish Senga a happy, healthy retirement and to thank her for all her hard work and dedication.
Worry worms bring comfort and reassurance to anxious children
The use of ‘worry worms’ has proved successful in supporting small children to deal with stress and anxiety.
The small knitted worms are given out during interventions with our School Nursing Service and have so far helped reduce feelings of anxiety experienced by some children as a result of the pandemic. They are small enough for children to keep in their pocket, and so can also be used as fidget toys for distraction.
Calming companions
Sina Currie, Senior Nurse Manager of Children's Services, says these little knitted friends are helpful in many ways:
“A member of the community asked if we would be interested in testing the use of these small worry worms to support the emotional wellbeing of our children.
"Our school nursing service supports the health and wellbeing of our school age population and as a result of the pandemic the numbers of children presenting with low grade anxiety has increased significantly.
"The worry worm can join the school sessions and then act as a reminder for coping tips and positive messages. Many of the children carry them in their pocket and can hold/play with them when they start to feel worried.
"Some of the children like them by their bed at night to take away worries and help them sleep better.
Such a lot of help from a brilliant little worm!”
We’re delighted that these woolly companions are having such a positive impact.
The Living Well blog: Help us make it great!
Have you got a great topic for an exciting blog post? We need your help!
We're gathering ideas for our new Living Well blog, which will be launching very soon. You don’t need to be an experienced writer – you just need a good idea.
We welcome any suggestions you have and will gladly help with writing them up if you don’t yet feel confident enough to do it yet yourself.
Fire over your article ideas, completed articles (or any other suggestions you might have for the blog in general) to HSCP.news@east-ayrshire.gov.uk and we’ll do the rest!
Tips and advice on where to start.
Fire over your article ideas, completed articles (or any other suggestions you might have for the blog in general) to HSCP.news@east-ayrshire.gov.uk and we’ll do the rest!
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