Welcome to our October newsletter.    The days are certainly cooler and the nights drawing in.

We will soon be looking at our calendar planning for 2024/25 so we are keen to know if you are identifying any gaps or areas you'd like to see more training on.   Obviously, we can't make any promises but it is important that we hear your views.   Please email me direct and I can pass your thoughts on.

October marks Positive Aging Month and there are many free events in our local libraries, as well as offering talks, advice and even free slippers!   

You might have heard of the changes to our ICB and specifically our clinical leads.   Vanessa Swaine who we all know and love will no longer be our main contact and we are waiting to hear if and when we will have a new link in the ICB for social care.   Mike Bailey from Skills for Care is setting up a Workforce Development Network, and we are hoping we are able to get a representative from the ICB to be part of this group.

Please feel free to forward the newsletter and encourage your colleagues to sign up, either by the sign-up preferences below or to email me direct and I can add them to the subscribers list.   Equally, if you no longer wish to receive the email please unsubscribe or let me know.

Nicci Stringer - Learning and Development Partnership Officer.    nicci.stringer@westsussex.gov.uk.    03302228074.   Mobile: 07739906065

Normal Working days : Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

Please see Pass it On News with October Newsletter

This months newsletter includes an important update about the Sussex Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures  website.

WSF&RS - The Prevention Team

“The colder months are now almost upon us, as a professional, begin to think about those people you work with everyday and the upcoming vulnerability of them having to navigating the winter period.

Here at West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, we are beginning to see more and more people take to finding unsafe ways of heating themselves and their property, due to the expecting increase in energy costs this winter.

Not only do we see vulnerable people heating just the one room they use most, but we come across people in our communities trying to be more innovative in other ways such as:

• Only using electric blankets to keep warm
• Keeping candles lit around the home more regularly to produce heat.
• Using the hobs or oven to heat the home.
• We have even encountered BBQ’s being operated in homes to generate heat whilst cooking.

Alongside partners across the county, we aim to ensure people have the ability to heat their homes safely in a cost effective way.

If you work with someone who is going to be more vulnerable this winter – why not refer them for a Safe and Well Visit? All details of the free visit can be found here: Safe and Well Visit - West Sussex County Council.

Ensure your business is fully equipped to handle fire emergencies with comprehensive fire safety training from West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service. Our tailored courses including Fire Warden training, Fire Extinguisher use, Fire Safety Awareness, and Evacuation, provide your team with the essential knowledge and skills to prevent fires and respond effectively in a crisis. Whether you're looking to train designated fire wardens or raise overall fire safety awareness across your organisation, our expert trainers deliver practical, hands-on training that meets the specific needs of your business.

Don’t leave fire safety to chance—contact us today on 0330 222 4658 or email frsct@westsussex.gov.uk to learn more about our training options and how we can help you create a safer work environment. More information can be found on our website Be Trained by the Professionals - West Sussex County Council

Adult Learning Service

Please see attached links for free courses for adults and families:

Family learning and parenting - West Sussex County Council

Web.Enrol WSCC Adult Learning Service (webenrol.com)

Have a look at this new independent dementia specific website for West Sussex.  It is easy to use and has key information from what to do if you are worried about someone's memory, how to get a diagnosis, support available whilst you wait, support and activities to keep you engaged and living well, through to things to think about in the future, tips for reducing or avoiding crisis mode, needing a new home and end of life care. 

There is also a calendar of events and short read blogs about topical subjects. 

You can also follow us on Facebook @ Dementia Community News West Sussex

 Skills for Care Update - October

It has been great to meet many of you across Sussex over the past weeks as Sussex Locality for Skills for Care and I look forward to meeting many more of you over the coming period. Lots is going on for Skills for Care both regionally and nationally including:

• Launching the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in July we brought together a range of stakeholders and providers in development of this work and are looking at next steps for taking this forward.
• International recruitment continues to be a hot topic and we have developed an International Recruitment Toolkit for Social Care.
• To support you in terms of CQC assessments head to our Good and Outstanding Inspection toolkit full of recommendations, practical examples, advice and resources to support your CQC assessments.
• Don't forget we have lots of really useful data on our Workforce Intelligence pages on our website, where you can filter down to look nationally, regionally and then locally at Sussex. Also, you can sign up for our 'State of Report' Launch event and our Southeast regional data event.

If you have any queries or questions please feel free to get in contact with me e-mail: mike.bailey@skillsforcare.org.uk or mobile: 07779352199 

Sussex Digital In Reach Team 

Please see latest events HERE

Autumn Newsletter

Please see here for funding opportunity for NOBI Lights

Sussex Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) training for Care Homes

Monthly training on the Self-Care and Homely Remedies Toolkit   delivered by Sussex Community NHS Foundation trust Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) team. 

Next session:  Tuesday 5 November, Tuesday 3 December.

Where? Please click on the MS Teams link below to join the session.

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 360 113 708 985. Passcode: 3U7QkR

Delivered by: Sussex Community NHS Foundation trust Medicines Optimisation in Care Homes (MOCH) team.

This session is offered free of charge and it’s not necessary to book in advance to join these sessions.

If you have any queries, please e-mail the MOCH Team on: sc-tr.moch-westsussex@nhs.net

Autism All Ages Consultation

“We want to make West Sussex a better place for autistic people across all ages and for their families and carers. To achieve this, we are working together with autistic people and their families and carers to co-produce an autism strategy and plan.” – WSCC

Autism All Ages Consultation | Your Voice West Sussex

Please see future dates for Stop Look Care - Supporting you to deliver great care for people with Learning Disabilities

Thursday 12th December

Thursday 13th March 

Please see latest training offer from St Barnabas House.

Please see link a list of all courses taking place at St Wilfrid's in the next few months with a few spaces left.  To book a place, please click on the link, scroll to your chosen date and complete your details, you should then receive a booking confirmation and we will receive the same one at our end. 

PLEASE REMEMBER, SOME OF THESE COURSES ARE FULLY FUNDED! 

Please email education@stwh.co.uk to register your interest.

Training to support people make plans for later life.

My Future Care offers free online training and ongoing support, enabling groups and organisations to help their members / patients / customers make plans for later life, future care and end of life, including free My Future Care Handbooks for each person supported. Training dates are now available for October and November.  For further information see  https://myfuturecare.org/or email info@mycarematters.org.

Catheter Problem-Solving training, advice and support tailored to meet the requirements of individual Care Homes 

Please see the link for the  Business    and contact  laura@catheter-in-situ.com or 07391627633 for more details.

Please see FREE training resource ‘MS awareness course for care workers and social care staff’ , and a network for professionals .

Survivors’ Network is the Sexual Violence Support Centre for Sussex.

 Established in 1990 and accredited by both Rape Crisis England and Wales and The Survivors’ Trust, our training is informed through our decades of practice, and embedded position within this sector.

Please see   Training Brochure