Charlene is Braving the Shave for Stacey and Macmillan

Finally, Tracey Webster, Registered Manager at Abacare in Flint has let us know about a fantastic fundraising initiative by a member of the team in North Wales.

Tracey told us, “One of our carers, Stacey Sumner, is going through treatment for cancer so another carer Charlene Wilson – who has worked with her since she started – is doing brave the shave to raise money for Macmillan”.

Across the UK, incredible people like Charlene are getting sponsored to shave their hair for Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan give people with cancer the help they need to live life as fully as they can. They’re also doing everything possible to find even better ways to help people with cancer, helping to bring forward the day when everyone gets life-transforming support from day one.

Such a worthy cause Charlene, and we’re all behind you for taking on this challenge in support of your colleague, Stacey. You can find out more about the challenge and donate on Charlene’s Go Fund Me page.

Aspen Gardens marks Remembrance Day

Sandra Walker, one of our Regional Managers with Comfort Call, has shared this amazing Remembrance display constructed by service users at the Aspen Gardens extra care scheme in Stockton.

Made with the support of staff at the scheme, the display includes newspaper clippings, poetry and photos of close ones who were lost in conflict. Finished off with an abundant selection of both hand-made and real poppies, we think it does a fantastic job of recognising the sacrifices of those armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

Research study on End of Life care

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is carrying out research on End of Life Care, with the aim of improving the quality of care planning for people nearing the end of their lives.

The researchers are really interested in hearing from people with experience of helping someone else in planning for end-of-life treatment and care. If you fit that description and would like to help, you can fill in a short questionnaire.

The questionnaire takes no more than ten minutes. You can take part and find more information here.

Don’t forget that Caleb’s growing a Mo

Caleb is just over a week into his Movember challenge, and here’s his progress to date!

Did you know?

The rate of male suicide is alarmingly high and this is why the Movember Foundation are focusing their funding and research into men’s mental health. You might be surprised to hear that three out of four suicides in the UK are by men and globally, on average, 1 man dies by suicide every minute of every day.

The Movember Foundation believe improving overall mental health and helping men establish better social connections can reduce the risk of suicide.

How can you help

• You can get involved with this great cause by donating to Caleb’s challenge here. Your support will help the Movember Foundation create ground-breaking health projects that make a real difference in the lives of real men across the world.
• We’ve attached the LifeWorks ‘Suicide Prevention Toolkit’, which is designed to help you recognise the signs that someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts or showing behaviour which might lead up to a suicide attempt. Areas covered include, signs to watch for, having the difficult conversation, resources for those in need and support for those who have been affected by a suicide.
• Have a conversation today with a friend, colleague or family member about mental health – let’s help to make talking about mental health normal and comfortable.

What to do if you’re struggling

If you are feeling anxious, low or experiencing any other symptoms of mental health problems, please seek help.

• To speak with someone immediately, contact NHS 111 on 111 or contact Samaritans on 116 123.
• Call LifeWorks, our Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, on 0800 1691920 for immediate confidential support from trained counsellors if you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or if you have been affected by a suicide.
• If you’re ever worried that someone’s life is in immediate danger, call 999 or go directly to emergency services.

Alcohol Awareness Week: 15th – 21st November

Next week is Alcohol Awareness Week, run by the charity Alcohol Change UK.

The annual campaign’s aim is to get people thinking and talking about alcohol and its effect on our lives and those around us, and to take actions to change our drinking behaviour for the better.

Key Facts

• 10.4 million adults are estimated to drink at harmful levels.
• More than twenty people each day die as a result of the harm caused by alcohol.
• Alcohol is a causal factor in more than 60 medical conditions including liver disease, high blood pressure, depression and seven types of cancer.

This year’s theme is Alcohol and Relationships.

Alcohol and relationships are closely linked. Many of us associate alcohol and socialising, and alcohol can become a big part of our connections and interactions with those around us. But when our own or a loved one’s drinking starts to negatively affect our relationships, or stands in the way of us taking action on our own drinking, it can have a huge impact on our lives.

Next week, we’ll be looking at the ways in which alcohol can affect our relationships along with signposting to help and support if you have concerns about your alcohol consumption or that of a loved one.

Why not start by completing an Alcohol Use Assessment on the LifeWorks app or website. The confidential survey, located in the Wellbeing section of the platform, will help you to assess your current alcohol consumption and signpost you to relevant support and tips based on your answers. You can access the service here – if you are unsure of your login detail or have any questions about LifeWorks please contact the team.

Mandatory vaccination confirmed for home care workers in England

Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced this week that the government will make vaccination mandatory for all health and social care workers in England unless they are clinically exempt. This legislation is due to come into place from April 2022.

Work is already underway to prepare our processes for this change, as well as to support any staff who are yet to vaccinate to get their jabs. We’ll share more information in the coming weeks and you can read details of the announcement here.