“A heart gold” – John Chambers awarded Employee of the Month
Katie Wem, Branch Manager at Comfort Call Middlesbrough, gives a shout out to care worker John Chambers – he was awarded Employee of the Month at the branch for August 2022.
Katie said: “John has continuously supported the branch and his other colleagues. He has gone to all areas and covered calls at short notice and offered up his days off. Service users told me that he is such a lovely lad who is down to earth and nothing is ever a trouble. They say he has a heart of gold, and he always goes above and beyond.”
John was presented with chocolates and his very own Comfort Call trophy.
Well done John – a well deserved recognition!
World Alzheimer’s Month and dementia awareness
Many care workers work with service users who are living with dementia and will be familiar with the symptoms. However, not everyone is aware. 
During World Alzheimer’s month this September, the Alzheimer’s Society is encouraging everyone to know the signs of dementia so they can get the right support quickly.
World Alzheimer’s Month is a global opportunity to raise awareness of dementia. A staggering 50 million people are living with dementia worldwide.
By learning more about dementia you can feel empowered to reach out for the help and support you may need for yourself or your loved ones.
Getting support for dementia
If you are concerned a loved one may be experiencing signs of dementia, here are ways you can get support:
• Call The Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 or click here for online resources.
• Contact your GP
• Visit NHS Online here
• LifeWorks online resources – Read the articles ‘Caring for a Family Member with Dementia’ and ‘Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease’. You can access Lifeworks here – if you are unsure of your login details or have any questions about LifeWorks please contact the team.
How to get involved with World Alzheimer’s Month?
There are many ways to get involved with World Alzheimer’s Month:
• Post to social media in September using #WorldAlzheimersMonth
• Share a social media post on 21 September with #WorldAlzheimersDay
• Register to volunteer at a local Memory Walk
• Organise or take part in a fundraising event
World Alzheimer’s Day takes place on 21 September and is part of World Alzheimer’s Month.
Have your say! Medication safety workshop
The Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) is inviting care staff and care and support workers to take part in a research focus group on medication safety.
The research has been funded by the Department of Health and aims to raise awareness about medication safety and collect lived experiences of medication use. The researchers want to hear from care staff and care and support workers, who visit people in their own homes.
The aim of the research is to discover the social reasons behind unsafe medication practices and avoidable medication-related harm. This will inform the implementation of a medication safety plan in Northern Ireland.
Workshop format
When: Thursday 15th September – 2pm to 3.15pm
Where: Zoom
The workshop which will last 1 hour 15 minutes with 6-10 participants. After a brief introduction there will be focus group discussion on your experiences and views on medication safety.
All participants will receive a £10 eVoucher to thank them for taking part.
If you are interested in participating, email caoimheshields@cdhn.org or visit the CDHN website here.
Professional Care Workers Week – 12-16 September
Next week is Professional Care Workers Week – which brings the sector together to appreciate the outstanding efforts of care and support workers.
The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) will be hosting a series of webinars and panel discussions throughout the week where an array of speakers will be sharing their expertise on a range of topics. Find out more about the events taking place on the CWC website.
