Information Round Up Thursday 11th April 2024
Welcome to this week's Healthwatch Stockport Information Round-up (IRU). Our Round up brings together news, updates, training and events from us at Healthwatch, local health and social care services, community groups and more.
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How to Contact Healthwatch Stockport
Due to technical issues, our Healthwatch phoneline (0161 974 0753) is still down, however if you need to speak to one of the team, you can call 0161 970 8887 or 07871 089 100 (Monday - Thursday, 10am- 2pm)
Alternatively please email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk where possible.
We apologise for any inconvenience. Thanks for your support.
Healthwatch Afternoon Tea - Feedback Events
Have you or a loved one been recently discharged from hospital? If so, did you receive a package of care? We’d like to hear your experiences; positive or negative at one of our afternoon teas later this month.
Our afternoon tea feedback events will be taking place on:
23 April, 1pm - 3pm at Ladybridge Connect, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5NZ
29 April, 1pm - 3pm at Marple Methodist Church, Church Lane, SK6 7AY
Places are limited for our afternoon teas, so please ensure you book your place at info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Unable to join one of these events?
Our afternoon tea events are not the only way you can let us know your experiences. If you are unable to come to one of our Afternoon Tea feedback events, you can share your feedback in the following ways:
07871 089 100
Deaf and Hard of Hearing People's Healthcare Experiences
Details from Healthwatch England
Healthwatch England has published a new blog about accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people. It's important that deaf and hard-of-hearing people can get information in an accessible way. But feedback suggests not all services are complying with key legislation.
About 12 million adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. By 2035, this figure is expected to increase to 14.2 million adults with hearing loss greater than 25 decibels hearing level.
Under the Equality Act 2010, all public organisations must ensure disabled people can access the services they provide. In this article, Healthwatch talk about the key themes found in people’s feedback, and some of the steps being taken to tackle them.
Read the full blog on our website
Increase in childhood infections prompts vaccine call
Details from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
The national childhood immunisation campaign has launched and is a joint initiative between NHS organisations, UK Health Scrutiny Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care. It aims to address falling rates in immunisations, and ensure children are best protected against all preventable diseases.
Childhood infections like measles and whooping cough are rising, with outbreaks across the country. Such infections can have a huge impact on your child’s life. They can miss out on school due to time spent unwell, be hospitalised, and even experience life-long complications and disability.
It's important for parents to take up the NHS’ free childhood immunisation programme as soon as offered to ensure your child has the best protection.
However, if you or your child have missed a vaccine, it's not too late to check if you can catch up. Check your child’s Red Book or check with your GP.
Start for Life: If They Could Tell You
Details from Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has recently launched a new Better Health Start for Life – If They Could Tell You campaign, which aims to support parents to build a strong bond with their baby.
Building strong connections during the first two years of a baby’s life makes them feel loved and secure, laying the foundations for their future mental health and happiness.
For tips and advice on building your relationship with your baby visit the Start for Life website or visit your local Family Hub to find out more
Family Hubs - Stockport Council
Stockport Volunteer Hub
Details from Sector 3
The refreshed Stockport Volunteer Hub website is going live on 15 April. The website and branding have been revamped, following feedback from you, to be more user-friendly with a search function to allow people to search for different types of volunteer roles..
The mission of Stockport Volunteer Hub is to connect community organisations to volunteers and raise the profile of volunteering in Stockport as an empowering experience that enriches our communities.
To share your feedback on the site, contact:
New Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Taskforce to be Set Up
Details from NHS England
NHS England is establishing a taskforce to look at Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) service provision and its impact on patient experience.
The NHS England-led taskforce will engage widely, including with primary care, the education, care, health and criminal justice sectors, to reflect the fact that tackling the problems people with ADHD experience will need a joined-up approach.
Stockport Spring Clean
Details from Stockport Council
Stockport Council are running a campaign to get Stockport sparkling this Springtime – and hope residents, businesses and community groups can help by taking part.
District and local centres, parks and greenspaces will all be targeted but Stockport Council know that through the help of local businesses and community groups more can be done.
If you are keen on helping out, either by organising an event, arranging a group of people to volunteer or sharing something you have already done, email:
district.standards@stockport.gov.uk
Breast Screening Survey
Details from Maria O'Malley, Stockport Council
The Public Health team are keen to hear your views about the future of breast screening in Stockport in a quick survey.
There are currently mobile unit that visits; Shaw heath, Bramhall, Brinnington, Marple and Romiley. The team are now looking into the possibility of having an additional breast screening site located at a venue in Stockport town Centre.
One Stockport Family Hubs
Details from Sarah Burke, Stockport Family Hubs
One Stockport Family Hubs help and support networks for children, young people, and families in local neighbourhoods. They combine existing services from all sectors to provide a 'one-stop shop' for early help, public health, and broader universal support services.
Family Hubs work with families with children from birth until they reach the age of 19 or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. They offer information, help and support on all needs and problems in one convenient place. From midwifery and childcare to mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, benefits, and employment.
There are several ways to get support:
- Visit a Family Hub site in Brinnington, Adswood or Reddish. All open to families from across Stockport.
- Speak to trained staff in local libraries, Life Leisure Hubs and Stockport Homes for help
- More information and resources are available - online Family Hub.
Please spread the word. You can also sign up for the Family Hubs newsletter for updates, inspiring stories, and access to training opportunities and resources. This newsletter is suitable for all professionals, services, groups, volunteers, and individuals who work with children, young people, and families.
Cognitive Behavourial Therapy (CBT) Workshops
Details from Milly Bradley, NHS Stockport Talking Therapies
Stockport Talking Pennine Care Talking Therapies are working in partnership with Age UK Stockport to facilitate two series of Wellbeing Workshops focusing on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques.
Improve your Wellbeing Workshop (see attached flyer below):
In April, there will be three sessions on 15, 22 and 29 for adults experiencing symptoms of low mood or anxiety.
Session 1- Wellbeing: Understanding the vicious cycle of low mood & anxiety, Relaxation & Mindfulness and making small lifestyle changes.
Session 2 - Motivation, behaviour change, and support networks.
Session 3 - How to manage unhelpful thinking and worry.
Worry Management Workshop (see attached flyer below)
There will be three sessions on 13, 20 May and 3 June for adults experiencing symptoms of anxiety or worry. Some of the topics/ techniques you will learn on the course include:
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Understanding the symptoms of worry and how it is maintained
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Problem solving and Time Management
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Increasing coping abilities and resilience
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How to challenge negative thoughts and reduce worry
Both will be held at Stockport Homes' Sheltered Housing Scheme in the lounge area of Oaktree Court, Cheadle, SK8 1EZ.
Please book your place for either or both:
0161 480 1211
SilverCloud Pathway Offered by NHS Stockport Talking Therapies
Details from Milly Bradley, NHS Stockport Talking Therapies
SilverCloud provides convenient secure access anywhere anytime to evidence-based online treatments to help people manage depression and/or stress and anxiety. This course is designed to be completed in your own time at your own pace and is based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness and positive psychology.
This pathway within the service has shown positive outcomes and recovery rates and there are shorter waiting times to receive this therapeutic approach. Please share with your networks.
The referral link for direct access to SilverCloud is listed below:
NHS Stockport Talking Therapies (previously Healthy Minds) :: Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Note: SilverCloud is not appropriate for individuals presenting with high risk, safeguarding concerns or dependant on drugs or alcohol.
Thank you to Lizzie Austin and Ellie Unwin (Pure Innovations), Charlee Fitzgerald (Stockport Council) and more who continue to send 'what's happening' across Stockport each week..
There are a number of community groups, events and activities taking place across the borough. Please see the details and/or attachments and continue to share with others.
Money Maximising Roadshow
Details from Inge Challinor, Spend Well, Live Well
Stockport Council and partners are hosting a Job Fair and Money Maximising Roadshow on Thursday 25 April at All Hallows Church in Cheadle.
Building on the success of past events, the idea is to help residents who are seeking employment or further skills/training and the opportunity to connect with employers hiring at an entry level.
The Money Maximising Roadshow will help support residents with the cost-of-living situation, offer benefit, energy and digital advice to all residents and answer questions around the extended childcare offer and UC queries to support an easier transition into work.
Linking both the job fair and the Money Maximising Roadshow together means the team can provide a relaxed, informal, local, wraparound service to individuals, couples and families.
Please note, you can attend without registration.
Join the team 25 April (10am - 2pm) at All Hallows Church Cheadle for a hot drink, food and advice.
Vacancy: Pastoral Manager
Details from Julia Hewer, Signpost for Carers
Alexandra Park Primary in Edgeley are recruiting for a new (term time only) role of Pastoral Manager. The successful candidate will have responsibility for all aspects of Pastoral Management, working closely with the SENCO and Headteacher to support the school community. The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
You too will provide support for vulnerable children within the school in order to ensure safety and break down barriers to learning.
The ideal candidate will come from the VCFSE workforce, rather than someone who is in education.
New Suicide Awareness Training Launched to Support Autistic People in Greater Manchester
Details from Greater Manchester Integrated Care
NHS Greater Manchester has commissioned life-saving online training to support those who are concerned that an autistic person they know may be at risk of suicide.
There can be a variety of contributory factors that increase suicide risk for autistic people. The aim of this training is to give people the confidence and skills to talk to an autistic person they believe may be thinking of suicide.
Zero Suicide Alliance developed the training with the help of a steering group of more than 200 people, and is for anyone who cares for, works with or has a personal and professional relationship with an autistic person.
The training includes the possible warning signs to look for which may show a person is at risk of suicide, how to have a life-saving conversation – including what language to use, what support you can signpost people to and even includes videos based on the real experiences of autistic people to help guide you through.
Zero Suicide Alliance website.
Make Stuff Digital Festival Comes to Stockport
Details from Perin Avari, MadLab
MadLab are hosting their roving Make Stuff digital festival for all ages across Stockport until the end of May.
Make Stuff, bought to you by MadLab, caters for everyone, there are events for families and the digitally curious, as well as seasoned experts.
You'll be able to delve into a diverse range of subjects based around the themes of arts, play and learning, including game creation, virtual reality design, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and much more besides.
There'll be plenty of hands-on workshops, tech-powered experiences and insightful discussions - at a host of venues across Stockport.
Introduction to Creative Coding with P5.js. Learn all about visual coding and creating interactive web content with P5.js- a free, beginner-friendly web editor.
Every Tuesday & Wednesday from 16 April - 1 May, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
DigiCamp Stockport. The unconference that promises to break the mould of traditional conferences! Forget predetermined speakers - propose your own session and lead a discussion.
Friday, 26 April, 09:30am - 4:30pm
Introduction to Canva. This beginner-friendly workshop teaches you everything you need to create eye-catching visuals for social media, presentations, marketing materials, & more.
Thursday, 25 April, 10:00am - 12:30pm
Tuesday 21 May, 10:00am - 12:30pm
Introduction to Digital Marketing. This beginner-friendly workshop is your one-stop shop for mastering the essentials of digital marketing.
Thursday, 25 April, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Tuesday 21 May, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Visit www.makestuff.org.uk for the full line up!
NHS Individual Placement & Support in Primary Care Programme
Details from Joanne Gavin, NHS Individual Placement & Support in Primary Care (IPS)
Are you a disabled person or do you have a long term physical or mental health condition which makes it difficult for you to find and keep work?
The NHS Working Well: Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care (IPSPC) is a free programme to help you find work and/or stay in work.
You can receive access to a personal Employment Specialist who will act as a link between you, your health professionals and your employer to make sure your individual needs are met in the workplace. They too can help you and your employer to implement reasonable adjustments.
The support programme can also help you find the right job based on your skills and abilities, contact potential employers on your behalf, help you with job interview preparation, benefits, self employment advice, and more.
How to access the Programme:
Contact your health professional to refer you to IPSPC
0161 237 4111
www.gcemployment.uk/wwipspc to register
Training Courses Coming Up
Details from Chris Hughes, Stockport Homes
Stockport Homes are running another free Skills for Life (SFL+) and there a variety of other training opportunities, please see the details and attachments below:
A Call to Stockport Community - Wave of Change Programme
This year will be the ninth Wave of Change programme and the Goodness Collective team are currently recruiting for this project, with a rolling start date throughout April and May 2024.
This programme will be a pick and mix opportunity for Stockport women who might be out of work, socially isolated or struggling with physical and mental health challenges. The programme will explore their future possibilities, create impactful connections and / or build useful skills. FREE mentoring for each woman signed up is also on offer.
If you are working with any women who would benefit from this amazing opportunity, please encourage them to register their interest:
North West Ambulance Service
GMCVO
GM Equality Alliance Bulletin no. 86, Thursday 11th April 2024 (gmcvo.org.uk)
Starting Point
Digital Champion Update - 9th April 2024 - Registering to Vote Special (campaign-archive.com)
Stockport Council
Samaritians
Information and Signposting
For up to date health and social care information, signposting and guidance call Healthwatch Stockport on
0161 974 0753 10am - 2pm or email info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Visit our Information and Signposting directory
Do you have a health or social care experience you want to share – how did your last appointment with your GP or dentist go? Are you happy or frustrated with the service you received – let us know so we can work with local services to influence better commissioners and better outcomes for you and your family.
