Health & Social Care Training

Do you want to represent your community and inform how health and social care is delivered in Falkirk?

We are looking for carers and people who use health and social care services to become representatives and join a range of groups to help ensure that lived experience is central to planning and decision making.

Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership have teamed up with key organisations to deliver free training so you have everything you need to take part, feel supported and share your ideas, and together we can design services that reflect your needs.

What can I expect from the training?

  1. Once training is completed, individuals will feel empowered.
  2. The training will be easily digestible and relevant to the individual’s area.
  3. The training will develop on new and existing skills of the individual.
  4. Individuals will have the ability to represent their own views while remaining objective and able to speak on other people’s behalf.
  5. Individuals will improve their conversation/decision-making skills.
  6. Those who participate will be involved in follow-up discussion to help frame future training sessions.
  7. Individuals will feel motivated to carry on engagement and make a positive difference in their area.

Who is this training suitable for?

  • People with lived experience of health and social care.
  • People with an interest in health and social care.
  • People who want to join a supportive community.
  • People who are willing to share their ideas and experience to create positive change.
  • People who are willing to take on an advocacy role and represent their wider community.
  • People who want to make a difference to improve health and social care in their communities.

When will the training be delivered?

  • Wednesday 27 April, 10.30am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 4 May, 10.30am – 1pm
  • Wednesday 11 May, 10.30am – 1pm

Each session will include a 15-minute break. You will also have opportunities to ask questions and to get involved in discussions.

How do I sign up?

Registration is now open so click the link here to book your space.

What is the training like?

When we delivered this training for carer representatives in March 2021, they found the training informative and enjoyable. They told us:

  • “Really interesting course.”
  • “Good to hear about how things work in social work, it seems complex.”
  • “I hadn’t seen myself as a carer but now see myself as an advocate to other carers.”
  • “Course has good content and timings were good.”
  • “I learned a lot – found the negotiation part really interesting.”
  • “Gave me confidence to speak out.”

Do I have to become a representative if I sign up to the training?

There is no commitment to join as a carer or service user representative when you sign up for the training sessions. This training is your opportunity to learn how you can make a meaningful contribution to the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership, as well as meet other people just like you.

If you decide to become a representative, then ongoing support will be provided so you can get the most out of your experience.

Do I need any special skills or qualifications?

You don’t need any prior qualifications or skills. We will cover everything you need to know in the training.

I want to get involved. How do I sign up again?

Complete the registration form by clicking the link here. We know you have opinions about health and social care, so this is your opportunity to shape how we deliver our services. Further information will be provided in due course.

If you have any questions, email HSCPComms@falkirk.gov.uk.

We hope to see you at the training.

Carers Right’s Day 2021

CARERS RIGHTS DAY 2021 will be held on Thursday 25 November, and to mark the day, the Carers Centre is hosting a special video call from 12 noon.

We’ll be joined by Allan Robertson from Social Security Scotland, who will provide information on the changes to certain benefits and what this will mean to carers; our own Laura McKenzie, who will give an update on the Local Carers Strategy Review; as well as the carer representative on the Falkirk Health & Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board, Morven Mack.

Click here to view the full agenda!

Whether you are a new carer or have been caring for someone for a while, we believe that it’s important that you understand your rights and are able to access the support that is available to you as soon as you need it. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support. Each year, Carers Rights Day helps us:

  • ensure carers are aware of their rights
  • let carers know where to get help and support
  • raise awareness of the needs of carers.

This year’s Carers Rights Day campaign will focus on raising awareness of the rights that unpaid carers have. The pandemic has had a massive impact on the lives of carers, affecting access to services, the ability to juggle work and care and much more. That’s why it’s more important than ever that carers are aware of what they have the right to.

 

Carers UK

To find out more, or to join the session, please contact Susan Docherty on 01324 611 510 (option 4), or email susandocherty@centralcarers.co.uk.

Election of the next carer representative to Clackmannanshire IJB

At the next Clackmannanshire Carers Forum, taking place on Thursday 18 November, a vote will be taken to elect the next Clackmannanshire carer representative to Clackmannanshire & Stirling Health & Social Care Partnership’s Integration Joint Board (IJB).

There is one nominee for this post, Paul Morris. You can find out more about Paul below. If you would like to attend the forum, please contact Nicola Weedon on 01324 611510 (option 2), or email nicolaweedon@centralcarers.co.uk.

 

My name is Paul Morris.  I am father to two boys, married and work full time as Project Manager for the Stirling and Clackmannanshire City Region Deal.

 

I, alongside my wife Susan, am a full time carer to my eldest son, around all aspects of his life and across every aspect of my own.  My family lives in alloa and has done so for 20 years.  I have lived in Clackmannanshire since I was a toddler.

 

My eldest son, Lachlan, is a bright, outgoing 14 year-old boy, who attends Alloa Academy.  He has quadriplegic choreo-athetoid cerebral palsy and requires support in every aspect of life. Lachlan communicates using an eyegaze device, the Tobii i-12+, which also acts as his window to the world via the worldwide web.

 

Educated to postgraduate level, I have two decades of work experience in policy, politics and economic development.  I have worked with elected representatives at all levels and developed policy and strategy documents in many fields, including two manifestos at Glasgow level, a report on the Scottish Labour Market in 2006, a Social Enterprise Strategy for Glasgow and others.  This work experience has provided me with valuable insights into the processes in place to effect change.

 

Alongside my extensive experience through work, I have been a trustee of Cerebral Palsy Scotland (previously Bobath Scotland) since 2015.  This national, multi-million pound charity, provides support to children and adults with motor difficulties associated with cerebral palsy.

 

My biography is available on LinkedIn.