Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership – Page 2 – The NEN

Edinburgh specialist housing development shortlisted for 2023 Scottish Empty Homes Awards

LAR Housing Trust’s impressive redevelopment of a formerly empty building in Niddrie, Edinburgh, into six two-bedroom flats for people with specialist housing needs has been shortlisted in this year’s Finders International 12^th Scottish Empty Homes Awards.

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership announced that the project, which was by LAR in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council and Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, is a finalist for the ‘best retrofit of an empty home’ award.

In its submission, LAR said its development of the building which had been empty for seven years “will make a significant and life-changing impact for its tenants, some of whom have been hospitalised for two decades.”

The awards celebrate the impactful and transformative empty homes work undertaken across Scotland, recent statistics revealed almost 43,000 homes are lying empty and bringing even some of these back into use, can be a cost-effective way to help ease pressure on supply challenges.

Award winners will be announced on Wednesday 1^st March 2023 at the 12^th Scottish Empty Homes Conference, which will be held at the Engine Shed in Stirling, as well as being streamed online for digital participants.

Shaheena Din, National Project Manager, Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, said: “It has been incredibly difficult for the Advisory Group to choose finalists for this year’s awards as the quality of entries is very high, and we thank all those who took the time to submit nominations.

“The nominations demonstrate how empty homes work often involves creative problem solving and has a real impact on issues related to housing and the strengthening of communities.

“We look forward to showcasing the work of outstanding projects and individuals across the Scottish housing sector at the awards next month. Well done to our finalists and we look forward to announcing the winners in March.”

Public Sector Development Manager for Empty Homes, Muhammad Uddin from Finders International, who are the awards sponsor for the conference, said: “We are really impressed by the calibre of entries and shortlisting the nominations was not an easy task.

“It just demonstrates the level of innovation and initiative in the Scottish empty homes sector and we are proud to be involved in the awards.”

Finalists and winners will be presented with wooden plaques handmade by social enterprise Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI) at the conference.

Tickets for the 12^th Scottish Empty Homes Conference are available via Eventbrite:

Finders International are the gold sponsor of the conference, with Auction House Scotland, Fraser & Fraser and Brodies LLP as silver sponsors, and Online Property Auctions as bronze sponsor.

A Career in Care: Edinburgh College launches new free course

STEP INTO CARE with LOTHIAN CARE ACADEMY

NHS Lothian has partnered up to support the launch of a new Edinburgh College course designed to introduce students to a career in care.

The free course, which is 10 weeks long leads to a guaranteed job interview for participants with a social care provider, opening the doors to potential future employment.

NHS Lothian, working in partnership with Lothian’s four Health and Social Care Partnerships has helped to develop the Lothian Care Academy (LCA) to support education, training and recruitment of health and social care staff.

The step into care course is an initiative championed by the LCA designed to support our the current health and social workforce, while attracting new talent to the profession.

The course itself is aimed at those who enjoy working with people, are compassionate, have a sense of fun and are seeking a new rewarding career they perhaps thought they never had the qualifications to start.

Mhairi Mackay, Senior Project Manager for Lothian Care Academy, NHS Lothian said: “The rationale for this course was to look at new ways of recruiting into social care and to provide people with experience of the job.

“We have adapted the SSSC ‘Introduction to Social Care’ course to include workshops on personal care, infection control and communication so people can be best prepared for what a career in social care might be like. We’re also guaranteeing interviews for candidates who complete the course, so it is a ‘one stop shop’ so to speak.

“The interviews could take successful candidates into a career in a care home or in a care at home service that helps people to keep their independence and stay in their own home.”

Alison Payne, Manager of Erskine Care Home, Edinburgh said: “The course is very important in opening up the option of working in care to a whole new potential workforce.

“I am hopeful that people who have considered working in care, but felt they didn’t have the skills or necessary experience will see this course as a great opportunity and even a steppingstone into a whole new career.

“One of the biggest issues facing the care sector at the moment is recruitment, in particular for care homes and care at home services.

“I think as a care home it was important for us to be involved in this project so that we can give a real insight into what care homes are really like to work in. I would also love people to see the real care home experience and the positive impact this has for residents and their relatives.”

It’s only by working in partnership with care services and Edinburgh College that’s allowed the course to come into fruition.

Commenting on the partnership Andrew Clark, Skills Boost Leader, Edinburgh College said: “One of our key aims at Edinburgh College is to improve employability within our local community.

“This partnership is really a win-win situation as it provides a pathway for people wishing to work in the care industry and gives much needed assistance to the people who require care.”

To find out more about the course, please visit:

https://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses/browse/step-into-care-lothian-care-academy-ypgnttf-hw1icscz22

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils meets online tonight

The Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC) meets TONIGHT via Zoom at 7pm. (The screen facility will open at 18.50.)

The Agenda:

1. Andrew Field; Head of Community Empowerment and Engagement, City of Edinburgh Council:

– Community partnership planning; some thoughts on the way ahead.

2. David White; Primary Care Strategic Lead, Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership:

– The Winter Programme vaccine roll-out;

– Developments in GP service provision in the city.

3. Kenny Wright, Chair, Drum Brae CC:

– The Cost-of-Living Crisis: Community initiatives.

4. Steve Kerr, EACC Chair.

– Preview of the EACC AGM on 24 November;

– Nominations to the EACC Members Board.

The meeting is open to members of the public as observers, but participation in the first instance sits with the EACC representatives of Edinburgh Community Councils.

(The meeting may be recorded. Please note that by joining the meeting you are giving your consent in that regard.)

See the Zoom link at the foot of this email.

Regards,

Ken Robertson
Acting-Secretary

(Next scheduled meeting: Thursday 27 October)

______________________________________________

Edinburgh Association of Community Councils (EACC)
EACC Acting-Secretary; Ken Robertson
Secretary@edinburghcommunitycouncils.org.uk

Topic: Edinburgh Association of Community Councils
Time: Sep 29, 2022 19:00 London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8213251547?pwd=ZWtYbnpMS3h1K1h5QWFYUnE0ZXJ4QT09

Meeting ID: 821 325 1547
Passcode: Brora6000

Scran Academy on ‘Foodwill’ tour!

Leading Scottish social enterprise, Scran Academy, has embarked on The Big Scran Care Tour, a six-month tour of more than 100 social care sites across Edinburgh to deliver a token of ‘foodwill’ to as many as 4500 health and social care workers across the city, in celebration of their hard work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The youth charity based in North Edinburgh is delighted to be teaming up with Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership and Edinburgh City Council’s Thrive Edinburgh for The Big Scran Care Tour.

The essential funding has enabled Scran’s young people and staff to prepare and deliver either Scran Munchy Boxes, a Scran Lunch Table, or hot meals from the Scran Van to workers at 73 GP surgeries and 30 social care sites across the city, with more sites being scheduled.

Working with Scran Academy’s innovative business model, the Big Scran Care Tour is being co-designed and enabled with a team of inspiring young people at its heart. All the young people engaged have faced poverty-related barriers or life challenges such as care-experienced, risk of homelessness, poor mental health, disengaged from mainstream school or unemployment.

Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership Staff Wellbeing Group decided to use some of the funding allocated by The Scottish Government to engage Scran Academy to provide celebratory treat meals and snack boxes delivered on-site to GP practices, health centres, community hospitals and community care services to say a huge thank you to staff for their commitment, dedication and hard work during the pandemic.

Dr Linda Irvine Fitzpatrick, the staff wellbeing lead for the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “Thrive Edinburgh has a long-standing partnership with Scran Academy. They have an exceptional model that is a win win for all involved, and by partnering with them, all we’ve done is extend it to a win win win!

“It’s fantastic to be able to use our staff wellbeing fund in a way that delivers benefits to all, and we’re already receiving fantastic feedback and thanks from all colleagues who have been visited by the Scran team so far.”

This pioneering programme of events will see young people empowered with the skills and confidence to lead in the hospitality industry, fostering huge social return as well as promoting staff wellbeing.

Will Bain, Scran Academy Catering Manager, said: “The Big Scran Care Tour is such an exciting programme for the young people we work with. They get involved in everything, helping us to plan, cook, deliver and evaluate the whole thing, so each event on the tour is something they really get behind.

“It’s such a big confidence and skills boost – and when they meet the healthcare staff and get great feedback, they know they’ve achieved something meaningful.”

Faye (15), a Scran Academy attendee, said: “I like working on the van and it makes me feel happy that I am doing it to say a big thank you to all the hardworking doctors and nurses”

Kacey (15), a Scran Academy attendee, added: “I think it’s really good that we get to talk to all the healthcare staff when we serve them. I think we do a really good job.”

Some key dates on the Big Scran Care Tour:

Royal Edinburgh Hospital – 8^th June

Ferniehill Surgery – 10^th June

Links Medical Centre – 13^th Jul

Inchview Care Home – 5^th Aug

Eyre Medical Practice – 25^th Aug

Astley Ainsley Hospital – 16^th Sep

Craigmillar Medical Group – 21^st Sep

Sighthill Green Medical Practice – 13^th Oct

My Mind Matters exhibition opens next week at Out of the Blue

My Mind Matters 

An exhibition of original works by artists who experience complex and enduring mental health conditions  

Out of the Blue, The Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh EH6 8RG 

Open to the public Tuesday 10th – Thursday 12th May 10am – 4.30pm; Friday 13th May 10am – 2pm  

This exhibition, taking place in Mental Health Awareness Week, showcases a range of original works by 22 artists. The artists all experience complex and enduring mental health conditions, and many of them have never displayed their art in public before.

The works are created using a variety of mediums and encompass a mix of drawings, painting, sculpture, spoken word, textile, and photography. Many pieces are for sale, with all proceeds of sale going directly to the artists. 

The exhibition is delivered in partnership by Carr Gomm, Volunteer Edinburgh, Penumbra and the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership. 

Funding for exhibition space is provided by Carr Gomm Futures.

Progress Review reports improvement to older people’s services in Edinburgh

Delivery of older people’s services in Edinburgh has shown good progress since 2017, according to a joint report published by the Care Inspectorate and Health Improvement Scotland.

Following an initial inspection in May 2017, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership has received acknowledgement from the Joint Inspection team across the Care Inspectorate and Health Improvement Scotland, that the review has now closed.

The latest report cites the partnerships efforts in driving forward – with pace – a clear vision and structured approach, that is now seeing positive progress in a number of areas.

It follows a challenging progress review in 2018 and contains a number of recommendations but, based on progress, the Joint Inspection team has noted that no further review activity is now planned.

Chair of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board, Cllr Ricky Henderson, said: “We very much welcome this latest and final review, and the deserved recognition it gives all who work for, and with the partnership.

“The publication of the report in 2017, was a difficult read for all who were working in the Partnership at the time but the strategic vision, practices, and structures that have since been developed and implemented, are the backbone to the significant and good progress being made.

“Whilst there remain challenges – particularly with the current system pressures faced – the strengthened relationships built, strategic aims, and the cohesive approach to the work of the partnership, deserve this positive recognition.

“These are significant strengths for how the partnership will continue to push forward over the challenging winter period and beyond, and I would like to take the opportunity to thank every single person who directly or indirectly provides care in Edinburgh, for their incredible hard work and commitment to all in our care.”

Read the report:

Edinburgh-older-people-services-progress-review-Nov-Download

What does wellbeing mean to you?

As part of the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership’s Summer Season Conversations, community researchers will be in Fresh Start Pantry on Wednesday (8th September) from 9.30am – 12.30pm to meet with members of the local community to chat about wellbeing and what it means to them.

Fresh Start will host this as safely as possible and it will be a drop in session with track and trace upon entry and social distance within the space.

All welcome.