Welcome to the February Network Newsletter!

Welcome to February's edition of the newsletter which as always brings together news, stories and events relevant to the Network. 

In this month's edition, we have the usual round up of Network news, events and training from across Scotland including a report and videos of NHS Highland's first year of their CLW programme.

We are also excited to announce that Voluntary Health Scotland has appointed Tejesh Mistry as its new Chief Executive, succeeding Claire Stevens who retires at the end of March 2024 after 12 years of leading the organisation. We look forward to introducing Tejesh to the Network very soon!

The Scottish Community Link Worker Network is the national network, developed and facilitated by Voluntary Health Scotland for primary care community link working in Scotland.

Please visit our webpage for the latest blogs, reports and information about the Network. And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @ScotCLWnetwork

Events, Workshops and Training

Scottish CLW Network Events

Peer support event - 28 February 2024

It's not too late to book a place on our next Network peer support event on Wednesday 28 February from 12.30 - 2pm.  We are keen to hear from CLWs about the different methods and resources you use to support and record your conversations with patients. Is there a specific model you use to structure your conversations? Are there particular tools that you find effective to help you engage with someone? What’s a good way of starting a conversation with someone who is reluctant to talk? 

Scottish Community Link Worker Network Conference - 29 May 2024

We have opened bookings for our annual conference which will take place on Wednesday 29 May 2024 in Glasgow. We are asking programme leads in the first instance to book up to 4 places for their CLWs, so please do check with your manager about booking your place.  We also have a small fund available to help with travel/accommodation costs for those CLWs based in remote and rural areas.   We are delighted to announce that the conference will be chaired by Angiolina Foster CBE, Chair of Public Health Scotland and Neil Gray, the new Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care will be our keynote speaker.  Find out more about exhibition opportunities on our events page. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Roisin or Lauren 

Knowledge Exchange events - let us know who you want to hear!

Our fifth Knowledge Exchange event took place last month and featured great presentations from Generations Working Together, Pancreatic Cancer UK and NHS 24.   You can download their presentations from our webpage.  If there are organisations you want to present to the Network, then please get in touch with Roisin or Lauren 

Other Events

Money Guiders' Network Workshops - 28 February 2024

Hear about how NHS Borders has piloted Money Guiders training with health and social care employees. In this event you will find out directly from two of the trainees how this has changed their money guidance practice. Register for your place

CHEX Conference - 5 March 2024

The Community Health Exchange (CHEX) Annual Conference, 'Now More than Ever', will take place at The Studio in Glasgow on Tuesday 5 March. This is a great opportunity to come together and ensure that community-led health can continue to play its vital role. You can find out more information and sign up here

Stroke Association Workshops - 6 and 27 March 2024

The Stroke Association Scotland is running two online stroke and sleep workshops on 6 and 27 March. The workshops will be run by Donna Fairley who is a RGN with over 35 years' experience. For more information and to register for a place, please email the engagement team

MS UK Awareness Training for Social Prescribers - 10 March 2024

MS-UK is excited to announce a free MS awareness workshop for social prescribers tailored to professionals working in the community on Wednesday 10 March from 10-11.30am. Register here for free The sessions will also be recorded and available on their website afterwards.

Scottish Public Health Conference - 1 May 2024

This in-person Scottish Public Health Conference which will take place in Glasgow on Wednesday 1 May 2024 has been jointly developed by the Faculty of Public Health, Public Heath Scotland and Scottish Directors of Public Health. This will be an opportunity to engage with colleagues from all sectors involved in developing and delivering public health.

Health and Social Care Alliance Conference - 1 May 2024

The Health and Social Care Alliance's annual conference, 'Our Voice, Our Rights, Our Future will take place on Wednesday 1 May 2024 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.  The conference is a great opportunity to engage in crucial debate on health and care in Scotland.

Movement for Health Conference - 18 June 2024

The Movement for Health is holding its first ever conference on 18 June in Glasgow. Movement for Health is a coalition of Scotland's leading health charities. It works to support and inspire those with long-term health conditions to become more active in a way that works for them and their health condition. You can find out more and sign up here

The Skills Network's free training

The Skills Network runs a great selection of training courses including a lot of free online training including Awareness of Mental Health Problems, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace, Understanding Autism, Counselling, Self-Harm and Suicide Awareness. You can find out further information about The Skills Network here and thanks for Donna Laidlaw for highlighting this!

'Mind to Mind' mental health resource

Change Mental Health is working with NHS Inform and Scottish Government on the Mind to Mind mental health resource. They are looking to hear from more people, particularly minority groups, about their mental wellbeing challenges to help others. If your organisation has provided support, please consider contributing. Email the communications team to find out more about contributing to the resource.

NHS Education Scotland resources

NHS Education Scotland (NES) has developed a new module ‘Introduction to Equality, Diversity and Human Rights to meet the essential learning needs of the health and social care workforce in Scotland. It takes approximately 30 minutes to complete including knowledge checks and quiz. It has also produced a resource looking at Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

The Poverty Alliance seminars on minimum income guarantee

The Poverty Alliance will be hosting six in-person seminars on particular aspects of the Minimum Income Guarantee across February to April. Among the topics they will be discussing are a pilot of the policy with unpaid carers; the devolution settlement; and how we can pay for the Minimum Income Guarantee. You can find out more about these sessions and sign-up to attend here.

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland regional events 

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland CEO Jane-Claire Judson invites CLWs to find out how they can work together with you to achieve their mission of No Life Half Lived and support the NHS.

They are hosting 6 events between April and June across Stirling, Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen. Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland wants to work with you to help reduce pressure on your NHS local services by providing quality supported self-management and community recovery services for people living with chest, heart, stroke or Long Covid conditions.

Join them to hear about their Community Healthcare Support Services model, meet your local CHSS colleagues, connect and network over lunch with like-minded local health and care professionals, and find out how everyone can work together to achieve this mission and support the NHS.

You can find out more in their invitation and register for one of their regional events by signing up here 

Highlights from the Network

Network distribution list - we need your updates!

Please do let me know if you have new Community Link Workers who have started with you or if someone has moved on from their role.  We always like to ensure that our distribution list is as up to date as possible, so if you have new CLWs who would like to receive news of events and general updates as well as our monthly newsletter, then please do get in touch with Roisin.

Edinburgh CLW Network hosts 300 medical students

Edinburgh CLW Network recently hosted almost 300 first year medical students from the University of Edinburgh as part of the students' Health in Communities module. The students have the opportunity to spend time with a community link worker and learn more about the community groups that support CLWs' work. This is a great example of ensuring that the doctors of the future understand and recognise the benefits of link workers and social prescribing.

Save the date - Social Prescribing Day - Thursday 14 March 2024

As you all know, Thursday 14 March will be Social Prescribing Day, so save the date and do let us know how you plan to mark the day!  It will be great to feature some of your highlights over the next couple of newsletters.

News from the East Ayrshire team!

Moira Fenton is the new Partnership Manager for the Community Connectors with the CVO in East Ayrshire, as well as being the contact person for the TSI Interface. In her previous role Moira was a Team Manager within the Social Care Sector so she comes with a lot of experience and knowledge which is helping her in her new role.   She is also looking forward to making new links and networking with everyone across the Network and seeing everyone in person at the conference in May. She has 3 new community connectors who are just in post - Ann-Marie McConnachie, Jane Griffiths  and Nadia Al-Buaijan. We look forward to seeing Moira and her team at future Network events!

Highland looks back on the first year of its CLW programme

Congratulations to NHS Highland and Change Mental Health who have written an excellent report to celebrate the first year of their CLW project in North Highland. They have also produced a video which brings to life the impact that a CLW can have on someone's life. You can see a photo above of NHS Highland's social prescribing event last year and the photo below is of the CLWs at their anniversary party. There is a link to their report and videos on our Network webpage here 

Other News

Primary Care MDT feedback survey published

The report of the MDT in primary care feedback survey has been published and is available here.  Public Health Scotland conducted a survey to find out how MDT practitioners, including community link workers, are working with general practice (GP) teams across Scotland and whether expanding the MDT groups within primary care was having a positive impact in Scotland.  The report presents the findings from the Scottish MDT feedback survey, run in six local NHS boards between May 2022 and March 2023.

Neil Gray commits to NHS reforms in first interview as health and social care secretary

Speaking to BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show in his first interview as Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, Neil Gray said the NHS would need to reform and improve in order to “drive down” waiting times. He confirmed he would take his plans for reform to the cabinet in the near future after consulting officials, health service staff and trade unions.

Change Mental Health survey

Change Mental Health partnered with Scottish Government last year to launch an advice pack for frontline staff who are supporting those with poor mental health and money worries. They'd love some feedback so that they can further develop the content. You can help them by completing their short survey

CHEX briefing on health inequality

In their latest briefing, CHEX set out actions they think can help eradicate health inequality in Scotland. The actions are based on learning from their work in this area, including from the wider community-led health sector.

Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill

A consultation on proposals for a Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill is now open. Views are sought on proposals to better protect, respect and champion the rights of people with learning disabilities and autistic and neurodivergent people. Take part here and the consultation will remain open until 21 April 2024.

Breathing Space celebrates its 20th anniversary

The free, confidential telephone service, Breathing Space is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Launched in 2004 and delivered by NHS 24, Breathing Space has grown to become a vital lifeline for countless individuals across the country. Available for everyone aged 16 and over living in Scotland, Breathing Space offers a listening ear, practical advice, and essential support during times of emotional distress.  Go to Breathing Space to find out more information and to download their communications toolkit.

Analysis published for consultation on Human Rights Bill

The Scottish Government has published the independent analysis of the consultation on the Scottish Human Rights Bill. The analysis by Alma Economics showed respondents’ support for the proposals regarding the concept of human dignity and some elements of the model of incorporation of four UN human rights treaties in the bill.

Poor transport is widening health gaps

Public Health Scotland is calling for the ‘vital role’ transport plays in health and wellbeing to be recognised in Scottish public policy, saying so-called ‘transport poverty’ is widening health inequalities.

The Public Health and Sustainable Transport Partnership Group, which is supported by Public Health Scotland (PHS) has published a new briefing on transport poverty – setting out how it contributes to poor health.

Common Wheel - supporting mental health across Glasgow

Common Wheel is a mental health charity that supports people managing or recovering from mental illness and dementia by providing free meaningful activities across Glasgow. They work with small groups and currently have four main projects: bikes, music, visual arts and climbing. All of their projects aim to reduce isolation, develop new skills, improve mental wellbeing and challenge stigma. Read their blog on our webpage!

Walking Football - get fit and make new friends!

Walking football is designed to give people the chance to play the game they love by reducing the chances of injury. It's a great way to keep fit, learn new skills, have fun and socialise at the same time!  The game has obvious health benefits, both physical and mental - it tackles social isolation, helps build community cohesion and is, of course, great fun.

As well as general sessions across Glasgow city, Glasgow Life also offers weekly Parkinson’s Walking Football and Dementia Walking Football Sessions at Toryglen as well as Women Only at The Palace of Art. If you are based in a GP practice in Glasgow, look out for their flyer about walking football!  For more details of Glasgow's programme click here and for details of other sessions across the country, go to Walking Football Scotland 

Scottish Government launches Dementia Strategy delivery plan

The Scottish Government has published an initial two-year delivery plan covering 2024-26 for its Dementia Strategy which was launched in May 2023. The plan, published jointly with COSLA, sets out the key deliverables to help achieve the ambitions set out in the strategy.