USEFUL LINKS
ANXIETY MANAGEMENT
The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice is committed to the promotion of wellbeing through the application of mindfulness-based approaches. This is achieved by teaching the general public, training professionals and researching the clinical applications of mindfulness. This web site provides comprehensive information about mindfulness and the research and training being undertaken in Bangor.
BULLYING
This link takes you to the Andrea Adams Trust which was the world's first non-political, non-profit making charity operating as the focus for the diverse and complex problems caused by bullying behaviour in the workplace. Sadly the Trust is in the process of closing down its charitable status and the Helpline has ceased operating. However there are still some useful tips, downloads and links on the site and the Training and Consultancy services offered will continue.
Unite the Union is heading this collaboration with BT, BAE Systems, the Chemical Industries Association, Legal and General, Remploy and Royal Mail, and it aims to encourage employee representatives and employers to build cultures in which respect for individuals is regarded as an essential part of the conduct of all those who work in the organisation. Specifically the aim is to increase awareness and knowledge of 'dignity at work' issues, and encourage the development of partnership working in the workplace through the promotion of joint working on dignity at work. Some useful tips and downloads are available on the web site.
COUNSELLING AND THERAPY
The CBT Register for the United Kingdom gives you details of all officially accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapists.CBT is an evidence-based psychotherapy recommended for the treatment of depression and anxiety and a whole range of mental health conditions. www.cbtregisteruk.com
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy aims to enable members of the public to access to ethical and effective psychological therapy by setting and monitoring of standards. The BACP have a ‘find a therapist’ facility which is available through their website: www.bacp.co.uk
DEPRESSION
www.depressionalliance.org
The Depression Alliance works to relieve and to prevent this treatable condition by providing information and support services.
EXERCISE and MENTAL HEALTH
NICE to Exercise: Guidance has been produced by NICE to advise employers on workplace health promotion which encourages employees to be more active: www.guidanace.nice.org.uk/PH13
The Mental Health Foundation has produced a booklet to help people get started on exercise called how to look after your mental health using exercise and you can download this from their website as well as an exercise podcast and a booklet explaining how exercise can help beat depression. www.mentalhealth.org.uk
FOOD and MENTAL HEALTH
The Mental Health Foundation has commissioned Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming to look at the research on the impact of food on mental health. Called 'Feeding minds.' Go to www.mentalhealthfoundation.org and search for 'feeding minds.' As well as the report you will find recipes, top tips and a 'nutrients table' showing which foods may be helpful for a range of mental states including anxiety, depression, poor memory and irritability.
PSYCHOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
This section contains information on the application of Psychology to the management of organisations.
Implicit Leadership Theory (ILT) suggests that we all have our own ideas about what makes a good leader and there might be a problem when a person's leadership style does not fit that of their staff. Read more about ILT and how to measure it.
MINDSPACE-full.pdf is a report produced by the Cabinet Office which gives an overview of the psychological research on behaviour change and how it might be incorporated into government policy. These insights could also be helpful for employers who are considering policy development and change management at work.
WELL-BEING
NICE has produced guidance on promoting well-being at work. It focuses on interventions to promote well-being through productive and healthy working conditions: www.nice.org.uk/PH22
The New Economics Foundation have reviewed the interdisciplinary work of over 400 scientists and have identified 5 evidence based actions that we can build into our daily lives to improve our well-being: www.neweconomics.org.projects/five-ways-well-being
TRAINING
Business in the Community have developed on-line learning materials for managers who want to improve resilience and well-being in their teams. There are 6 modules as follows:
What is good work? Understand what emotional resilience is and how it can be promoted at work: (15 minutes) What about me? Take a pro-active approach to maintaining your own emotional wellbeing: (30 minutes) What can I do proactively? Explore the impact your behaviour can have on the emotional wellbeing of your team: (20 minutes) Should I be concerned? Understand what stress is: (15 minutes) What do I do now? Help you think through the role you will play and some top tips for taking action: (15 minutes) Where does absence management fit in? Explore the actions you can take in dealing with short and long term sickness absence: (10 minutes)
www.managingemployeewellbeing.com/bitc
COUNSELLING AND THERAPY
It is a big decision to seek the support of a therapist and it is important to find a therpiist who is right for you. The Mental Health Foundation booklet ‘Talking Therapies Explained’ will tell you all you need to know about the process and the types of therapy available.
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications
PSYCHOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
‘Manager support for return to work following long term sickness absence’ has been produced by the CIPD to give an overview of the impact of long term sickness absence and explains the role of managers in supporting staff to get the best possible result when they return to work.
A Better Way?
We all know the statistics:
- Only 12% of people with learning disabilities employed in Britain
- The Public Sector even worse
- Australia have nearly 60% employment amongst Learning Disabled
- And how many do the public sector in general or Welsh Assembly Government in particular employ?
But here's a couple that shocked even me:
- Amongst young people leaving Special Schools, almost none enter employment
- For one particular School in Rhondda Cynon Taff no leaver had ever gone into employment before 2007!
Why should this be? Such Schools typically have such young people from the age of 3 to 19, surely in this time some could be made work ready?
In truth there have been many reasons – prejudice amongst employers, over protection from carers, never ending and ever changing targets from government which have never related to what should surely be the primary measure of education.
In any case, Ysgol Hen Felin in Ystrad was ready and eager for change. Links-Wales therefore worked with them to produce a plan and grant application for a six month pilot. A grant was obtained from the Social Risk fund, and between April and December 2007 a group of senior pupils, supported by a dedicated coordinator undertook a special programme.
The programme started with 9 volunteers, of whom 7 have completed the programme. It has been made up of a combination of company visits to determine where they might want to work, and what sort of opportunities are open to them; coaching in job skills, such as appearance, time keeping, behaviour at work, preparing and maintaining a portfolio etc; extended work experience placements, over a period of months rather than two weeks. Throughout this time support has been available whenever required from the coordinator, and very close communication with employers. Some of the young people involved expressed an interest in building trades. On approaching construction firms, it became apparent that none would take anyone on site without a CSCS card.
The outcome of this pilot has been a resounding success: Two participants have been offered places on the training programme of a major supermarket, two have been offered training places with a local manufacturing business, and one a trainee kitchen porters position in a local hotel. All of these are paid positions, and not especially created. In addition, two have now gained their CSCS card, participating in a normal open programme, and discussions are ongoing with Construction firms and colleges for placements and further training. Links-Wales have now submitted a bid for three years continuation funding for this programme, and also approached the Education Minister at the Welsh Assembly Government to discuss the potential to roll this out across Wales.
Should anyone wish to join Links-Wales or contact me, please either email links-wales@btconnect.com or phone Rob Symons on 07796 173300
Note to Editors:
Throughout Wales there are many groups striving to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities. These organisations recognise that people with learning disabilities are first and foremost people; not patients, customers or clients, and they should have the same rights to self-determination, paid work and the highest quality of life they can achieve as other people.
Many of these organisations are working in partial or complete isolation from others. Links-Wales aims to improve the effectiveness of these organisations, by including them in a network that shares and learns from best practise, knowledge and information. Links-Wales will further develop a directory of member products and services that will be shared amongst the membership and other organisations, encouraging mutual support and development. Links-Wales will also work with up to 5 organisations at any one time, to assist them in developing ideas and projects into trading entities and ultimately Social or Community Enterprises.
The above mission statement will be underpinned at all times by the following principles:
- The need to build a more socially inclusive economy
- The need to maximise a person's potential for independence
- The need to promote people with a learning disability as having the ability to become citizens
- The need to improve the definition, delivery and dissemination of best practice
Contact: Rob Symons
Telephone 07796 173300, email links-wales@btconnect.com