Taking Pride!
- By Louisa O'hare
- •
- 14 Sep, 2018
Introduction
This Summer, Bristol, Brighton, London and other cities celebrated diversity and the LGBTQ+ community during Pride festivals. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community, is something that we are very passionate about and is close to us as an organisation.
Transgender issues in social care can add an extra challenge to social care providers and those experiencing care. A recent report, said that ‘social worker training on transgender issues is largely deficient’. This is something we think needs addressing. We recently supported a transgender client in their journey to independence. Here we explain her journey from first meeting us, to the issues she faces, and the progress she has made.
How it started
Carly Smith, a care co-ordinator here, has overseen the entire process, and has been responsible for first connecting with the client, finding her the right housing, and helping her get to where she is today.
Here Carly explains
“When I first met her, she was extremely reserved, shy, and massively lacked confidence. My initial thoughts when I was told she was transgender were no different to when I take on any other client. My only real concern about it was that housing her would have to be carefully selected, due to what she had asked for and finding a house she was comfortable in and with people with more of an understanding to what an individual is and why everyone is different, but also people that would accept her for who she is. On initial meeting of her, she informed me that she has always been told she wasn’t normal.
Finding the right home
When we first started working with Diane*, she viewed two houses with us. She had the opportunity to meet and choose the co-ordinators and seniors she would be working with. Diane also met the tenants living in each house. We offered her the options of an all-male house, and an all-female house. The choice she made was to go to the all-male house, which was where Carly, the co-ordinator she chose, would oversee her journey. Diane liked the house, the tenants and Carly, who made her “feel normal” and the same as any other person. This is something she has struggled with throughout her life, always being told she wasn’t normal, to the extent that she believed it, gradually losing all of her confidence and she began to lose who she really was. We felt that this was heart breaking to see, as she had so much potential - an individual with exceptional beliefs and talents.
Carly recalls: “once she had moved into the house, the other tenants accepted her for who she was, and encouraged her to join in with them in any house activities they participate in, such as meal times, or watching TV. Diane took her time to settle, and spent a lot of time in her room, hidden away from the outside world. One of the residents in the house, would regularly knock on her door and offer his assistance with anything. This was great to see as it showed how they had naturally accepted her into their home and wanted her to join them in what they do on a day to day basis”.
Building confidence and embracing yourself
Carly: “her main support worker, has been fantastic with her. He and I have brought her on leaps and bounds from when she joined us and you can see in herself just how far she has come. When she joined us, she wouldn’t leave the house without wearing hats or hoods, and would always dress in dark colours, since then we have always encouraged her to embrace being herself, and to never hide who she really is. Now she will wear anything with confidence, and it’s a delight for us to see!”
How far she’s come
During a recent care plan review, Diane was asked how she felt she had progressed. She stated she had made massive progress, and after consultation with the social worker, he suggested to reduce her support hours. The social worker was over the moon with the progress she had made. Her confidence was growing more and more each day. She confirmed that she feels a lot more confident, through the positive relationships she has built with her staff team. She can now open up about her feelings in confidence and no longer feels constantly judged.
You can check out what we did to celebrate Pride over on our twitter account: @manorcommunity - https://twitter.com/ManorCommunity
Useful links
Bristol hate crime and discrimination services: https://www.bhcds.org.uk/
Bristol Pride: http://bristolpride.co.uk/
*Diane is not her real name
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Manor Community Blog
Today we are going to be sharing our training focus this month, with our Training and Development Lead Jeannette.
As a care
worker, caring for individuals living with dementia can be both challenging and
rewarding. Understanding the condition and providing the right support are
crucial aspects of delivering quality care. In this blog, we will explore some
essential training tips that will help you provide the best care possible for
those with dementia.
1. Develop Comprehensive Understanding of the Different Dementia Types
Dementia encompasses various conditions, each with its unique challenges. Take the time to understand the most common types of dementia and their associated symptoms:
Alzheimer's Disease: Trouble recognizing people, communication difficulties, and impulsive behaviour.
Frontotemporal Dementia: Excessive emotions, shaky hands, and problems with balance.
Lewy Body Dementia: Inability to concentrate, muscle rigidity, and reduced facial expressions.
Vascular Dementia: Hallucinations or delusions, misplacing items, and poor judgment.
By understanding these conditions, you can better tailor your care approach to meet the individual's specific needs.
2. Top ways to tailor your care approach:
Simplify the Environment!
Creating a safe and easy-to-navigate environment is essential in dementia care. Here are three simple steps to simplify the home:
Remove Potential Hazards: Eliminate objects that can cause confusion or stress, particularly in hallways, to reduce the risk of falls and accidents.
Maintain a Clean and Comfortable Environment: A tidy and clutter-free home can help the individual feel more at ease, enabling them to remain sociable and inviting to friends.
Use Labels and Post-Its: Assist the individual in finding things and remembering appointments by strategically placing labels and post-it notes around the house.
A simplified environment can significantly reduce confusion and enhance the overall well-being of the person you are caring for.
3. Utilising communication skills
Communicating with individuals with dementia requires patience,
empathy, and understanding. Follow these communication tips to enhance your communication skills:
Speak Calmly and Reassuringly: A soothing tone can help them feel more at ease during conversations.
Use Clear Language: Keep your language simple and straightforward to avoid confusion.
Utilize Physical Prompts: Incorporate gestures and visual cues to aid communication.
Maintain Eye Contact: Eye contact fosters connection and makes them feel valued.
Remember, effective communication is key to establishing trust and rapport with the individual!
4. Encourage Meaningful Activities
Engaging in activities that align with the person's interests can improve their overall well-being and provide a sense of purpose. Here are some activities that provide visual stimulation:
Painting: Artistic activities can be incredibly therapeutic and enjoyable.
Gardening: Tending to plants can be a calming and rewarding experience.
Completing Jigsaw Puzzles: Puzzles can stimulate the mind and enhance cognitive abilities.
Playing Board Games: Simple board games can encourage social interaction and fun.
Activities play a vital role in the treatment and care of individuals with dementia, so ensure you incorporate them into the daily routine.
Thank you for reading and we look forward to next month!
Hello! Welcome to this new monthly update, where I, Gabriella, will be giving you the lowdown on any important updates happening in social care!
Government updates:
It was only last week that the NHS workforce plan was announced. This plan is the governments first ever long-term workforce plan, set to improve recruitment and retention over the next 15 years in the NHS. However, the government has not committed to developing a workforce plan for social care. This has been heavily criticized as a missed opportunity, as both sectors share crucial staff groups, and face the same urgent need for long-term investment to improve staffing recruitment and retention, to be able to provide good quality care. Read more about this here!
A new bill has been announced ‘Social Housing (Regulation) Bill) to improve the quality of social housing, also known as the ‘Awaab’s Law’ after the tragic death of 2-year old Awaab Ishak. Read more here.
Consultation alert: The government are seeking your views on visiting in care and health settings to inform their decisions around making visiting rules mandatory. Read more and submit your response here.
Campaigns you should know about:
‘My Time to Care’ is a campaign that starts local carers in Somerset. Six new videos have been launched to empower carers and showcases the strength, resilience, courage, and selflessness of care workers. Watch the videos here.
A new campaign ‘The Social Care Superpower Campaign’ launched last week, run by the Cygnet Social Care division. The campaign aims to highlight the extraordinary people who work in care, showcasing the incredible skills and work they do. Learn more here.
Age UK are now running a campaign called ‘We can’t wait for care’, putting a call to action for help to end the long wait for care. Learn more about this important campaign here.
We're still buzzing from the talks at the second and final day of the Health+Care Conference in London. Expecting a quieter day than the first, our team thought we might get away early, but stayed right until the exhibitors started packing away due to some fantastic panel discussions...
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