December 16, 2014

Supporter’s Award Winners

All PSS people know it’s important to live our values, and all around us we can see examples of people going the extra mile to encourage independence, recognise potential, understanding needs and improving what we do. But it’s not only our paid staff who manage to work and live by these values, and each year we take time to recognise our amazing supporters and volunteers that go the extra mile for us and our service users. These awards were presented by Lesley at Hope University’s Creative Campus on the 2nd of December. Here’s what makes this years winners so special…

We seek to understand needs and find a way to help: Joint Winners

Fiona Stonehouse supports the work of our PND & LivPIP services. This winning nomination demonstrates how an individual has found a real need for people who may be experiencing similar difficulties they have in their own lives and creatively found a way to help: Fiona has experienced Post Natal Depression and had learnt through her own illness that financial hardship can also impact on a person’s emotional wellbeing. As a way to help, Fiona began collecting baby clothes and other items such as cots, prams and highchairs. She quickly spread the word that she was collecting for the mums and dads accessing our service, and her house began to look a bit like a John Lewis store- constantly filled with items of people donating their unwanted goods.

Fiona also washes all the donated baby clothes and sorts them by age and gender. By creating the Facebook page (PND Aware), people now contact Fiona to arrange dropping goods off or to meet up at the different groups around the city. These groups are varied including “The Sling club” and breastfeeding groups, where Fiona meets Mums from all over and promotes our services. We have had some great feedback from those who have been struggling to make ends meet and how Fiona has helped to find the items they desperately need.

Fiona has now started an eBay shop to sell some of the items that have been donated to raise funds for the PND Service which will allow us to put events on for those being supported by our service. Fiona does this all in her own time and with little ones in tow – she is a mum of three, a wife and an inspiration to many. She is a kind hearted woman who has had to deal with her own illness and yet she has found strength to do all of this for others in need.

Kev Evans is one of our Health Champions with the Barnsley Health Trainer Service. For over 2 years, he has organised and facilitated the twice weekly football group and has rarely missed a session. He has endeavoured and ensured that over 20 (previous sedentary) men are taking part in at least 120 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. The service is in no doubt from the feedback received that this group would have folded a long time ago if it wasn’t for Kev. He has also arranged friendly matches for the men against other opposition, which keeps everyone focused, motivated and interested, by giving them something to aim towards.

More recently, Kev gave more of his free time to help us organise our coast to coast challenge including arranging a sponsorship from his own employer (Indesit) to cover the hire charge of a support vehicle which saved us over £500. Kev also took an active role in ensuring clients turned up to training rides, felt comfortable during rides, offered peer motivation and support as well as getting clients through the tough times of the challenge. In addition to the above, he also raised over £700 which he donated to the services cause of trying to refurbish a free community gym at their local base. Kev often goes that extra mile and takes on further responsibility to help free up staff time to deliver other types of activities and raise invaluable funds towards the work we do. Kev’s drive and determination to help us succeed is definitely his WOW factor.

We encourage independence and choice

Barbara Strong is a regular Befriender Supporter within our Mi Service. Barbara has been able to bring her own qualities, attributes and knowledge to the service to really encourage independence and choice for the people we support.

Barbara’s approach to providing befriending support and company to a person living with dementia is truly person-centred: she has got to know the person very well and structures her time with the service user around his wishes, preferences and needs. The person she is currently befriending, Bob*, loves being out and about and Barbara takes long walks around Liverpool with him and arranges visits to places of interest to provide a different exciting experience every time.

As a committed and punctual befriender, Barbara’s regular visits promote Bob’s independence as without them he would not have been able to travel around Liverpool, visit the places he loves and to take part in a variety of activities – from art sessions and pottery to reminiscence therapy. Barbara uses her resourcefulnessto gt Bob involved in a range of exciting activities. She is a strong and sensitive communicator with a deep understanding of communication needs of those living with Dementia. Barbara also offers a “listening ear” to Bob’s carer who relies on her visits for much needed breaks. Barbara’s voluntary befriending support has had a significant positive impact  on Bob’s life and his carer, and has enabled Bob to maintain independence and live well with Dementia.

We recognise potential

Some of you may recall the names of those mentioned within this winning nomination as they previously featured in our last Summer edition of the Loop.

They are Bev Adams, Michael Agnew, Alan Bond, Dean Forshaw, June Forsyth, Ronnie Hughes, Dot Ogden, Frances Phillips, Karl Porter, Joanne Robinson, Patricia Stoll and Sharon Young who are also known as ‘The Service User and Carer Group’ who support the work of PSS at Hope University and have been nominated for recognising potential. The group are involved in the recruitment and assessment of social work students and professionals at Hope University and PSS. They each have a special connection to the work we do and choose to give back by their ongoing commitment to the work of our partners at Hope and by being true ambassadors for PSS. It is clear from meeting members of the group what type of bond they have. Most are either currently supported by PSS or have been in the past so having that first hand experience allows the group to bring a different perspective on what attributes a candidate needs to be successful. It is clear that motivation to be part of the group have come from the want to give something back. As one member said ‘we all bring something individual to the group and it just works’.

One of the original members to the group explained ‘I take my role very seriously as I look at the students coming in as they could be my daughter or other family member and you want to make the right decisions by them’. The group also act as peer supporters for one another and explain themselves that by being part of this has really helped their self esteem and confidence. One of the newest members of the group simply said ‘I just love it, it gives me something to look forward to and I can’t get enough of it’.

We try to get even better at what we do

Ann Hedges has been a Peer Supporter for our Wellbeing Centres for many years. Ann is a great example of how someone has made the journey from being supported by the work we do to actively and passionately supporting the work we do.

Ann has been always giving time and effort to increase the activities offered to other service users. She has facilitated our craft group which includes showing people how to knit and crochet as well as how to create and paint glass, clay pots, Christmas logs and much more. Ann has recently graduated in Complimentary Therapies and has immediately offered her time and skills providing weekly aromatherapy massages and reflexology sessions for the benefit of the people we support.

Ann has worked hard in developing her own skills while keeping well in herself. She genuinely wants to be better at what she does, wants to improve the service and wants others to develop their independence. In her recent role of a PSS digital champion, Ann has taught people how to use computers and tablets including how to set up email, Skype and the ability to navigate the Internet with confidence. Ann was also a member of a recent digi book club project reviewing online self help packages. Her support was invaluable to the project and went above and beyond, a quality she displays in everything she does.

During one session, Ann managed to find a copy of a treasured book that someone had lost – a gift from their mother. The book was ordered and given to the service user who shed lots of joyful tears. Ann’s care and compassion is a huge asset in helping others and she goes the extra mile to make us better at what we do.

We will earn people’s trust

Debra (a.k.a Debbie) Smallshaw supports the Altcourse Visitors Centre as a Mi Champion. Debbie is a prime example of how one of our very own PSS people has been able to earn the trust of our colleagues and the people we support.

Debbie has become a familiar face to many visitors and has built trust and positive relationships over her time supporting the service. She has a really good understanding of how coming to the visits centre can be a daunting experience for individuals, families and children.

Having undertaken extra training for her supporter role such as hidden sentence training, she really understands the importance of visits not only for the family but also for the offenders. If someone is visiting for the first time, Debbie is ready to answer questions, help explain information and signpost them to relevant services that can make their lives easier.

Debbie is always enthusiastic about assisting with and facilitating children’s activities and understands the importance of enhancing the children’s wellbeing and ensuring that the centre is an enjoyable safe place to be. She interacts with the children by playing games in the family garden, takes part in art and crafts in the visitor centre and even finds time to support the prison family days which are often full day events.

The value added to the visits centre by Debbie is immeasurable. Having a friendly face, quick answers to questions and fun activities for children can make what can be a scary experience a more pleasant one.

We are delighted to announce that since this nomination was submitted, Debbie has been successful in obtaining a Play Worker role with the PSS Family Impact Service. We are sure Debbie will continue to be a fantastic addition to the Altcourse team. 

We’re brave enough to take risks

Richard Adamson is a regular supporter for our Mi Service. This winning nomination talks about how one person has become an inspiration and motivator for those who require / receive support in and outside of PSS.

Richard’s journey with us has gone from strength to strength. He worked to overcome his own difficulties with the help of our wellbeing centres and following this, came on board as a Mi Champion to support others to take charge of their own mental health needs. Richard had the idea of starting his own Community Interest Company and our role was to help him develop this. As a result ‘Pets n Pals’ was created. Pets n Pals promotes the health and wellbeing effects of pet ownership on mental health. This now involves two monthly dog walks (in Sefton and Newsham Park), open to dog owners and dog lovers alike, providing a space where people can interact with dogs, as well as have an open forum to discuss their own mental health journeys.

Richard’s bravery in setting up the above, taking charge of his own career, and stepping out into and engaging with his own community to talk about his own mental health journey demonstrates the risks he is willing to take in order to achieve the success he wants. Richard has also since secured St Michaels funding towards this great initiative. Although it is becoming more of a focus in today’s society, talking about mental health is still a fairly taboo subject. Lots of people shy away from discussing any mental health problems they may have experienced in the past for a variety of reasons, but Richard has chosen to be an example of honesty, openness and bravery in not only discussing his mental health journey with his community, but also to build an interest company around it. By doing so, he is able to pass on the knowledge he has learned about dealing with his wellbeing as well as create a welcoming and open space for others to do the same.

Our new award for 2014

This year we received a special nomination for a lady that we have come to learn a lot about over the last couple of years. Her name is Edna Clements and she supports the work of our Wirral Shared Living Scheme.

It was clear as part of our PSS Supporters Event last year the commitment and compassion which Edna has for the service. She also agreed recently to appear in our new Supporters Recruitment Pack speaking about why she gives her time to PSS and inspiring others to do the same. We were also aware from a previous nomination received for Edna that her aunt was a tenant with John Willis House but unfortunately passed away. A colleague had commented how brave it was for Edna to continue supporting the service afterwards and although this must have been extremely difficult, Edna would say that it was about the tenants and not her.

What makes this nomination special is that Edna has been able to incorporate all of our values into the support she has provided and continues to provide to the service. Edna actively promotes the tenants idependence by organising a variety of activities and trips to suit the varied preferences, she consults with the tenants for their views and ideas and will do her very best to accommodate these. This promotes general well being and self esteem, Edna encourages the tenants to take ownership as much as possible.

Edna demonstrates a fantastic understanding of the tenants as well as an awareness of the impact that social isolation and loneliness has for many older people and the benefits that social group activities can bring in promoting a quality of life. Edna’s happy and outgoing personality naturally gives a lift to the activities and groups she organises. She will always make time for a tenant offering a good listening ear whilst showing care, empathy and compassion to all. The tenants often confide in Edna knowing that she will respect their confidentiality which helps the tenants because very often talking about a problem helps to solve it. She respects and understands the diversity of the individuals we support and the staff team have complete trust in Edna knowing that she acts responsibly and mindfully at all times.

Edna has improved the quality of life for many of the tenants through reducing social isolation, creating and developing a community spirit within the sheltered schemes, organising activities that include all of the schemes encouraging a further wider community within the tenants’ groups. The service has continuously said that they don’t know what they would do without her. From all of the above, we recognised the potential as an organisation to create a new ‘all round’ Values Award for 2014 which deservedly goes to Edna.