News
"I just want to know they're ok." - Information Sharing Conference
First Contact Clinical hosted "I just want to know they’re ok." on Friday 2nd December 2011 in Washington, Sunderland. The conference aimed to find workable solutions for sharing information between carers, service users and the organisations that support them.
At the start we saw the official launch of the Carers’ Drug and Alcohol Network, with all members signing the network agreement on the day.
Many thanks to our speakers: Dr David Julien (FCC), Lindsay Henderson (FCC), Nicola Barnett (Muckles LLP), Nonnie Crawford (Public Health Sunderland), Mark Gilman (NTA), Tony McAnnelly (NTW), Bill (service user).
The stars of the day however were the carers who, with help from Lindsay and Leigh Craig, shared their experiences in the form of a film. Their message was clearly heard - we all need to commit to finding workable solutions.
We are busy compiling the feedback, but early signs are that the conference was a success with the majority of people highlighting how useful they found it in terms of raising their awareness of the issues and for the opportunity to network.
One participant kindly informed us it was the "best conference I have ever attended". Now that's a compliment!
One New Thing - Social Prescribing in South Tyneside
First Contact Clinical and charity Bliss=ability have been awarded a charitable donation from the Pfizer UK Foundation to deliver 'One New Thing' during 2012.
The project aims to improve the mental and physical health of people in South Tyneside whose well-being is impacted on in a negative way by behaviors known to reduce the quality of life or result in significant numbers of years of life lost. The negative behaviours are due to or exacerbated by deprivation or long-term psychosocial issues such as isolation. The project proposes to do this by directing GP referrals or self-referrals to a ‘Navigator’ whose role is to motivate and support individuals to make contact with one or more of the 900 voluntary organisations and groups that exist locally. The project will impact not only directly on mental and physical health, but also indirectly through increased social contacts, improved access to services and ultimately improved social networks within communities.
‘One new thing’: The name is based on the premise that the interaction will result in the person becoming involved in an activity of some type which may for many be something new. The project asks that they try ‘one new thing’.
Alcohol Awareness Week 14-20 November 2011
Balance, the North East of England’s Alcohol Office, has lauched their ‘See What Sam Sees’ campaign to coincide with Alcohol Awareness Week. The campaign looks at the significant role advertising plays in encouraging young people to start drinking at an earlier age and in greater quantities.
We encourage you to give your support to this campaign by signing the online petition and fowarding it to as many people as you can. Why? Because the North East has the highest rates of 11-15 year olds who admit to drinking alcohol and the region continues to have the highest rate of under-18s admitted to hospital with alcohol-related conditions. This is just a snapshot of the devastating impact that alcohol is having on our children and their futures.
To find out more visit http://www.balancenortheast.co.uk/our-campaigns/see-what-sam-sees/ .
Who are the experts?
In drug and alcohol research it is often those who have a ‘lived experience’ of drug use. A recent graduate of our innovative Peer Based Research training course puts it like this: “It’s getting people who have experience of what you’re looking at to do the research because they can get access where you can’t.” But to become a fully fledged Peer Based Researcher you need to have the right training and support. That’s were First Contact Clinical comes in. This year we completed our first Peer Based Research (PBR) training programme.
The training led by Dr Gallagher, a former research fellow of the Royal College of GPs, was intense. It covered elements of research design and development including sampling, interviewing, ethical issues, analysis and presentation. One PBR graduate explains; “For me it was about learning about how research is carried out, learning interview techniques, that it’s not haphazard and things are done for a purpose.” But there were other benefits; “I have gained in confidence, it’s got my head working rather than it stagnating and I we have bonded as a group.” These comments are typical of our graduates who have worked with us to develop skills based learning to equip them to plan and do and research.
Our PBRs are currently engaged in doing supported research in the South Tyneside area.
Contact us for more information about Peer Based Research.