Care Ambassador Progress Report

							                                                                          September 2010
                 Care Ambassador Newsletter
Hello Everyone

 Welcome to the sixth edition of the Care Ambassador bi-monthly newsletter. I have designed this
 newsletter as a means of keeping everyone updated on the Care Ambassador project.


As Co-ordinator of the Care Ambassador scheme I would firstly like to   thank everyone for your
continued support.

Please may I remind you all that a Care Ambassador ‘Celebration Event’ is scheduled to take
place at Burn Hall on the 5th of October from 1:00pm till 4:00pm. Whilst the purpose of this event is
primarily to celebrate the achievements of Care Ambassadors, there will also be an opportunity to
hear from guest speakers on the subjects of ‘Apprenticeships’ and the ‘Dignity in Care network’. If you
have not yet confirmed your attendance and would like to attend this event, can I please ask that you
notify me Michael.Watt@northyorks.gov.uk

As you all know, the range of groups and events attended by Care Ambassadors has broadened since
the scheme was launched in 2009. Links have been made with several organisations including Job
Centre Plus, Working Links & the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) as well as local schools and
colleges.

Essentially, Care Ambassadors continue to build on the new found relationship with Job Centre
                                                                                       Centre
Plus. Working in partnership with JCP Advisors, Care Ambassadors continue to give inspirational
and thought provoking presentations to jobseekers interested in social care.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lindsay Palmer & Susanne Lee form ‘NYCC’ for delivering
a presentation on social care to JCP customers in Skipton.

I would also like to pass on my thanks to newly recruited Care Ambassadors Julie Borthwick (City of
York Council), Charlene Garrett & Vicky Tindale (Home Instead) who recently delivered a presentation
on Social Care at a Rail Academy event in York. This purpose of this event was to encourage JCP
customers to enrol on to a 10 week social care course at York Collllege . Funded by ‘Work
                                                                  York Co ege
Focussed Training’, this course delivers content that will be helpful to candidates who want to work in
the care sector. All the subjects that will be covered can count towards the Level 2 NVQ in Health and
Social Care. To achieve a full NVQ further work is required in a workplace at a future date. By
completing this programme candidates will have knowledge of national standards valued by


                                Care Ambassador Newsletter
employers and training providers. If you would like to enquire about this training course please contact
Michael.Watt@northyorks.gov.uk

Jeremy Brookes who is the Job Centre Plus Provision Manager North East Yorkshire and the Humber
was keen to pass on his thanks to the Care Ambassadors involved:

“Please thank all concerned re today’s event. I and those who attended found the
presentation very interesting, and I noticed that a lot of those who attended went to
speak with the ambassadors”

In July’s edition of the Care Ambassador newsletter I informed you all that we had attracted interest
from the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). To reiterate, the CTP provides successful
resettlement services for those leaving the Armed Forces, and operates as an intermediary service for
employers wishing to hire highly skilled, committed and capable employees. I’m extremely pleased to
announce that progress has been made and an event for service leavers has been scheduled for the
9th of November 2010. I would like to thank Colin Hicks from NYCC for kindly agreeing to support this
activity. For further information on the CTP please visit www.ctp.org.uk
I would like to thank the 7 Care Ambassadors who
recently attended the presentation skills training
workshops in August. The training was delivered by
Selby College and specifically looked at how to put
together a presentation using SMART objectives
and Mind Maps, what resources to use, and how to
present to large groups. On behalf of the Care
Ambassadors who attended I would like to say a big
thank you to Julie Scott for kindly agreeing to deliver
this training.

The next phase of development available to Care
Ambassadors will be to strengthen the ability to
deliver     solo     presentations. Several    Care
Ambassadors have expressed an interest in a                    Care Ambassadors participating in a
confidence skills training which is currently being            Presentation Skills workshop August 2010
considered. Please note you will be notified of
further training in due course.

The beginning of September marked that start of a new term and a new academic year for local
schools and colleges in North Yorkshire. As project Manager, I have pledged that we will continue to
support the Society Health and Development Diploma in York and Harrogate by
providing classroom & workplace visits. I have also extended our much needed support to Whitby
Community College who will be delivering the diploma during 2010/2011. If you think you may be able
to offer some assistance can I ask you to contact myself Michael.Watt@northyorks.gov.uk

I would like to say a special thanks to Laura Harris from the North Yorkshire Learning Consortium, for
agreeing to speak to level 2 SHD students and Burnholme Community College about the Principles
and Values of social care. Laura has kindly agreed to share her ‘lesson plan’ and ‘resources’ with you
all. If you would like to view these materials please forward me a request.




                                  Care Ambassador Newsletter
In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a story of someone who has been
greatly influenced by CAWD’s Care Ambassador Scheme.

Scott from Harrogate is looking forward to starting an NVQ, with his new employer, Harrogate Care at
Home, thanks to an inspirational and thought provoking presentation provided by Nicola Pagett.
(Registered Manager & Care Ambassador) and colleague Susan Dawes (Care Ambassador)

Previously working in the catering sector, Scott
found himself out of work and considering a career
change. Job Centre Plus knew that Scott was
keen to find employment in a care setting and
invited him to attend a social care awareness
session to learn more about care work, the
opportunities and rewards.

Social care awareness sessions introduce a new
innovative approach to informing Job seekers
about care work in North Yorkshire. Essentially,
they aim to provide a general overview of career
opportunities in an effort to aid recruitment into the
sector.

At the end of the presentation Scott was so
impressed by what he had heard, he approached
Nicola to enquire about possible vacancies at
Harrogate Care at Home.

“Scott approached me after the session
and he was interested and he asked me
about possible vacancies, I asked him to                 From left to right, Michael Watt - Project
                                                         Manager,     Nicola   Pagett   Registered
come back to the office for an application
                                                         Manager - Harrogate Care at Home, Scott -
form. I knew he was keen because he was                  newly recruited Support Care Worker
there not long before I was back, which
said to me that he was very keen and
interested”
The opportunities to progress and learn at Harrogate Care at Home are many and varied, since taking
up employment as a Support Care Worker Scott has competed training in Safeguarding, Medication,
Dementia Awareness, and Catheter Care and is now hoping to start his NVQ level 2 in Heath and
Social Care.

“He’s a good part of the team now, he seems to fit in and all the clients like him”

Scott would encourage people with no experience to consider a career in care.

“I enjoy the closeness you can get with clients you can interact with them and make
their day happier”

“Anyone else that wants to do it should just do it. They would look back and say it was
a good choice. I was so nervous about working here but it just got better and better
because everyday is different”


                                  Care Ambassador Newsletter
Finally, I would like to thank those Care Ambassadors who have informed me of the recent activity that
they have been involved in. Please could I ask that all Care Ambassadors make use of their ‘Activities
Log’. Please find attached an ‘Activities Log’ for those who may not have a copy.


Activities completed in the last month:

      Presentation Skills Training
      Care Ambassadors delivered information sessions to JCP customers in York and Skipton
      Care Ambassador spoke to level 2 SHD students and Burnholme Community College
      Recruitment of Care Ambassadors

Planned activities for next month:

      Continue to recruit care Ambassadors
      Meeting with NYBEP to discuss how the Care Ambassador Scheme can support the SHD
       diploma in the East
      Meeting with Harrogate College to look at how care ambassadors may be able to support the
       SHD program this year
      Care Ambassador Celebration Event
      Social Care Awareness session, York

If you would like to place an article in the Care Ambassador newsletter, please contact the scheme
Co-ordinator Michael.Watt@northyorks.gov.uk

Thanks again for all your hard work and support
Michael Watt

Care Ambassador Scheme Co-ordinator.




                                Care Ambassador Newsletter