Choosing a programme

Choosing a programme

Become a member

Choosing a programme

We have listed below examples of our latest programmes, but these are being added to all the time.

You can apply for as many as you want AND THEY’RE ALL FREE! To access them just drop as an email at info@socialcareheroes.org.uk

You can contact us if not sure which programme(s) is best for you.

You can ask your Home / Employer about registering for group programmes.

Nutritional Wellbeing

In a busy care setting, with competing time pressures as well as the challenging pressures of the cost of living, many carers put their nutritional wellbeing, and the need for a healthy diet, to the bottom of the priority list, leading to obvious negative impacts upon the day to day and their general health.

Our nutrition sessions are educational and practical. They are mindfully put together, in consultation with our professional external professional nutritionists, to combine the use of cost effective everyday ingredients which are easily available. Importantly, our nutritional sessions are carefully linked into our physical fitness and overall wellbeing modules to provide a complete, holistic approach. Our member homes have received free fruit deliveries (for staff) from a local supplier, and this is also incorporated into our initiatives to encourage healthy eating (eg our fruit smoothie making module).

Benefits:
• Healthier eating to promote general overall health and wellbeing – both physical and mental
• Engaging, enjoyable sessions to promote team-building and improve morale amongst staff
• Sessions promote carer/resident engagement – residents/service users enjoy participating/tasting/observing
• Benefits of healthy eating/nutritional education extending to attendees’ wider family

Fitness and Physical Wellbeing

The SSCH fitness and physical wellbeing programmes are designed to be bitesize, fun but informative and inclusive sessions which promote sustainable routines for care staff.

Our sessions, delivered by our fitness experts and trainers, create a safe environment for our carers to speak openly about their physical well-being.

Our programmes are easily implemented at home, and, above all, time efficient and easy to fit into everyday life. Attendees are offered 1:1 follow up support and our modules are continually reviewed and renewed to make sure that we are offering a variety of fitness options to suit all needs.

Benefits:
• Care staff benefit from personal fitness advice which they may not readily be able to access elsewhere on a 1:1 level
• Bespoke, sustainable fitness programmes based on real-life experience of those delivering care
• Specific posture, back pain and massage technique relevant to day to day workplace demands
• Improved levels of general fitness and associated emotional benefits

Know Your Numbers…

The ‘Know Your Numbers’ programme has been introduced into our SSCH portfolio to further support care teams in accessing health advice, plus providing them with a quick, basic health check in the workplace which otherwise might be overlooked, particularly when day to day pressures take priority over personal wellbeing needs.

The ’Know Your Numbers’ sessions involve a professionally trained SSCH representative visiting the care setting (at pre-arranged times) to provide team members with a 1:1 check of:

• Blood pressure
• Pulse
• Weight
• BMI
• Plus wellbeing, general health signposting and nutritional advice
These sessions take an average of 10 minutes and are delivered in the care setting at pre-arranged times.

Benefits:
• Early intervention opportunity to help detect signs of serious illness
• Opportunity to discuss health and wellbeing concerns on a 1:1 basis
• Signposting to relevant advice and support
• Advice and support in dealing with conversations with health professionals
• Improved mid to long term staff retention within the sector due to improved overall health within the workforce

Emotional Wellbeing

Our various sessions to promote and support the mental wellbeing of our carers are designed to help in dealing with the day to day issues of stress, anxiety, depression and general mental health which present themselves but which are often ‘bottom of the pile’ in terms of priorities in a busy working week.

Our regular programmes, presented within the care setting in bitesize sessions, include holistic support on:
• Relaxation techniques
• Coping mechanisms in times of stress
• Therapeutic massage
• Counselling (1:1 with professional counsellor)
• Mindfulness
• Signposting to ICB funded VIVUP counselling services
• Men’s mental health

Our relaxation and informal sessions also include activities such as face/foot masque making and gemstone bracelet-making, with ‘goodies’ for participants to take away with them after the session.

We have also funded therapy pods and therapy rooms within some of our pilot homes, providing quiet, relaxing spaces for our carers to take time out of their working day, during breaks, winding down or simply taking a little time for themselves.

Benefits:
• Improved general mental wellbeing, and morale
• Encouraging sustainable holistic self care in an affordable, grounded and ‘real life’ way
• Improved overall staff morale, improved attendance and positive impact upon staff retention
• Encouraging feelings of appreciation and job satisfaction within the workplace
• Benefits of a well being conscious employer attracting staff from other sectors to move into carer roles
• Opportunities for brief ‘time out’ sessions during the day leading to improved mood and overall improved positivity, therefore increasing quality of engagement with residents/service users
• Reduced levels of stress, anxiety and negativity, plus improved coping mechanisms to deal with negative emotions

Menopause Awareness

Our menopause awareness sessions are designed to support women to help them to maintain their emotional and physical wellbeing before, during and after the menopause. We aim to educate and equip, and to make the workplace as ‘menopause-friendly’ as possible.

Our inclusive sessions aim to promote general awareness, for both men and women in an informal and interactive way. Staff are encouraged to discuss any issues or concerns that they may have in relation to the menopause and we offer holistic advice and information, plus educational materials which participants can take away from the session. Our sessions have typically included herbal remedy samples/information and relaxing activities such as crystal bracelet making.

Our work also extends to advising care managers/operators on how best to support the women in their teams who are experiencing the menopause, and how to adapt the working environment to accommodate the needs of those going through it.

Benefits:
• A trained menopause advocate within each care setting
• Follow up opportunity for attendees to receive 1:1 post session support
• Information and materials to take away post session
• A safe and controlled environment to discuss women’s health
• Reducing stigma and negative thought processes around menopausal issues
• Signposting to relevant support services and websites
• Increased positive team communication within the workplace and peer support
• Improved confidence when approaching GPs/health professionals for menopause advice

The Overwhelmed Manager (For Managers and Team Leaders)

The SSCH ‘Overwhelmed Manager’ module, delivered and designed by a professional personal coaching expert, is a series of peer group support sessions (over a 12 week time period) combining both online (Zoom) and drop-in coaching sessions plus topical and interactive webinars.

There is also a post-module event for all attendees designed to further embed the peer support which is established during the course, and to encourage a sustainable support network for managers within the care community.

Benefits:
• Attendees learn strategies to deal with feelings of overwhelm and tips for coping with conflicting pressures/time management
• Increasing confidence and self-esteem, and encouraging self-care
• How to deal with difficult staff and general management tips
• Reducing workplace anxiety, and coping mechanisms for fatigue
• Creation and development of an ongoing peer support network for care community managers
• Encourages sharing of experiences and best practice

When Members apply for programmes we ask them to complete a form, so we get an idea of your issues and worries before you start, and tailor to your specific needs if necessary.

We can design the FREE support YOU need for YOU.

(See – we said it was all about you)

SUPER SOCIAL CARE HERO TIP:

DON’T BE BRAVE!

You do enough of that in the day (and night) job! No concern is too small to deserve support, no issue is too big to talk about. Anything can cause a build-up of stress, causing physical responses that lead to you being overwhelmed, made ill, and having to stop doing the job you love.

All our conversations and any support we can offer are completely confidential!

It is for you to share your experience of SSCH or not – we will never share any of your personal details or information about the support you are receiving.

We WILL use your anonymous feedback in network meetings with managers, employers and stake holders such as the NHS, Local Authority Social Services, and Government: Giving Social Care Heroes a voice you haven’t had before.