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Exploring and Developing Palliative and End of Life Care

The Scottish Government vision is that by 2021 everyone in Scotland will have access to high quality palliative and end of life care no matter where they are cared for – at home, in the community, in residential care, in hospital or in a hospice. For this to happen there is a need for staff in all areas to become more confident in delivering end of life care that helps people to live well and die well and to meet individualised needs and wishes.

The University of the Highlands and Islands has developed a new continuing professional development award for health and social care workers that is designed to provide candidates with the  knowledge and skills base set out in the NHS Education for Scotland Palliative and End of Life Framework for staff who regularly provide care and support to people with palliative and end of life care needs, their families and carers. This is a SCQF Level 7 award (HNC/ first year undergraduate level) and has a nominal 200 hours of learning over 15 weeks, which equates to 20 credits. The award will be delivered online using the university virtual learning environment. Online learning may seem a little daunting, but candidates will be fully supported by an online tutor who will guide students through the content and assessments. Studying online allows students to study at a time and place that fits in with their work and family commitments.

The first presentation of the course will start in January 2020. We are pleased to advise that there will be a limited number of free places funded by the Scottish Funding Council for this first cohort of students.

If you are interested in undertaking this award, then please discuss this with your line manager. If you wish to know more about the award or need further details, please contact Jacqui Allison at Perth College UHI – [email protected].

Palliative Care A5 leaflet (003)
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To Absent Friends festival

What is it?

To Absent Friends is a people’s festival of storytelling and remembrance. It aims to reignite traditions of remembering the dead as a way to support those who are experiencing grief and bereavement and to encourage greater openness about death and dying.

Why is it happening?

Everyone has a story to tell of someone who is dead who they miss – a grandparent who had a fascinating life; a friend with a unique sense of humour; a child who loved to dance.

A person’s death does not lessen the meaning of the relationship we have with them.

But our culture doesn’t really support active remembrance of dead people. Talking openly about someone who is dead can often cause discomfort or embarrassment.

In a culture where death is seen as being too morbid, too difficult or too disturbing to mention, how do we remember and pay our respects to the dead?

When is it?

It takes place from 1-7 November 2019

Where is it?

Public events are taking place across Scotland, but people can also get involved via the To Absent Friends website and on social media.

Who is organising it?

The festival forms part of a year round initiative called Good Life Good Death Good Grief, led by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care.

What is happening?

Public events have been planned by various organisations and community groups across Scotland, beginning with a launch with an illuminated lilies garden at Dundee University on Thursday 31 October. Other events include cafes of reminiscence, poetry nights, concerts and craft workshops. For a full list see the event listings on the website.

How can I get involved?

If you’re doing anything for To Absent Friends, please share it on social media with the hashtag #ToAbsentFriends and copy us in. We’re also asking people to join in online in the following ways:

Profile Pictures – During the week, we’re asking people to change their profile pictures to someone who has died, and to update their status/tweet to say why.

Remembrance Playlist – Remember someone through a song. On the To Absent Friends website, we are collating a list of musical tributes to absent friends. Visit the website and send in your suggestions of a song.

https://www.toabsentfriends.org.uk/content/songs/

Wall of Remembrance – For those who want to leave an anonymous tribute to someone they have lost, there is a place on the website for them to do so. https://www.toabsentfriends.org.uk/content/remembrance/ 

Online Storytelling – We have an online space for people to share longer stories about those they love who have died.

https://www.toabsentfriends.org.uk/content/storytelling/

Please encourage people to participate in these activities via social media using the links above. We have prepared graphics you can share alongside them which can be accessed via Dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mu6x9ioxs2rag6x/AADmj65dkZJ0S7Ps8D6j4Rmya?dl=0

How do I get in touch?

Website: www.toabsentfriends.org.uk

Twitter: @2absentfriends

Hashtag: #ToAbsentFriends

E-mail: [email protected]

The team at To Absent Friends would love to hear from you if you are holding an event or have an act of remembrance which you wish to share.

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News Release: Trust Housing and Scottish Care launch new Care Cameo Report

“Keeping body and soul together’ reports on the challenges faced by Scotland’s ethnic minority older people

Trust Housing and Scottish Care, today (31st October, 2019) launch the 9th Care Cameo in the Care Cameo series, a programme of papers by care professionals, designed to foster debate on some of the most important issues associated with the delivery of care and support for older people across Scotland. It was launched at the Scottish Parliament event, sponsored by Bill Kidd MSP.

Today’s Care Cameo, entitled “Keeping body and soul together”, reviews the physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual care needs of ethnic minority older people in Scotland and has been researched and written by Rohini Sharma Joshi FICH, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Manager for Trust Housing.

Rohini has extensive experience of working and engaging with hundreds of ethnic minority older people to listen to their concerns about care and housing and to define what they needed to restore their dignity, self-esteem and independence. “Keeping body and soul together” draws together some of the key concerns that were reported directly by older people.

Rohini Sharma Joshi said:

“We are failing our ethnic minority older people in Scotland. Older people who have worked hard all their lives in this country are now finding themselves isolated, lonely and discouraged. They are often unable to access services, they are estranged from the wider community because of language barriers and can no longer depend on traditional family support networks. Many of these older people do not live in appropriate accommodation, yet there is no sheltered housing and care home accommodation available to meet their needs. Today’s Care Cameo gives Scotland’s ethnic minority older people a voice. It is imperative that we listen to them and take action.”

Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO Scottish Care, said:

“As an organisation our vision is to shape the environment in which care services can operate and thrive. One of the ways we can do this is by working co-operatively with care providers and most importantly, with the people who use the services. The ethnic minority older people who have contributed to today’s Care Cameo have articulated the challenges they face and the care and services they are unable to access with heartbreaking candour. We are very grateful for their contribution to both this care cameo and to the wider debate in Scotland.

If Scotland is serious about including all citizens regardless of race or ethnicity then we must adequately resource the already stretched care sector to develop services, train staff and work with people to create services which meet the needs of all our citizens. At the moment Scotland is failing to be racially inclusive.”

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