Viewpoints

You have created an energy driven wee woman in me. THANKS A MILLION. I think I simply needed someone to believe in me and point me in the right direction and help me initially with the doctor and you have done that in more ways than you can imagine.


Anand Bhavan Clinic “A Great Success”

Last week Ceartas on behalf of the Dementia Network delivered Dementia Advisory Clinics in Anand Bhavan, East Dunbartonshire’s Ethnic Minority Daycare centre based in Kirkintilloch.

In partnership with colleagues from Social Work, staff provided a short talk on advocacy, local services and dementia with service users afterwards being able to speak to staff individually about their care, dementia and related issues.  In all, last week’s initiative spent time with around 40 individuals and provided specific information to a number on issues including Power of Attorney, caring for someone with dementia and coping with dementia.

Ceartas’ Information Development worker Karen Heath commented, “The whole week proved to be a great success and a more than useful exercise as it raised awareness about local services and advocacy. It also achieved getting information about dementia out to various communities and we are set to repeat the exercise later on in the year.”

Posted in Ceartas News, Dementia | Tagged Dementia, Link Worker, Older People | Comments Off

Job Vacancies

Due to additional funding, Ceartas is pleased to be looking to recruit 2 additional members of staff for the following positions:

Advocacy Worker (initially funded until January 2013)

35 hours

£20,000

The post holder will provide direct advocacy support, undertaking a range of advocacy services which will include empowering, informing, enabling and representing people in a variety of settings.

 

Information Worker (Older People, initially funded until January 2013)

21 hours

£19,000 pro rata

If successful, you will be involved in all aspects of Ceartas. From day one you will be delivering an existing part of our service and we want you to help us reach more Older People to ensure they are treated fairly and get the information they want when they want it.

More information about Ceartas can be found out by downloading the  Ceartas FAQ

If you wish to apply for either of these positions then please download an application form and return by the deadline of Monday 12th March at 1pm.

Posted in Ceartas News, Job Vacancy | Tagged advocacy, East Dunbartonshire, Information, Older People | Comments Off

ABI Cafe is back!

On Thursday 2 February, the information cafe to support those with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI Cafe) started back.  This group runs on the first Thursday of the month from 1.30-3pm in Kirkintilloch Baptist Church coffee lounge and is supported by Ceartas Advocacy and Headway Glasgow.  This month the group had an open discussion time and next month they are looking forward to getting some first aid training.  If you would like to know more about the group or acquired brain injury, just give us a call on 0141 775 0433.

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Still Game Goes from Strength to Strength

Still Game members met on Tuesday 7th February to plan for the year ahead and to discuss how they can shape the future of Ceartas.  The group shared their own personal goals for the year and also had some great ideas for what they might achieve as a group in the coming year.  This included possible ideas such as – having their own website, filming their advocacy journey, running a fundraising ceilidh, discussing local transport issues, updating publicity, running an information/advocacy cafe, having various speakers on issues such as welfare reform, health and social care, etc.  One of the group members has developed a persentation on 'Asbergers' and is happy to show this to organisations who would like some input into understanding this condition.  Still Game is made up of people who have used the services of Ceartas and want to contribute to future development.  If you would like to know more about Still Game or advocacy support from Ceartas, don't hesitate to contact us on 0141 775 0433.

 

Posted in Still Game, Still Game, User Involvement | Comments Off

Board Information Evening

Ceartas is hosting an information evening on Thursday 9th February for people interested in finding out more on what is involved in becoming a director of Ceartas.

The evening starts at 6pm and will be in our offices in McGregor House, Kirkintilloch. The meeting will last an hour or so and is an opportunity: to hear about the work of the organisation, the role of a director and consider if this is a role for you. Find out more about serving on the board here!

No commitment is expected on the night just a willingness to listen and find out more about this particular way to support our work in East Dunbartonshire

Interested? Contact Gordon on 0141 775 0433

Posted in Board, Ceartas News | Tagged Directors | Comments Off

Link Worker Scheme Continues To Grow

We’ve been delighted to add Birdston Care Home to our list of link worker organisations in East Dunbartonshire along with Struan Ward in Stobhill it brings the total at the end of January to 11 establishments where Ceartas have regular contact in addition to normal routine casework.

Link workers duties have been varied from regular outreach to attending residents and carers meetings to assisting with specific pieces of work like assisting when significant changes are occurring within the home, evaluation surveys, on-going user involvement or  training.   

The link worker scheme was targeted towards residential establishments to improve access to advocacy and aimed to build relationships with staff while giving residents and patients the opportunity to find out more about advocacy in an informal basis within a programme of regular outreach and specific issue based meetings.

The establishments signed up to this initiative so far are:

Abbotsford house

Anand Bhavan

Buchanan Lodge

Birdston Care Home

Birdston Daycare

Campsie View

Campsie House

Oakburn Daycare

Whitehill daycare

Struan Ward (Stobhill )

Twechar Daycare

We are delighted with the uptake of advocacy via this route but are always open to more organisations signing up. So don’t hesitate to get in touch or if you want to find out more information…

Posted in Care Homes, Ceartas News, Link Worker, User Involvement | Tagged advocacy, Link Worker, Outreach | Comments Off

Winter Newsletter Now Available!

The latest edition of the Ceartas Newsletter is now available. It features articles on our latest activities in East Dunbartonshire and has a special focus on what Still Game participants have been up to at Christmas as they helped others.

The newsletter which will be delivered to members in the next few days also has more details on "The Big Say": Ceartas' partnership project with East Dunbartonshire Association of Mental Health about the Scottish Government's consultation on its' proposed Mental Health Strategy.

Download your copy today!

Ceartas_Winter Newsletter 2011/12

Posted in Ceartas News, Government & Local Authority, Still Game, Still Game, User Involvement | Tagged Mental Health Issues, Still Game | Comments Off

A Free Cuppa? Yes Please!

We would like to thank Tetley Tea for their kind donation of tea bags to our Acquired Brain Injury Support Group – ABI Cafe.

We offer ABI Cafe free to people who need support and wish to share their experiences with others in a safe and relaxing environment and this generous donation will help us keep operating costs down.

So come along and meet other people with an acquired brain injury for support and to find out information from guest speakers. 

The next cafe will be in Kirkintilloch Baptist Church, 52 Townhead, Kirkintilloch, G66 1NL on 02 February 1:30pm – 3pm or check out the events calendar for future dates.

Posted in Acquired Brain Injury, Ceartas News, Updates | Tagged ABI Cafe, Acquired Brain Injury, East Dunbartonshire, Events, Glasgow, Social Media | Comments Off

The Big Say Week

Ceartas Advocacy and East Dunbartonshire Association for Mental Health need your  views!
 
The Scottish Government is preparing a new strategy for mental health which will look at the future of services and how these can be improved with your input and ideas. 
 
So why not take part and help us represent the views East Dunbartonshire people to the Scottish Government?
 
You can give your views at The Big Say displays in the Ceartas office, the EDAMH office or the East Dunbartonshire Campus of Cumbernauld College (ED
Campus).
You can take part from Monday 16 – Friday 20 January at the following times:
 
            Ceartas & ED Campus           EDAMH
Mon    10am – 4pm                           10am – 4pm
Tue     10am – 4pm                           12pm – 7pm
Wed    10am – 4pm                          10am – 4pm
Thu     10am – 4pm                           12pm – 7pm
Fri       10am – 4pm                           10am – 4pm
 
EDAMH: 24 Crossveggate, Milngavie, G62 6RA
ED Campus: 50 Southbank Road, Kirkintilloch, G66 1NH
 
Posted in Ceartas News, Updates, User Involvement | Tagged Mental Health, Mental Health Issues, User Involvement | Comments Off

Christmas Contact Arrangements

Ceartas Advocacy offices will have restricted opening times over the Christmas holiday period but you can still get help.

Existing customers who need to reach us can do so by telephoning 0141 775 0433. Please leave a message and we will call you back.

The office will be closed on: 26 & 27 December 2011 and again on 2 & 3 January 2012.

The office will be open on: 28, 29 & 30 December.

Normal opening will begin on 4 January 2012.

Have a pleasant Christmas and we look forward to working with you again in 2012.

You can find useful numbers to call by clicking here.

 

Posted in Ceartas News, Updates | Comments Off