I should’ve listened to my own advice

So then here goes been a bit since I posted properly on here and across most social media sites and the best way I can sum that up is that I didn’t listen to my own flipping advice!!!

2 years ago, I wrote this piece on LinkedIn ‘Question – 1 piece of advice?’ and you know what that answer was? Look after yourself!!

I have been able to take stock of 2019 thus far with work and personal life and came to the sudden realisation last week that I wasn’t following my own advice. Indeed because of a brilliant year’s work (not complaining on that) along with juggling some very personal matters I have completely ran myself into the ground and as a result was struggling with coping just day to day activities – picture a very large hole, stood at the bottom looking up at the daylight but with no ladder with which to climb out.

We as people as well as sole traders, self-employed business owners are always keen to look at the next invention of work, look always to how we can improve and ultimately how we can always be there in our best form for the people and service we support, as this is what makes us excel in our fields – but at what cost!!!

I have to say on the run up to last week’s Great North Run, as the calls and emails for work continued to rain in causing my anxieties of wanting to support all to go through the roof, I had this overwhelming sense of ARRGGHHH Please press pause & stop the world I want to get off…

I then was able to stop myself and go back to my own Answer to the Question – What is the 1 piece of advice? Always look after yourself as you are only as good as what your body and mind will let you be.

So here I sit in my happy place – Albufeira Portugal ‘in-short’ – to take a full week out switch off, recharge the batteries, re-energise the mind and body so that I can come back 100% effective & 100% available for all that lies ahead for the rest of 2019.

So if I can pass on that one piece of advice again this time with extra dollop of ‘Look after Yourself’ you are only as good as what your mind and body will let you be. Find your happy place it doesn’t need to be sunshine in the Med – however I can really recommend it 😊 – just find where you can switch off, recharge and look after your mind and body, your clients and those you work with will thank you for it in the long run.

Until next time take care and remember “With hope and belief there are no limitations”

The 1st National Care Quality Professional Association Registered Member? – It’s Me!

Today I am delighted to announce following a yearlong pilot scheme that I have officially become the first registered member to the wonderful National Care Quality Professionals Association – No.1001

Working alongside NCQPA’s pilot scheme I have been able to meet all required parts of the quality assessment framework and was honoured to be given the opportunity to be the First NCQPA registered member.

Going back some time I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with Samuel Barrington Care Improvement Associates with regards to this national quality framework. Samuel had a vision, which really hit home to me, regarding setting high quality standards for consultants and organisations in the care sector, in order to meet and provide a safe framework for care services to refer to in finding the best possible supports when required.

I have for years following established Valued Care Solutions maintained my associate membership of the Chartered Management Institute for consultancy as a way of validating the work I do in order to show my commitment and achievement of excellence. However, I have always felt that this is largely based in and around non-care business consultancy themes (which are valuable) and not specific to highlight the unique nature of supporting organisations in the health and social care sector that we work in.

When Sam came along and started talking about the framework idea I was 100% behind it and jumped at the chance to be a part of the pilot to see how this could be further developed. The process was supported at all times from the team and I was able to easily navigate through the process of evidencing the framework criteria, including, agreeing to the code of ethics & conduct, holding relevant insurance and further specific evidence in meeting tried and tested quality & competency standards.

NCQPA has now launched this high value accreditation scheme for all consultant and organisations wanting to show best practice and meet the ‘Outstanding’ competency in this sector, so I for one can’t recommend highly enough getting accredited.

Together as an accredited framework of likeminded individuals and services we can truly provide consistent supportive quality services to the health and social care sector, which will lead to individuals  receiving services getting the highest standard available – wants not to like about that!!!

Stay posted for further posts, an official press release and please goes to NCQP main website to register your interest in the scheme – link  

Take care and remember “With Hope and Belief There are No Limitations”

Stephen 🙂

Today’s 5@5 – 10/05/2019

Today’s 5@5 – Slightly different one today as I have picked out my current 5 favourite podcasts. Highly recommend them all for very different reasons – go get them from wherever you get yours from and enjoy!!

1) Dr Rangan Chatterjee – Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee – absolutely superb set of interviews full of thought provoking, life questioning and inspirational content lead by the wonderful Rangan Chatterjee who I had the absolute pleasure to see give a Ted talk a couple of years ago in Liverpool which completely changed my thinking on food, nutrition and the body against medicines – https://drchatterjee.com/blog/category/podcast/

2) Andy Cope – The Art of Brilliance – been reading Andy’s books and listening to his podcasts for a good few years now on Happiness and had the amazing experience at being at the very 1^st Happiness Festival last year in Manchester and will be heading along to Birmingham this year to do it all again J – https://www.artofbrilliance.co.uk/resources/podcasts

3) Tim Lovejoy – Dear Lovejoy – followed Tim Lovejoy since his days on SoccerAM and this is by far his best work IMO. although Sunday Brunch is also up there. The guests are varied and all bring something to Tim’s table and the way in which Tim interviews makes these so easy to listen too even with some really emotional content at times – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dear-lovejoy/id1196671475

4) Dan Harris – 10% Happier with Dan Harris – when I started meditating several years ago to support my positive mental health & wellbeing Dan Harris’s book and podcast was one of the points I turned to so I have a lot to thank him and his amazing guests for – https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast

5) Susie Dent & Gyles Brandreth – Something Rhymes with Purple – one of the latest podcasts to be started this podcast is wonderful and sends me into happiness over my love of all things word related – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/something-rhymes-with-purple/id1456772823

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

5@5 – 02/05/2019

Today’s 5@5 –

1) CareHomeProfessional news –  Music and dementia,  a new campaign calling for music to be accessible to everyone living with dementia – Lauren Laverne appointed ambassador for Music for Dementia 2020 campaign

2) BBC news – after watching Champions League games this week interesting piece from BBC news on head injuries in sport – Vertonghen head injury: The rules in different sports

3) Guardian news – Really open and honest account from an approved mental health professional and the effects of work and not looking after workers mental health– Sectioning people made me feel so guilty I couldn’t carry on in my job anymore

4) Positive News – Certified B Corporations a new way of business? Businesses that balance purpose and profit, they are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community and on the environment – interesting! – Popping up all over the place: how B Corp promises a new kind of business

5) Action For Happiness – these monthly calendars are awesome and this month is Meaningful May download yours here – Meaningful May Calendar

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

5@5 – 29/04/2019

Today’s 5@5 –

1) BBC News – In its new report, the Centre for Policy Studies – a conservative think tank – said the current system was “financially and politically unsustainable”- Social care: Homeowners urged to pay £30,000 towards care by downsizing

2) NHS news – Matt Hancock’s piece on building the workforce of the future to meet the changing needs and expectations of the public – We must create a more caring and inclusive culture for NHS staff

3) NICE consultation – NICE looking for comments on End of Life – service delivery draft. The consultation closes on 5pm, 07/06/2019 – End of life care – service delivery

4) NHE news – Eight out of 10 doctors, from 4,300 respondents, are at substantial risk of burnout and more than ever have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, a major report by the BMA has revealed – Majority of doctors at high risk of ‘burnout’ as BMA shines light on mental health crisis

5) Positive News  – fantastic campaign from Sweden – A Facebook group in Sweden aims to tackle online trolls and the spread of misinformation by responding with positive comments – Swedish campaign targets online trolls with positive messages

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

5@5 – 24/04/2019

Today’s 5@5 –

1) BBC News – This is truly wonderful I always did (and still do) love playing and building with Lego, absolutely brilliant from the makers – The Lego bricks designed for children with sight loss

2) CareHomeProfessional news – interesting study from Boots relating to antibiotics in long-term care establishments especially with the wish of reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by 50% by 2021 – Two thirds of care facilities have at least one resident on antibiotics, Boots finds

3) NHS behind the headlines – Love these pieces when they really look into sensationalist headlines this one was from The S*n – Regularly skipping breakfast linked to increased risk of heart disease and stroke

4) Action for Happiness – I absolutely love this post from Action for Happiness and Cheryl Richman – 5 Ways To Be Happier Together

PS if anybody fancies building a Social Capital idea please let me know – always up for something like that

5) Phycology Today  – are you always saying your busy – Me Too!! – love this ‘Habit Energy’ thought though 🙂 – Slower Really is Faster: Mindfulness and “Habit Energy”

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

5@5 – 23-04-19

Today’s 5@5 –

1) Guardian News – A £1m pilot scheme that has trained more than 40 enhanced care coordinators – and they are already changing people’s lives – ‘It’s so rewarding’: the new role improving care home residents’ health

2) TLAP news – new study looking at how some councils are transforming  social care by working closely with innovative providers and shifting their own approach to commissioning – What does it take to reimagine social care?

3) CQC updates – Additional prompts added to some Statutory Notifications forms including:

• Death (question 7)
• Serious injury (question 6)
• Allegations of abuse (question 13)

4) Positive News – Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have come up with a circular solution when it comes to medals – Olympic medals to be made from recycled metal

5) CMM news – A new £20m Care Research and Technology Centre at Imperial College London will use artificial intelligence and robotics to help people with dementia live at home for longer – Centre to help people with dementia live at home

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

Today’s 5@5 – 14/03/19

Today’s 5@5 –

1) BBC newsbeat news – Celebrating people living with a rare skin condition – CMN: ‘For someone to see the way I look as art is amazing’

2) Guardian news – Life expectancy grew faster for countries that have switched to democracy since 1970 – Democracy is good for your health and heart, major study finds

3) SCIE news – A table for customers who are up for talking to other customers – Cafe Society: A fresh approach

4) Positive news – the designer who gives a new lease of life to tired duvets, transforming them into bespoke clothing – You’ve made your bed, now wear it

5) The Art of Being BRILLIANT podcast – truly remarkable podcast if you do only one thing today listen to this podcast – Andy Cope talks to Daz Beniston

Have a good day everybody and remember….

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

Today’s 5@5

Today’s 5@5 –

1) Care Home Professional News – Really interesting survey this 2694 people surveyed 83% saying that no role for robots in care supporting – Is this a generation perception? – Over 80% of people against using robots in care

2) Care Management Matters News – The social care precept will not raise enough money this year to prevent the need to make further cutbacks to care, the Local Government Association (LGA) has announced this week – Social care precept not covering councils’ costs

3) Care Home Professional News – Skills for Care is inviting grant applications for the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) 2019-20 – however you must have more than 1,000 care providing employees and provide adult social care services in two or more Skills for Care defined areas within England – Skills for Care invites grant applications for Workforce Development Fund

4) BBC News – series of UK-wide recommendations by Public health chiefs including proposing a ban on cars idling outside school gates in a bid to cut air pollution – Schools should have ‘no idling zones’, Public Health England chief says

5) Daily Good – love this piece on The Inner Strength Foundation in Philadelphia America supporting mindfulness programmes for youth across the city – Inner Strength Foundation

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂

5@5 – 26/02/2019

Today’s 5@5 –

1) Government news – update on medicines and medical equipment supply post ‘Brexit’ – Update on medicines and medical products supply as we exit the EU

2) BBC News – ‘Presumed Consent’ on organ donation is due to be passed shortly by the parliament for England bringing it in line with Wales who have already passed law on it – Organ donor law named after Max and Keira set to pass in England

3) CQC news – Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2017/2018 summary of findings from CQC still raises concerns about the health and safety of mental health wards – CQC finds improvements in use of the Mental Health Act but remains concerned abo…

4) Thrive Global – Lots of choices are not always a positive – Having More Choices Won’t Make You Happier — And Here’s Why

5) Netflix – absolutely loved this shows 1^st series now embarking on the 2^nd series and it’s just as inspirational and humbling – The Kindness Diaries 2 – Leon Logothetis – I highly recommend watching both series #kindness – The Kindness Diaries on Netflix – Leon Logothetis

Have a good day everybody and remember

“With hope and belief there are no limitations”

Stephen 🙂