Keep warm this winter with a Warm Home Check

As we head into the colder months, we know many people will be worrying about staying warm at home. High costs of living and high energy bills are a big concern, especially for those who already find it hard to heat their home and are on a low income.

The cold isn’t just uncomfortable but can be dangerous for those with pre-existing health issues such as heart and breathing conditions, or children who are asthmatic. It also can have a negative impact on your mental wellbeing.

If you need help to stay warm at home, the East Sussex Warm Home Check service provides free impartial energy advice and support and is available all year round. It helps you to improve the energy efficiency of your home meaning you can stay warm for less and reduce your home’s carbon emissions. As well as practical advice and resources, the service also provides help including heating repairs and small home improvements for those who are eligible.

If you, or someone you know, is concerned about staying warm this winter, find out more about the Warm Home Check service. You can apply by visiting the Keep Warm and Well website, texting WARM to 80011 or calling 0800 464 7307.

Don’t brush it under the carpet

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new campaign to improve mental wellbeing and raise awareness of self-harm and suicide in older people.

‘Don’t brush it under the carpet’ aims to reach and support older people who may be feeling depressed and alone and guide them to the right support. The campaign also aims to raise awareness of the issue of self-harm and older people, amongst carers, family members and health professionals to enable them to support someone they know who may be struggling.

Continue reading →

Help shape the future of Adult Social Care in East Sussex!

Do you have recent experience of being supported by adult social care, or caring for someone who does? Are you passionate about making services the best they can be? Adult Social Care at East Sussex County Council would like to hear from you!

Adult Social Care is inviting people with recent lived experience of being supported by them, or caring for someone who does, to join the Citizens’ Panel.

The Citizens’ Panel is a group of residents, clients and carers who work together with the department on a huge variety of topics, offering feedback, developing ideas for improvements or changes, and co-producing services and policies.

The Council are keen to bring in new voices and want to hear from a wide range of people from different backgrounds and geographical areas who have received a range of care and support from Adult Social Care.

Panel members will contribute to four meetings a year, gain new skills and experience and make a difference to services that support thousands of people. There will be lots of support on offer and expenses and reward payments.

If you are interested in joining the panel, or if you have any questions, please contact asc.equalityteam@eastsussex.gov.uk for more information.

 

Looking after your health and wellbeing over winter

Winter can be a wonderful time, and our beautiful county still has lots to offer both indoors and outdoors during the colder months. It’s also a season that can pose some added challenges to our health and wellbeing as the temperatures drop – from extra bugs doing the rounds, to more slip and fall risks, difficulty staying warm at home, and impacts to our mood. Over winter it’s especially important we look after ourselves and those around us to help stay as well as we can. It’s also important to know what help and support is out there when we do need it, as there’s lots of places you can turn to.

With that in mind, here are some top tips to help you keep as well as possible in mind, body, and spirit over the winter, and where you can get extra support for your health and wellbeing.

Continue reading →

‘Find your little big thing’ to improve your mental health

The NHS Every Mind Matters campaign is encouraging everyone to ‘find your little big thing’ for your mental health.

These are the little things that you can do every day that make a big difference to your mental health, like a walk, talking to someone you trust, getting close to nature, reducing screen time, or managing your thoughts and feelings with the help of CBT

The Every Mind Matters website has lots of NHS-approved tips and advice to help you ‘find your little big thing’. You can also get a free, personalised Mind Plan – a mental health action plan that provides practical tips to help you deal with anxiety and stress, boost your mood, sleep better, and feel more in control. Why not get yours today:

Visit Every Mind Matters.

Get connected to volunteering roles with the Tribe app

Are you interested in volunteering but not sure where to start? A new app to help you find volunteering roles has been launched by East Sussex County Council.

You can use the new Tribe app to connect to volunteering roles with local organisations and their volunteering opportunities. Voluntary organisations will be able to use Tribe to manage and schedule volunteer tasks, and to find new local volunteers.

There are lots of volunteer opportunities already up on the app, including roles with the arts, gardening, supporting refugees and with charities helping people experiencing food poverty. The roles are regularly updated, and you can choose to work in a way that suits your lifestyle, location and skill.

Find out more and get the app.

Getting to know your healthcare professionals at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has recently been raising awareness of two important, but perhaps lesser known, healthcare roles within their organisation. To celebrate Pharmacy Technicians Day and Physician Associates Week, you can hear from the Trust about both fascinating and vital roles, and from staff working in the roles themselves.

Pharmacy Technicians are key members of the pharmacy team and play a crucial role in helping people understand their medicines. Read all about them here.

Physician Associates work alongside doctors and nurses to provide medical care as an integral part of a multidisciplinary team, under the supervision of a consultant. Read all about them here.

‘Find your little big thing’ for your mental health

Every Mind Matters has launched a new campaign that encourages and helps us to ‘find your little big thing’ – these are the little things we can do, which can make a big difference to our mental health

Making time for your mental wellbeing is important – and embedding these little things as part of your routine can help you feel better and more in control.

These little things can include:

    • Getting physically active – like taking a walk
    • Managing your thoughts and feelings with the help of CBT
    • Talking to someone you trust
    • Getting the most from your sleep – like avoiding screen-time an hour before bed or getting out of bed and doing something simple until you feel tired again
    • Getting closer to nature
    • Planning something nice to look forward to.

The Every Mind Matters website has lots of NHS-approved tips and advice to help you ‘find your little big thing’. You can also get a free, personalised Mind Plan – a mental health action plan that provides practical tips to help you deal with anxiety and stress, boost your mood, sleep better, and feel more in control:

Every Mind Matters – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

New Sussex Cancer Centre – share your thoughts 

Plans for a new £155m Sussex Cancer Centre in Brighton are being showcased this month. 

A public exhibition is taking place at Royal Sussex County Hospital main entrance until 5 November, and you can ask questions during an online presentation on 23 October, 6-8pm. 

To support a planning application, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust wishes to engage with patients and public, as well as colleagues and organisations involved in the provision of cancer care and related services. 

To share your thoughts or find out more, please visit www.bdp.com/sussexcancercentre. The closing date for the consultation questionnaire is Sunday 5 November.  

 

Have your say on East Sussex County Council’s ‘Support with Confidence’ scheme

East Sussex County Council would like to know what people think about the plans to close the current Support with Confidence scheme and provide support in another way.

Support with Confidence accredits personal assistants and other care and support providers across East Sussex. The scheme is used by the public, adult social care teams and support organisations to find accredited support providers and services for clients.

If you’d like to take part, you can do so online: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/swcfuture

You can also get in touch with the Support with Confidence team if you have a question about the consultation or to share your feedback:

Please also contact the Support with Confidence team if you’d like a paper copy or easy read version of the survey.

The closing date for the consultation is 5 December 2023

Background to the consultation:

Continue reading →