Celebrating our strengths
Awards and good news
Celebrating Pride at Copthorne Lodge
Copthorne Lodge hosted a vibrant Pride celebration, bringing together tenants and staff in a joyous and inclusive event. The festivities took place in June, featuring a special celebratory meal and a delicious array of Rainbow mocktails, symbolising the diversity and unity of our community. The dining area was adorned with colourful decorations, creating a festive atmosphere that resonated with the spirit of Pride. The kitchen team outdid themselves, preparing a delicious meal that catered to various tastes and dietary preferences. Lots of the staff got involved and not forgetting Louis the dog Copthorne's mascot. Sharon Mitchell, Assistant Manager said:
"The purpose was to remind people that we are an inclusive service and welcome people from all backgrounds. For older people in particular, they may still hold a fear of being prejudiced for their sexual orientation. Celebrating events like Pride shows we will not be prejudiced, nor will we tolerate prejudice from others".
Special celebrations were held at Eric Williams House to mark the 101st birthday of a proud Coventry woman Valerie Handley, born and bred in the city. Valerie has seen a lot of things many locals have only ever heard or read about.
Social Work Degree Level Apprenticeship Second cohort graduates!
Over the recent years, to meet increased demand in social care, the routes to becoming a qualified Social Worker has increased and varied. One of these is the Social Work Degree Level Apprenticeship, this is a three-year course, and the focus is on both academic and practice development. In 2019 Coventry Adults and Children's Services enrolled their first cohort of apprentices at Coventry University and have since continued to offer and support this opportunity. In 2023 our second cohort graduated. In 2024 we now have 8 staff undertaking or due to undertake the apprenticeship. We are also pleased to be supporting the Occupational Therapy Degree Level Apprenticeship with 1 staff member completing this year and another 2 undertaking the degree.
Celebrating the achievements of Adult Social Care staff
In November 2023 we held our 2nd event to celebrate the efforts and hard work of staff across the service. We were overwhelmed with the number of nominations received, the panel which was made up of a variety of staff had a very difficult job selecting the winners! Certificates were awarded for a range of work highlighting the vast scope of work the Adult Social Care teams are involved in. Many of the awards were celebrating the value of their co-workers with nominations from within the teams showing how valued and respected these people were within Adult Social Care.
Shared Lives Family went to Wembley!
A family that has come together as part of the Councils Shared Lives scheme put the flags out as they geared up for the FA Cup outing against Man Utd.
Rob, Bernie, Stephen, and Kerry have been brought together by the Coventry Shared Lives Scheme, which enables adults to live together in a family home where care and support are provided in a loving environment. Stephen and Kerry live with Bernie and Rob andhave developed a caring relationship for several years. Stephen and Rob are big Coventry City fans and have season tickets - going to every game whenever they can. Bernie at the time told us how important the Shared Lives scheme is:
It's a good scheme because you can make a difference that can change lives by giving people meaningful opportunities. You can enhance skills and you can live together as a family. Kerry helps in the kitchen, we cook together, and Stephen helps set the table. Kerry calls us a good team - we're a goo team together. It's especially nice for Stephen to go to Wembley.
Rob added at the time:
I've been a massive Sky Blues fan for years and going with Stephen has been great. It is such a perfect way for him to connect with more people. We love it and can't wait for Sunday.
Liane, Shared Lives Officer a the Council said at the time:
It's wonderful to work on Shared Lives and Stephen, Kerry, Rob and Bernie are such a lovely group to work with. As a Sky Blues fan I'm so excited for them all.
Find out more about Coventry Shared Lives call 024 7678 5339 or e-mail sharedlivesscheme@ coventry.gov.uk
Adults Services Wellbeing Week
Adult Services held a 3rd wellbeing week for Adult Social Care staff in February 2024.The week was organised as an opportunity to reflect on our own wellbeing and perhaps learn some new ways of looking after ourselves and our health. It was in recognition of the hard work, commitment and efforts staff put into their job. This was also a brilliant way of showing appreciation and value, by focusing an entire week on the importance of their well-being. There were a variety of sessions on offer which included virtual sessions focusing on learning new skills, boosting well-being and virtual yoga sessions and appointment-based sessions for nutrition and blood pressure/cholesterol levels. The foyer on the ground floor at Friargate held a daily sharing of well-being information including healthy eating habits, local resources, as well as Sky Blues for men with a focus on mental health for men and a healthy weekly planner. The week was well received, and the plan is for this to be an ongoing annual staff event seeking feedback from staff on how future events will be organised.
Principal Social Worker Annual Report
Most areas have a Principal Social Worker for Adults and Children’s, supported by national and regional networks. The Care Act 2014 says local authorities should make arrangements to have a ‘qualified and registered social work professional practice lead’ in place. In support of ensuring visibility for the role and celebrating achievements, our Adults Principal Social Worker, Andrew Errington, has produced a sixth annual report.