SIAA E-Bulletin - Friday 3rd July
The Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance (SIAA) weekly e-bulletin
This week’s bulletin contains SIAA news, general news, training, events consultations and recruitment.
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SIAA NEWS
Elder abuse
training for independent advocates
As part of the Comic Relief funded elder abuse work, the SIAA are able to
deliver training on elder abuse for independent advocates. If your
organisation would like training delivered in-house, this can be arranged free
of charge. Past elder abuse training has provided a general introduction to
elder abuse, looked in detail at relevant legislation and explored elder
abuse advocacy dilemmas. If you would be interested in organising in-house
training on elder abuse then contact Vincent at the SIAA to discuss your
training needs. Elder abuse training as well as training and workshops on
issues of interest to independent advocates who work with older people, will be
organised for the Autumn. They will be advertised in futures issues of this
e-bulletin and on our website at www.siaa.org.uk Training on the
Human Rights Act and older people is currently being organised for September as
well as a workshop on the misuse of anti-psychotic medication. If you would
like to register your interest for these in advance please e-mail vfinney@siaa.org.uk.
Also, do get in touch if you have any other training needs relating to elder
abuse and older people's advocacy, or if you have any ideas for workshops.
GENERAL NEWS
Reducing Deaths from Killer Diseases
The Scottish Government has released an action plan on how to tackle heart disease and stroke in Scotland. Defibrillator machines could be installed at airports and railway stations in a bid to further cut deaths under a new action plan. To read the full action plan please click here.
Alcohol Related Deaths
New research shows alcohol-related illnesses could be killing one in 20 Scots - twice as many as previously thought. The study totaled the proportion of 53 different causes of death - ranging from stomach cancer and strokes to assaults and road deaths - in which alcohol consumption played a part, to show that nearly 3,000 deaths in 2003 were alcohol-related. This is double the figure for deaths from illnesses caused almost entirely by alcohol consumption alone, such as alcoholic liver disease. It means one Scot may be dying from alcohol-related causes every three hours. To read the findings please click here.
Hear on Advocacy
Deaf Connections advocacy service is for hard of hearing and deafened older adults and will provide dedicated communication support tailored to their individual needs. We believe that hard of hearing and deafened people should be able to have their say, stand up for their rights and challenge injustice. Your advocate will listen to you and find out what you want and need. Your advocate is loyal only to you and is on your side, they do not work for any public body. For more information please contact: Hear on Advocacy, Deaf Connections, 100 Norfolk Street, Glasgow, G5 9EJ, email advocacy@deafconnections.co.uk, telephone/textphone: 0141 420 2813 or SMS/Mobile: 07928 116 164.
TRAINING
The Poverty Alliance - Voices for Change, Creating Change
Voices for Change, Creating Change is a training course to help you get your voice heard and take action on issues that are important to you. Do you feel that there is a need for change in the communities where we live and across Scotland in general? Have you ever had something to say on an issue but didn’t know who was best to say it to? Ever wondered how decisions get made in the Scottish Government and who makes them? Then this training is for you!
- How to get your voice heard in the right places and the best way to do it
- How decisions are made, who makes them and how you can get involved
- What the Scottish Government is doing to tackle poverty and how you can be heard on issues that you think are important.
- Understanding what is being done on issues that you think are important.
If you work in a large organisation and you work with people who are affected by these issues and think it may be of benefit to them please get in touch. The next training session will be held on Monday, 13 July and Friday, 17 July 2009, from 10.00am until 4.30pm, at the Edinburgh Training Centre, 16 St. Mary’s Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SU. For more information see their website.
EVENTS
People First Parents Group
People First (Scotland) have a self-advocacy group for parents with learning difficulties.
This is a space for parents to come together to:
- Support each other
- Talk about being a parent
- Have a say in the support you get
- Push for better support for parents with learning difficulties
Anyone who is a parent is welcome to attend. The meeting will be held at The Adelphi Centre, Room 21, 12 Commercial Road, Glasgow G5 OPQ on Monday 24th Aug from 12.30 to 2.30pm. For more information please contact Kate Milliken on 07834 328821 or 01383 565264.
CONSULTATIONS
General Medical Council - End of Life Care Consultation and Events
Many thanks again to those who have responded or participated in any of the consultation events in Scotland or the London conference. You can listen to the speeches from the London conference and download a podcast from the chair of the working group Lady Christine Eames on http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/news_consultation/eol_care.asp. There are two weeks remaining in which to enter responses (consultation closes the 13th July) so please do pass this email on to any colleagues who may have an interest. We are very keen to gather as wide a range of views as possible. Please do note there is a short questionnaire on the consultation website which may be suitable for last minute responses! For general queries or more information on the consultation please contact Jackie Bell at jbell@gmc-uk.orgor phone 0131 525 8704.
PUBLICATIONS
Patients' Rights Bill for Users of the NHS in Scotland: Consultation Analysis Report
The Scottish Government launched a public consultation in September 2008 to seek views on the possible content of a Patients’ Rights Bill to be introduced in 2010. These reports present the findings from the consultation. To read the reports please follow the links http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/10131759/0 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/10131718/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/15155531/0
RECRUITMENT
Angus Independent Advocacy (AIA)
AIA will have a vacancy for a part-time Mental Health Advocacy Worker due to the retiral of the current postholder. A degree (any discipline) is desirable but equivalent experience is also acceptable. The postholder will support individuals affected by the Mental Health Care & Treatment (Scotland) Act 2003 and the post is for 20 hours per week – salary payable on the SJC scale points 27-30 (pro-rata of a 35 hour post). CV’s will not be accepted. You can obtain an Application Pack giving more details from 60 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1AW - call 01241 434413 - email to enquiries@angusindadvocacy.org - closing date 5pm 17th July 2009.
CONTACT US
Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, Melrose House, 69a George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2JG. Telephone: 0131 260 5380. Fax: 0131 260 5381. Email: enquiry@siaa.org.uk Website: www.siaa.org.uk
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