Gillian Findlay

An upcoming workshop on 22 January will introduce and explore the core practice of mentalising as a way of practitioners managing their own emotional states and connecting with children and young people through curiosity, empathy and validation. ow.ly/2Zo250QgNyV

Analysing the data as I go has helped to build on themes and check them out with new participants as I go along. I am continuing to seek social workers, or people who used to be social workers, who have experienced the sudden or unexpected death of a child client.

There's still time to join us for this year's Leaders' Forum, taking place online on 19-20 October. This year, we'll explore the idea of system resilience, discussing how a resilient system can enable us to deliver better support and services. ow.ly/rMTb50PTLZO

This year for #NationalGriefAwarenessWeek 2023 we will be asking everyone to get involved in the campaign and host a #BetterTogether Cafe event in your community. Between the 2nd - 8th December, we would love charities, support services, businesses, and individuals to put the kettle on, come together and share a cup of tea to raise awareness of the support available to those grieving in the local community 🍰☕️ Our Cafe Packs will be available to order from next Monday, 16th October , so start planning your events and let us know when you have details/links and we will share. #bettertogether #NGAW23

Thankyou @drkathrynmannix 🟣 Grief is a lonely experience. It's even more isolating if friends and colleagues, worried about saying 'the wrong thing,' simply stay away. 🔵 How could we do better? Well, here are some suggestions. They are all based on feedback from bereaved people, and taken from 'Listen.' 🟣 Don't avoid us. Please make contact. We don't have the energy to initiate contact, but we want to feel connected. 🔵 Say our dead person's name. Tell us your stories about them. Give us new glimpses of them. 🟣 It's awkward. We know. Don't let that get in the way. Be awkward and turn up. It's OK to say 'I don't know what to say.' 🔵 Don't give us platitudes, or try to cheer us up. Just be with us in our sorrow. That's how we feel right now, but company sometimes helps a bit. Try 'I'm sorry you're so sad' if you need to say something. 🟣 Don't ask us how we are. The world has changed so much we can't answer a question as big as that. Try 'How are you just now?' or 'Do you feel up to a chat today?' or 'It's good to see you.' 🔵 Offers of practical help can be welcome. Thanks for walking my dog, taking my bins out, bringing me a meal for my freezer, or calling from the supermarket to ask what I need. 🟣 When we're coming back to work or re-joining social activities, some of us would like support. Don't guess: ask us whether we want a card and flowers or just 'business as usual' on our first day back. Make it easier for us to get back into familiar routines. 🔵 Listen. Let us tell our stories, the sad ones and the happy ones. Sometimes, we want to connect to happy past events, other times we want to share our current sorrow. 🟣 Keep on checking in. Don't stop after a week, a month, a year. Grief has no time limits. Remember important dates if you can, but random contact is appreciated, too. 🙏🏽 Big thanks to my talented colleague Monica Lalanda for making this fabulous graphic from my book. Isn't it a great way to convey a message? @wmcollinsbooks

Join us on 4 October for an hour-long session that will explore the benefits of reflective supervision for practitioners, their organisations and the people they support. ow.ly/vPke50PJbz3

Be sure to join us on 1 November for a session exploring strengths-based approaches to practice with adults. This session will share key messages and signpost to useful Research in Practice resources. ow.ly/hVwQ50PJbnx

Be sure to join us on 4 October for an hour-long session that will explore the benefits of reflective supervision for practitioners, their organisations and the people they support. ow.ly/skFV50PAJn2

Hello! We're looking for adults with a positive genetic test for #Huntingtonsdisease who have noticed feelings of irritability. We're offering £20 for attending an interview. Please email me on tt196@leicester.ac.uk if you have any questions. Thanks! @HDA_tweeting #research #hd

Take a look at this new animation introducing statistical methodology research and describes why PPIE is important to this type of research and how public contributors can help. Learn more and watch the animation here: learningforinvolvement.org.uk/content/resour… @LeicResearch @ARC_EM @Stats_PPIE

What is evidence-informed practice? In our latest podcast, @dez_holmes, Director of Research in Practice, explains what evidence-informed practice is, why it’s of particular relevance to the social care sector and what it means for practice and leadership. ow.ly/6LES50PxfrK

Are you working in children's services in Scotland? Yesterday @ALLIANCEScot opened a Children's Services Reform Research Study: Workforce Survey aiming to inform Scottish Government decision- making. Find out more and complete the survey here: alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/news/chil…

Today, is the 4 month countdown to this year's National Grief Awareness Week & we are excited to share our new 2023 logo for the campaign! It's our 5th year to raise awareness of the impact of grief and loss, on a national platform - 2-8th Dec. @goodgrieftrust #BetterTogether

Peer reflection means having a conversation with another professional about something you have learnt in a way that changes your social work practice. An interactive webinar on 26 September will explore what peer reflection is and why it's so important. ow.ly/sm4M50PnA6Z

📢One month left to apply for the next training date for our Motivational Interviewing Overview: Working with substance use, trauma and mental health taking place on 3rd October! Apply at portal.scot.nhs.uk

We are thrilled that @sathNHS is one of the first hospitals to join our #SitwithHope campaign & have ordered 25 plaques. We are creating a map of all benches in the UK, to ensure those grieving can sit & find the #helpandhope they need wherever they live @JulesLewis6 @ema28 ☂️

Thank you to those who submitted an abstract to run a parallel session at @NHS_Education's #NESBereavement2023 conference on Tues 28th Nov. The deadline for submissions has now passed but there is still time to submit a poster abstract. Info here – bitly.ws/F8ej

Seeking participants for research exploring experiences of irritability for people living with Huntington's disease. Please email tt196@leicester.ac.uk if you're interested or have any questions. Please like and retweet! #HuntingtonsDisease #HDA #TeamHD @HDA_tweeting @AwarenessHD