Doing our very best to make a difference

by Rachel Bundock, Compass CEO

A very warm welcome to May’s edition of Compass Points. I can’t quite believe we are nearly half-way through the year already!

This month’s news was full of wellbeing advice as part of mental health awareness week, and it was great to see how services got involved locally to raise awareness and get people talking and thinking of practical ways to help themselves and others. As we know, it is often the simplest of things that come at no cost that can make the biggest difference to our lives and how we feel.

I particularly loved reading about Richard and Clive’s fantastic achievements as it reminds us that we all have such valuable lived and diverse backgrounds, interests and experiences that add real value to our work as professionals supporting children and young people. And the wonderful photograph of Deborah with her first grandchild – at the heart of who we are as people and all that we do – is the importance of family, in its many shapes and forms, and the value of belonging.

In wider news, I am delighted to announce we have received confirmation that Compass will be implementing and delivering 4 new mental health support teams in Birmingham. The new service will go live in September. In addition, SMT has been working hard on developing its substance misuse and emotional wellbeing model for children and young people based on our learnings in Warwickshire CYPDAS, Tower Hamlets Safe East and other emotional wellbeing services. We’ve submitted a tender in Dudley, and we wait to hear the outcome. A huge thank you to everyone involved in working on both tenders and models. It’s great to see new opportunities coming through which allow us to demonstrate the breadth of our holistic expertise through integrated delivery models.

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Positive Effect trains British Army on military drug use regulations

Compass Positive Effect has developed and delivered training modules for the British Army.

Our Compass Health and Wellbeing Training Officer Danielle Grant was joined by Stuart Haste, who manages Warwickshire CYPDAS and Harrow, in delivering British Army Substance Misuse Modules to nine military training officers, representatives from the Tri-Service Compulsory Drug Testing team and an Army Medic. The officers, armed with the knowledge, are now, in turn, training soldiers.

The online training modules for the Army were to educate delegates (new recruits):

1. Around the Military Laws and regulations regarding drug use.
2. Into the types of illegal substances and how they can impact the mind and body.
3. Into the use of legal substances and the risks, as well as how they can impact the mind and body.
4. About healthy behaviours and promote wellbeing for the mind and body.

Danielle said: “We’re proud to be able to support the British Army in delivering training. We were able to provide knowledge with the benefit of real, ongoing experience in tackling drug and alcohol issues with young people across the UK.

On the first day, Danielle was joined by Stuart Haste, who leads our Warwickshire Young Persons’ Drug and Alcohol Service and our Harrow substance misuse service for young people.

Danielle said: “Stuart contributed ideas and his knowledge around illegal and legal substance use / misuse in the planning for module 2 and 3 and was able to discuss issues and answer delegates’ questions.

“Stuart was fantastic and shared his wealth of knowledge, answering all their questions and providing valuable statistics and up to date information around illegal and legal substances.”

Danielle went through the different modules and then supported the training officers to practice their delivery of the modules in front of the other delegates “to build full understanding and confidence”.

She said: “By the end of the week, every training officer had delivered the modules back to the group and shown a great enthusiasm for the topic. They also all agreed to set up an internal ‘WhatsApp’ group in order to share best practice ideas, offer support and network opportunities as they onward deliver the modules in the May intake of new recruits.

Stuart said: “In all my years of working in Mental Health and Substance use, I have worked with many ex-military personal with PTSD and substance related issues.

“The opportunity to support and educate military staff was gratefully received. The officers were receptive and very open to discussion and evidence-based research.

“I did some myth busting around the spiking of drinks, supported knowledge transfers around stimulant use, cocaine and alcohol. I’m looking forward to future sessions. It was a great day and I felt that the military would like future sessions with Compass.”

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Coventry Staff go green for Mental Health Awareness week

We all wore green to raise awareness for Mental Health awareness week, writes Samantha Dunkley.

“We had a drop in with lots of professionals on Tuesday 16^th May at the Council’s building in Coventry so all the agencies were able to speak to each other and also we were able to speak to other professionals about our service.

“We all found it highly beneficial and look forward to working all together to help the Children and Young People of Coventry with their Emotional Health and Wellbeing.”

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After all, it’s all about children and families…

Our very own Deborah, from Compass Coventry, shared this beautiful picture…

Deborah Ellis-Johnson, Clinical Lead at our Coventry service, has welcomed her first grandchild into the world. Baby Nyla is adorable. Nanny Deborah says she is bursting with love and said she is feeling extremely blessed & proud…

Nyla was born on 23rd May, weighing 9lb, 4oz.

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May has finally brought with it some warmer weather; a few less rainy days has actually made it feel like spring at long last.

The longer days mean that getting outside and enjoying the sunshine and participating in fun activities and days out with friends and family is much simpler and more appealing, which is great for ensuring our wellbeing. Taking a long walk with a friend in the sunshine is actually ‘Be Active’, ‘Connect’, and ‘Take Notice’ all in one activity.

This month, I would like to offer the suggestion of ‘Keep Learning’. The longer days give us the sense of more time for ‘living’ as well as for all our other commitments. So, the evenings present a little bit of time in which you could dedicate your wellbeing to a new or existing hobby. If you have enjoyed spending time in the garden, why not learn some of the plants’ names or those of the bugs and mini beasts that frequent the garden; can you name all the butterflies?

I know I have gorgeous roses – but I had no idea there were so many types!

How about joining a club in the evening which is new to you: Zumba or Yoga; there are a lot of new moves to learn in these clubs. Perhaps something more challenging like climbing or ice skating could fill an hour of your time?

Getting out of the house can be difficult, especially for those with young families; so it might be something you could start or learn about at home. You can get the family involved too.

Learn a new card game, or chess. They’re always a great ways to connect with the family and reduce screen time as a useful by product.

Perhaps you like baking? You could expand your culinary skills and go for some adventurous recipes or bakes; and everyone loves it when a family member makes cakes.

There are so many options for fun things to learn and do. It doesn’t even need to be a new thing. Re-learning, improving and practicing also gets the brain working and the feel-good hormones released. Feeling achievement and success is a particularly good way to improve feelings of wellbeing.

Therefore, practice your golf swing, practice changing your bike tyres, practice baking soufflé, practice knitting – there is always room for learning, growth and improvement.

So spring into action and let the bright, light and cheery days motivate you to work on your wellbeing.

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I would like to give a shout out please to Helen and Jamie I would like to say a huge thank you to Helen Scouller and Jamie Delerict our amazing bereavement counsellors here @CompassBe who have worked hard to ensure we provide support to YP in Barnsley that do not want to access 1-1 counselling – Both Helen and Jamie have developed a group intervention to meet the needs of the YP ensuring that no one gets left behind- You both have made this a success and your commitment to ensuring that our YP continue to feel heard and valued and supported continually inspires all – Thank you x

The management team @ Compass Be would like to give a huge shout out to our Healthy Relationship Practitioner Kirsty Taylor who continues to work hard in ensuring we have presence across our social media platforms from supporting awareness events/days that are happening across the country or events that are happening more locally within Barnsley and Compass. Kirsty also continues to develop and provide resources and  support packs for CYPF after any feedback following workshops and groups – Your commitment Kirsty and dedication to the promoting the amazing work through our social media platforms does not go unnoticed also by your colleagues we are all so grateful for you knowledge and expertise – thank you x

Michelle Eyre – Team Leader, Compass Be

Can I say THANK YOU to the Chesterfield Changing Lives Team who have been amazing at setting up Whole School Approach activities in the Chesterfield area and recently delivered an fabulous workshop, which was really well attended, to parents on how they can support their young people around exam stress.

Karen Newton-Skyrme – Supervising EMHP, Compass Changing Lives MHST

I would like to say a big thankyou to Chantelle Ross who has been in Compass just over 2 months and has hit the ground running. She is solution focussed in every situation and works really hard to make a difference both for the service and for Children’s lives – what would we do without you?

Sue Berry – Assistant Director – Operations, Compass Changing Lives MHST

A massive thanks to the Safe East Tower Hamlets team for all their hard work while we go through a transition. It doesn’t go unnoticed. 😊

And… A thank you to Rich (Thomas), Stu (Haste) & Sue (Cody), for supporting me to settle into my new role. Much appreciated. 😊

Victoria Jones – Service Manager, Compass Safe East

Can I say a huge thank you to all my friends and colleagues in Compass Changing Lives for all the support they have given me during my recent time off to take part in the Coronation of King Charles III?

Richard Cooke – Supervising Practitioner, Compass Changing Lives MHST

I would like to say thank you to Kirstie Hanson. I really appreciate all your support and guidance over the past years. We will miss your smile in the office! Good luck in your new role in Wakefield, you will be AMAZING!

Thompson Charuma – Trainee Education Mental Health Practitioner, Compass Be

I would like to thank Kirstie Hanson on behalf of the Barnsley team. She has stepped in for emergency cover of our Branching Minds service, and has really gone over and above in supporting our two new admins into their role. Her support for the whole Barnsley team has been amazing, on top of her already brilliant work over in the Wakefield team. Juggling two positions, she really does make it seem easy, and we appreciate the extra work she has put in to support our services.

Laura Angel, Team Leader, Compass Be

I would like to thank Jenni Cave from the Connect for health Rugby team for all of her support through all the changes that have happened over the past few months – She has tried to maintain staff morale and been there to guide and support through the uncertainty 😊

Suzanne Wurr, School Staff Nurse

We would like to say a massive well done to Gemma Sholicar for passing her Supervising Practitioner course, well done Gemma, we knew you could do it! From Anne, Mia, Kim and Claudia

Huge congratulations to Sophie Blake and Lizzie Gill for passing their EMHP course and becoming qualified EMHP’s! Well done to both of you 😊 From Anne, Mia, Kim and Claudia  

Mia Leyland, Team Leader, Compass Bloom

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SMT Update

SMT did not meet this month whilst it focused on progressing various internal projects, business as usual activities, implementing Wakefield and business development.

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HR Update with Donna Wilson

HR Team Changes

Anna Tiffany, Alison Walmsley and Emily Cuthbert (all interims) have left us, and we’ve recently heard from Fie Beaumont, that after more than nine years, she has secured a new role outside of Compass. We’ll be very sad to see her go but we wish her the absolute best with her new job. 

We have some great new starters too, Lisa Hoole, HR Administrator, and Danya Altimman, HR Advisor have both joined us recently, I’m sure you’ll join me in welcoming them. If you need their support, please continue to email the HR Inbox as usual for HR queries, and the recruitment inbox for all recruitment and on-boarding.

Policy Updates

• Non-Paid Roles – updated to include people who volunteer
• Anti-bullying and Harassment
• Mobile Phone Policy

Eploy Upgrade

A software upgrade took place on 17^th May. In summary the key changes are:-

• Hiring Managers will have the pipeline view which HR currently have making it much easier to just pick up and move candidates details through the recruitment stages.
• Hiring Managers can select another approver if they are away from the office.
• There will be QR codes for vacancies which candidates can scan and it will take them directly to the role.  We will be able to use this when advertising roles on social media platforms.
• There is an improved address picker so when candidates type in their post code on the system it will be quicker.

No action is required you will just notice an improved view when you log into the system.

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You can now get in touch with staff looking after Compass Points via our new email address. It’s compasspoints@compass-uk.org.

Compass Points email address.

You can get in touch with staff looking after Compass Points via our email address. It’s compasspoints@compass-uk.org.

If you want to say thank you please remember to start the subject line with Just Say thanks

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Charity worker shopping discounts

As prices rise in the shops, this may help…

Discounts are available to charity workers and volunteers. All you need is your name, postcode and the charity you work for.

Click the image to learn more.

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Compass Awareness Days Calendar for 2023

The Compass Awareness Calendar for 2023 is our most comprehensive yet and has new sources including the NHS. Please take a look to see what’s coming up in the next month or two and through the year.

Tell us your news…

The deadline for stories, messages and pictures for the next issue is
Midday, Friday, 16th June. Please send all submissions, including thank yous, to compasspoints@compass-uk.org