Hospice is first in country to appoint mental health nurse as dementia cases increase

July 12, 2014   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia, Featured Article, hospice, mental health

A DURHAM hospice has become the first in the country to appoint a special mental health nurse to address the growing numbers of people with dementia.

Sharron Tolman has joined the staff at St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham City.

The North East’s first Admiral Nurse is employed by the hospice but will get clinical supervision through the Admiral Nurse organisation, which is supported by Dementia UK.

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Social work in Australia: virtual teams offer supervision

July 11, 2014   Carers, disability, Featured Article, internet, Older care, Social care

Technology offers an accessible and affordable way for rural and isolated social workers to connect, reflect and learn

Amanda Nickson

 
An old water-pumping windmill stands in front of an abandoned farmhouse in Gawler, South Australia. Photograph: www.corbis.com/Paul A. Souders

Social work practice in rural Australia faces high staff turnover, burnout and difficulties in recruitment and retention. A lack of supervision and professional development opportunities have been identified as contributing to difficulties.

My research describes the process of peer supervision in virtual teams in rural and remote Australia, based on a research trial over a 12-month period.

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How can social workers support unpaid carers?

July 9, 2014   Carers, Depression, disability, Featured Article, Social care

Social care professionals can help identify carers and link them up to support servicesSha

Timm Ranson with his son, Danny. ‘I always dread this job. I try and leave it as long as possible.’ Photograph: Timm Ranson/Guardian Witness

“Caring for someone you love is a real privilege fraught with sorrow,” said one contributor to our Guardian Witness project about unpaid caring. “And some self-pity, which is fought off relentlessly. For my wife and I as parents, it is a life sentence. We will be doing this until the day we die.”

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