Cornwall Council’s Post

After a week off with covid. I was glad to return to work to attend the Hertfordshire County Council Adult Care Services #FestivalOfPractice This is the first time in 8 years, I’ve been able to invested so much time attending the event. Simply because previously, I was too busy ‘working’ to concentrate on the importance of great practice. *Day 1* The 1st session: The impact of armed political conflict on people we support and our workforce by Prof. Shulamit Ramon. One thing I remember is a slide saying “We have a professional duty to provide support to anyone who needs it, even if they are a member of a group defined as the enemy” The discussion of #resilience #trauma #children It’s important that we know how to respond to the needs of people, those seeking sanctuary as well as professionals. There was plenty of research about the global minority. My 2nd session: from our legendary Dr Tanya Moore presenting: Relationships and Reciprocity - Where next for Strengths Based Approaches in Adult Social Care? All this time I thought I understood the terminology #StrengthBasedApproach🤦🏾♀️ Obviously as an Occupational Therapist this is our standard practice 🦸🏾♀️Therapeutic Use Of Self. It’s about relationships; these are important to the understanding of our people. #RelationalConnection it does not have to take forever to build a relationship with someone if you have the skills to build rapport.

The old adage holds true: “If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t effectively care for others.” Probation officers are exposed to repeated stress and trauma (both primary and secondary) throughout their careers. These public servants are required to perform standard “law-enforcement” functions, while also supporting rehabilitative efforts and establishing strong working relationships with formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. The job requires a unique knowledge of law and human behavior — and although the duties can be extremely rewarding — the position is also physically, mentally, and emotionally taxing. Probation officers serve as the “eyes and ears” of the court (or releasing authority) and they assume a high-level of responsibility for managing risk to the public and addressing the human service needs of persons realeased to the comminty. For perspective — in an 8-hour timeframe — a probation officer might: 1) Meet with a person under supervision to celebrate their success in substance use treatment; 2) Find housing and food options for a person who was just released from incarceration; 3) Draft a warrant for an individual who poses imminent risk to the community, and 4) Help a person on their caseload understand the impact of thinking on antisocial behavior (i.e., cognitive-behavioral interventions). Keep in mind, all this is occurring in challenging budgetary times where a general officer’s caseload can reach 100 people or more (depending on the agency’s size and location). Probation officers don’t get enough credit for the critical services that they offer to society — but I’m glad to see San Diego County prioritizing their well-being through formalized policies. I hope more agencies follow suit.

Research on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model of supported employment confirms that competitive integrated employment (CIE) improves the quality of life for people with #MentalHealth conditions. Explore the new Office of Disability Employment Policy Advancing State Policy Integration for Recovery and Employment (ASPIRE) issue brief looking specifically at IPS, an evidence-based supported employment model that helps people living with serious mental health conditions, including substance use disorders, succeed at work. bit.ly/3X5xK3k

Exciting new opportunities

For young adults aged 18-24 navigating life after involvement with the justice system, every step forward is a triumph. Our REAL Reentry program provides these young adults with a supportive network, offering assistance with job applications, access to education and training opportunities, career coaching, life skills and goal setting, peer-to-peer support, and more, all through the help of our dedicated staff. May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, and mental health matters, especially during transitions. Our Behavioral Health Advocates help participants identify and overcome unique barriers as they transition back to their community. They support young adults through trauma-informed care and mentoring as they work towards self-sufficiency. Additionally, we'd like to share some valuable resources offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Here, justice-involved individuals can access a toolkit of resources that informs employers, service providers, and workers about the opportunities and benefits of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals and offers support in addressing and overcoming the challenges associated with finding employment. 👇 https://buff.ly/3yrFdiO. If you or someone you know could use our help, stop by our offices or give us a call at 570-459-3854 (Hazleton office) or 570-822-1101 (Wilkes-Barre office). Let's get REAL together.

Come learn how to do intake with me!👋

"findings based on interviews over a 10-month period in 2021-2022 with 20 participants with experience of mental health-related police intervention in Australia." That's it, 20 people! This research is so flawed. Doesn't even mention if law enforcement receives proper training. The title of these articles can be so misleading. #mentalhealth #corresponse #lawenforcement #training

Employment is a powerful factor in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) as it offers recovering individuals a sense of meaning and accomplishment. The RECOVER (Recovery Employment Connections for Occupations, Vocations, and Employer Resources) program is designed to support individuals on that journey to finding continued success. Click here for more information: https://loom.ly/U9xAOiE #makinglivesworkbetter #LifesWorkwpa #RECOVER #LifesWorkImpact