September 2023

6 September - Volunteering...it's the best!

The Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership's Local Area Coordination Team have been busy supporting adults with learning disabilities to volunteer at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.

The volunteers, who were based in George Square, played a vital frontline role offering a warm and friendly welcome to the many visitors from all over the world who descended in the city for the cultural experience of the championships.  And they weren't disappointed!

From helping with directions to taking selfies and assisting with photos, the team of 15 adults were answering questions and giving advice to the hundreds of people in George Square.

This is the third large scale sporting event in Glasgow that the LAC Team have carried out this role with the Commonwealth Games and European Championships proving a huge success.

Raymond Traynor, LAC Team Manager, said: "From the moment they stepped on George Square until the moment they finished, our volunteers worked incredibly hard to make sure the visitors to the city were assisted. 

"Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their roles and were proud to play their part in making these events so successful for our city. We all had great fun and made lots of new friends. We didn't want it to end.

"It's not just about being part of a major city event - it's about making a positive difference to the volunteers' lives.  It improves their self-esteem, confidence and physical and mental well-being.  They gain invaluable work experience which may lead to future volunteering roles or paid employment and helps them maintain and develop new skills.  It really makes them feel part of something special."

Raymond, and seven members of his team, supported 15 adults with learning disabilities to volunteer throughout the championships.

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: "It's wonderful to see our staff from the health and social care partnership helping support adults with learning disabilities to volunteer at the UCI World Cycling Championships in Glasgow.

"The team of volunteers have been based in George Square since day one, and have played a vital frontline role, offering a warm and friendly welcome, answering questions and providing direction and advice where required.

"It's great to see them in action and it's clear they are thoroughly enjoying their roles.  They are clearly very proud to represent their city this way. And so they should be.  They have done a superb job. Well done."

6 September - Do you know how to identify one?

National Hate Crime Awareness Week takes place next month from 14 to 21 October 2023. This year, alongside our partners, we will be participating by raising awareness of what a hate crime is and how to report it online -, through an external advertising campaign, events throughout the city and an internal online campaign .

Danni Glover, Hate Crime Policy Officer in Neighbourhoods, Regeneration and Sustainability  says: "According to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), 29% of all hate crime in Scotland was reported in Glasgow last year, with the largest categories being race and sexual orientation hate crime. That's only part of the picture - according to Stonewall, only one out of every eight hate crimes are reported to the police.

"This year, Glasgow's campaign is focused on making sure the public can identify a hate crime, and that they are aware of their options to report if they experience or witness one."

Activities

So, look out for daily posts on our social media drawing attention to each of the protected characteristics in multiple languages as well as BSL, and a new video produced in collaboration with LEAP Sports highlighting LGBTQ+ inclusion and how reporting hate crime can help the LGBTQ+ community. You'll also see our awareness campaign on the SPT Subway, in the Metro, on BT Hubs all over the city, and hear about it on GO Radio - and you may even notice a new set of screensavers across the council!

In addition to this we are  also taking our campaign out and into the community - you will find us answering questions at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, the Riverside Museum, and the Burrell Collection during the week in October..

Test your knowledge

Test your own knowledge by completing our GOLD training module on hate crime.

More information:

• Find out more about hate crime and how to report it at hatecrimeglasgow.org
• Find out more about National Hate Crime Awareness Week at nationalhcaw.uk
• For any queries about Glasgow's Hate Crime Awareness Week, email Danni Glover (on Outlook)  

6 September - Extended paid leave for parents with babies in neonatal care

New legislation is on the way to introduce statutory paid leave for parents of babies in neonatal care. Neonatal care is the type of care a baby born premature or sick receives in a neonatal unit.

This month the council approved a recommendation to provide paid leave to support parents of babies who need neonatal care now, ahead of the legislation, which isn't expected until April 2025.

To help families cope at such a challenging time, parents will be able to take much needed paid leave, up to 16 weeks, depending on individual circumstances.

Christine Brown Head of HR said: "I am delighted that this leave has been approved by the council ahead of any legislation. The HR team will now capture this decision in council policy and the support is going to be available with immediate effect. If anyone needs this support now, then they should talk to their manager and Service Strategic HR Team. I hope this arrangement can provide support to parents at what is an extremely worrying and stressful time.

"The council is fully committed to supporting its employees and this provision adds to the wide range of leave and flexible working arrangements in place to help employees balance their family and work commitments."

You can read the committee report here.

This new leave will be in addition to maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental, and parental bereavement leave and pay provisions (inclusive of early pregnancy loss).

Council's policy on leave and flexible working arrangements

This new type of leave will be included in the council's conditions of service and guidance will be provided to managers.

The council offers many leave options and flexible working arrangements which all staff can consider and discuss suitability with their line manager. You can read the full policy here.

Free and confidential wellbeing support

You should always discuss your circumstances with your line manager in the first instance. You can also talk to your Strategic HR team for advice. You can also use PAM Assist.

PAM Assist is a free and confidential life management and personal support service that is available to you 24 hours a day, any day of the year. To use this service, call 0800 247 1100 or visit the PAM Assist Portal or app: pam-assist.co.uk, sign up with organisation code GCC.

A wealth of information, resources and support is also available on our workforce wellbeing support webpages at www.glasgow.gov.uk/workforcewellbeing

6 September - #Safe Glasgow - important information on the use of council passwords

This year we have witnessed a staggering number of innocent customers fall victim to cyber-attacks, as hackers get more and more sophisticated in their methods to steal our personal information.

Well publicised worldwide cyber-attacks for 2023 have included X (formerly Twitter) having 220 million users email records stolen and then published online - when they refused to pay a ransom. Whilst in the UK, JD Sports breached information of approximately 10 million unique customers back in January - which included their names, billing and delivery addresses, phone numbers, order details and the final four digits of payment cards! As a result, all these customers are at risk of potential future phishing attacks and identity fraud.

Staying safe online - simple precautions

• When your personal information is stolen and published online, cyber criminals are quick to find out that many of the victims use the same password across multiple sites. This then easily allows them to gain unauthorised access to the user's other platforms - such as email and social media accounts and even auction sites.
• It is therefore critical that you understand the importance of using a different password for each of the websites and platforms you use/visit - to prevent this from happening.  

Your council passwords

• You are also reminded that under no circumstances should you ever use your council email address and network login password combination to register for a service on a non-council website.
• This could result in a massive cyber-attack on our council IT infrastructure should such a site be hacked - putting the lives of our staff and citizens at risk if sensitive information is stolen.  
• Your council login password should be unique and only ever used to login to our council network.

Remember:

• Your password should always be difficult to guess
• It must be kept secret and not shared with anyone - even a colleague
• You must not use the same password you use to log in to the council network on any other service or website
• You should not write your password down anywhere
• You should get into the regular habit of locking your screen, when away from your device, by holding down CTRL, ALT , DELETE and selecting Lock - to help keep information safe.

Staff support - to creating a strong password

• Please read our council  Guide to Managing Your Passwords for top tips and support on how to create memorable and strong passwords.
• For more staff support guides visit #Safe Glasgow

6 September - Tax Credits are ending. Get ready for Universal Credit

Tax credits are ending, and most people in receipt of these credits will need to apply for Universal Credit (UC) instead.

If you are in receipt of tax credits, look out for a letter called a Universal Credit Migration Notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining what you will need to do, and by when.  

If you are claiming tax credits and are aged 65 or over, DWP will write to you to ask you to apply for Universal Credit or Pension Credit, depending on your circumstances.  

You won't be moved automatically. It's important to act quickly and follow the instructions in the letter, otherwise your benefits will stop. If you are unsure about what this means for you, you should seek advice as detailed below.

To continue to receive financial support, you will need to claim Universal Credit by the deadline stated in your Migration Notice letter, even if you have just renewed your tax credits claim.

Helping you prepare now

We want to make sure that employees who are affected by these changes receive the right support and guidance needed to navigate the change.

There are plenty of things you can do to prepare, find out more about the support available to help you switchover.

If you are unsure about when to make your claim to UC, or you have received notification from HMRC or DWP and need assistance to understand what this means for you, you can phone Help to Claim on 0800 023 2581. This service is delivered by the Citizens Advice Bureau and are independent of the council.

If you require support to make your claim online, including uploading any documents this is available at Glasgow Life UC Hubs located in libraries across the city. Please see below for link to further information on UC hub locations:

www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/glasgow-life-universal-credit-support

Free and confidential financial and wellbeing support

PAM Assist is a free and confidential life management and personal support service that is available to you 24 hours a day, any day of the year.

To take advantage of this service, phone 0800 247 1100 or visit the PAM Assist Portal or App: pam-assist.co.uk - sign up with organisation code GCC.

6 September - Such an easy thing to do - it's life changing!

Our Chief Executive, Annemarie O'Donnell first started mentoring with MCR Pathways back in 2018. She decided to get personally involved after working alongside them to promote the initiative to our staff. Annemarie said "I was really impressed by the positive impact MCR was having on the city's young people and specifically by reports of increased attainment and improved confidence of those young people involved with MCR. Their approach and work have had an enormous impact on career paths and life achievements of young people involved with them.

"One of our council values is 'to be fairer and more equal, giving everyone the chance to flourish and improve their life chances and choices'; mentoring with MCR gives us a real opportunity to put this into practice. It provides an avenue for us to support young people in the city who need it the most - and it is such an easy thing for us to do - but it is life changing for the young people involved.

"I would encourage staff to consider getting involved as it not only benefits the young person but enhances your own personal skills.  As a mentor you will develop your listening and communication skills and your awareness of the challenges faced by young people today. Within your own network of friends and colleagues it is usually possible to identify opportunities that would benefit your young person, such as job shadowing or workplace visits. As a mentor, I get immense satisfaction seeing my young person grow in confidence and open up about their challenges and ambitions.

"If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a mentor, I would encourage you to please speak to your MCR ambassador. You can find their details on our MCR Staff Page. The council fully supports MCR Pathways and where possible staff will be given the time needed to meet with their young person. Why not have a chat with your manager and see how it could work for you."

Come along and find out more- in person or online...

MCR are hosting a staff information session in September, dates of the sessions are:

• Online - 12 September, 9:30am-10:00am on Microsoft Teams,.  Please email Donna Cunningham (on Outlook) to advise you will be joining.
  MS Teams link:Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 354 043 012 950 Passcode: Jjdh7n
• In person - 20 September, 3:30pm-4:00pm at 40 John Street, G1 1JE.  Please book in with Donna Cunningham (on Outlook)  as numbers are capped due to room capacity.  Attendees should please report to reception on the day.

6 September - Older people day care: a great way to spend the day - watch our video!

Did you know that we operate 10 day care centres for older people in Glasgow? Have you ever wondered what a day care centre is all about? Watch the Day Care in Glasgow video and find out what it's all about.

Our centres run Monday to Friday and provide older people in Glasgow aged 65 and above with practical assistance and a chance to socialise in their community with support from trained staff. These facilities are helping to relieve loneliness and enabling people to live more independently in their communities, by offering those who need a little more care and support a great way to spend the day.

All that attend the day care centres are assessed and given an individualised support plan to ensure that they're well cared for and that their specific needs are met. 

Mandy Downs, Meadowburn Day Care Manager said: "It makes me so proud to be able to welcome our service users. Day care services are not just for the person attending, they're also really important for the family to have some respite. Having the knowledge that their loved ones are looked after and happy is really important."

A typical day

A day care centre starts with a wheelchair accessible minibus picking the service user up from their house to take them to the purpose-built centre.

Upon arrival, a lovely spread of tea, coffee and toast is available in the dining room. After some refreshments, the service users are given the opportunity to decide what activity they want to participate in. This could involve making crafts, using a reminiscence box, playing board games, joining an exercise class, bingo, listening to music, watching a film and more.

Marie, a day care service user who has been attending the centre for over a year, said: "I come here three days a week because I stay in a block of flats so you hardly see anybody."

Once the morning activities have concluded, lunch is served in the dining room for all service users. The menu changes daily and caters to all diets and needs. 

Alec, a day care service user, said: "I've made new friends. I don't always remember their name, but I enjoy talking to them."

He added: "Before coming here I used to just sit in my chair all day and snooze, now I'm so happy to come here and do all the activities."

After lunch, more activities take place until the service users make their way back home safely. 

Every week at the day care centre is different as activities and events vary from day to day. The centres also organise outings such as a river cruise and museum visits.

Mandy Downs continued: "We notice a big difference in the service users who attend the centre. They become more independent, their spirits lift and their mobility improves."

The day care centres currently have vacancies available across the city.

Robin Wallace, our HSCP's Head of Residential and Day Care Services, is urging people to spread the word for those who might need a little more care and support to maintain their independence in their community. 

He said: "Day care centres are a fantastic way to ensure your loved ones are taken care of while maintaining their independence. We have 10 state of the art facilities that are ready to welcome new service users and make a difference in their life."

To access a day centre, you can be referred by a social worker, a relative, GP, or you can self-refer. For those interested in attending the centre, we may be able to arrange a taster day.

To make your application, or to find out more, visit www.yoursupportglasgow.org/daycare.

6 September - Know a young person aged 16-24 in Glasgow?

Do you know a young person in Glasgow who is maybe feeling overwhelmed, struggling socially, or just not feeling like themself? Togetherall is a safe, anonymous, online community to support their mental health - please tell them about this free and confidential service open to them.

Togetherall can be used for anyone experiencing concerns with their mental health, low level anxiety and depression, common life stressors or anyone who would like to gain community and professional support online 24/7 - to help enhance their own wellbeing.

It is an evidence based, clinically moderated, 24/7 online peer to peer Mental Health Community, commissioned by Education Services in April 2020, and it is freely available to young people aged 16 to 24 years who live in Glasgow. 

Please share this service with any young people you know in Glasgow - so they know what free support is available to help their wellbeing

You can read more about Togetherall