The Latest Bulletin

A key text for challenging ageism and promoting dignified practice. Dr Sue Thompson presents invaluable guidance on how to take care of older people in positive empowering ways that avoid common ageist assumprions and practices. This is an essential guide to good practice in eldercare. Available for purchase here or here  

Effectiveness in working with people relies to a large extent on being able to communicate successfully, to make a genuine and meaningful connection with the person(s) concerned. Distractions can get in the way of this (for example, a television being on during a home visit or noise coming from an adjacent room). We need to be tuned in to how problematic such distractions can be, and this is for two reasons. First, it makes it harder for both parties to ‘connect’ where there are distractions; and, second, if it is clear that you are aware of such distractions and you are doing nothing about it, both your credibility and your effectiveness go down significantly. So, having the presence of mind…

It is essential that we challenge ageism at every opportunity. However, many older people have told us that they find it difficult to recognise ageism, and are unsure what to do to challenge ageism when they encounter it. That's why we've developed a new guide - Taking Action Against Ageism - which provides a range of information about the different types of ageism and age discrimination people may experience, the ways that ageism and age discrimination can be challenged and the organisations that can provide help and support. Click here to read more

Welcome to the Spectrum magazine, one of the UK's largest collections of autistic art, poetry and prose. Created by autistic people, our content covers all things autism - from articles on ASD and aliens, to everyday reflections of life on the spectrum. Here you can download our latest issue in PDF format, subscribe to the paper version, or read the magazine online. Click here to read more

Employees could be faced with the passing of a colleague, family member, friend or even, someone they provided care for. It could be from a long-term illness, an accident, COVID-19 or perhaps from a sudden and unexpected health condition. For many employers it can be difficult to know how to respond and support employees through bereavement, you’ll probably be asking yourself, how do you support your employees? For some people, work is an important coping mechanism. It can be a distraction and provide a sense of routine during distressing times. Whilst work may be part of the coping process, it’s important for line managers to understand that they may not be able to perform at the same level straight away.…

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An essential resource for practice educators and study supervisors. Helping others to learn is a skilled job. This practical guide offers extensive advice and guidance on how to get the best results, whether in student supervision or any other process of helping colleagues to learn. Available for purchase here or here

In the people professions we will often come across people who are distressed, agitated or otherwise in a bad place. Often this will result in their being unkind or worse towards others, including ourselves – even though we may be doing our best to help and support them. They may swear at us, insult us or even physically attack us. Now, while such behaviour is not acceptable and should therefore not be condoned, we should also recognize that we would be wise not to take such matters personally. It is much more likely that they are taking their frustrations out on the role we occupy or the organization we represent or, ironically, may be venting their dismay and/or wrath in…

International Men’s Day in the UK is on 19 November every year (Thursday this year) – it is celebrated around the world in at least 60 countries. Every year, International Men’s Day in the UK is marked by more and more women, men and organisations across the country. Across November in the UK there is a Parliamentary debate, policy launches, employer days, community events, health days, business events, debates, student events, political events, gigs, conferences, competitions, comedy nights and charity fundraisers – the most anywhere in the world. There were over 200 events in 2018 – and even more in 2019 (plus #internationalmensday was the biggest Twitter trend in the UK on the day). 2020 will be even bigger! Click…

After the age of about 75, people tend to feel more anxiety, sadness and loneliness, and less in the way of positive emotion. Strategies to prevent or at least counteract these deteriorations are badly needed, and new research by a team in the US, published in the journal Emotion, has now identified one apparently promising strategy: so-called “awe walks”. As Virginia Strum at the University of California and her colleagues note, awe is a positive emotion felt by people “when they are in the presence of something vast that they cannot immediately understand”. A walk through a desert, a beautiful piece of art, a wedding — all of these things, and more, can lead to feelings of awe. Earlier work…