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Introduce ‘ bereavement first aiders’ in workplace, employers urged

Introduce ‘ bereavement first aiders’ in workplace, employers urged

Bereavement “first aiders” should be trained by employers to help people in the workplace who are struggling with grief, a charity has said. Research by Sue Ryder, which provides palliative, neurological and bereavement assistance, suggests the majority of UK adults are not getting any formal support after the loss of a loved one. The charity is calling for an “open, honest national conversation” about grief and has urged the Government to look into the availability of bereavement services. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
March 21, 2019
Connect with Neil online

Connect with Neil online

Please click on the relevant link below Facebook page Facebook Social Work Focus group LinkedIn Twitter YouTube channel Neil’s website The humansolutions website Information about Neil’s online learning community, the Avenue Professional Development Programme
Dr Neil Thompson
March 21, 2019
The Learning from Practice Manual

The Learning from Practice Manual

Are you involved in student supervision or other ways of helping people learn? If so, Neil Thompson’s The Learning from Practice Manual is for you. Neil has been involved in supporting practice learning for over four decades. This hands-on manual of practice guidance encapsulates his experience and expertise in a way that readers will find very helpful. Available for purchase along with many other books by Neil here or from the Avenue Learning Centre here.
Dr Neil Thompson
March 7, 2019
Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Aim for thriving, not surviving

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Aim for thriving, not surviving

Strange though it may sound, good enough sometimes isn’t good enough. Very often people are so busy that they will settle for getting things done to just about an acceptable standard and then start to focus on the next task, rather than get the first thing as far beyond ‘just good enough’ as possible. What we end up with then is mediocrity at best. There is a technical term for this: satisficing. This is a made-up word, derived from combining satisfactory with sacrificing. It refers to the tendency for people to settle for what is satisfactory and thereby sacrifice producing the best results possible. Freud captured this idea when he said that the good is the enemy of the best,…
Dr Neil Thompson
March 7, 2019
Autism – Should it be defined as a mental disorder?

Autism – Should it be defined as a mental disorder?

Getting the right support for mental health issues is absolutely vital for autistic people. Autism is not a mental health condition, but many autistic people develop separate mental health problems. Often this can stem from a lack of appropriate support, which means that autistic people can develop more significant needs. At the National Autistic Society, we have been campaigning for better mental health support for a long time. Our charity’s work has included pushing for quicker autism diagnosis, getting mental health support after diagnosis, and reducing the number of autistic people who are ‘sectioned’. Click here to read more
Dr Neil Thompson
March 7, 2019
Legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, say 90% of people in UK

Legalise assisted dying for terminally ill, say 90% of people in UK

More than 90% of the UK’s population believe assisted dying should be legalised for those suffering from terminal illnesses, according to an opinion poll that shows growing support for change to the law. A survey carried out by the campaign group My Death, My Decision (MDMD) also found that 88% of respondents considered it acceptable for dementia sufferers to receive help to end their lives, provided they consented before losing their mental capacity. The results have been released as the Royal College of Physicians polls its members this month on whether they back a change to the ban on the right to die. The Channel Island of Jersey has launched a review on whether to introduce assisted dying legislation. Click…
Dr Neil Thompson
March 7, 2019
Connect with Neil online

Connect with Neil online

Please click on the relevant link below Facebook page Facebook Social Work Focus group LinkedIn Twitter YouTube channel Neil’s website The humansolutions website Information about Neil’s online learning community, the Avenue Professional Development Programme
Dr Neil Thompson
March 7, 2019
The Learning from Practice Manual

The Learning from Practice Manual

Are you involved in student supervision or other ways of helping people learn? If so, Neil Thompson's The Learning from Practice Manual is for you. Neil has been involved in supporting practice learning for over four decades. This hands-on manual of practice guidance encapsulates his experience and expertise in a way that readers will find very helpful. Available for purchase along with many other books by Neil here or from the Avenue Learning Centre here.
Dr Neil Thompson
February 21, 2019
Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Negotiate expectations

Neil Thompson’s Lesson for Living – Negotiate expectations

When two or more people come into contact with one another there is already a set of expectations, social rules about how to relate to other people. These are part of culture. In addition, there are sets of expectations that apply to specific situations – consider, for example, the rules that govern buying something in a shop, ordering a drink in a café or a bar, and so on. Breaking these rules (jumping the queue, for example) can cause a lot of bad feeling and displeasure. But there is more to it than this. When you form a relationship of any kind with someone, a set of expectations specific to that relationship will quickly develop. Having these expectations is generally…
Dr Neil Thompson
February 21, 2019