Gary Direnfeld

DECEMBER 14, 2023

My mom trusts all of us. If you operate a family business it is important to understand your wishes for succession so it is clear who will have what role in the company. I do know however, none of us last forever. I’m lucky. We get along in my family. I have two older brothers. We trust each other. Best gift ever.

Private Practice 147

Private Practice Consultation Mental Health Social Worker 147

My Brains Not Broken

JUNE 28, 2023

So, in the midst of a very busy time in my life, I wanted to reflect on the importance of slowing down. When we have a lot to do or change is imminent, it can feel like the world is spinning wildly around us. No, we can’t always take that moment when it’s ideal for us, but we do have that time and we should take it.

Mental Health 147

Mental Health 147

Social Care

OCTOBER 11, 2023

We’ve all seen those well-disguised emails and texts inviting us to click on a credible looking link. The Digital Care Hub has guidance and templates available on creating and testing a business continuity plan for data and cyber security. Access free Keep IT Confidential tools to use with staff.

Confidentiality 109

Confidentiality 109

Community Care

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

As social workers, how many of us are putting on our mask first? Not many of us. Rob Winfield, social worker, practice educator and learning and development officer, Hampshire County Council children’s services All of us around this table and in this room work in a strengths-based way with the families and the adults with whom we work.

Social Worker 274

Social Worker 274

My Brains Not Broken

JULY 28, 2022

It’s been years since I’ve been this busy, and expending that amount of social energy is taxing. Mental health might be a tool that some people can pick up and put down at a moment’s notice, but that doesn’t mean that’s what is best for us.

Mental Health 130

Mental Health Anxiety 130

Community Care

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

Home care ‘highly sensitive to volumes of care’ It warned that home care businesses were “highly sensitive to the volume of hours delivered”, both because of the costs of overheads, such as employing a registered manager, training and office rent, but also because of the impacts on care workers’ salaries.

Home Care 281

Home Care Hospitals Government Social Services 281

Social Care

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

Over the years, our small charity has gone from strength to strength, not just working in local communities but also with businesses and public sector organisations to try and make the world a more inclusive place. I believe that everybody can dance and do things they love no matter how other people define us.”

Disability 104

Disability Consultation Schools 104

The Guardian

AUGUST 2, 2022

As small businesses crumble, shelves get emptier and the care-worker shortage intensifies, life outside the EU is having a dire effect on many of us. When British politicians talk about Brexit and its consequences, they tend to adopt rictus grins and assure us that, by some miracle as yet unexplained, everything is going to be OK.

Adoption 98

Adoption University 98

My Brains Not Broken

JUNE 6, 2023

Most of the time, we’re so busy that our schedule ends up coming together on its own. But many of us are our own worst enemies, and we hold ourselves to an impossibly high standard. Many of us have forgotten how to rest; to be honest, I don’t know how many of us ever learned in the first place.

Mental Health 130

Mental Health Schools 130

Community Care

MAY 5, 2023

However, during Ramadan, I was struck by the realisation that the opportunity to start work early, grab a coffee and mould a routine around my busy work schedule was actually a luxury. If I was lucky enough during a busy working day to factor in a lunch break, I would use this time for afternoon prayers. The response was moving.

Social Worker 225

Social Worker Disability 225

Social Work Futures

MARCH 15, 2023

As a social worker…what I’m most interested in are the following questions: Can Chat GPT help busy professionals manage unwieldy tasks lists in ethical ways? A century of covid-19: What history tells us about the long-term effects of a pandemic. Worth a read. Social workers from around the U.S.

Welfare 228

Welfare Engagement Social Worker Interviewing 228

My Brains Not Broken

DECEMBER 20, 2023

One thing I’ve learned in the many years writing this blog is how our mental health is impacted by the world around us. We’re up against a lot, and the stress and frantic pace of this time of year can make us feel like we’re not doing enough.

Mental Health 130

Mental Health Depression Psychiatric Disorder 130

Blurt It Out

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. Brain Fog Is Smothering Us Brain fog can smother us.

Communication 52

Communication Psychology Engagement Schools 52

Blurt It Out

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. Brain Fog Is Smothering Us Brain fog can smother us.

Communication 52

Communication Psychology Engagement Schools 52

Community Care

JUNE 24, 2022

Departments are allowed to increase this to 3% if they can make a strong business case, based on progress against “key long-term priorities” Tiotto told Cafcass’s board meeting last month: “We can’t be in the position of having our pay as uncompetitive as it is. We need to get a business case through.”

Social Worker 272

Social Worker Government 272

Blurt It Out

MARCH 3, 2024

This can be hard for both us and our loved ones to understand. Though some of us can manage our anxiety to an extent, and consequently can leave the house occasionally ( though it can be exhausting ). Fear Of Panic Attacks For some of us the fear of having a panic attack when outside of the house can stop us from going anywhere.

Anxiety 90

Anxiety Paranoia Recovery Disorder 90

My Brains Not Broken

JANUARY 3, 2023

It’s nice to see what people were up to in a calendar year, and oftentimes we’re so busy with our day-to-day lives that it’s difficult to step back and see the bigger picture (FWIW, here is my 2022 in Review on My Brain’s Not Broken! ). My Approach to the New Year. Which leads me to my approach to 2023.

Mental Health 261

Mental Health 261

My Brains Not Broken

DECEMBER 28, 2021

As someone who celebrates Christmas, this past week was a busy one. The holiday season can take its toll on us in many ways, and while I tend to shine a spotlight on mental wellness during the holidays, there are other areas of wellness that are important to remember.

Mental Health 246

Mental Health 246

My Brains Not Broken

SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

What doesn’t matter to us one year could be monumentally important the next, and so on and so forth throughout our lives. I used to think that learning new things about myself was more cinematic. But most of the time, I have these moments when I’m busy with something or someone, and I’ll have those moments.

Therapist 130

Therapist Anxiety Engagement Mental Health 130

Prosper Health Collective

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

Did you know Mental Health conditions result in around 12 million days of reduced productivity for Australian businesses annually” A healthy workplace can improve staff morale and productivity, resulting in fewer conflicts and complaints. Advantages to the Business. The post How can EAP help my business? Improved morale.

Confidentiality 97

Confidentiality Mental Health 97

Community Care

SEPTEMBER 15, 2023

Adult social care funding: a complex picture The £40m is part of a complex funding picture for adult social care in 2023-24, which includes: Core funding for local authorities from council tax, business rates and the government’s settlement grant.

Hospital Discharges 229

Hospital Discharges Hospitals Government Disability 229

MQ Mental Health

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

With so many of us being active online and new social media platforms popping up frequently, is social media good or bad for mental health? Mariana Bolivar, Research Lead, MQ Mental Health Research Mental health research in this area has already been incredibly useful in guiding policy and intervention.

Mental Health 96

Mental Health Engagement Disorder Anxiety 96

Prosper Health Collective

DECEMBER 4, 2023

While for many Christmas and the festive season are a time for joy and a time to connect with family and friends, for some of us this period can bring up other feelings, sometimes around loss of a loved one or difficult family relationships. Managing our feelings around this time of year and checking in with ourselves is important.

Engagement 89

Engagement 89

Save the Social Worker

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

my supervisor used to drive me to the clients we would visit. One day, we were really busy. Many of us join social work wanting to make that kind of impact. Too few of us think about the way we type. An example of a kanban board you can use, arranged top down by priority. This is a wasted opportunity.

Social Worker 246

Social Worker Administration Social Services Social Services 246

Community Care

JUNE 5, 2022

That puts us in a very strong position to maintain the additional capacity we have put in place over the past six months or so for the rest of this year and to really push now on reducing our reliance on locum and agency workers as we go forward and increasing the proportion of the workforce that is permanent,” said Freeman.

Social Worker 308

Social Worker Interviewing Welfare Mental Health 308

Community Care

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

“That’s probably true of all social work qualifications when you’re doing it alongside a busy role,” he says. It has been a very positive experience for us,” says workforce development manager Gill Paul.

Social Worker 219

Social Worker University Communication Social Services 219

American Board of Clinical Social Work

JULY 17, 2023

I’m working on re-shifting my life-long process of self-sacrifice for the cause of serving others.To focus on helping myself.And find joy again.Have you found yours?

52

52

My Brains Not Broken

JULY 21, 2022

Sometimes that’s because life is moving fast and I’m too busy to sit with my feelings. While we do face challenges that are unique, those challenges are also endless – they will continue to be there for us to face our entire lives. Regardless, nothing improves until I acknowledge these feelings. Take the first step.

Mental Health 130

Mental Health 130

MQ Mental Health

NOVEMBER 23, 2023

While it seems to start earlier each year, with Thanksgiving celebrated this week (23 November) and Diwali last week (13 November), the holiday season is undeniably upon us. Quite a few of us struggle with our mental well-being during the holiday period. During busy festive periods, routines are easily disrupted. What helps?

Mental Health 52

Mental Health Self-harm Empathy Anxiety 52

Blurt It Out

AUGUST 2, 2023

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. BRAIN FOG IS SMOTHERING US Brain fog can smother us.

Communication 52

Communication Psychology Engagement Schools 52

Blurt It Out

AUGUST 2, 2023

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. BRAIN FOG IS SMOTHERING US Brain fog can smother us.

Communication 52

Communication Psychology Engagement Schools 52

Blurt It Out

AUGUST 2, 2023

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. BRAIN FOG IS SMOTHERING US Brain fog can smother us.

Disorder 52

Disorder Communication Psychology Engagement 52

Blurt It Out

AUGUST 2, 2023

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. BRAIN FOG IS SMOTHERING US Brain fog can smother us.

Communication 52

Communication Psychology Engagement Schools 52

Blurt It Out

AUGUST 2, 2023

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. BRAIN FOG IS SMOTHERING US Brain fog can smother us.

Communication 52

Communication Psychology Engagement Schools 52

Blurt It Out

AUGUST 2, 2023

is a question many of us are familiar with. Many of us automatically respond with ‘fine thanks, you?’, It’s the response we heard the adults around us trot out each time they were asked how they were; they probably learned it from the adults around them. BRAIN FOG IS SMOTHERING US Brain fog can smother us.

Depression 52

Depression Communication Psychology Engagement 52

Social Care

MARCH 10, 2023

What positive changes can technology help us achieve? For many care providers the first step to digital transformation is the move from paper-based care planning to using digital care records. Decent internet connectivity is essential for any business these days and that applies to care businesses too.

Confidentiality 93

Confidentiality 93

Community Care

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

This affects all of us.” Only a handful of directors have any confidence they may be able to get through the winter with the funding they have and the care workers available locally. We were fearful in the summer; we are fearful now. This leaves major growth, particularly in adults’ and children’s social care, totally unfunded.

Hospital Discharges 256

Hospital Discharges Government Disability Hospitals 256