News Archive November 2019
Universal Credit Advice Project
Mind in Croydon is now offering an advice service aimed around supporting Croydon residents with Universal Credit claims. Started in October 2019, the service offers advice and support from the point of claim up to and including the Work Capability Assessment.
From one-off advice to ongoing support from the team, our Welfare Rights service is here to support with your Universal Credit Claim.
Through collaboration between National Mind and local Mind organisations, this project aims to achieve the following dual objectives:
- To support people with mental health problems to navigate the Universal Credit system, to ensure they can access the income they’re entitled to; and
- To gather data and insight to inform and strengthen Mind’s national campaigning efforts to make the benefits system work for those it services.
How to access support?
Referrals or advice can be sought by leaving a message at 020 8763 2037, or by emailing universalcredit@mindincroydon.org.uk.
Please note that we do not operate a drop in service for this project.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 25th November 2019
Choir Concert
On Wednesday 18th December the Songsations are holding “A Songsational Seasonal Surprise”.
Join them for a Christmas sing-a-long and a mince pie and help raise money for Cruse Croydon and Mind in Croydon.
This will be held at St John The Divine Church Hall, Upper Selsdon Road, CR2 8DD and starting at 7.30pm.
Tickets are £8/£5 concession (cash only) and under 16’s go free with a paying adult.
Visit songsations.net for more info.
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 18th November 2019
Carers Rights Day
We are hosting a Carers Rights Day with the theme of “Dealing with Professionals”.
There will be information, stalls and presentations from St Christopher’s, Mind in Croydon’s Advocacy on carers rights when their loved ones are in hospital and Mind in Croydon’s Counselling Service on Assertiveness for Carers and how to have your views heard.
For more information contact Carers Support on 020 8688 1210 or carers.support@mindincroydon.org.uk.
Based at Fairfield House, 10 Altyre Road, East Croydon, CR0 5LA
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 13th November 2019
PPF Donates Computers to Mind in Croydon
On 31st October there was an official unveiling of the new computer room at Fairfield House. The room will give members access to first rate IT which will help them in so many ways from improving their skills and confidence on-line to being able to deal with on-line benefit claims. The room has been made possible by the donation of 30 computers from the Pension Protection Fund as part of their on-going support for Mind in Croydon. As well as the computer room at Fairfield House, staff at Mind in Croydon received upgrades to their office machines. Chair of Mind in Croydon, John Pestell, said, “It was a great pleasure to see PPF at Fairfield House once again helping Mind in Croydon. Their generosity know no bounds and we are so pleased with the gift of computers which allows us to offer our clients the very latest in technology. That said PPF do so much for us above and beyond this gift and that it is greatly appreciated by all at Mind in Croydon. Thank you.”
Simon Liste, Chief Technology Officer at the PPF said: “It was truly amazing and so rewarding to see the happiness and excitement of those that use the Mind Hub, when the computer room was unveiled. It makes us proud and honoured, as an organisation to be able to help Mind in Croydon in their journey and purpose”
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 7th November 2019
Advocacy Steering Group Volunteers Required
Have you used Mind in Croydon’s Advocacy Service, or any mental health advocacy service?
- Would you like to volunteer your time to participate in a steering group that will;
- Monitor project activities against plans?
- Review project processes and procedures
- Provide vital feedback for the team from a service user perspective
- Would you be willing to attend at least 4 formal meetings a year?
Mind in Croydon’s Advocacy Service is looking for volunteers to participate in a new steering group. If you would like to express your interest in this role we would like to hear from you.
Please contact advocacy@mindincroydon.org.uk with the subject ‘Steering group’ or call 0208 763 6730 and ask to speak with the manager about this opportunity no later than 15th January 2020
Author: Cat Ayres
Posted on: 5th November 2019
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Mental Health Personal Independence Co-Ordinators
* £26,491 per annum FTE
* Fixed term contract until 31 March 2023
Full time
* 36 hours per week (worked standard office hours, five days a week Monday to Friday but including some evenings and weekends as required for which time off in lieu will be given)
* Based at the Mental Health Wellbeing Hub in Central Croydon and out and about in the community
* Opportunities to work flexibly from home where agreed
Mind in Croydon and the Croydon BME Forum have formed an exciting new partnership, the PIC Partnership to deliver this innovative, explorative project.
We are looking for 6 x Mental Health Personal Independence Co-ordinators (MHPICs). Three will be employed by Mind in Croydon and three by the Croydon BME Forum. These roles involve working directly within the new Integrated Care Network Plus areas (map below) right across the Borough and with clinical partners, including local GPs, in multi-disciplinary teams. As one of our enthusiastic new MHPICs you will be the direct named key worker for a set number of people within the newly formed Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub. You will enable people to develop their own Personal Recovery Plans and support them directly to find and access the support and services available to them in their local community. You will ensure that people are enabled to identify their own goals, needs and wishes and are empowered to achieve them.
To help us deliver this ground breaking project, our MHPICs will be skilled, knowledgeable and empathetic. They will enjoy working with people in a person-centred way. They must be flexible and adaptable in approach and be comfortable working in an integrated, whole-team way with people and professionals across the statutory and community health and social care system.
Mind in Croydon is a registered charity operating for over 50 years, with approximately 40 employees. Croydon BME Forum is the umbrella organisation for Croydon’s Black and Minority Ethnic voluntary and community sector; engaging people, building capacity, and promoting equality and cohesion. Both the BME Forum and Mind in Croydon are equal opportunities employers and welcome applicants from all groups. Details of employment benefits for each organisation can be found by downloading the Terms of Employment documents in the application pack below.
Interviews will be online and are likely to take place on Monday 22, Wednesday 24 and Friday 26 February.
Application pack can be found at: www.mindincroydon.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/
Closing date for return of completed application forms to: The Head of HR, Mind in Croydon Ltd, 26 Pampisford Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 2NE is Monday 8 February 2021 by 9am. For any queries, call the Head of Human Resources on 020 8668 2210 or e-mail admin@mindincroydon.org.uk.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE.
Mental Health Wellbeing Hub Team Manager
* £36,427 per annum FTE
* Fixed term contract until 31 March 2023 (with potential to extend)
* Full time
* 36 hours per week (worked standard office hours, five days a week Monday to Friday but including some evenings and weekends as required for which time off in lieu will be given)
* Based at the Mental Health Wellbeing Hub in Central Croydon and out and about in the community
* Opportunities to work flexibly from home where agreed
Mind in Croydon and the Croydon BME Forum have formed an exciting new partnership, the PIC Partnership to deliver this innovative new project.
We are looking for a Manager for this interesting and varied post. You will be responsible for 6 x Mental Health Personal Independence Co-ordinators (MHPICs). Three will be employed by Mind in Croydon and three by the Croydon BME Forum. The Manager (who will be employed by Mind in Croydon) will have the opportunity to shape the role and the team. Your team will consist of the 6 MHPICs we are recruiting now and there will be the opportunity for up to a further 5 Mental Health Support Workers/volunteers to come on board as the project develops. The role involves working directly within the new Integrated Care Network Plus areas (map below) right across the Borough and with clinical partners, including local GPs, in multi-disciplinary teams. You will have a refreshing and enthusiastic approach to operational design for this ground breaking, explorative work. You and your team will support people to identify mental health and wellbeing goals, and empower them to develop an action plan/Personal Recovery Plan within set targets and performance parameters. The individuals you work with will have a range of mental health and wellbeing issues, including some complex and/or enduring issues.
The ideal candidate will be a skilled, knowledgeable and empathetic person, who enjoys working with people in a person-centred way. They must have substantive previous operational and/or project management experience, excellent communication skills, be resilient, flexible and adaptable in approach and be effective working in an integrated, whole-team way with people and professionals across the statutory and community health and social care system. Ideally they will have previous experience of managing and developing new teams using innovative systems to achieve challenging goals.
Mind in Croydon is a registered charity operating for over 50 years, we have approximately 40 employees. Benefits include an auto-enrolment pension scheme, 28 days holiday pa (33 after 5 years) and the opportunity to work for a genuinely flexible and ‘family friendly’ organisation. Staff are given every opportunity to train and are encouraged to develop. Mind in Croydon is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all groups.
Interviews will be online and are likely to take place on Monday 22, Wednesday 24 and Friday 26 February.
Application pack can be found at: www.mindincroydon.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/
Closing date for return of completed application forms to: The Head of HR, Mind in Croydon Ltd, 26 Pampisford Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 2NE is Monday 8 February 2021 by 9am. For any queries, call the Head of Human Resources on 020 8668 2210 or e-mail admin@mindincroydon.org.uk.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE.
CROYDON TRADING STANDARDS – Fake NHS texts re COVID vaccine
A dangerous fake NHS text has been circulating, telling people they’re eligible to apply for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Clicking on the link (URL) takes you through to an extremely convincing fake NHS website that asks for your personal details. The site requests bank/card details in order to ‘check your identity’. We know that criminals will use the confusion and urgency around the pandemic as a way to target potential victims. Please do not click on any links such as these.
The full article published by ‘Which?’ can be found at conversation.which.co.uk/scams/scam-nhs-covid-vaccine-text-message/.
If you are an older or vulnerable person and have actually been the victim of a fraud please call 101 and request to report to a police officer. Whilst many frauds are now reported over the phone to Action Fraud – any vulnerable person should be reporting directly to the police.
Virtual Coffee Morning
Both the Asian Resource Centre and the BME Forum want our Croydon community and beyond to be well-informed and listened to in regards to the covid-19 vaccine, as well as the effects of 2020 on our mental health.
A virtual coffee morning based around the topic of Mental Health and Social Isolation.
Date: Wednesday 13th January 2021
Time: 11am-12.30pm
To book your FREE ticket visit the Eventbrite Page at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-coffee-morning-mental-health-social-isolation-tickets-133366309221....
Dr Vaishali Shetty (Governing Body GP Member Croydon CCG), Dr June Brown (Friendship Bench Project), Susan Underhill (Programmes Director, Age UK) and Tanya Kirrage (Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, SLAM) will be joining the chat to answer any questions you may have.
Mind in Croydon’s Active Minds Service remains open to referrals. We are delivering the service via remote means including telephone and online platforms Visit http://ow.ly/nzis30qMxyO for more information #Croydon
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