Social Work with Deaf People, Promoting Deaf Mental Wellbeing Conference

Thursday 18th March 2010 – 10.30am to 4.30pm. Jean MacFarlane Building, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. For Social Workers with Deaf People and related professionals this conference is a great opportunity to meet colleagues, share best practice and learn about the specialist issues relating to providing Social Services for Deaf people. The programme is of relevance to professionals throughout the UK and across the full age spectrum. The programme will include a strategic overview of Social Services for Deaf People across the UK supported by workshops and presentations on Promoting Positive Identity and Self Esteem amongst young deaf people; Safeguarding Deaf Children; Individual Budgets for Deaf people; Pathways to and from Specialist Mental Health Services and the Care Programme Approach; Dementia and Deaf People; and a workshop on developing a Social Worker with Deaf People 'Tool Kit' to support professionals in their work. For further details and to book your place go to the Events Page

London Healthy Deaf Minds Meeting

The next meeting of the Healthy Deaf Minds London Group will be on Wednesday 3 February 2010 at the Small Meeting Room, Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London (opposite Euston Station). All meetings are on a Wednesday at Friends Meeting House, Euston. Starting at 6.30pm and finishing at 9.00pm. Full communication support, tea & coffee are available. Entrance fee is £5.

North East Healthy Deaf Minds Forum

Friday 15th January 2010. 12.30 – 2.30pm. Southlands Centre, Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 0HB.Understanding Advocacy: What is it? What is available in this area? Deaf Presenter; Frank Essery, Senior Advocate – Sign Health. Communication support and light refreshments provided. For any more information contact: Text/SMS 07794372492 Email: [email protected]

Sense & Sensibility, Responding to deaf people with intellectual disability Conference

Monday 10th May 2010 East Midlands Conference Centre, University of Nottingham. Neil Glickman, the international expert on working with deafness and intellectual disability, is making a rare visit to the UK this summer. He will deliver a keynote address at our one-day conference: Responding to deaf people with language and learning challenges. This unique conference examines the issues that services for deaf people who have intellectual (learning) disabilities should consider and affords a rare opportunity for people involved in this field to network. Sign language interpreters will be present.

Conference Speakers: Sally Austen - National Deaf Mental Health Service, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust. Sue O’Rourke - Clinical Director, St George’s Healthcare Group. Sara Rhys-Jones - Learning Disability Service, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Cardiff. Jennifer Clegg - Associate Professor & Honorary Consultant Clinical Psychologist, University of Nottingham. Kevin Baker - Learning Disability Service, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust & National Deaf Mental Health Service, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust.

To register for a place at the conference please contact: Susan Hooper Division of Rehabilitation & Ageing, B Floor, Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. NG7 2UH [email protected] 0115 8230426

Counselling with deaf people who have language and learning challenges Workshop with Neil Glickman

Tuesday 11th May 2010 East Midlands Conference Centre, University of Nottingham. Neil has presented well-received workshops in the US and Oslo. He will work intensively with a group of people through activities that cover: Preparations for treatment including assessment of cognitive skills within a developmental framework, and their motivation to engage; Adaptations of cognitive behavioural therapy for this client group, including visual, experiential and narrative approaches; Strength-based interventions with people who function poorly and behave badly; Developing coping and conflict resolution skills.

To register for a place at this workshop please contact: Susan Hooper Division of Rehabilitation & Ageing, B Floor, Medical School, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham. NG7 2UH [email protected] 0115 8230426

Online support for Deaf people in Scotland

A new service started as part of Breathing Space Scotland this BSL online service is for BSL users who feeling down, depressed or have poor emotional feelings and are looking for the first step of getting support or someone to talk to: www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk

Lottery Grant for Deaf Health Research

There has never been an extensive survey carried out into the health of deaf people. But this is about to change following an award of £492,692 by the Big Lottery to SignHealth, the healthcare charity for deaf people who will lead the project on behalf of a group of over 60 deaf organisations. The award has been granted by the Big Lottery Fund Research Programme Committee and will fund a UK comparative study into the health of deaf people. Small scale studies in the UK show that deaf people have significantly worse physical and mental health than hearing people and experience considerable difficulties in accessing healthcare and health information. However there is no definitive research despite deaf people being a high risk group. The project will run for three years and will build on a first round survey that the team at SignHealth are undertaking over the next few months. SignHealth will be managing this research project and it will be delivered in partnership with Bristol University, supported by an expert research advisory committee. Deaf people are encouraged to register to take part in the research through the SignHealth research site www.iwantbetterhealth.org.uk