Day two – News digest of the ALLIANCE Annual Conference

Catch up on activity from day two of the ALLIANCE's first online and week-long conference.

Day two – Tuesday 8 September 2020 – of our first-ever online and week-long annual conference saw over 900 event attendees join six events throughout the day.

Today’s events 

The day began with a recorded interview on ‘GP’s experience of using Near Me during lockdown‘.

National Lead for House of Care at the ALLIANCE, Margaret McKeith, interviewed GPs Moira Kennedy, Ben Inch and Graham Kramer about their experiences of using the video consultation platform Near Me. The discussion explored how primary care across Scotland has been forced to quickly adopt new ways of working in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you missed this event, watch the recording on YouTube (this like will take you away from our website)

“It is really important that these new tools enhance our relationship with people, rather than undermines it.” Dr. Graham Kramer

The future of care in Scotland

This panel discussion explored COVID-19, the impact on social and unpaid care, and what needs to change and adapt in the future. Pennie Taylor chaired this live event joined by Deputy Chief Social Work Adviser Bill Alexander, Managing Director of Your Options Understood (Y.O.U) Dr. Danielle Farrel, Director of CCPS Annie Gunner Logan, Partnership Development Officer at the Coalition of Carers Shubhanna Hussain-Ahmed, and Chief Executive at Scottish Care Dr. Donald Macaskill. The audience heard from each speaker before the panel opened up for live questions. We asked the panel what the most important outcome would be of the Social Care Review and here is what they said.

Dr. Danielle Farrel would like to see more engagement from people at the centre, Shubhanna Hussain-Ahmed emphasised the need for something honest and radical, Bill Alexander wants to see practices that put people at the centre, Annie Gunner Logan encouraged everyone to stop treating people as commodities and Dr. Donald Macaskill would like recognition that the review may not have all the answers as we continue to learn from and improve services.

Watch the full recording on You Tube (this link will take you away from our website)

Encouraging community conversations on reducing gambling harm

The first event of the afternoon was presented by Programme Manager for Scotland Reducing Gambling Harm, Will Griffiths. Event attendees participated in a reflection exercise from which themes emerged around seeing gambling in the broader context of mental health and wider intersectional issues, and adopting a public health approach. The event looked at the need for more knowledge of treatment pathways among healthcare professional and other key groups including debt advisors, and concluded that a broader societal awareness would make it easier to address gambling harm as an issue.

‘Free Lunch Society’ – film screening followed by a panel discussion

Head of RSA Scotland Jamie Cook, kicked off the next event by introducing the film ‘Free Lunch Society’ before being joined by Director of the Manitoba Research Centre Professor Evelyn Forget and Jessie Golem, who has lived experience of basic income (CBI). Jessie Golem joined a basic income pilot in Canada and found it allowed her more time and flexibility to set up her own business, amid concerns that people can perceive it as being ‘lazy’. There were concerns raised by the audience on CBI, and Professor Evelyn Forget emphasises the need for a level of trust in citizens and insight to see how it works in practice. A key theme for the event is that basic income has to be given with choice and without discrimination.

“Fantastic discussion on UBI – coming out of COVID -19 the opportunities in making our systems better are made clearer by the day.  Thanks to the organisers”  @urbantudesign

Compassionate communities action learning: reimagining place, partnerships and the power of compassionate citizens

ALLIANCE Associate Director Mandy Andrew chaired this event which outlined the community development and leadership theories behind our innovative programme and shared the experience of participating communities from across Scotland. The attendees were introduced to the Compassionate Inverclyde project who co-produced a Compassionate Communities Active Learning Programme. Attendees were asked to reflect on recent experiences of compassion in their communities. Partnership working, empowerment, authenticity and courage were the key themes. The session was then brought to a close with a short exercise of kindness and compassion.

“Compassionate Inverclyde is not another service or about health professionals – it is about people in the community working away to make a difference to someone else’s life.”

Day two closed with an evening webinar ‘Reimagining the future of health and care with a WMTY conversation’

In partnership with colleagues across the globe including Norway, England, North America, Scotland and Portugal, this event offered great insight into applying the ‘what matters to you’ approach and achieving person-centred outcomes across health, social care and the voluntary sector. Storytelling is powerful and right at the heart of what we need to do to reform health and social care in the 21st century. To those passionate about change-making and facing barriers, remember that “leadership is not about hierarchies” and  “this change is not going to happen overnight but it will happen.”

“Lots to take away from this excellent session tonight” @Susan23Duffy

The tweet of the day

“Great to be part of this fantastic event – lots of fab discussion around compassionate communities. Lots of opportunities, some challenges, but mostly lots of kindness and compassion! Thanks @ALLIANCEScot #ALLIANCEConf20” @LifeDeathGrief

Feedback from day two

“Learned a lot from other people’s project experience in delivering a compassionate service. If there is a will there is way. To keep doing what we are doing, looking after oneself and taking care and not to have burn out and fatigue. Ask for help when needed and don’t have to do things alone – Partnership working.”

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