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International Women's
Day sees launch of new group to tackle 'harmful practices'
A new group which will work to
prevent and tackle harmful practices on Merseyside was launched to mark
International Women's Day.
The Merseyside Tackling Harmful Practices Group has been created by the
coming together of 2 existing groups; FGM Liverpool Group and the
Merseyside Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence Steering Group
supported by the office of Merseyside's Police Commissioner.
Under the leadership of Chair Lisa Cooper and Co-Chair Afrah Qassim and
supported by the Commissioner Jane Kennedy, the group will work to raise
awareness and prevent traditional harmful practices such as Forced Marriage,
Honour Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation in the region.
As part of their work, the multi agency group will work to raise the profile
of these important and sensitive issues both within the community and among
the organisations providing support services, making sure remain they in the
public spotlight and increasing and strengthening the support that is
available.
The group will also be on hand to act as an expert reference for
Merseyside based charities and community organisations that may encounter
these issues through their work, acting as a critical friend when help and
guidance is needed.
As part of their commitment, the group have set out their roles and
responsibilities, which includes developing and renewing the protocol around
Harmful Practices to ensure the best possible care becomes standardised
across the region, providing a forum for mutual learning among all agencies
and working to influence the regional and national policies and procedures
that are used when supporting victims of harmful practices.
The launch of the group came hours after members appointed the inaugural
chair Lisa Cooper, who is the Deputy Director Quality and Safeguarding
(Cheshire and Merseyside) and the Regional Lead for Safeguarding at NHS
England North.
Lisa said:- "On International Women's Day I was honoured to have been
nominated as Chair of Merseyside Harmful Practices Committee. Harmful
practices such as Female Genital Mutilation can have devastating effects of
women and girls and I therefore look forward to working in partnership with
all agencies and sectors to lead improvements in this complex and
challenging agenda."
Co-chair Afrah Qassim, who is Women, Children, Young People and Family Lead
at Liverpool Community Development Service and Co-Founder of charity Savera
said:- "I want thank the Commissioner for her hard work in
coordinating the process of the development of the Merseyside Harmful
practice group and everyone who nominated me to be the Co-Chair alongside
Lisa.
This is an exciting time and I can't wait to get the group started to
continue the development of this work across Merseyside."
Merseyside's Police Commissioner Jane Kennedy said:- "I'm delighted
that I have been able to work alongside a host of community safety partners
to support the creation of this really important group, which will lead the
way in supporting, advising and guiding the work that is done to tackle
harmful practices in our region and, crucially, support the victims.
Responding to cases of harmful practices requires great sensitivity and a
high level of specialist support. We know that there may only be 1 chance,
one window of opportunity, to speak to, and even save, a potential victim.
That means we need to get it right. If we don't, a victim or potential
victim, may walk out the door and, in the very worst cases, may never be
seen again.
By developing this group we are strengthening and increasing the support
that's available both to the victims and also to those who are on the
frontline of care, making sure they have the best possible advice and
guidance so they can act in the right way at the right time."
Among the priorities for the group are ensuring effective partnership
working across Merseyside; advising on processes and pathways and setting
minimum standards; improving early identification and prevention; providing
and reviewing safeguarding processes and pathways to improve access to
support; improving enforcement and prosecutions and making effective use of
research to inform practice. |
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Mental health service
has 'Veterans in Mind' in Cheshire and Merseyside
A specialist mental health service
for military veterans will officially launch next week with an event for key
stakeholders, charities and service users. 'Veterans in Mind' offers
bespoke mental health care and support to ex-service men and women in
Cheshire and Merseyside (excluding Liverpool). The event will celebrate a
new service brand which was developed in partnership with service users.
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) was awarded
the contract in November last year to provide mental health services for
veterans in partnership with the UK's leading mental health charity for
veterans, Combat Stress and S.A.M.S (Support and Management Solutions)
Armed Forces Community Support Hub.
Veterans in Mind work collaboratively with veterans, or their loved ones to
provide support and care with a focus on improving psychological wellbeing,
increasing social networks and long term recovery. Effective treatment is
offered to those veterans who may be experiencing psychological affects
resulting from their time as a serving armed forces member. These effects
can include depression, anxiety and problems relation to personality issues.
Lucinda Bolger, Clinical Lead for Veterans in Mind said:- "As soon as
you have served 1 day in the Armed Forces you are considered to be a
veteran. Some of those veterans are able to adapt back into the community,
where others need support in coming to terms with the impact of serving as a
member of the Armed Forces. We understand that getting on the road to
recovery involves more than just psychological help. We offer support to
veterans with housing, financial, and social needs in order to assist our
service users regain their confidence and adapt back into the community.
We can work alongside our veterans in order to help them re-build
relationships with their partners and families, if these relationships have
suffered as a result of their military experience. Working in partnership
with experts of veteran culture, our staff are able to relate to the unique
experiences of people who have served as an armed forces member. We can
provide the necessary interventions tailored to service users so that they
receive the best package of care that is right for them."
Paula Berry, Regional Operations Manager - Central at Combat Stress said:-
"We're delighted to be involved in this new service and think it will
make a real difference to the support available to veterans in Cheshire and
Merseyside. Our local community team will be working in partnership with
Veterans in Mind to provide veterans with mental health issues the help and
advice they need"
GMW has extensive experience of successful partnership working, delivering
specialist care in mental health services spread over a large North West
footprint. GMW were also 1 of the 1st mental health trusts to offer
courses to service users, families and carers as part of their innovative
Recovery Academy. The trust introduced a brand new course to its prospectus
this year entitled:- 'Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)'. This
course enables people to learn more about the condition including learning
about symptoms of the illness, types of interventions used and what support
is available. According to Combat Stress, the complexity of this disorder is
much greater in veterans compared to the general public. This course is a
valuable resource for veterans and their loved ones who want to learn more
about the disorder.
Next of kin appeal:- "Stephen Hopley"
STEPHEN Hopley from Caergwrle, a
village near to Wrexham, passed away, on Wednesday, 9 March 2016, at
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital. Now Liverpool Coroner's Office are
appealing for the public's help in tracing the family of a man from North
Wales who recently died. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding
his death. Anyone with information that could help trace Stephen's next of
kin is asked to call the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Patient Services
on:- 0151 600 1042.
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