We are pleased to announce that we have recently launched a new online session, 'Coaching Skills Interactive Bite-Size'. 

This short 1 hour 30 minute interactive session provides an opportunity to recap on the definition of coaching, key coaching skills and the GROW model.

This session is available for all staff across our health and care system, and is suitable for:

• Anyone who has completed a coaching course in the past and would like to refresh their skills
• Anyone who is new to coaching and who wants to learn more about what coaching is and the key skills that are required

Please note that the session is interactive and you will be asked to contribute via group chat and comments, there will also be an opportunity for personal reflection.

The session will take place via Microsoft Teams, and a link will be emailed to registered delegates a few days in advance.

There are currently three dates available to book, with more to follow soon:

• Thursday 24th September 2020, 9.30am - 11am
• Tuesday 20th October 2020, 9.30am - 11am
• Wednesday 18th November 2020, 9.30am - 11am

After more than 6 years, Professor Stephen Singleton has taken the decision to retire from his role as Director of our Learning and Improvement Collaborative and give up his regular work for the North Cumbria system.

Stephen has been a consistent champion for developing the health and care ethos of collaboration and ‘system’ working and his commitment to improving health and care services has never wavered, partly, as he says, because he and his family and friends are all users of those services so have a great interest in them being the best they can be!

Since the creation of CLIC in 2014, he has lead a number of developments in learning and improvement including:

• Initiating the first Learning Organisation Collaborative (LOC) Conference
• Developing the North Cumbria Coaching Network
• Spreading the word about modern improvement science and establishing the Cumbria Production System toolkit and method to reduce waste and add value to the people who use our services
• Enabling 90+ teams to successfully lead new innovation in their work
• Changed the language and practice of leadership in some areas and brought in new thinking (like ‘Relational Coordination’)
• Enabling access to leadership and improvement training and resources for over 6,000 registered users of the CLIC website

Stephen has always been a role model of our values and his compassionate leadership and collaborative way of working will be missed, but as he would say, our health and care transformation is not a sprint but an endless marathon. We would like to thank him for all he has given over the years.

Suzanne Hamilton, who has worked with Stephen and CLIC for a number of years, has joined NHS North Cumbria CCG by TUPE transfer, this will allow her to continue to lead the CLIC work in her role as Head of Improvement and Development, and continue to build on the Cumbria Learning and Improvement Collaborative with partners going forward.

In these unusual times we at CLIC have been developing new ways to give you tools to improve your ways of working.

We have created a video giving a flavour of 5S, not quite Bitesize training, more of a 'Nibble'. If you have 3 minutes to spare have a look at the below video, we can follow this up with more detailed training if you wish:

By Lisa Robinson, Learning & Improvement Coordinator with CLIC

Working from home during Covid-19 has been a change and quite a challenge for some, me included. I am sharing with you some of the techniques and routines which I put into place which have massively helped my personal wellbeing and resilience:

1. Having a designated space to work – Creating a small area at home that is a designated space for work. This not only helps you stay in the right frame of mind but also creates a clearer separation between your work and home life.
2. Routine – With not being in the office, routine may need to be adapted. For example I was used to background noise in the office, I have the radio playing quietly in the background which I have found helps. Sticking to office hours is also important, don’t fall into the trap of logging on early and finishing late.
3. Breaks – Plan breaks into your day and don’t take lunch at your designated place of work, a lunch time change of scenery and stretch of legs is important for our mental and physical wellbeing.
4. Communication – Not being in the office with other team members and learning to communicate differently was a challenge, not only due to not having the right IT technology and connectivity, but also learning how to work differently. Daily or weekly team catch-ups are critical for discussing progress on specific projects, collaborative working and checking team wellbeing. Virtual team meetings are ideal as this allows for physical interaction, we use Microsoft Teams which allows for sharing documents and that collaboration which is so important.
5. Virtual socialising – Being home alone was a change, but making time for them non-work chats with colleagues was crucial for personal wellbeing and resilience and maintaining strong working relationships, which are key to an effective team.

Please see below for a short YouTube clip on home working during Covid-19:

Also see the Kings Fund website which has some great information on working with others through Covid-19: www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/leading-through-covid-19#working-with-others 

CLIC offer a Wellbeing & Resilience programme which will be available shortly face-to-face and virtually via MS Teams. Dates will be released and advertised on our training and events page.