As part of the WY VCSE Power Events, recognising the significant and unique pressures facing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, Harnessing the Power of Communities (HPoC) are working with the West Yorkshire Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub to offer a dedicated VCSE Schwartz Round session.

This is an opportunity for VCSE colleagues working across West Yorkshire to take time to reflect on their experiences around the theme of: You can't pour from an empty cup. We know that for us as humans to effectively take care of others, we must first take care of ourselves, and how challenging that can be when working in the VCSE sector in the current context.

Tell your story

As part of these sessions, HPoC are looking for three storytellers from VCSE organisations that are comfortable to tell a story about something that has happened at work that has had an emotional impact on them around the current pressures they are facing. Requirements are:

• Each storyteller will meet with the trained facilitators beforehand to support them in being able to tell their story
• Each storyteller will tell their story for approx. 5 minutes in the session
• Each storyteller will receive some reimbursement in line with the WY VCSE Reimbursement Guidance

The type of stories that would fit the theme could be:

• Where you have supported someone who people might not think needed support – what happened to make you realise that they did?
• A situation where someone recognised that you needed support and gave it, when maybe you didn’t realise it yourself.
• Key message: Often caregivers are not care seekers with stories that help people come forward for help

 What are Schwartz Rounds?

Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where all staff, clinical and non-clinical, come together regularly to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare.

The purpose of Rounds is to understand the challenges and rewards that come with providing care, it is not to solve problems or to focus on the clinical aspects of patient care.

Schwartz Rounds can help people feel more supported in their jobs, allowing them the time and space to reflect on their roles. Evidence shows that staff who attend Rounds feel less stressed and isolated, with increased insight and appreciation for each other’s roles, and that in order to provide compassionate care staff must, in turn, feel supported in their work.

Other ways you can get involved with VCSE Power

The theme of January's VCSE Power events is focusing on supporting our workforce and communities through winter pressures and the cost of living crisis. We want this focus to highlight services that are available across the VCSE sector for our workforce and communities as we are going through these pressures so our communities feel they have somewhere to turn to.

This focus relates to many aspects of what our West Yorkshire people could be going through, some examples:

·        Health Inequalities

·        Winter Warmth

·        Suicide Prevention

·        Cost of Living

·        Stress in the workplace

Get involved by:

• Submitting content for the library of resources, about the services and activities your organisation offers relating to the above topics. You can send any content to info@nova-wd.org.uk. The deadline for sending content is Friday 6 January.
• Sign up to the events: WY VCSE Schwartz Round: You can't pour from an empty cup & Get to know the WY Staff Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub: VCSE Info Session