Dear ,

 

The ACP’s COVID Response Team has started meeting again, and we are working on a number of initiatives which we hope will support members at this very difficult time.

As the number of cases rises again we face further months of uncertainty and disruption to our usual ways of working.

 

Just in the last few days the number of areas going into local lockdown has increased with the North East of England being the latest. Whilst we expect that the guidance we have already issued will help members in these areas we also recognise that there may be additional complexities that local lockdowns throw up, particularly for members in independent practice. We will be giving this further consideration at our next meeting.

There are many ways in which our personal as well as professional lives are not at all the same. It takes some thinking and effort to ensure that we have enough support to manage this additional emotional load we are carrying, when our usual sources of help are not available to us in the form they usually are. The ACP will continue to think about how best to support members: do get in touch if we can help.

ACP work discussion groups for supervisors
We hope you have seen that we are running groups for supervisors again, to help supervisors to think about supervision, group members’ own work, including thinking about working remotely and issues that arise in their work settings. These groups are not intended to replace regular supervision but to provide an additional support to supervisors. We are hoping that this will help supervisors and their supervisees as they grapple with the constantly changing situation in relation to COVID-19.

 

To sign up for one of these groups, please look under “Training and Events” on the ACP website, where they are listed on the “Current Events” page.

NHS services during and post-COVID
We have had news from the NHS Confederation about thinking going on the NHS system about how local systems should be re-built and the way health and social care are planned, commissioned and delivered. 

The latest report from the NHS Confederation  sets out in detail the key asks for mental health services as they prepare for the expected increase in demand following COVID-19. Mental health services and COVID-19: Preparing for the rising tide explores challenges that need urgent attention, including modelling and resourcing, suicide prevention, social determinants, system working, staff wellbeing and sustaining innovation. The report also calls for a cross-governmental approach to ensuring the mental health implications of policies are considered at decision-making level.

Government support for individuals, including emergency fund for people with mental illness
The Government has allocated £63 million in funding to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those with mental illness who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to coronavirus. The mechanism used by local authorities for distributing this emergency funding vary, but it is often through Local Welfare Assistance Schemes. Those struggling as a result of coronavirus can use this Government search tool to help identify what support is available from their local authority.

 

Research into services for babies and families
The Parent Infant Foundation is undertaking research exploring how local and national decisions were made about services for babies and their families during and immediately after lockdown. We hope to understand more about how and why babies' needs informed decision making and why there were local variations. If you can help, then please complete the survey here, which will take about 15 minutes.

ACP’s COVID-19 member forum – add your voice!
We invite members to exchange thoughts, observations, experiences and queries about living and working through the COVID-19 pandemic on our members’ blogpage. Thank you to the member in Cornwall who has got this off the ground!

 

Do add your thoughts – it is a forum for us to share our experiences, ask questions, share concerns.

 

To find the page, log into the ACP website and click on “Member Networks” and then “Member Forums”.

 

Do also get in touch with us at admin@childpsychotherapy.org.uk is you would like to comment on what the ACP is doing in relation to COVID or if you would advice on a specific issue.

 

 

Kind regards,


COVID-19 Response Team
Marie Bradley (Director of Scientific Development)
Francesca Calvocoressi (Director of Professional Standards)
Lydia Gilbert (Member Engagement and Administrative Officer)
Jo Goldsmith (Chair of Ethical Practice Group)
Eve Grainger (Lead of Employment Standards Group)
Leslie Ironside (Lead of Independent Practice Group)
Jessica Jarmon (Business Manager)
Jason Kaushal (Director of Training)
Julia Mikardo (Unite the Union)
Isobel Pick (Chair)
Kate Robertson (Vice-Chair)
Janet Shaw (Registrar)
Nick Waggett (CEO)