by Carol Stewart | Apr 16, 2022 | Blog, Latest News
14 years ago today on April 16th I made a life changing decision. So you are probably wondering how can the lowest point in my life also be the highest point in my life?
Have you ever tried to climb one of those climbing walls, or tried to go up a hill only to keep going back down again, and you feel like giving up?
Well in 2008 the year my marriage ended, the year that the UK was in a recession, when I was struggling financially, and I had health challenges, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life, that was to set up my own company.
Many people at that time questioned my decision, and were not always very encouraging. There were some very difficult times ahead of me, I lost my home that I was living in for 10 years, and had to start again with two children to care for.
During my hardest of times I met and was supported by some very amazing people, who took a chance on me and my vision, and have remained form friends to this day, and have stood by me through thick and thin. On my darkest of days they were there, and on my brightest of days they were there for me.
You see just like that climbing wall that always got the better of me I could easily have given up, but I chose to continue because I have faith in what I want to achieve, faith in the vision, and wanted to be a role model for my children and to be able to provide for them, at the same time make a difference to those who I encountered on my journey.
The other day I facilitated a team building session, and I spoke about journeys. We spoke about how the team journey started, the continued journey and the final destination. Just like that team, my 14 years has been the most amazing journey. I have been blessed to have worked with some of the most amazing and inspirational people on my journey, some have stayed with me and some have moved onto other journeys, some were only meant to be with me for a particular part of my journey.
I started Chinara Enterprises to enable me to do the things that I am most passionate about, that I enjoy and to make a difference to the lives of others, be it through learning and development, consultancy, putting on live shows and concerts with the like of Junior Giscombe, Beverley Knight, or offering mentoring.
Chinara Team at Enfield
14 years and still still climbing that wall with the support and encouragement of so many people. Over the past 14 years Chinara Enterprises has worked with over 30 organisations, nearly 700 members, and over 1000 on our mailing list and growing each day !
Some of our biggest projects to date have been with the Local Government Association, where we are really proud to have developed and delivered the learning and development programme for the national Return to Social Work Programme for 3 years, as well as the Social Work Together Essentials programme.
RTSW graduation event
We have been at the forefront of discussions with regards to agency social workers learning and development, and are pleased to be engaging with Social Work England on supporting social workers in the independent sector.
We are immensely proud of our working relationship with Kings College London, Making Research Count, on the Return to Social Work Programme, Social Work Together Essentials as well as supporting agency social worker training.
Over the years the Chinara Enterprises team has expanded, and we now have a team of associates across the UK working with us on various contracts. People often ask me, how do you do it? ! If it was not for my amazing team, including Jame Blewett, Professor Jill Manthorpe, George Smalling, Shahilla Barok, Jan Carpenter, Jennifer Orgill, Jill Webb, Sarah Jones, Fiona Bryan, Toni Mitchell, Sue Skrobanski, Sue Conn, Andrea Goddard, Tosin Mason, my right hand person Stephanie Brown who has stuck with me for 14 years, my accountant, my insurance broker ,Lloyds Bank, my business mentor Michael Cheesman, my son and my dearly departed daughter, Beverley Knight , Orlando Gittens, Dj Bigger, DJ Munro, Everett Henry, Mi Soul Radio, Calvin Francis, Archie Dee, my Web team Delton Digital, Jade Consulting, Eli and Heather Thompson, Aadil Rasheed, Tony Matthews, Andy Franklin, Nigel Bee, Natty B, Kush Films, Sherry Ann Dixon , BeautyPac , Romero Bryan, Bryan Chambers, Angie Le Mar, Jahson, Don E, Hughie Crawford, ITV Meridian, BBC South East Today and BBC Radio Kent, to name a few ! Countless friends and family, all of this would not be achieved. Also had it not been for our many clients who took a chance on us, and appreciate what we do, we would not be where we are today.
So my message to you who are reading this is.. There may be times in your life when you are at your lowest point, do not give up, that point in your life can be the moment you decide to make a positive change, and make what was the lowest point in your life your highest one !
Stay blessed and thank you for reading
Going to finish up with one of my favourite inspirational songs from my dear friend and someone who I call family Beverley Knight
Thank you all !
by Carol Stewart | Jun 28, 2021 | Blog, Latest News, Uncategorised
In this edition
- Consultation on the health and well being of social workers. social care, nurses, midwives , allied health professionals
- Free live stream event
- Latest events
Consultations
Kings College London are conducting research to explore the health and wellbeing of social workers, social care workers, nurses, midwives, Allied Healthcare Professional’s (AHPs), in UK during the Pandemic to formulate recommendations for improvements.
They ran 2 previous surveys (Phase 1 May-July 2020 and Phase 2 Nov 2020-Jan 2021) focussing on overall well-being and work-related quality of life decreased across the health and social care workforce during the pandemic.
What’s happening now?
Their current phase 3 survey (May-July 2021) is again examining the quality of working life, mental well-being, burnout and coping of social care workers, social care workers, midwives, nurses, AHPs as they continue to work in the post-pandemic phase. They want to explore what’s changed over the last six months.
If you are a social worker, social care worker, midwife, nurse or AHP, who is currently employed (this includes working as an agency/bank worker) or self-employed in the UK during the Covid -19 pandemic (children’s or adults services and in any setting) then please share your experiences with by completing a short survey. Please click on the survey link below for further information on the study and the questionnaire to complete. This takes around 15 minutes to complete.
Please click here to see some further information on the study and a questionnaire which will take 15 minutes to complete.
This is a joint project between the King’s College London research unit and teams from Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Bath Spa University – it has full ethical approval.
Live streamed event
Last year I went live on facebook to talk about meeting the CPD requirements for Social Work England. I had a good response, so I have decided to host another one !
I will be sharing useful tips on how to meet the CPD requirements for Social Work England, as well as reflecting on the proposed changes to CPD standards.
Click on this link to watch live on 24th July
Latest events
All social workers by law have to maintain their continual professional development (CPD) on a regular basis. The CPD also needs to be recorded on their Social Work England account.
Chinara Enterprises has a range of CPD events and 1-1 services to support social workers maintain CPD.
Checkout our upcoming events. Chinara members benefit from huge savings on all events.
Why not take out annual membership and benefit from huge savings and special offers for members and free events. Click on this page to find out more.
by Carol Stewart | May 25, 2021 | Blog, Latest News, Uncategorised
Many of you who are on the Social Work England registered will have recorded and reflected on your CPD over the past year, and should be well underway in doing the same this year.
During the first year of their regulation of social work in England, they specified a minimum requirement of at least one piece of CPD, although they recommended recording at least 4 times per year.
On the website there are 2 versions of the template to record your CPD, some found the unstructured form easier to use.
They have also produced guidance for registrants who are not in direct front line practice, or currently not working.
As part of a series of reviews they are undertaking, Social Work England are carrying out a consultation on the CPD standards.
They are seeking views on the following :
- An increase in the number of CPD entries from 1 to 2
- Setting broad themes for CPD
- The proposed template for recording
- Social workers speaking with a registered social work peer as part of their CPD
- Changes to validation
- Measuring the impact
To take part in the consultation click on this link, the survey closes 5pm , August 11.
At Chinara Enterprises we have a plethora of resources and affordable, flexible CPD to help social workers meet Social Work England’s requirement.
Free events for our members.
We have some free bite sized 30 minute sessions for our members coming up. You can RSVP to these events if you are logged in as a member on the learning and development platform on this site.
The free 30 minute bite sized events we have coming up are:
Shefali Shah , Director of Kingsley Knight Training will be sharing 5 key legal takeaways from her recent publication A Child’s Legal Journey through care and the importance for social care professionals to keep up to date with the law.10/6/21 : 6pm-6.30
Subscribers to the site can get a special offer on the book, click on the event for more details
Developing Self Confidence : 30/6/21
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re probably right” Henry Ford
In this short taster session we will consider how our thinking patterns can impact on our self-confidence. And we will explore some of the confidence building tips and techniques that will enable you to take more control of your life.
If you are not a paid or registered member and would like to join, then contact us for more information, or visit our membership information on the site
Support to maintain your personal and professional development
We have a great range of learning and development events taking place over the next few months.
Group reflective supervision sessions for adults: 27th May for adults social workers
Understanding stress, pressure and burnout: June 1st
Group reflective supervision for child and family social workers: 9th June
Click on the latest events section of the website to see details of other events and to book your place.
To access the discounted rate for the events you will need to be logged in as a member. If you are not a member and would like to join, then sign up on the membership page
