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Swan Family: Positive Spaces for Contact
Positive Spaces for Contact The word ‘positive’ is crucial to the service we provide for families at our Swan Family Contact Centres, where the children have been placed into care. Up until this point, the families experience in life would probably be described as ‘negative’. Our Contact Centres are the first step towards a brighter new future for both the children and their families. Positivity is paramount to the process being a success. A positive contact experience does not happen by accident; behind each contact session, a very careful planning process has taken place. The word ‘positive’ is crucial to the service we provide for families where the children have been placed into care. Up until this point, the families experience in life would probably be described as ‘negative’. Our Contact Centres are the first step towards a brighter new future for both the children and their families. Positivity is paramount to the process being a success. A positive contact does not happen by accident; behind each contact a very careful planning process has taken place. In most cases, families are referred to us by a Social Worker after the breakdown in the parents’ ability to keep their child safe. For the child, this is an anxious time where everything they had known has been turned upside down. Therefore it is essential that our Contact Centres offer warmth and safety with the real possibility of new beginnings. Our Contact Centres represent the start of a positive new future for our families, without judgement. A Supervised Contact is not always an easy situation for people to be in or understand. Imagine carrying out a routine task that requires little or no thought, and imagine this again with the pressure of a stranger observing you completing this task. It would be a daunting prospect for many of us, feeling ‘under the spotlight’ in this way. This could make you feel uncomfortable, uneasy, or even angry. Our centres are designed to take these feelings and pressures into consideration. We endeavour to make your experience as comfortable as possible for all of our families. We are confident from our services and the feedback we receive, this is achievable. We aim to achieve postive spaces for contact through 3 key avenues: Our Staff Our Centres Our Facilities Our Staff Our Family Contact Centres are managed by competent staff who have extensive knowledge of the development of children. They also have the awareness of the possible psychological effects both the children and families may be experiencing, and the ability to empathise with them. Although we may not be able to directly relate to each individual situation, we do our best to pre-empt any signs of negativity during each contact, as this is a very emotional time for families. Our Centres Our Family Contact Centres are tailored to meet the needs of our families. Rooms are themed and provide scope for the families to relax, play and enjoy their time together. Each room is designed with families and their needs in mind, offering different backdrops to spark imagination and enthusiasm. They are also designed to give each family the privacy they deserve during their time together. Our Facilities All of our contact rooms have comfy sofas and bright décor that creates an ambiance of fun and positivity while families can enjoy valuable time together. There is at least one shared kitchen at each of our Contact Centres providing an opportunity for families to share a meal together. Meal times are an important social time for families and we positively encourage baking, cooking and eating together to help build broken bonds. These meals can be eaten within the kitchen, or taken to the contact room you are utilising for privacy. Each Contact Centre is equipped with games for all age groups from very young children to young adults. They are yet another opportunity to focus on activities that promote sharing and conversation during the contact experience. We are dedicated to providing positive experiences for the families who visit us by providing a welcoming, bright environment where everyone is treated with respect. When so much negativity has been experienced, we pride ourselves in making the difference in the lives of the families we support. The bright chairs, decorative walls and a warm greeting offered by a member of our dedicated team, welcome you to our Contact Centres. Prior to your first visit, each family’s needs will have been carefully assessed and a contact tailored to them will have been planned. Behind the transition from reception to a private room there has been a wealth of thought by our experienced Managers and Social Workers. Each room has a different theme and you could find yourself transported to any number of new worlds within the Contact Centre, each providing a safe and happy environment. Our first room ‘Lots of Spots’, is a good ‘all round’ room that lends itself to larger family groups and with its own kitchen just next door and a large table it is ideal for a family meal to be eaten around or maybe a board game to be played upon. For the teenagers our ‘Graffiti’ room is a space with bright, bold graphics on the walls and comfy beanbags to relax on. The ‘Over The Rainbow’ room invites you to a world where the colours aren’t limited to seven. There is room to share a book on the sofa or on the beanbags. ‘Monkey Magic’ is a room for our younger visitors with an array of toys and activities that will keep even the hardest to please occupied. ‘The Owls Nest’ is a room designed with our baby visitors in mind, where plush comfy play mats litter the floor invitingly and soft music plays from the hanging mobiles to create peace and tranquility for babies and their family to relax in. And last, but not least, grab your flippers and snorkel and dive into ‘Sea World’, a fantastic room that creates the feeling of truly being under the sea without water. Tropical fish swim leisurely across the walls, and the comfy sofas make a perfect resting place to reflect. All of these different ‘worlds’ offer a different experience but with several things in common, they are all comfortable, warm and bright. ‘Have Hope, Be Strong, Laugh Loud and Play Hard, Live In The Moment, Smile Often’ is just one example of the inspirational messages across our walls. Our Contact Centres are designed to offer the security our families need as they take their first tentative steps forward, adjusting to the new life ahead. It is with pride that we take these steps with them and make the time they share together the best and most positive it can be. For More information about our services do not hesitate to contact us using the enquiry form below. Or you can download a copy of this article as a PDF here Positive spaces for Contact.pdf Size: 1.05 MB Form ID:4182
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5 ways to show candidates some love this Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is here, so now’s the perfect time to think about those in your life who aren’t getting the love they deserve. You know the ones I mean, they’re eagerly waiting by the phone for a call, the ones who show up to every single interview you arrange for them. These are the candidates who deserve all the love in the world for making your job that little bit easier. Are you the kind of person who finds expressing their feelings hard? Not to worry as we’ve got 5 ways you can show candidates some love this Valentine’s Day… 1. Don’t set unreal expectations Candidates want to know as much as possible about the jobs and companies they’re applying to, both the good and the bad. Setting a realistic picture of the company is better than trying to over sell and not being able to follow through. Tell your candidates what they can expect to be doing on the job. Also, it avoids wasting yours, the candidates and the interviewers time. Plus if you're selling a dream about a company and they happen to have google it won’t be long before they find a lot of bad reviews, it's going to be a bit embarrassing on your part. 2. First impressions A bad candidate experience often starts at the application stage. If candidates have to spend a great deal of time entering information into long applications, they can become frustrated… Don’t let this happen! Avoid losing out on great job seekers by creating a shorter application process. One way you could do this is by giving them the option of coming into your office or to do an online application – sometimes online makes it easier. 3. Find them the perfect match You should only be pairing your candidates with companies/clients you know they can progress and succeed with! Spending more time helping them with their job search will encourage them to gain more loyalty to you and your company, instead of feeling like you are just placing them anywhere for the sake of it. 4. Prepare candidates for the first (interview) date Your candidates will be feeling enough stress and nervousness going on, they are going to want some support and encouragement from you! Give them a call before they go into the interview to prep them with last minute tips about the company and who will be interviewing with and then you also know they arrived safe and sound. Also give them a message or a call after the interview for feedback and a chat about how they got on. This really goes a long way with the candidate! 5. Let them down gently Instead of giving candidates the classic "it’s not you, it’s me" routine, you can make the rejection process more positive and rewarding by giving constructive feedback on why they weren’t selected and what they can do to improve their interview or skill set. By doing this you can keep strong candidates engaged with the company and create a more positive experience. Now that you have everything you need to know, go and give your candidates some love! Can you think of any other ways to show candidates appreciation? Drop them in the comments below!
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How to keep the elderly safe this Winter
Fresh, crisp winter days can be amazing, but the lower temperatures can be detrimental to your health. Figures show that Winter weather can increase the risk of deaths from cold-related illnesses – and the elderly are particularly vulnerable. As the clocks have gone back and days turn short, dark nights have made an appearance and some very wintry weather too, here is our checklist for making the winter months safer and better for elderly people... Keep the house warm There are a few ways to ensure their house is kept warm. You need to ensure that the boiler is being checked and serviced before the Winter months begin as this will lessen the chance of the heating breaking. Also check all radiators to ensure they are producing heat. AGE UK advise to have the living room at 21 degrees, the bedroom at 18 degrees and the rest of the house at, at least 16 degrees. Also ensure that the house is well insulated as this will keep the heat locked in and create a warm environment. Also once it gets dark, draw the curtains so no drafts get in. Another tip is to get a keyhole cover. Many old houses have a large open keyhole instead of modern homes that have a more secure, little keyhole. Therefore, an elderly person is more likely to live in an old house so getting a keyhole cover will help to stop little drafts getting into the house. Keeping the house warm can help with avoiding Hypothermia, which is highly dangerous for the elderly. What is hypothermia? Older adults can quickly lose body heat and aren’t always aware of their temperature, making it easy for them to become too cold, too quickly. Body temperature below 35C (normal temperature is 37C) can cause hypothermia. Hypothermia is particularly dangerous and a high health problem for older adults; especially those living alone as there’s not someone around to notice the early signs. Early signs of hypothermia: Cold hands and feet Puffy or swollen face Pale skin Slow or slurred speech Anger or confusion Later signs of hypothermia: Slow or jerky movements including trouble walking and clumsiness Slow heartbeat Slow, shallow breathing Loss of consciousness Help with heating bills The cost of heating is a worry for many, especially the elderly but there is some help at hand in terms of UK Government payments. Most people born before 6 May 1953 were entitled to the Winter Fuel Payment in 2016–17 to help with heating costs. It’s a tax-free payment of between £100 and £300 paid out between November and December. This can help avoid feeling the cold weather from inside houses. A space heater is a great source of heat, however they possess high fire hazards if they are left on alone or near flammable objects. Never use an oven or cooker as a source of heat as this can cause Carbon Monoxide poisoning. Eating well and exercising Regular, daily exercise and a hot meal a day will help keep elderly parents warm and well over the winter; if its icy outside then encourage them to do exercises indoors. Staying active can warm up the body which can avoid a number of health issues including Hypothermia and heart attacks. A few examples of types of exercises are: Water aerobics Bicycle riding (stationary or on a path) Some activities of gardening, such as raking and pushing a lawn mower Bundle up! When going outside it is important to wrap up in order to keep them as warm as possible. Here are some examples of what the elderly should be wearing: Thick socks Thermals / multiple layers Dry / warm gloves Anti-skid soles are also good to put into shoes Infection protection Careful hygiene and hand washing will prevent the spread of colds, flu and other viruses. Follow our step by step guide on how to properly wash your hands: Wet your hands with running water - either warm or cold. Apply liquid, bar or powder soap to a cupped hand. Lather well. Rub your hands, palm to palm, vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails. Rinse well. Dry your hands with a clean towel. Use the towel to turn off the running water. Hopefully now you have everything you need to know about keeping elderly citizens safe this Winter and feel confident in doing so! Is there anything you can think of that we might have missed? Let us know in the comments below!
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Moving from panic hiring to planned hiring with Applicant Tracking Systems
In today’s age, it is important to construct an effective recruitment process. Traditionally placing job ads in the paper etc., usually results in a lot of costly panic hires for most companies, some of which have resorted to using Application Tracking Systems. An Applicant Tracking System is a software application designed to automate the recruitment process from sourcing to onboarding. It is referred to as an ATS in short, and can be used to post job openings on corporate websites, job boards, screen resumes as well as to generate interview requests to potential candidates by email. It is estimated that roughly 50% of all companies use some type of applicant tracking system to source and hire their candidates today. The first step in landing and hiring your dream candidate is recognising what type of candidates you’re looking for exactly. The ATS gives you complete control over your hiring criteria for each job-skills, traits, qualifications, as well as custom categories unique to your company. You can zero in on all of your exact specifications. According to a recently conducted study, 61% of all organisations feel that their main priority for hiring talent is to hire the best of it. According to a survey, hiring cycles tend to take longer than necessary ranging from 4 to 8 weeks. Your organisation should implement this type of system and start hiring the best talent at a faster rate. Efficient Collaboration Between HR and the Hiring Managers Allowing HR and hiring managers to contact the applicants via phone, lengthens the recruitment process unnecessarily. You can use the email interview scheduling capability built into all ATSs. ATS’s are extremely good for HR professionals and recruiters which target keywords rather than skills. An ATS helps any company filter and reduce the size of the talent pool without wasting any precious time, energy or money. ATS saves about 20% of company time during the hiring process. Roughly half of all companies have seen this trend and plan on making some major HR technology upgrades. Ensuring You Get Applications from the Most Qualified Candidates An organisation is suffering if it isn’t getting application requests from the best-qualified candidates. Posting jobs on online job boards becomes time consuming, of which most organisations may not know which job boards are the most productive for the various types of positions they have to offer. Using technology through the process can help with the position posting process. Most ATS’s can help automate systems, meaning that there are no delays in getting open jobs available and seen by as many talented candidates as possible, hence getting more applications from the most qualified candidates. Getting the Strongest Candidates On-Site for an Interview Once you have identified the best candidates through the ATS, the traditional method of phone tag can slow down and hinder the interview scheduling process. Getting the best candidates on site is a vital step if you want to catch the best talent. Currently, the best approach is to rely on the email interview scheduling capability which can be found in all ATSs. Planning with ATS Another key step to hiring better talent is planning. But planning will only work if you have reliable data. One of the better ways to get hiring data is through an ATS. Applicant Tracking Systems are a Powerful Component in Planning ATS can be a powerful component in planning because it can generate reports that identify the sources where the applicants come from. Allowing you to see which of your job postings got the most traffic from aspiring applicants. ATS also allows you to calculate the time to hire and generate other key talent acquisition metrics. An ATS streamlines your hiring process and also allows you to improve and optimize your overall hiring process. ATS can help all organisations bridge the gap between talent acquisition goals and reality. Providing the structure and automation required to hire the best talent, reduce time to hire and plan more effectively for the future of your organisation. Author Bio: Kelly Barcelos is a progressive digital marketing manager specialising in HR and is responsible for leading Jobsoid’s content and social media team. When Kelly is not building campaigns, she is busy creating content and preparing PR topics. She started with Jobsoid as a social media strategist and eventually took over the entire digital marketing team with her innovative approach and technical expertise.
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Interview body language dos and don'ts
First impressions are not only vital, but are nearly impossible to change. Did you know on average it takes just seven seconds for someone to create their first impression of you? In an interview, you are judged from the very minute you walk into the building, so greet everyone you come into contact with, with a smile and speak clearly… you never know who’s opinion could be the make or break of your job offer. We have put together some body language dos and don’ts for when you attend an interview. Check them out… DO’S Walk in confidently Don’t portray yourself as being scared of the interviewer or nervous around them. Walk in with confidence and give them a firm handshake, although don’t be too over confident that you come off as if you think you’re too good for the role. Sit right back in the chair and sit up straight, do not slouch – it can make the interviewer think you are not taking it seriously. Keep eye contact Keeping eye contact with your interviewer is the best way to show you’re actually paying attention and engaging with the situation. Of course this doesn’t mean stare blankly at them, but strive to hold eye contact for a few seconds at a time. If you’re meeting with more than one interviewer, be sure to make eye contact with all of them. Address the person who asked the question, then hold eye contact with the other interviewer for a few seconds, before returning your attention to the first interviewer. Smile Smile and nod where appropriate, and laugh when the interviewer does. You want to show you have a personality and you’re paying attention to what’s being said. It goes without saying that you should listen to the interviewer and try not to interrupt. Focus on keeping your tone of voice relaxed and polite. Too soft and you’ll seem timid, too loud and you’ll seem overbearing. DON’TS Slouch Sitting hunched forward, or lounging with arms and legs everywhere has the effect of looking a little too relaxed. You don’t want to sit there tightly clutching your fists in your lap, but you also don’t want to portray a casual, not bothered attitude. From the moment you arrive in the reception area, you need to keep your posture perfect. Always be aware of your body position. Sit up straight and lean forwards a little when you’re asked question, it gives a sense of curiosity and engagement. Zone out This is a big no-no! This could possibly be one of the worst things you could do in an interview as it says to the interviewer that you couldn’t be less interested in the opportunity possibly being given to you. It is likely that if you do zone out, the interviewer will just terminate the interview and ask you to leave! Fidget This includes tapping your fingertips in the arm rest or jiggling your leg up or down. It’s a sign of boredom and impatience. Keep both feet planted firmly on the floor to avoid the temptation. It’ll help to keep your posture straight and focussed on your interviewer, which in turn will make you seem more focused. Chew gum Do not chew gum in the interview room. This is really unprofessional and it can make the interviewer think you’re not interested in what they think of you. It also makes you look like you’re too comfortable meeting them, you should be a little bit nervous as this could be your new career! Do you have an interview coming up and are not sure what to where to look professional? Click here to follow our top tips. Can you think of any other Dos and Don’ts for interview body language? Drop them in the comments below!
