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We sat down with Kayla to explore how being a courageous leader doesn’t have to mean you look and sound a certain way, and how true leadership is about being vulnerable. They spoke to us about overcoming people’s initial perceptions, and how young people everywhere can get involved as a leader in the third sector. Tune to this episode, and visit our website to see other instalments in our Courageous Leadership series. 

‘The Opportunity is Now – human rights in health and social care in Scotland: where we’ve been and the journey ahead’ is a new report published by the ALLIANCE in partnership with Branch Social Research. The report seeks to explore the impact of human rights based approaches within health and social care practice. Gillian McElroy, Senior Policy Officer at the ALLIANCE speaks with Jo Ferrie, Branch Social Research and Cathy Asante, Scottish Human Rights Commission to discuss the reports findings, it's recommendations and how Scottish Government can respond to prioritise the human rights agenda. Read the full report: https://www.alliance-scotland.org.uk/blog/resources/the-opportunity-is-now-human-rights-in-health-and-social-care/

The recently published Coming Home Implementation Report has caused concern for people with disabilities, their families, and disability organisations. We speak with a panel of experts on how the report signals yet another failure of the system to meaningfully change the culture within it. Another opportunity lost to ensure that individuals can be given the necessary provision to ensure they can live in their own communities.  The panel also discusses the actions which can still be taken to reassure citizens that change is happening.  This roundtable discussion welcomes C-Change Chief Executive, Sam Smith, journalist and campaigner, Michael McEwan, disability activist, Jim Elderwood-Ward, and Ruth Hughes, mum to Gordon who has been stuck in an institution for longer than he needs to be. The conversation is led by ALLIANCE Chief Officer Sara Redmond.    This podcast was recorded on Friday 28th October 2022.

Jane Miller, Academy Programme Manager at the ALLIANCE, speaks to Lucy Chetty, Head of Learning at Sight Scotland, for the first entry in the Courageous Leadership series. Courageous Leadership is a an ALLIANCE initiative profiling leadership in health and social care across Scotland. The series, part of the ALLIANCE’s Health and Social Care Academy programme, asks what Courageous Leadership means, delves into what makes great leadership and looks at the journeys toward becoming a leader.  The series not only profiles Chief Executive and others in traditional leadership positions, it speaks to leaders at all levels to reflect a breadth of leadership styles. The aim of the project is to raise the profile of leadership in health and social care across Scotland to inspire, spark discussion and share information on leadership styles.

Nature based health activities are viewed as being potentially transformative for people, as they are known to have a positive impact on people’s mental and physical health. Spending time in nature has been known to reduce anxiety, boost self-confidence and support social connections. This podcast explores the link between nature and wellbeing, what work is happening across Scotland, who is doing it and what's needed in the future.

The Scottish Government have promised to implement a social security system that is based on values of dignity, fairness and respect. In this ALLIANCE Live interview, our Chief Officer of Development Sara Redmond speaks to Minister for Social Security and Local Government, Ben Macpherson about how Scotland's new devolved powers around social security are progressing. The Minister also discusses how the Scottish Government plans to address gaps in the uptake of Carers Assistance for women, who make up the largest percentage of unpaid carers, and minority groups. Any individuals who would like to receive more information on social security can visit the Scottish Government website www.socialsecurity.gov.scot or follow @ScotGovFairer for regular updates.

Many have noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a ‘crisis of play’ among children and young people, with serious impact on their wellbeing. However, many organisations have adapted to the circumstances, and continue supporting play activities despite ongoing restrictions. This ALLIANCE Live podcast episode, recorded as part of the ALLIANCE Digital Gathering 2022, showcases some of the work in the third sector that is being carried out to promote play, both in policy and practice, to ensure that children and young people can be supported to achieve the best outcomes in life. We spoke to Marguerite Hunter Blair, Chief Executive of Play Scotland, on the role of play in children’s policy making. We also spoke to representatives of Children’s Health Scotland and Guide Dogs Scotland, on ongoing projects that incorporate play to children’s lives, both in a virtual and in-person setting, particularly looking at how play supports children and young people living with long term conditions or that have sensory loss. Useful resources from Play Scotland:  Play Scotland landing page Play Well Outdoors Pack & Evaluation Report Progress Review of Scotland’s Play Strategy Useful resources from Children's Health Scotland:  Children's Health Scotland landing page Children's Health Scotland Children and Young People Services Self-Management Service Interest & Referral Forms Useful resources from Guide Dogs Scotland:  Guide Dogs landing page Guide Dogs Nursery Rhyme Song Book Learning Through Play

Carmen Paputa-Dutu, the Digital Health and Care National Lead for the ALLIANCE, speaks to Professor Colin Espie, founder of Big Health and Professor of Sleep Medicine at the University of Oxford, about Sleepio and Daylight.  Sleepio (designed to support those suffering with insomnia) and Daylight (created to support those facing anxiety) are two apps that NHS Scotland will be offering free of charge for people in Scotland, making it the first country in the world to offer digital therapeutics for anxiety and insomnia nationally.  Professor Espie is one of the world’s leading experts on sleep and mental health, and he’s currently shedding an urgent light on the connection between lack of sleep/ insomnia issues and the mental health problems the UK currently faces.

Listen to all 34 stories included in the second published collection of Humans of Scotland stories from the ALLIANCE, capturing the experiences of disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection also features stories from NHS staff and health and social care teams in Scotland's third sector. 

Serving as a councillor before she was elected MSP, Karen Adam shared some of her varied experiences with care and as a carer, including as a single mother of neurodiverse children and growing up learning British Sign Language (BSL) to interpret for her Deaf father. She also spoke about her desire to see greater representation of and engagement with lived experience throughout legislative and decision-making processes.

Pam Duncan-Glancy made history this year as the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to the Scottish Parliament. A Labour MSP for Glasgow, Pam spoke about the barriers put in her way to accessing education, the importance of having disabled people elected to parliament, and hopes for transformational change in both social care and social security.

Gillian Mackay was recently elected as the first ever Green MSP for the Central Scotland region, and is her party's Spokesperson for Health and Social Care. In the interview, Gillian talks about her grandpa's experiences with social care and her own route into politics by way of Ménière's disease and an Inclusion Scotland internship. Listeners will also hear about Gillian's hopes for a national care service - and for getting a Wookie into parliament!