This course is aimed at unpaid carers to help them manage their caring role and stay well. Carers will discover what type of carer they are and how this impacts on their caring role. It will help carers to manage stress, look at the impacts of caring and find coping strategies to maintain a better life balance. Carers will be able to put together a contingency plan. Carers will also look at their communication styles and develop assertiveness techniques.

The course will:

• Identify the type of carer you are and how this impacts on your caring role and relationships
• Look at and identify the stress in your life and how it affects you – do you look after your own needs?
• Discover how coping strategies can help manage the stress in your life – what you do now and what you could develop
• Look at how to communicate with others – is it always effective?
• Learn new ways to communicate and be assertive
• What is a contingency plan? Do you have one – find out and start to plan your own

Dates for the Events

Session 1 – Being a Carer

• Looking after yourself as a carer
• A balancing act and keeping all wheels turning
• Keeping your thoughts positive
• Looking at your goals and how to achieve them
• Relaxation

Session 2 – What we say … and what we mean

• What stops us saying what we mean?
• How we communicate
• Knowing our limits
• Working in partnership with healthcare services
• Relaxation

Session 3 – Thoughts, feelings and behaviours

• The effects of stress
• Influencing our thoughts, feelings and behaviour
• Challenging difficult thoughts
• Action planning

You are encouraged to attend all of the sessions but as each is self-contained there is no obligation to attend all three or do the sessions in a set order. Please note that this course is not available in your area if you are registered with a GP funded by Torbay and South Devon CCG, therefore please contact Torbay and South Devon NHS service to attend ‘Help Overcoming Problems Effectively’ (HOPE) which is a similar course. https://www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/carers-service/courses-for-carers/

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This is a short course for those who are caring for someone with dementia.

The course will:

• Identify the types of dementia
• Explain how to differentiate between the forms of dementia and why this is important
• Cover language and communication – including tone of voice and vocabulary
• Establish causes of agitation including pain, fear, depression, hunger, boredom and noise
• Cover environmental factors – how those with dementia are affected by colour, patterns, depth perception and mirrors and how this relates to eg food intake, clothes, carpets and sheets
• Explain delirium and how acute medical problems affect those with dementia

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This practical course will cover how to support a casualty who:

• Is unconscious breathing/not breathing
• Is choking
• Is bleeding
• Has fallen
• Has head injuries

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Would you like to become more confident when using technology? Do you know your WiFi from your 3G? Would you like to ensure your information is safe?

Please bring your own device (eg smart phone, tablet, laptop) to this course and make sure that it is fully charged. NB devices will not be repaired at any of the courses.

The course will:

• Discuss the meaning of digital terminology
• Show you how to resolve common problems
• Cover how to keep you and your information safe online
• Help you to become more confident using technology

Dates for the Events

Is the internet a mystery to you? Would you like to know what it does and how you can use it to do everyday tasks?

Please bring your own device to this course.

The course will:

• Provide an over view of the internet
• Show you how to carry out internet searches
• Show you how to shop online safely
• Teach you how to bank online safely
• Teach you how to book an appointment safely

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IT provides lots of opportunity to keep in touch with friends and family.

Please bring your own device (eg smart phone, tablet, laptop) to this course and make sure that it is fully charged.  NB devices will not be repaired at any of the courses.

The course will:

• Teach you how to send/receive emails
• Show you how to communicate with friends/family via What’s App
• Look at the different social media apps re: Facebook/Twitter etc

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An introductory course using mindfulness as an aid to everyday health, well-being and in supporting recovery.

The course will:

• Cover mindful practices involving sitting, lying down and gentle movement
• Bring attention to your sensations, emotions and thoughts
• Help with managing stress and enhancing wellbeing in daily life
• Provide tips on applying mindfulness to daily life

NB Whilst mindfulness can be helpful in managing depression and anxiety, this course is not recommended for people who are currently experiencing an episode of clinically diagnosed anxiety, depression or other psychiatric illness

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This is an introductory course which outlines the principles and importance of importance of correct manual handling

The course will:

Demonstrate activities where one carer is present:

• Assisting the cared for to stand from sitting/sit from standing
• Assisting the cared for with walking
• Assisting the cared for to walk with the use of a walking stick and a walking frame
• Using a transfer-board to move the cared for from chair to chair, chair to commode, wheelchair to/from car
• Moving a wheelchair over level ground
• Negotiating a kerb with a wheelchair – up and down
• Assisting the cared for from wheelchair to car/car to wheelchair
• Learning how to load/unload a wheelchair into/out of a car

Demonstrate activities where two carers are present:

• Assist the cared for to stand from sitting/sit from standing
• Assist the cared for to walk with the use of a walking stick
• Assist the cared for to walk with the use of a walking frame

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This 2 part course explores how relationships may change as a result of caring for someone close.

This course will:

• Explore the management of emotional, physical and practical changes in relationships
• Discuss how good relationships can be maintained
• Give space to discuss relevant issues
• Provide tips to help manage change and resources to take away for further support

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This workshop will focus on the stress you experience as a result of being a carer and the many ways in which this can impact upon your life. The workshop allow you to identify the specific causes of stress in your daily life and identify ways to reduce and manage that stress.

The course will:

• Consider what is meant by stress
• Identify the effects of stress – in terms of physical and emotional feelings and the ways in which we behave
• Consider changes that can be made to reduce stress
• Look at how to manage unavoidable stress

Dates of Events

Understanding Autism Part 1 (Cared for 18 or over)

This 2 part course is aimed at unpaid carers wanting to expand existing skills and further develop knowledge of managing autism spectrums.

The course will:

• Cover the skills used to support individuals with autism spectrum conditions
• Focus on sensory triggers and anxiety
• Use group work to embed practical strategies
• Include a questions and answers session

Understanding Autism Part 2 (Cared for 18 or over)

This 2 part course is aimed at unpaid carers wanting to expand existing skills and further develop knowledge of managing autism spectrums.

The course will:

• Recap supportive skills, sensory triggers and anxiety covered in Understanding Autism Part 1
• Explore and discuss practical strategies to support day to day situations
• Provide an opportunity to explore topics raised by carers on either day of the course

NB it is not possible to do part 2 without completing part 1

Dates of the Events