By ellie
Work in community social services involves far more than completing tasks. It requires building relationships, providing emotional and social support, responding to crises, and navigating complex systems. To sustain this work and provide quality service to communities, individuals at every level of the organization need an environment that supports and protects their wellbeing. Whether you … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Watch this informative and heartfelt webinar introducing Care to Speak, a free and confidential peer-based support service created specifically for healthcare and social service workers. We explore how Care to Speak provides practical emotional support through phone, text and chat, offering a safe and understanding space for those who care for others every day. Whether … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Building on the foundations of motivational interviewing, this engaging one-hour session takes a deeper dive into how to guide conversations that spark lasting motivation. You’ll learn to recognize and respond to change talk, the client’s own language in favor of change, while also understanding sustain talk and ambivalence, and how each influences motivation. The session … Continued
By ellie
Angie is a frontline worker who supports young people experiencing a range of challenges. One of her clients, Brodie, shares that he has been struggling with sleep and explains how much it affects his ability to function during the day. Brodie feels exhausted at school and work although he has tried many strategies, nothing seems … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Mental health claims continue to rise in the social services sector and are among the highest across public safety and care-related occupations in British Columbia.1 Contributing factors include staff shortages, high service demand, complex client needs, housing insecurity, drug poisoning, the impacts of COVID-19, and more. This trend is concerning since psychological injuries can lead … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Helping conversations can be a powerful turning point, yet they can also feel drained when the balance between supporting others and protecting your own energy isn’t clear. This engaging one-hour webinar introduces motivational interviewing (MI), a collaborative communication style that inspires clients to explore change while allowing you to set healthy boundaries and sustain your … Continued
By ellie
Imagine finishing a difficult phone call and turning to your computer to document the interaction. You notice your shoulders are tense, your jaw is clenched, and your mind is running through the next tasks waiting for you. By the time you leave work, it feels like there is hardly any time left to bring your … Continued
By ellie
Celebrating Successes and Acknowledging Impact Your work in social services is rooted in “helping individuals, groups, or communities to enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to this goal.”1 This definition by Barker (2013) reflects the heart of what you do every day: supporting people through challenges, strengthening their … Continued
By ellie
Imagine this: you’re a manager in a supportive housing building, and one of your staff, Manpreet, comes to you looking concerned. She says, “I don’t feel safe working with Adam. I don’t want to work on the same shift as him.” You are taken aback. You’ve known Adam for years and you’ve always had a good working relationship with him. It might be tempting to just … Continued
By andrewwalsh
Frontline and community-based work is rewarding but often exhausting—especially with ongoing challenges like the opioid crisis, increasing mental health needs, and the lasting effects of the pandemic. In this session, Brian shares his personal story of recovery, and how mindfulness became a vital tool in his healing. You’ll explore how mindfulness supports well-being, the neuroscience … Continued
