Support ME

Anna Rutkowska and I are so excited to be starting our 3rd cohort of our 12 month Doula Training & Mentoring programme 🥳🥳

🌟 The 3rd edition of Doula Training registration is starting now! 🌟 If you dream of supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, now is the perfect time to start your journey! 💫 📅 Course start: February 2025 💡 Find out more about funding that will help you start this amazing adventure! 🔗 Course details and application available at: https://lnkd.in/eYCaXrXj The number of places is limited. If you have any questions, please contact us! And if you are wondering about the details of doula work, we invite you to follow our profile. We have planned a whole series of posts on this topic! Don't miss this opportunity to develop and join the supportive community of doulas! 🌸❤️

If you are working in perinatal healthcare in Portsmouth and the surrounding area, on Friday 27th September #Supportme in collaboration with the EELGA Cultural Awareness Hub is delivering an innovative culturally aligned, responsive and ethical practice workshop to #Informedpregnancybirthandbeyond in Portsmouth sharing knowledge on better, safer and ultimately improved outcomes by offering equitable care. As highlighted by the MBRRACE-UK report there are stark and widening social inequalities linked to poverty and disadvantage. Understanding and collaborating with different communities is critical to ensuring that your services are accessible to all. Culturally Aligned practice isn’t about finally offering marginalised groups equal and inclusive care. It’s about acknowledging and accepting oppressive practices exist and how the system has failed them. We need to accept the systemic issues that have built the foundation of oppressive care and the power imbalance that lies within it. Only then can we offer equitable care rather than including the ‘other’. This training is essential to understand and challenge inequalities in healthcare.   If you would like to join this essential training event please contact Rachel.Heathcock@eelga.gov.uk for more information. #Trainingyoucantrust

👉Book your place today for the next week training! This training is essential for those working with families during the perinatal period to be able to start offering culturally safe care to the Muslim community. We'll be exploring: 💟 Basics of Islamic beliefs and Muslims 💟 Differences between culture and faith 💟 Impacts on maternity care 💟 How to support Muslim families during birth and the postnatal period. It will be an interactive and reflective workshop with an opportunity to ask questions in a safe and non-judgemental space. Click link below to book or email us at manishasheth.sme@gmail.com 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezbPCE5b 💗See you there! #supportmecic #supportingmuslimfamilies #birthprofessionals #training

🧐You may have noticed, we have changed the term we use for our training from Cultural Safety to Culturally Aligned - and you might be wandering why!💬 💡When Anna and I started to develop this, our goal was to help professionals offer safer care which is why we termed it 'safe'. However that's the outcome and through my reflection, we can't offer safe care unless we are aligned with the needs of the communities we are caring for. Just like we now look at whether we offer trauma informed practice, we also now need to look at culturally aligned. 👉There are some other terms we also considered but they didn't sound right: 🧩Cultural competency indicates that offering equitable care is a skill, which it is definitely not. It is also implies that there is set goal, a box that needs to be ticked whereas Cultural Alignment is about continual growth and reflection. 🧩Culturally informed and appropriate are both great starting points but again, it indicates that knowledge is sufficient rather than reflective professional development. 🧩Culturally inclusive is something we considered, but it focuses on including the 'other' rather than changing practice at the core. We should be working beyond inclusivity by meeting the needs of families as a basic standard. 🧡We believe that Culturally Aligned Practice best represents the process to continuously offer safer and more equitable care by responding to the needs of the families your caring for. You can find out more about the training we offer here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eA3rtff3 ~ Manisha 💟

✨ As a hospital, clinic or a HCP, it's important to understand how challenging it is for families to continue to attend maternity care, especially when it's these families who are at risk of poorer outcomes. The fear that has been instilled in communities from diverse ethnic and migrant backgrounds not only is present with what's happening at the moment, but a reminder of past experiences of racial abuse. 👉 Here are some things to consider when engaging with families, and acknowledging the impact the riots may have had on them. You can also read and share our article about this: https://lnkd.in/eMba_rVB ~ Manisha

With the recent surge of racism and islamophobia, our priority is to help make sure families are continuing to access maternity care. Here are some tips on how families can stay safe, which you can also read in our news article: https://lnkd.in/eMba_rVB 💌 Please share with these with families you know are using maternity services and impacted by the current riots. 👉 Also, our next post will be for hospitals, clinics and HCPs and how they can help make families feel safer and reassured. ~ Manisha

We are deeply troubled by the recent surge of racist and islamophobic riots across the UK. The violence and hatred displayed by far-right groups masquerading as "anti-immigration" protests are alarming and go against the values of diversity, inclusion, and compassion that we all hold dear. Our hearts and solidarity go out to everyone who has been directly impacted by this violence. We stand firmly against all forms of racism and are dedicated to supporting those affected, especially during these challenging times. Amidst all the chaos, it's important not to forget the deep pain and loss that families and communities, especially those in Southport, are experiencing. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone grieving right now, and we wish them comfort and support during this difficult time. For the mothers we support, particularly those within the Muslim & migrant communities, we understand the added fear and uncertainty these events bring. We want you to know that we are here for you, and we care deeply about your access to NHS care and your overall well-being during your maternity journey. Please contact us if you need any additional support. In these dark times, we have also witnessed incredible acts of unity and compassion as communities band together to protect one another, repair damages, and reaffirm our shared belief in the goodness of humanity. Let us continue to encourage these acts of kindness and continue to build a society that values inclusivity and justice. ~ Support Me Team

📢 Read About Manisha Sheth’s Role in Maternity Advocacy on BBC 🥳Manisha Sheth has been appointed as the new Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate (MNISA) in Nottingham University Hospital Trust. 👉Her role is to support families who have faced tragic experiences during maternity and neonatal care. Manisha's work ensures families are heard and helped through complex processes, offering vital support during such challenging times. 📄Head to the BBC to read the full article and learn more about this crucial new role in healthcare: https://lnkd.in/gSFir_iF 🧡The BBC article discusses Manisha Sheth’s appointment as an independent advocate for families affected by problems in maternity and neonatal care at Nottingham’s hospitals. She will help families navigate complex complaints and get the answers they need. This role is part of a national pilot program aimed at improving support for those who have suffered tragic experiences under NHS care.💙 Click here to find out more about the role and/or make a referral: https://lnkd.in/dGFNv48z ~Sylwia #MaternityCare #HealthcareAdvocate #NHS #SupportFamilies #Nottingham

🏵In honor of South Asian Heritage Month 2024, we're excited to share a powerful and insightful article written by Manisha S. for a magazine created by Asha Davies at The Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute 🧡In her article, Manisha opens up about the importance of having a South Asian therapist, exploring the complex interplay of identity, culture, and mental health. 🧡She reflects on the need for culturally aligned therapy, where understanding and empathy go beyond textbook definitions, creating a safe space for true healing. Manisha's dedication to cultural equity doesn't stop there. ✨Through her work with Support ME CIC, she ensures that perinatal care is culturally alligned for culturally diverse families, and she actively trains maternity staff on these critical issues. 🔗 Check out the link in our BIO to read Manisha's full article and learn more about her work! @southasianheritagemonth_uk #SouthAsianHeritageMonthuk #FreeToBeMe #SupportME #MentalHealthAwareness #HeritageCelebration #InclusiveCare #Therapy #culturalawareness 🌐 Link to Culturally Alligned Practice Training: https://lnkd.in/eA3rtff3 🌐 Link to Manisha's Heritage Month article: https://lnkd.in/eXUApvhE ~Sylwia