We are thrilled to be able to get out and about once again and speak in person about our work and the services that we provide here at Children’s Health Scotland! So when we were chosen to present a spotlight session at The NHS Scotland Event 2022 in Aberdeen at P + J Live, we were absolutely delighted!
Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing Services, Gill Sutherland, and Children’s Health and Wellbeing Services Coordinator, Beth Davidson attended the event, alongside Bear, to present ‘SMS:CONNECT – The creation of an online, award-winning, self-management service for children and young people with long-term health conditions.’ It was fantastic to share ideas with health care professionals and have the opportunity to listen to other people’s stories surrounding reform and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Within our Children’s Health and Wellbeing Service, sits our award-winning Self-Management Services (SMS) Programmes. These were first developed as generic in person programmes in Scotland in 2009. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, we found new digital and innovative ways of working to support children, young people and their families with health conditions. Through the use of technology, we were able to provide rights-based, health-related play sessions virtually to support both the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people from all across Scotland.
Known as SMS:CONNECT, the six-week Programme explores strategies to increase children and young people’s confidence and self-esteem, skills to help them cope better with their health condition, where to access health-related information, and discussion surrounding what their health rights are and the importance of them. This allows children and young people the opportunity to connect with others their age facing similar challenges and going through similar experiences, but most importantly, providing an ongoing weekly opportunity to simply play and have fun!
To be able to champion SMS:CONNECT in-person on a national level was a fantastic opportunity – we particularly loved getting the audience to join in with our star breathing activity and showing them our new, exciting SMS:CONNECT video which includes testimonials from children and young people who have taken part in the Programme! A huge thank you to all those who came along to our session – we had a fantastic time surrounded by wonderful people!
Did you know that you don’t need a diagnosis to take part in our SMS Programmes? Referrals can be made easily and quickly on our website HERE.
To find out more information about SMS:CONNECT and watch our video which includes testimonials from children and young people who have taken part please click HERE or please email sms@childrenshealthscotland.org and a member of the CHWBS team will be in touch.
