Updated I&A Resources for Service Managers

There’s lots of new guidance for Service Managers on the I&A Hub on the loop, find out full details below.

We’ve recently updated some of the guidance in the I&A Hub on the loop. More information on this can be found in the upcoming September issue of the Inform & Advise newsletter, which you can sign up for here if you wish. The following three sections have been highlighted for Signpost as they may also be more widely relevant to other services that you provide:

Dealing with distressed or challenging clients and supporting your advisers

This section now includes guidance on how to deal with suicidal clients and a tips document for dealing with distressed or challenging clients.


Diversity and inclusion training and resources

A new section detailing training and resources available via Age UKs various training platforms and other external providers on a range of diversity and inclusion topics.


Working with clients with learning difficulties and mental health conditions – training and resources

A new section detailing training and resources available via Age UKs various training platforms and other external providers on working with clients with either learning difficulties or mental health problems.


Trouble accessing the loop?

If you’re having trouble accessing the loop, you may need to use the access code qwerty123 otherwise do get in touch at theloop@ageuk.org.uk.

Men’s Mental Health Webinar | 30th June 2022

Aviva and Onebright have teamed up to host a webinar focussing on men’s mental health on Thursday 30th June. Find out full details below.

Following Men’s Mental Health Week last week, Aviva and Onebright have teamed up to host a webinar focussing on men’s mental health. The webinar will take place on 30th June from 11am to 12pm, click here to book your place, or read on to find out more.

Aviva are extending this webinar invitation to all their clients, their employees and their intermediaries to offer valuable education and awareness – whether interested personally, to support family or friends or as a line manager.

The webinar will cover:

  • Introduction – why mental health is so important
  • Men’s health statistics
  • Dispelling stereotypes
  • Common men’s mental health issues and triggers
  • Spotting the signs
  • Supporting each other at work and at home
  • Strategies to make improvements
  • When to get help

Click here to book your place.

Welcoming Age UK’s new CEO, Paul Farmer

Age UK is delighted to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Paul Farmer! Read on for a full introduction from our Chair Toby Strauss.

Age UK is delighted to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Paul Farmer! Paul joins us from Mind where he has been CEO for the past 16 years, and which has a similar network model to our own. Read on for a full introduction from our Chair Toby Strauss, including a message from Paul, which was shared with CEOs and Chairs yesterday afternoon.

Statement from Toby Strauss, Chair, Age UK:

I’m delighted to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Paul Farmer.

The Age UK Board of Trustees has carried out an extensive recruitment process for our new CEO. We’ve involved representatives from the AEA and our national partners in the process. Feedback from those sessions helped with the panel’s decision making and I’d like to thank everyone who was involved in that process.

Before I tell you more about Paul and his appointment, I would like to thank Tracey Bright for stepping in as interim during our search for a new CEO. Tracey has done a sterling job of leading the charity through a difficult period as the after-effects of Covid, and the cost of living squeeze have impacted our operations and of course our beneficiaries.

I am delighted to welcome Paul as our new CEO. Paul joins us from Mind where he has been CEO for the past 16 years. He has a strong background in leading mental health charities with previous management roles at Rethink and The Samaritans. Paul is a former Chair of the NHS England Independent Oversight and Advisory Group overseeing the mental health long term plan for the NHS in England and he’s currently a Commissioner at Historic England.

Paul brings a wealth of experience. He’s transformed Mind’s scale and impact and brought the issues surrounding mental health into the mainstream. Mind has a similar network model to Age UK, and Paul’s commitment to the needs of older people, puts him in good stead to lead Age UK through the next stages of our journey, at a time when the needs of our beneficiaries have never been more pressing.

“I’m incredibly pleased and honoured to be taking up the role of Chief Executive of Age UK. I have seen at first hand both the best and the worst of the way that older people are treated in our society, and I am looking forward to playing my part in improving the experiences of older people in the coming years. The pandemic has shown the huge challenges of social care, and the cost of living crisis will hit many older people.

Paul Farmer
Newly appointed CEO, Age UK

Age UK is part of a network which already provides so much help and support to older people, and people look to Age UK to stand side by side with older people to ensure they receive the support they deserve. I’m very much looking forward to meeting colleagues across the UK in the coming months.”

Paul Farmer, newly appointed CEO, Age UK

You can read the public statement Paul made yesterday afternoon here.

Paul is expecting to start in late October. Tracey will continue as Interim CEO until Paul joins us and will work alongside Paul to ensure a smooth handover. Paul is keen to meet with colleagues from the Age UK network and I am sure you will give him a warm welcome.

Best wishes,

Toby Strauss
Chair, Age UK Board of Trustees

New Wellbeing Webinar from Zurich – “The Power of the Morning Routine!”

Zurich are hosting a wellbeing webinar hosted by a leading wellness coach, to discuss how having a morning routine can help your overall wellbeing.

Zurich are hosting a wellbeing webinar hosted by leading wellness coach, Kate Horwood, to discuss how having a morning routine can help your overall wellbeing. You’ll receive lots of tips, tools, exercises and advice around how best to manage your time and energy, and be more productive as a result. The webinar takes place on Wednesday 20th April from 10-11am and you can book your place here.

To add a little spring in our step, sparing a little time for ourselves to look after our mental, emotional and physical wellbeing is so important. In a modern world, where there are so many ways we can connect, it can sometimes be difficult to switch off, and how your morning starts can have an impact on how you feel for the rest of the day.

What you’ll learn…

  • Why a morning routine is so powerful  
  • How it sets you up for a positive and productive day  
  • The difference between being in a proactive versus reactive state  
  • Locus of control – what it is and why it’s so important  
  • Example morning routines of well-known, successful people  
  • Examples of what participants can do to start their own morning routine  
  • How to create a successful morning routine for yourself  
  • Participants leave with a plan for their new morning routine 

Reminder – “The Role of the Local Authority” Safeguarding Knowledge Share 1pm Today

A reminder that the third of our lunchtime drop-in sessions on safeguarding will take place this afternoon (Wednesday 6th April) from 1-2pm. Find out how to join later today.

This is a quick reminder that the third of our Safeguarding Knowledge Share Events “The role of the Local Authority” will take place today (Wednesday 6th April) from 13:00-14:00. You can find out full details below, or click here to join the event later today. This event will be recorded and we will share the link afterwards for those who can’t make it on the day. If you missed the first session on “Safeguarding Language”, you can view the recording here and you can view a recording of the second session “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes” here.


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 6th April | The role of the Local Authority

Are you confident in contacting a local authority and be able to speak with the team you need to?

Accessing social care teams can be tricky. If you’ve tried before, you’ll probably have already experienced being put through from a contact centre to a duty worker and then on to a case worker.

In this session we’ll help you to understand who does what and who to speak with to help you get the advice and action you need.

Click below to join the event on the day


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 8th June | Understanding Mental Health

1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year in the UK.

It’s important that we understand what this means for those with mental ill health and what we can do to support them.

This session will provide some information to increase your knowledge, so that we are better equipped to understand and support our colleagues and beneficiaries who may be impacted. We will also discuss treatments and the support services available.

Click here to join the event on the day.


If you have any questions about any of these sessions, please contact: Carrie.bower@ageuk.org.uk.

Reminder – “The Role of the Local Authority” Safeguarding Knowledge Share Next Week

A reminder that the third of our lunchtime drop-in sessions on safeguarding will take place on Wednesday 6th April. Find out how to join on the day.

This is a quick reminder that the third of our Safeguarding Knowledge Share Events “The role of the Local Authority” will take place Wednesday 6th April) from 13:00-14:00. You can find out full details below, including the link you need to join the event on the day. This event will be recorded and we will share the link afterwards for those who can’t make it on the day. If you missed the first session on “Safeguarding Language”, you can view the recording here and you can view a recording of the second session “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes” here.


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 6th April | The role of the Local Authority

Are you confident in contacting a local authority and be able to speak with the team you need to?

Accessing social care teams can be tricky. If you’ve tried before, you’ll probably have already experienced being put through from a contact centre to a duty worker and then on to a case worker.

In this session we’ll help you to understand who does what and who to speak with to help you get the advice and action you need.

Click below to join the event on the day


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 8th June | Understanding Mental Health

1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year in the UK.

It’s important that we understand what this means for those with mental ill health and what we can do to support them.

This session will provide some information to increase your knowledge, so that we are better equipped to understand and support our colleagues and beneficiaries who may be impacted. We will also discuss treatments and the support services available.

Click here to join the event on the day.


If you have any questions about any of these sessions, please contact: Carrie.bower@ageuk.org.uk.

Reminder – “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes” Safeguarding Knowledge Share at 1pm Today

The second of our lunchtime drop-in sessions on safeguarding takes place today at 1pm. Find out how to join us below.

This is a quick reminder that the second of our Safeguarding Knowledge Share Events “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes” will take place today (Wednesday 2nd March) from 13:00-14:00. You can find out full details below, including the link you need to join the event later today. Please note: You don’t need to book your place, just use the link provided to join later today. This event will be recorded and we will share the link afterwards for those who can’t make it this lunchtime.

13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 2nd March | Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes

The Domestic Abuse Act came into force in 2021 and – despite this legislation encompassing victims and survivors of all genders, ages and sexualities – older survivors often go unrecognised.

This session will help to dispel some of the common myths surrounding the characteristics of primary victims and survivors of domestic abuse. We will highlight some of the work we are doing at Age UK to raise the profile of older people experiencing domestic abuse and the challenges they face.

Click here to join the event on the day.


If you have any questions about any of these sessions, please contact: Carrie.bower@ageuk.org.uk.

One week to go until the next Safeguarding Knowledge Share – “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes”

A reminder that the second of our lunchtime drop-in sessions on safeguarding will take place on Wednesday 2nd March. Find out how to join on the day.

There’s just one week to go until the second of Age UK’s four Safeguarding Knowledge Share drop-in sessions. The next session, titled “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes”, will take place on Wednesday 2nd March from 13:00-14:00. You can find out full details below, including the link you need to join the event on the day. Please note: You don’t need to book your place at the events, just use the links provided below to join on the day. If you missed the first session on “Safeguarding Language”, you can view the recording here.


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 2nd March | Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes

The Domestic Abuse Act came into force in 2021 and – despite this legislation encompassing victims and survivors of all genders, ages and sexualities – older survivors often go unrecognised.

This session will help to dispel some of the common myths surrounding the characteristics of primary victims and survivors of domestic abuse. We will highlight some of the work we are doing at Age UK to raise the profile of older people experiencing domestic abuse and the challenges they face.

Click here to join the event on the day.


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 6th April | The role of the Local Authority

Are you confident in contacting a local authority and be able to speak with the team you need to?

Accessing social care teams can be tricky. If you’ve tried before, you’ll probably have already experienced being put through from a contact centre to a duty worker and then on to a case worker.

In this session we’ll help you to understand who does what and who to speak with to help you get the advice and action you need.

Click below to join the event on the day


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 8th June | Understanding Mental Health

1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year in the UK.

It’s important that we understand what this means for those with mental ill health and what we can do to support them.

This session will provide some information to increase your knowledge, so that we are better equipped to understand and support our colleagues and beneficiaries who may be impacted. We will also discuss treatments and the support services available.

Click here to join the event on the day.


If you have any questions about any of these sessions, please contact: Carrie.bower@ageuk.org.uk.

Safeguarding Knowledge Share Live Events – two weeks to go until the next event!

A reminder that the second of our lunchtime drop-in sessions on safeguarding will take place on Wednesday 2nd March. Find out how to join on the day.

As mentioned last month, Age UK’s Safeguarding team are running 4 lunchtime drop-in sessions aimed to enhance knowledge and understanding of different topics associated with safeguarding. The second of these sessions “Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes” will take place on Wednesday 2nd March from 13:00-14:00. You can find out full details below, including the link you need to join the event on the day. Please note: You don’t need to book your place at the events, just use the links provided below to join on the day. If you missed the first session on “Safeguarding Language”, you can view the recording here.


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 2nd March | Domestic Abuse Myths and Stereotypes

The Domestic Abuse Act came into force in 2021 and – despite this legislation encompassing victims and survivors of all genders, ages and sexualities – older survivors often go unrecognised.

This session will help to dispel some of the common myths surrounding the characteristics of primary victims and survivors of domestic abuse. We will highlight some of the work we are doing at Age UK to raise the profile of older people experiencing domestic abuse and the challenges they face.

Click here to join the event on the day.


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 6th April | The role of the Local Authority

Are you confident in contacting a local authority and be able to speak with the team you need to?

Accessing social care teams can be tricky. If you’ve tried before, you’ll probably have already experienced being put through from a contact centre to a duty worker and then on to a case worker.

In this session we’ll help you to understand who does what and who to speak with to help you get the advice and action you need.

Click below to join the event on the day


13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 8th June | Understanding Mental Health

1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year in the UK.

It’s important that we understand what this means for those with mental ill health and what we can do to support them.

This session will provide some information to increase your knowledge, so that we are better equipped to understand and support our colleagues and beneficiaries who may be impacted. We will also discuss treatments and the support services available.

Click here to join the event on the day.


If you have any questions about any of these sessions, please contact: Carrie.bower@ageuk.org.uk.

Reminder – “Safeguarding Language” Knowledge Share Live Event at 1pm Today

The first of our lunchtime drop-in sessions on safeguarding takes place today at 1pm! Find out how to join us below.

Age UK’s Safeguarding team are running 4 lunchtime drop-in sessions aimed to enhance knowledge and understanding of different topics associated with safeguarding. This is a quick reminder that the first of these sessions “Safeguarding Language” will take place today (Wednesday 2nd February) from 13:00-14:00. You can find out full details below, including the link you need to join the event later today. Please note: You don’t need to book your place, just use the link provided below to join later today. This event will be recorded and we will share the link afterwards for those who can’t make it this lunchtime.

13:00-14:00 | Wednesday 2nd February | Safeguarding language

Do you know what an IMCA is? Who works in a MASH? What a section 42 enquiry is?

Working across different organisations can be tricky at the best of times, but when we all use different language and acronyms, it becomes harder still.

This session aims to help you learn more about the different terms used by partners working in social care and safeguarding.

Click here to join the event at 13:00!


If you have any questions about any of these sessions, please contact: Carrie.bower@ageuk.org.uk.