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Back to apas annual report contents Staff at 31st March 2005 Kathy
Beckett, Data and Research Kristina
Farnum, Practise Learning Assessor / Supervisor David
Molyneux, Advice Worker Lesley
Ogram, Administration Officer / Accounts Raj
Singh, Client Services Co-ordinator / Practise Learning Teacher Carole
Shore, Practise Learning Teacher Nick
Tegerdine, Executive Director Martin
Walsh, Advice Worker / Practise Learning Teacher Cilla
Wild, General Advice Worker Debi
Wood, Advice Worker Keith
Woodley, Head of Client Services Unpaid
workers at 31st March 2005
Lora
Cotterill Chris
Garnett Kenneth
Gregory Rachel
Miller Greta
Parr Karen
Phillips-Parsons Vincent
Price Sharon
Raithby Colleen
Scott Neil
Stillwell Patrick
White Board
Members
David
Barlow Marion
Charles John
Stuart Clark Andrea
Spence Martin
Stott – Acting Chairman Nick Tegerdine - Executive Director and Company Secretary
apas
36 Park Row NOTTINGHAM NG1 6GR
Drop
In Service (apas Direct)
12.30pm - 6.30pm Monday to Thursday 12.30pm - 4.30pm Friday 9.00am - 12.30pm Saturday Telephone Helpline Alcoline0115 941 4747 or Lo-call 0845 762 6316 and press 1
9.00am - 7pm Monday to Friday 9.00am – 1.00pm Saturday Answerphone service at all other times
Administration and Accounts Tel 0115 9485570 and press 2
Fax 0115 948 5571 E-mail info@apas.org.uk
Web www.apas.org.uk How to Contact apas duty worker
Duty Advice Worker ext 48026 apas@apas.org.uk
For the duty officer, whichever telephone number you have used,all
you have to do is press one at the first message.
R U Joined Up? Why not become a member of apas and help us to reduce the harm that alcohol causes in communities across the north midlands and beyond? For more information about membership and its benefits please contact Lesley Ogram on (0115) 948 5570 ext 48054 or e-mail lesley@apas.org.uk
apas
currently benefit from the support of 6 unpaid workers, who are regularly
contributing to the good work we do. Some of our volunteers lend a hand in
admin, whilst others deliver advice, information and support to our alcoline
clients. Our unpaid workers also carry out some brief intervention work, writing
to clients in prison and they are always eager to help out at public awareness
and training events! It has been rewarding to see so many of our unpaid
workers go on to other positions this year where they have been able to use the
skills and experience they have gained at apas. It is also particularly pleasing
to see so many of our ex clients and other ex service users eager to help out
others battling with the problems caused by drink, drugs and gambling. Although demand is high, with almost 50 people on the waiting list for our next volunteer recruitment and training programme, we have postponed this years unpaid worker intake until we have expanded to our new premises.
Experiences
of an Unpaid Advice Worker I
started my training at apas on 28/11/04. I can remember that first day like it
was yesterday. I was filled with trepidation because I didn’t know what was
going to happen. All those new faces who, like me, didn’t know what to expect.
But by the end of that first day, we were all looking forward to the second
training day. We covered so much ground during
our training, the topics we covered weren’t just to do with alcohol and drugs
awareness we looked at all sorts of other things from the effects of substance
misuse on the family to telephone skills to client care to admin stuff to
Nottinghamshire geography! After the group training I took my
telephone advice worker on site training with one of the paid members of staff.
I thought we had covered a lot of ground already but boy, was there more to
come! I was finally given the opportunity to go solo as a voluntary telephone
advice worker on March 24th 2005. I felt quite nervous about what
exactly I was doing but forged ahead quite quickly after that. I have had a few scary moments, but all the staff have been keen to show support and encouragement ever since I started here and my confidence continues to grow with every session. It is now mid August 05 & I can’t see myself doing any other job after this. I would gladly come in any time I’m needed because I’m not only helping other people, but myself also.
When
I was allocated a final year placement at apas by Derby University, to be
quite honest I was not immediately grabbed by the idea of completing a placement in
the voluntary sector. I looked at
the website and gained information and found books in the university library but
still felt unsure as I did not know if my own prejudices would affect my working
with heavy alcohol users. One
of the first things that hit me from the very first time I visited apas was
the genuine warmth of the staff. I
have worked at places before where staff had said that if I required help I
should just ask, but at apas they meant it. Everyone has been helpful and
there has never been an inconvenient time to ask, well no one has ever said
there was! The induction process was thorough and the help given by the practice assessors was exceptional. There were times when I felt that the balance between the work of the agency and the demands of the University became overwhelming but there was always a practice assessor on hand to help you through any difficulties you faced. A wealth of experience was available within the agency and I always felt that my individual needs were being met. I was able to visit other organisations whilst at apas and I feel that this has improved my otherwise limited knowledge of alcohol services within Nottinghamshire. I feel that this can only improve the service that I give to clients in the future as I start my career as a social worker. I assisted in the running of a stall to highlight the services offered by apas at two events in the community and assisted in delivering a presentation to single mothers about the effects of heavy alcohol use. It was satisfying to know that I was able to help people to reduce alcohol related problems that affect them, their families and the wider community. I feel that apas has been an informative placement and I have been challenged within a safe environment. I was given guidance by staff who are passionate about their roles within the agency and I feel that I have been able to contribute to the agency whilst continuing to receive exceptional support.
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