We would love you to join our virtual information session Tuesday 13th July 6.00 â 7.00pm, where you can find out more about fostering, from the comfort of your own home.
Sefton Council needs more foster carers and we are asking local people to really think about taking on this new rewarding role. If you can give a loving and stable home to children across Sefton, you can turn their life around and help them to achieve their full potential.
At our next info session, you will meet Sue and Derek who will be there to talk about their own experiences and answer any questions.
Sue has been fostering for 18 years and has looked after children of all ages. Derek has joined Sue in caring for children after falling in love with her and the fostering role.
Speaking about life as a foster carer, Sue said: âBeing a foster carer can be one of the best things you can do. I have seen children not knowing what direction their lives are going in, to just enjoying life and not worrying about things that children shouldnât be worrying about.”
Speaking about the info session Derek said: âIf youâre thinking about fostering please come along to the info session and have a chat about the approval process and how things have been for us. Honestly, itâs been truly amazing and as well as being beneficial to the children, itâs given me a new lease on life.â
Whether youâre ready to start your fostering journey or want the answers to some of those burning questions, our information session is a great place for you to find out more.
To join us on the day, click on the link to the Teams meeting:
Sefton’s Highways team are switching on to new energy saving eco streetlighting, using green technology to make big emissions savings.
A new series of eco-friendly LED streetlighting technology has been approved for rollout across the borough, which will help to slash a significant part of the energy used by the local authority.
The energy used by street lighting in Sefton accounts for around 26% of the Councilâs total carbon footprint and furthermore causes significant expenditure with year-on-year increases in energy costs.
To combat both a rising cost and to help tackle the Climate Emergency, Sefton Council will now look to install eco-friendly LED technology across the street lighting network to replace the older units which are currently in place.
Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Locality Services, said:
“Already we are working towards a considerable reduction in our carbon emissions through a number of projects and our plans to install new LED street lighting will contribute enormously.
“Sefton is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change as a coastal borough and this work is a vital part of our Climate Emergency Action Plan to address this pressing issue. We have a desire to keep up the momentum and tackle climate change across the borough in any way we can and in the long term if we can also save money, that is even better.”
Once completed, the project will contribute significantly to the reduction in the Councilâs emissions in line with the Climate Emergency target of net zero carbon by 2030.
Since 2019, the Council have reduced emissions by 10% and this project will contribute a further 17% reduction from the 2019 baseline, keeping the council on track to meet the 2030 target.
For more information on what Sefton are doing to tackle the Climate Emergency, visit our website
Sefton shortlisted for prestigious local government award
Sefton Council has been shortlisted for a prestigious public sector award for part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The local authority’s ICT Client Team in partnership with Procurement colleagues, swung into action at the beginning of the pandemic, to ensure the council’s core functions could remain active. Now more than a year later they are proud finalists of the 2021 GO Awards, which celebrates the very best procurement achievements from across the UKâs public, private and third sector organisations.
Sefton are finalists in the COVID-19 Outstanding Response Award category after judges were impressed with the way the council managed to transform it’s historically physical office based contact centre into a bespoke, virtual system within 12 working days.
It took just two day’s for Sefton Council’s ICT Client team, working alongside the Procurement team, to find, assess and obtain an entirely new cloud based telephone system, allowing for a seamless and cost effective transition of services, meaning the most vulnerable and in need residents were still given the support they needed without delay.
Sefton secured 8×8, a world renowned VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) provider who worked with the local authority to quickly install a brand new system allowing for our dedicated contact centre staff to work safely from home while continuing to do their jobs.
Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “For some time we had been looking into how we could make our customer interface more agile but the urgent need for a fully functioning remote contact centre arose with the sudden arrival of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“This meant we had to act fast in order to maintain vital services to our residents and communities.
“Traditionally proper procurement and ICT works take time but by utilising national frameworks and the skill of our expert officers, we were able to carry out an entire procurement process from start to finish in just 48 hours.
“COVID-19 has created huge challenges for the public sector and will have a lasting impact on Sefton as a borough for years to come.
“Nevertheless the outbreak of the pandemic presented a moment to rethink and transform specific services, which in the long term will help in the council’s economic recovery while maintaining vital resources and support for our communities.
“The ânew normalâ calls for extra safety, greater agility and enhanced services for our residents, businesses and partnersâ which is what we have achieved with 8×8, thanks in no small part to our amazing ICT Client team, procurement team and contact centre workers.
“We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the GO Awards and we look forward to the final in September.”
Jamie Snaddon, Managing Director, EMEA at 8×8, said: “The speed and agility with which Sefton Council completely transformed their historically on-premises contact centre into one that is cloud-based, remotely accessible, and allows for full connectivity is truly incredible. We are thrilled to have been a part of Sefton Council’s positive efforts to transform the services it delivers to the community.”
/Ends
Extra COVID-19 vaccine dates for booking and walk-ins in Sefton
Additional COVID-19 vaccination slots have been confirmed making it easier for people in Sefton to grab a jab.
Bookable slots are available at Linacre Methodist Mission in Litherland next week and people can secure a guaranteed slot through the national COVID-19 vaccination booking service.
Walk-in vaccinations will also be accepted during the confirmed clinic times.
People who attend a walk-in clinic for their first dose will have their vaccination record updated online and will then be able to book in their second dose appointment using the national booking system:Â www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination
Second jabs are also available at the walk-ins, if it has been at least eight weeks since the first dose for people aged over 40, and 12 weeks for people aged under 40.
Getting the second dose is vital to getting longer lasting and maximum protection offered by the vaccines, with recent research also showing they are highly effective against the Delta strain of the virus.
Booking a vaccination appointment  Â
All adults can still book at one of the 1,600 vaccination centres, pharmacies or general practice sites across the country that are available through the national booking service.
In Sefton, appointments can still be booked at one of the pharmacy-led vaccination sites located in Ainsdale, Bootle, Formby, Litherland, Seaforth, Southport and Waterloo.
People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.
In line with updated JCVI guidance, people aged 39 and under and all pregnant women will be offered the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.
On Monday 5 July the NHS will celebrate its 73rd âbirthdayâ. After a challenging year, health professionals in Sefton are encouraging everyone to join them in giving thanks for our national health service and recognising those who have worked hard to keep our borough safe.
Staff at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG are marking the anniversary of the creation of the NHS by hosting a âBig Teaâ event, sharing a âThank Youâ video to staff and residents in Sefton and inviting everyone to join in to âlight it blueâ at home this weekend.
Cuppa
Anyone can get involved in the âBig Teaâ to say thank you to our NHS by hosting their own tea party and collecting donations for NHS Charities Together. Alternatively, you can join in online by taking a 5 minute brew break, sharing a photo with your cuppa on social media with the hashtag #NHSBigTea and donating to the charity by texting TEA to 70207 to give ÂŁ5.
Landmarks across the country will also be âlighting up blueâ this weekend to mark the occasion and show support for the NHS, while also remembering those who have lost their lives to COVID-19. The NHS in Sefton is encouraging everyone to join in this simple act at home from Saturday 3 July â Monday 5 July, to show support for our NHS and remember those we have lost.
Hope
Fiona Taylor, chief officer at NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: âIt has been an extremely challenging year for the NHS in Sefton and across the country, but it has also been one of hope. While caring for around 400,000 seriously ill COVID-19 patients, the NHS has rolled out the biggest vaccination programme in our history.â
âWe could not have played our part in these achievements without the skill and dedication of our staff, volunteers, keyworkers and you, the public, who are supporting our efforts by following social distancing rules and turning up to get vaccinated.â
âWe would like to mark the 73rd birthday of the NHS by saying a huge thank you to those who have worked so hard to face these challenges or who have supported us over the last 12 months.â
Celebrations
Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: âWe would love for everyone in Sefton to join in the birthday celebrations at their own âBig Teaâ events with friends and family, while remembering that the âRule of 6â, or two households, still applies indoors. Itâs a great opportunity to âpour out our thanksâ to NHS teams all over the country who have worked so hard to care for and protect our communities this year.â
âYou can also join in by âlighting up blueâ at home to show your support. Why not dig out the Christmas lights, hang something blue from your house, or simply place a lamp in your window as an act of respect to remember those who we have sadly lost to COVID-19.â
Cllr Maher also took part in a ‘thank you’ video, talking about how, in May, the Council’ s Cabinet agreed proposals to grant Aintree and Liverpool University NHS Trust and Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in the light of the hard work and dedication the Trusts’ staff had shown during the âdevastation of the Covid 19 Pandemicâ.
The NHS âBig Teaâ is a national celebration and fundraising events organised by NHS Charities Together, the NHSâ national charity partner made up of 240 charity members based with hospitals, mental health, ambulance and community health services across the UK.
If you would like to host your own NHS âBig Teaâ event or find out how to support NHS Charities Together, visit their website here:Â www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/nhs-big-tea/
You can find out more about the NHS birthday and activities across the UK on the NHS website here:Â www.england.nhs.uk/nhsbirthday/.
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We would love you to join our virtual information session Tuesday 13th July 6.00 â 7.00pm, where you can find out more about fostering, from the comfort of your own home.
