Language, labels and the stories we tell about people

Words shape reality – especially in health and care.

This session explores how language, labels and professional shorthand influence how people are seen, treated and understood. We’ll look at the unintended consequences of diagnostic, deficit‑based and system‑friendly language – and what happens when we consciously shift the narrative.

We’ll explore:

*   How language subtly reinforces power and assumptions
*   The difference between clinical accuracy and human truth
*   When labels help – and when they trap
*   Small language changes that make a big relational difference

For anyone who’s ever thought: “That report is accurate… but it doesn’t feel like the person I met.”

Click here to register

A gentle note about content
This session includes open conversation about death and dying.
We aim to create a reflective and supportive space, but these topics can feel personal, emotional or challenging for some people.

Please take part in a way that feels right for you, including stepping out, taking a pause, or simply listening.

 Talking about death, dying and what matters most.

We don’t often talk about death – even when it matters most.

This reflective session creates space to explore how language, silence and discomfort shape the way we think, feel and communicate about dying. Through gentle reflection and conversation, we’ll consider what gets in the way – and what might help.

We’ll explore:

• Why talking about death feels hard – personally and professionally
• How language can soften, avoid or clarify meaning
• What “a good death” means – and who decides
• Small shifts that open more honest, human conversations

For anyone who’s ever thought: “I know this matters… but I don’t know how to start.”

Click here to register

Join Vicky Thomson and Kirsteen Redmile at Lincolnshire’s Personalisation Huddle as they explore co-production and what it really means to work alongside people, families and communities to create solutions together.

Co-production is more than engagement or consultation—it is about building equal partnerships where people’s experiences are valued alongside professional ‘expertise’. At this Personalisation Huddle, Vicky and Kirsteen will share practical insights, examples and learning to help bring co-production to life in everyday practice, alongside people who have experience of co-production who will share what it feels like for them.

Drawing on their experience of embedding personalised approaches across health and care, they will explore how co-production can strengthen relationships, improve outcomes and create services that genuinely reflect what matters to the people who use them.

The session will highlight the key principles that underpin successful co-production, including:

• Building trust and meaningful partnerships
• Who really holds the power?
• The ‘messy middle’ of co-production
• Creating inclusive opportunities
• Options when there is ‘no time or no money’
• What does ‘good enough’ look like?

Whether you are new to the concept or are already developing co-produced approaches, this huddle offers an opportunity to learn, reflect and be inspired by how working with people, rather than for people, can lead to more responsive, person-centred services and stronger communities, and in essence, more Gloriously Ordinary lives.

Together, we will encourage participants to be curious, ask questions and explore how co-production can become a powerful enabler of personalisation—ensuring that the voices, experiences and aspirations of local people remain at the heart of everything we do.

Click here to register

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is an essential component of personalised care, which supports people and carers to feel more confident in having informed and meaningful conversations with health and care professionals about the treatment, care and support that is right for them at that time.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session which will support staff to feel more confident in having Shared Decision Making conversations.

Click here to register

Having ‘What matters to you’ conversations and getting personalised care
and support planning right is essential for people to gain more choice and
control over their life and the support they are receiving.
The Personalised Care and Support Planning module is targeted at staff who want
to improve their awareness of the subject and/or develop and update care and
support plans with people.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session

Click here to register

Co‑production, power and the uncomfortable middle!
We talk a lot about co‑production – but how often do we 'really' examine who holds the power?
This session takes a gentle but honest look at 'participation, voice and influence'. We’ll explore when co‑production is genuinely shared, when it slips into consultation theatre, and how professionals can stay open without feeling threatened, defensive or tokenistic.

We’ll explore:
*   The difference between listening, involving and sharing power
*   Why co‑production can feel risky, messy or uncomfortable
*   How lived experience challenges professional certainty
*   What “good enough” co‑production looks like in real-world constraints
Ideal for people who believe in co‑production – and want to do it with integrity, not just good intentions.

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

1 day virtual course over Zoom. If you spend your life explaining to the people you support - what they should, could, must or need to do,then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.

To book your place, Click here to register. Please note, the places are limited.

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is an essential component of personalised care, which supports people and carers to feel more confident in having informed and meaningful conversations with health and care professionals about the treatment, care and support that is right for them at that time.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session which will support staff to feel more confident in having Shared Decision Making conversations.

Click here to register

Having ‘What matters to you’ conversations and getting personalised care
and support planning right is essential for people to gain more choice and
control over their life and the support they are receiving.
The Personalised Care and Support Planning module is targeted at staff who want
to improve their awareness of the subject and/or develop and update care and
support plans with people.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session

Click here to register

How do we do the right thing even when the 'system' won’t let us?

What happens when you 'know' what good care looks like, but policies, time, targets or resources make it impossible?

This session explores 'moral distress', that quiet, cumulative erosion professionals feel when they are repeatedly prevented from acting in line with their values.

We’ll look at how this shows up in health, care and the voluntary sector, how it differs from burnout, and what helps people stay ethically intact without carrying the whole system on their shoulders.

We’ll explore:
*   The difference between stress, burnout and moral injury
*   How “just following process” can slowly damage professional identity
*   Practical ways to name, share and ease moral distress
*   What leaders, teams and organisations can do (and what they can’t)

For anyone who’s gone home thinking: “That wasn’t good enough - and it wasn’t my fault… but it still hurts.”

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

Caring work doesn’t end when you clock off.
This reflective session focuses on the 'emotional labour' of health, care and voluntary sector roles – the unseen work of holding stories, containing distress, managing your own reactions and still showing up human.
We’ll explore:
*   What emotional labour actually is (and why it’s so exhausting)
*   The myth of “just being professional”
*   Healthy boundaries vs emotional shutdown
*   How to carry stories with care – without carrying them alone
For people who love their work, but are quietly getting weighed down.

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

What if we designed services like we design apps — intuitive, responsive, and built around the user?

This session explores how digital tools can enhance personalisation… or quietly erode it. We’ll look at the future of care through the lens of innovation, asking how we prepare for big challenges like an ageing population and workforce pressures without losing sight of what matters most: the person.

Expect bold ideas, a few tech-induced existential questions, and maybe a system crash or two (metaphorically speaking).

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

Having ‘What matters to you’ conversations and getting personalised care
and support planning right is essential for people to gain more choice and
control over their life and the support they are receiving.
The Personalised Care and Support Planning module is targeted at staff who want
to improve their awareness of the subject and/or develop and update care and
support plans with people.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session

Click here to register

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is an essential component of personalised care, which supports people and carers to feel more confident in having informed and meaningful conversations with health and care professionals about the treatment, care and support that is right for them at that time.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session which will support staff to feel more confident in having Shared Decision Making conversations.

Click here to register

1 day virtual course over Zoom. If you spend your life explaining to the people you support - what they should, could, must or need to do,then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.

To book your place, Click here to register. Please note, the places are limited.

Come and join us at the next Personalisation Huddle, where colleagues and students from the newly named Lincoln Student Health Network will be sharing their story - starting from a simple idea that quickly gathered momentum.

We’ll talk honestly about our experience of introducing personalisation: what worked, what didn’t always go to plan, and how everyone can play a part along the way.

Our project focuses on supporting University of Lincoln students to access physical health care, beginning with increasing the uptake of HPV vaccinations. Along the way, we’ve collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders - and it’s fair to say the project has really mushroomed!

If that’s sparked a little interest or curiosity, we’d love you to join us. We’ll share what it’s been like to start small, dream big, and keep going - and how persistence really can pay off.

Click here to register

Are we measuring what matters — or just what’s easy to count?

This session takes a playful but pointed look at how outcomes and personalisation collide. We’ll explore whether our measures reflect real impact or just system satisfaction, and how small, everyday changes can lead to big shifts in someone’s life.

Come ready to challenge assumptions, rethink your spreadsheets, and maybe even fall back in love with the idea of meaningful outcomes.

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

Community Reporter training – two-day course, in person

• 5^th and 6^th Feburary 2026, Beech House, Waterside South, Lincoln LN5 7JH

Aim: To train participants as Community Reporters so that they can independently gather digital stories of their own and others’ lived experiences.

The course will cover:

• What is Community Reporting?
• Snapshot Stories, Dialogue Interviews and Personal Monologues
• Photography, audio and video recording
• Responsible Storytelling
• Using the Community Reporter website
• Making plans for your next steps as a Community Reporter

Due to room size places are limited to 10 per course, so book early if you can or forward on to people you think may be interested, as we will be publicising these courses more widely next week.

Booking link: Community Reporter training bookings

More information about the project can be found here:

Community Reporting – capturing and valuing our shared stories

Lincolnshire Community Reporting stories gathered so far

We are aware that both these courses are in Lincoln which may not be helpful for some of you.  Please drop me a line if you would like to do the training but can’t get to Lincoln – and let me know whereabouts in the county you are based.

We would also love to hear from partners who might be up for hosting a course in return for a number of places for your community members, volunteers and/or staff.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions about the project or the training.

In a world obsessed with safety, how do we honour the messy, meaningful reality of risk?

This workshop dives into the tension between duty of care and the right to take chances. We’ll unpack whose version of “safe” is shaping our decisions, and explore how embracing risk — rather than avoiding it — can lead to richer, more autonomous lives.

Expect lively discussion, a few uncomfortable truths, and maybe even a little danger (theoretical, of course).

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

In the ever-evolving landscape of health and care, professionals often face the challenges of budget cuts and continuous change.

How do we maintain a positive outlook and resilience?

Join us to consider the need for stress management, effective communication, and maintaining motivation, ensuring you can continue to provide exceptional care despite the obstacles.

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

Having ‘What matters to you’ conversations and getting personalised care
and support planning right is essential for people to gain more choice and
control over their life and the support they are receiving.
The Personalised Care and Support Planning module is targeted at staff who want
to improve their awareness of the subject and/or develop and update care and
support plans with people.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session

Click here to register

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is an essential component of personalised care, which supports people and carers to feel more confident in having informed and meaningful conversations with health and care professionals about the treatment, care and support that is right for them at that time.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session which will support staff to feel more confident in having Shared Decision Making conversations.

Click here to register

Come and join us at the next Personalisation Huddle, where we’ll be hearing from three fantastic neighbourhoods who are all exploring how personalised and strengths-based approaches can transform care for frail people.

Here’s who you’ll meet:

• South Lincolnshire and Rural PCN: Have spent the last three months planning, preparing, and learning together. Now they’re ready to share how they’re setting the foundations for change in their local neighbourhoods.
• K2 PCN: Are working with people who have complex clinical needs, they’re making sure they understand what really matters. Their work is closely linked with the Frailty Virtual Wards, lots to learn here!
• South Lincoln : One of the trailblazers! They were among the first to explore new ways of working with frail people and have fully embraced personalised, strengths-based practice.

Each team brings a different perspective, and they’re keen to share their experiences, challenges, and insights. But they also want to hear from you:

• Do you know what’s happening in your area?
• What role do you play?
• How do you contribute, or how could you?
• What learning or opportunities do you have that others could benefit from?

This is a chance to connect, reflect, and grow together. Whether you’re just starting out or well on your way, your voice matters.

Click here to register

We’re inviting colleagues to join the ReSPECT Virtual Follow-up Workshop on Tuesday 26th November, 11:30–13:30.

During this workshop, we will:

• Review outputs from the Summer Workshop follow-up – what did we find out and what pledges were made?
• Share an update on the ReSPECT Policy refresh.
• Discuss what’s next – actions and next steps for the ReSPECT Programme.
• Consider together  changes to the Training and Education offer, options for development of the ReSPECT Community of Practice and the ReSPECT Champions Network.

Please use the link below to register for the event, and share this email and invitation widely within your teams.

Register here: ReSPECT Virtual Follow-up Workshop

We’re delighted to announce the first fully co-produced training session on language in health and care.

When: Monday 24 November 2025, 9:30am - 4.30pm
Where: Boardroom, Bridge House, Sleaford, NG34 8GG

The session will be:

Interactive - expect to join in discussions and activities
Challenging - it will stretch your thinking about how you communicate
Grounded in stories - you’ll hear directly from people about when language has got it wrong - and when it’s been done right

We’ll also look at health literacy in Lincolnshire and explore the impact of our everyday written and spoken words. You’ll be encouraged to bring along a letter or leaflet from your service, so we can reflect together on how accessible and clear it really is.

This isn’t about policing language. Instead, we’ll ask: “Would you use these words around the dinner table with family and friends?”

How to take part in the language training:
If this work to develop the language we use sparks your interest, we’d love for you to be part of the first training session!

To book your place or find out more, email licb.healthinequalities@nhs.net or alisonx.smith@lincolnshire.gov.uk

1 day virtual course over Zoom. If you spend your life explaining to the people you support - what they should, could, must or need to do,then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.

To book your place, Click here to register. Please note, the places are limited.

This session explores valuable perspectives on the interplay between geography and health.

How does the geography of where we live shape our health and wellbeing?

We'll explore the distinct impacts of living in coastal, rural, and urban areas, examining factors such as access to healthcare, environmental influences, and lifestyle differences.

Ready to survey the geographical dimensions of health?

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

Community Reporter training – two-day course, in person

• 7^th and 10^th November 2025, Beech House, Waterside South, Lincoln LN5 7JH

Aim: To train participants as Community Reporters so that they can independently gather digital stories of their own and others’ lived experiences.

The course will cover:

• What is Community Reporting?
• Snapshot Stories, Dialogue Interviews and Personal Monologues
• Photography, audio and video recording
• Responsible Storytelling
• Using the Community Reporter website
• Making plans for your next steps as a Community Reporter

Due to room size places are limited to 10 per course, so book early if you can or forward on to people you think may be interested, as we will be publicising these courses more widely next week.

Booking link: Community Reporter training bookings

More information about the project can be found here:

Community Reporting – capturing and valuing our shared stories

Lincolnshire Community Reporting stories gathered so far

We are aware that both these courses are in Lincoln which may not be helpful for some of you.  Please drop me a line if you would like to do the training but can’t get to Lincoln – and let me know whereabouts in the county you are based.

We would also love to hear from partners who might be up for hosting a course in return for a number of places for your community members, volunteers and/or staff.

Please do get in touch if you have any questions about the project or the training.

How do you stay fresh? What do you do to stay yourself intellectually and emotionally nourished.

When things are busy and we are surrounded by change, it is more important than ever to have practical strategies to stimulate your mind and nurture your emotional health, ensuring a balanced and fulfilling work / life.

Ready to feed your mind and soul? Let's explore together!

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

Head along to this special Huddle on Thursday 16 October, 9.30am - 11am, to join colleagues across health, social care, the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, and the University of Lincoln as they showcase how personalised and strengths-based practice is making a difference.

They’ll share how people’s own stories are being brought together with population health data insights to capture the real human impact of personalised care - the changes that numbers alone can’t always tell.

With this new understanding, we can transform and redesign services so that they truly meet people’s needs.

Click here to register

1 day virtual course over Zoom. If you spend your life explaining to the people you support - what they should, could, must or need to do,then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.

Having ‘What matters to you’ conversations and getting personalised care
and support planning right is essential for people to gain more choice and
control over their life and the support they are receiving.
The Personalised Care and Support Planning module is targeted at staff who want
to improve their awareness of the subject and/or develop and update care and
support plans with people.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session

Click here to register

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is an essential component of personalised care, which supports people and carers to feel more confident in having informed and meaningful conversations with health and care professionals about the treatment, care and support that is right for them at that time.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session which will support staff to feel more confident in having Shared Decision Making conversations.

Click here to register

Having ‘What matters to you’ conversations and getting personalised care
and support planning right is essential for people to gain more choice and
control over their life and the support they are receiving.
The Personalised Care and Support Planning module is targeted at staff who want
to improve their awareness of the subject and/or develop and update care and
support plans with people.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session

Click here to register

Shared Decision Making (SDM) is an essential component of personalised care, which supports people and carers to feel more confident in having informed and meaningful conversations with health and care professionals about the treatment, care and support that is right for them at that time.

Come and join our local trainers in an interactive session which will support staff to feel more confident in having Shared Decision Making conversations.

Click here to register

Holistic v clinical – whole life coaching.

How do we balance the contrast between holistic and clinical approaches. What are the strengths and limitations of each method, and how integrating both lead to more comprehensive care and support?

Ready to explore the best of both worlds? Let's find the balance together!

REGISTER FOR THIS SESSION

1 day virtual course over Zoom. If you spend your life explaining to the people you support - what they should, could, must or need to do,then this is the course for you. Motivational interviewing is a style of communication that uses a guiding/reflective style to engage with people, clarify their strengths and aspirations, and utilise their own motivations for change, and promote independence of decision making.

To book your place, Click here to register. Please note, the places are limited.