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Last words

When I scamper up the hills in the beautifulÌýPerthshire countryside, I often reach a summitÌýwith a beaming smile, a spring in my step andÌýa compulsive urge to let rip with The hills are alive, theÌýsignature song from the movie, The Sound of Music. ButÌýfearing this might trigger a lemming-like mass cliff-jumpingÌýexodus by fellow walkers, I tend to refrain, content thatÌýit’s sufficient to hum the song to myself.

Reaching the pinnacle of any task allows us the chanceÌýto reflect and ponder. It is through this that we can standÌýback and consider the gains, what we have learnt and howÌýwe can share this with others. This issue broadly follows aÌý‘Training’ theme, named as such because it shares soundÌýethical practice by the few for the many.

Many thanks to Martin Weaver and Felicity Biggart whoÌýexplain how they deliver their Trauma Resilience Training.Ìý‘Resilience’ is fast becoming the word of the year butÌýperhaps for good reason as we seek ways to manage, copeÌýwith and respond to adversity. A welcome to Diana Wellens,Ìýwho’s written a fascinating article about domestic abuseÌýand what organisations can do to support those in theÌýworkplace affected by this. Thanks also to Elly Prior,Ìýwho shares with us how Trauma Risk Management (TRiM)Ìýis delivered at Kent Police.

I’m grateful to Nicola Banning, who returns with the startÌýof a new interview series that looks through the keyhole ofÌýan organisational counselling service. Here, she interviewsÌýCindi Bedor, head of counselling at an NHS hospital.ÌýAnd thanks also to Barry McInnes, who was commissionedÌýto conduct research into routine service measurement ofÌýcounselling outcomes. This crucial piece of research seeksÌýto map out who’s using what and why. Barry gives us anÌýearly update. If we can’t demonstrate evidence thatÌýcounselling ‘works’, how on earth can we convince fundholdersÌýto maintain or invest in counselling service provision?

Finally… after nine years, plus a few years’ proofing,Ìýreluctantly, I feel it’s time for me to pass the editing batonÌý(or the walking stick) to someone who’ll take the journalÌýon to its next stage of development.

Some of you might know that I’ve dabbled inÌýscreenwriting for a few years now. A couple of months ago,ÌýI was nominated for a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award inÌýthe ‘writer’ category. You can perhaps imagine at the lavish,Ìýred-carpet, Glasgow ceremony, my over-enthusiastic clapping,Ìýclenched jaw and fake smile when the winner was announcedÌýas someone else. So I’m going to swap the long hours usuallyÌýspent on this journal for the same long hours dedicated toÌýscreenwriting. If it’s not already out there by the time youÌýget this issue, look out for the forthcoming launch of aÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ video viral to promote the www.itsgoodtotalk.org.ukÌýwebsite. If you love it, I wrote the script. If you hate it,Ìýsomeone else did.

It has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege toÌýbe involved in your journal for nearly a quarter of my life.ÌýA massive thank you to the many contributors, the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏÌýWorkplace executive committee, the book reviewers, toÌýthe design teams, Fran Shall, Jacqui Gray, my fellow editorsÌýand all those involved in production. And, of course, to theÌýsupport from you, the reader. You can imagine how manyÌýtimes I tripped over the sack load of letters.ÌýI salute you all – cue Rick standing to attention in frontÌýof his laptop, clutching a ruler as a microphone, ready withÌýa lungful of air, preparing to unleash an odd rendition ofÌýSo Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Bye.

Apologies if this or any other track from The SoundÌýof Music annoyingly reverberates around your headÌýfor the rest of the day.

However, I resolutely retain my other hat, that of beingÌýÏã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ’s part-time Lead Advisor: Workplace, so I still hopeÌýto keep in touch with many of you.

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Rick Hughes
Editor

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