At a conference held on Wednesday, December 9, the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia was strongly represented — it had the highest number of contributions of all participating institutions. The topic was Multidisciplinary Cooperation in Non-Medical Healthcare Disciplines. The Faculty of Health Studies of the Technical University of Liberec organized it, and due to the circumstances it had to be held online. However, unlike most of this year's events of this kind, it allowed participants to discuss contributions. There were 57 papers, ten of which were from our faculty. Everyone had to follow the set rules in their performance, especially the time limit for one contribution, which could not exceed 10 minutes. This is a relatively short time for experts to mention everything important from their research whilst still making the speech sound interesting. The event was summed up by prof. PhDr. Valérie Tóthová, Ph.D., the Vice-Dean for Science and Research and the Director of the Institute of Nursing, Midwifery and Urgent Care. She said: "I am proud of all the speakers. It was amazing to listen to the quality of the contributions from our faculty. We are currently solving eight research projects at our institute, so there is material to present. That is why our representation was so strong and the individual contributions received a very good response from other participating colleagues. This year, it was the only conference in our field with some space for discussion."

She appreciated that the organizers accepted her initiative and prepared this meeting interactively. The individual sections were led by experts who are familiar with the issue, it was possible to ask questions through chat and there was always some space for discussion and self-expression of the author. Thanks to this, it was possible to preserve know-how without it being accessed by anyone outside the conference. High quality research data are a great asset of the faculty. FHSS USB has had good long-term cooperation with the Faculty of Health Studies of the Technical University of Liberec. "That is why we wanted to support their event with such a strong representation. We have things to present. In addition, participation in these events helps our younger colleagues gain valuable experience and grow professionally," said prof. Tóthová.

The Dean of our faculty, Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D., was very pleased. "Our colleagues represented our faculty exemplarily in this event. Even during this challenging time, which does not favour personal meetings, they have shown that excellent research results can be presented in a virtual and professional form even in virtual environment," she said.

Today, experts from all over the country from the field of health care, education and social work connected online at a conference entitled ‘Life with Autism’. Their contributions are published on the YouTube channel of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (which is also the organizer of the event). This was the 2^nd year of the professional conference, which last April brought more than two hundred spectators to our faculty. This year, its original date was also set for April 2, which is World Autism Understanding Day, but at that time, schools were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic and similar events could not take place.

That is why the organizers chose December 11, which is World Childhood Day, as a substitute. On that day in 1946, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was established by a resolution of the UN General Assembly. In the end, the event had to take place remotely online, but the topic is so important that the participants did not want to lose the opportunity to exchange new knowledge and experience. Especially this year, which has been a huge strain for families of children with autism spectrum disorders (PAS). During the pandemic, they have been in isolation for a long period without the opportunity to take a break, even for a while, at least by using some kind of day-care. Therefore, another goal of the event was to acquaint the general public with this issue and to show examples of good practice that can help or encourage parents.

In the introduction, the participants were welcomed by the Dean of ZSF, JU Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D., who took over the auspices of the event. She thanked the organizers for holding the conference in this way — when the situation no longer allowed face-to-face meetings. She said: "Our faculty prepares students for helping professions which deal with both healthy people and those with disabilities. I believe that the messages set up here will enrich our students and colleagues." Then three contributions were presented: Support for the family system in the care of a child with neurodevelopmental disorder (including autism spectrum disorder), Early development and autism spectrum disorder, and Determining the zone of proximal development. The conference fulfilled its purpose as it provided an opportunity to present research innovations, information on social services, and practical experience. Mgr. Ingrid Baloun, Ph.D. Doc, said: "No one in our country is organizing such an event that discusses the topic of autism in a broader context. That is why we started with that.". PhDr. Adéla Mojžíšová, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Social and Special Education Sciences of FHSS USB, the guarantor of the conference, thanked all participants who care for this target group or educate experts in this field. "I look forward to meeting next year and I believe that we will be able to meet in person, because the subsequent discussion and sharing of information will further enrich the conference," she concluded.

Since Monday, one hundred students of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia have increased the number of healthcare workers in all South Bohemian hospitals. With regard to the current situation, the Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Ivana Chloubová, decided to shift the start of students’ professional internships to an earlier date than usual. "Usually the semester begins with theoretical teaching,” she explained. But in the current situation it is necessary to immediately send into practice those students who already have the professional knowledge and skills to fully participate in the nursing team and who are able to effectively help health professionals".

Therefore, students of the third and higher years of the bachelor's fields of General Nursing and Paramedicine will carry out their practice, and in the following weeks their other classmates will do the same. This week, more than ninety FHSS USB students will support the departments of anaesthesiology and resuscitation, infectious, internal, and other departments with the urgent staff shortage that is currently being experienced. Besides České Budějovice hospital, the students will also join all district hospitals in the South Bohemian region. The hospitals will provide accommodation for those who would otherwise have to commute.

For the duration of the emergency, the government has declared work obligatory for final year students of medical study programmes and for all students of social programmes under the auspices of the Regional Office of South Bohemia. The list of eligible students (including their contact details) was sent by the Dean to the Governor of the South Bohemian Region. In addition, the faculty immediately began to organize assistance in its own way. Theoretical teaching is supposed to resume in January 2021.

The faculty responds to the needs of South Bohemian hospitals on an ongoing basis, so since last Monday, five students of the 3^rd year of the Bachelor's degree in General Nursing have been sent to the hospital in Český Krumlov (which asked for them due to staff shortage). The Dean added, "Just like during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring, we are again seeing the great willingness of our students to help. Some of them are already working individually as volunteers.". The winter semester began less than a month ago, on September 29. At present, FHSS USB students are completing the theoretical part of their studies via distance learning, and students of medical programmes can participate in clinical and practical training at the faculty, for example in the Simulation Centre for Medical Fields, laboratories or professional classrooms.

The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia responded to the societal issue of care for the elderly by organizing an international conference on "Modern Trends in the Care of the Elderly - Challenges for the 21st Century". Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the originally planned spring term had to be postponed to the autumn, and eventually the event had to be held online. The presentations of the individual participants were streamed on the YouTube channel. Workshops scheduled for October 14th were cancelled without compensation.

The broadcast of the conference in the large theatre in the main building of the faculty was launched by the Rector of the University of South Bohemia, prof. PhDr. Bohumil Jiroušek, Dr., and the Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia, Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D. This was followed by speeches from representatives of the cities of Tábor and Třeboň, which are the application guarantors of the Model of Care for the Elderly in Residential Facilities project in the concept of three-level housing. As a part of the project, this international event was co-financed with the state support of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR). In total, ten papers were presented, three experts joined at a distance from abroad (Denmark, Austria and the Slovak Republic), and one contribution dealt with the topic of Co-housing in the Netherlands. A list of the participants and other details are in the programme below this report.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 997 of the Government of the Czech Republic (8 October 2020) on the adoption of a crisis measure, the operation of higher education institutions is limited with effect from 12 October 2020 to 25 October 2020 by prohibiting the personal presence of students in classes at higher education institutions — this includes participants in lifelong learning courses. Participation in clinical and practical teaching and the practice of students of medical study programmes is permitted.

Therefore, at the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of University of South Bohemia, a two-week online course starts on Monday, October 12. Exceptions have been made for selected subjects containing clinical or practical teaching — and these will be implemented with classical attendance.

The Dean of FHSS USB Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D, explained:  "Selected subjects will keep to the current schedule, whilst practical teaching will take place physically in the buildings of FHSS USB. The organization of these practical classes relies on the consideration of the respective teachers."  

The Dean also emphasized that clinical and practical training should take place in compliance with the relevant regulations (e.g. respiratory protection).

Students' internships will continue to run unchanged. The buildings of the University of South Bohemia ( i.e. all the buildings of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences) remain open in the mentioned period — and it is only  group full-time teaching that will be replaced by a different method.

To ensure quality distance learning, all classrooms and lecture theatres in all buildings of our faculty have been equipped with webcams, microphones, and headphones, prompting the Dean to add: "We believe that even under  the current circumstances, quality teaching will be ensured."

er of The Student Scientific and Professional Activities Competition (SVOČ) is a work that deals with a social topic

The eighth Student Scientific and Professional Activities Competition (SVOČ) took place on June 16 in lecture theatre A – with a limited audience due to the current hygiene measures. The winner was a work entitled: ‘The locus of control in socially excluded Roma’. Its author is Jakub Jestřáb, a first-year student of the master's programme: Management of Social Work in Organizations. He intends to develop the topic for his diploma thesis and involve a wider sample of the population in his research. Second place was taken by Viktoria Dvořáčková from the Midwifery study programme. She presented a compromise between childbirth at home and in hospital with her topic ‘Maternity House’. Tereza Gregorová, from the study programme Specialization in Health Care – Radiology Assistant, took third place. She dealt with the possibilities of treating paediatric oncology patients. The fourth work submitted was on the topic of ‘hearing impairment and its ethical aspects in the family and labour environment’. It was elaborated by Zuzana Železná from the Special Pedagogy study programme.

The participants were welcomed by the Vice-Dean for Science and Research prof. Valérie Tóthová, who thanked all the students for completing their professional work and bringing it to the event – even though the spring had been a very difficult time. Her speech was followed by the Dean of the FHSS USB Mgr. Ivana Chloubová, Ph.D. She said, "I really appreciate that, during this tense time, you got involved, dealt with this challenge and decided to defend your work today.". Thanks were also given to the trainers – who had limited contact with the students due to the coronavirus crisis and worked under difficult conditions – as well as to the opponents. The submitted works were evaluated by a board of experts comprised of prof. PhDr. Valérie Tóthová, Ph.D. (Chairwoman of the board), doc. Ing. Iva Brabcová, Ph.D., and doc. Mgr. and Mgr. Jitka Vacková, Ph.D. The successful students will receive a special cash prize: CZK 15,000 for 1st place, CZK 10,000 for 2nd place and CZK 5,000 for 3rd place.

In conclusion, prof. Tóthová said that she appreciated all of the works submitted, because they represented extra work for the students. She said, "The fact that you have prepared them, that you are presenting them here, and that you are able to discuss them with us and respond to questions, is a testimony to your expertise and commitment to the topic." She also emphasized that all suggestions and comments made during the competition were intended to further inspire students to work on the topics. The Vice-Dean for Science and Research of the FHSS USB then added: "You have tried another way of working in science and we expect you to continue to do so. It is really very important, because the results of research always bring new information which serves to move the fields forward.”

Dear staff, students, graduates and friends,

we are now entering the next phase of the government loosening measures. This will change the atmosphere of the last few months, during which time we have had to respect strict rules to protect against the new type of coronavirus. I am sure this news will bring a feeling of relief, greater freedom, and the opportunity to leave behind the worries and anxiety that many felt during March and April. We have heard opinions that some things were unnecessary and exaggerated and that nothing serious happened. This is one of the reasons that I think it is time for a review of this recent period — so that we do not relive the unfortunate moments nor forget what gave us the strength to overcome this stressful time and the opportunities it provided for personal growth and the development of the Faculty.

The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia is exceptional in terms of the combination of study programmes it offers — which help us to prepare our students for the helping professions. This recent period has clearly shown that these professions are irreplaceable and useful for society. Without them we would not be able to handle such a crisis. Globally, this pandemic is a new experience. It has provided a reason to review our values and to acknowledge those who really deserve acknowledgement. Such “celebrities” include our graduates, employees, students and colleagues. I am very proud to be the head of a faculty that is a magnet for so many qualified and helpful people.

For this reason, I honourably address you, my dear colleagues. I have been aware of the difficulties this period has brought, and how you managed new tasks, adjusted your lessons and kept the Faculty going under conditions none of us had previously experienced. You have managed to complete practical lessons to your very best and many of you have been involved in voluntary activities. I have read about them on the Faculty website and on Facebook; many of you wrote and called me — and now we are enjoying compliments from various institutions. I have been touched by our students’ interest in their teachers’ well-being and the reports of our teachers’ volunteering. I have been thanking them individually, but now I feel the need to thank them all again collectively. Our Faculty has shown its strength in this new situation. It is a balanced and a functioning entity that connects people who have chosen helping professions – students and teachers as well as those who reliably take care of the running of the Faculty so it can offer all of its services to the public.

The last weeks have proven that the holistic principle of balanced care (“the body and soul”), which is a part of our Faculty’s philosophy, is valid and strengthens us. We have students who immediately became involved in voluntary activities. They showed an ability to quickly orientate and find places where they could be the most useful. We have academics who are not satisfied with just theory but they are also involved in practice – they are involved in the medical, social and safety sphere. I know that our students value these aspects the most. Whether our people were on the front-line or at other departments and workplaces, they had to prove they take their work as a mission. A healthy organism must work as a carefully synchronized mechanism, where the tiniest part is important and must not fail.

The fact that we will be able to go outside without face masks (if we respect the given rules) will change our viewpoint on life. I wish we could speak about the danger of the new infection in the past tense. However, our profession constantly inspires the public towards the prevention, respect and empathy, protection of people with weaker immunity, etc. For this reason, I implore you to maintain responsibility and consideration.

This day has allowed me to look back and thank you all once more. In days to come, we may face social changes, and many will forget the unfortunate memories of this recent period. This could make the gratefulness disappear – the same gratefulness that made people applaud our professions, play songs, and admire and respect these professions daily. Be sure, my dear colleagues, students, employees and graduates, that this will be an important chapter in the history of our school, and nobody will ever be able to erase it from our memory.

With regards,

 Ivana Chloubová, Dean

The COVID social support helpline, set up by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia during the difficult economic and social situation of the pandemic, has ceased its operations after almost a month of activity. From 17 April, people who needed advice on whether and how they could receive social benefits were able to obtain this information free of charge. The line fulfilled its purpose: three students led by doc. PhDr. Alena Kajanová, Ph.D., and Mgr. Stanislav Ondrášek answered almost four hundred phone calls and e-mails. They have helped people find their way around the benefits system and which benefit applies to them. They were also approached by people unable to call the relevant authorities due to congested crisis lines or those who wanted to verify the information they had received from officials.

The questions most frequently came from the self-employed: many asked about nursing allowances, material need benefits, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits, etc. All of these people received answers to their questions. Sometimes, a team from the Institute of Social and Special Education Sciences of the FHHS USB needed counselling from the CSSA (ČSSZ) or other institutions. "The most difficult questions were from foreigners who had come to our country for work and now needed to know the conditions for returning home," said Assoc. Prof. Kajanová, who came up with the idea to offer this service to the public. The COVID social support line operated under the Institute of Applied Health and Social Sciences of the FHSS USB, which already offers free rheumatology and lactation counselling.

All interviews were anonymous, but it can be assumed that the enquires were from all over the Czech Republic. Three students of the ‘Social Work Management in Organizations’ master's degree programme took turns to respond by phone and e-mail. The most difficult thing was telling some callers they were not entitled to any support. The students were often approached by people who had been unsuccessful in their requests to the authorities - and were now trying to find some other options. According to the students, however, it was great practice; it made them feel useful and helped them to realize the enormous responsibility of their work.

International Nurses' Day is celebrated annually and worldwide on May 12, as it marks the anniversary of Florence Nightingale's birth. Florence Nightingale was a pioneer in nursing; her far-sighted ideas and reforms played a significant role in the professionalization of health care. Some of these ideas remain the basis for current nursing today. The greatest success for which we can be grateful to this lady was the transformation of nursing into a respected profession. In 1860, she founded the first vocational school for nurses - The Nightingale Home and Training School for Nurses, St. Thomas’s Hospital.

In addition, she contributed to improving the standard of health care, publishing more than 200 books, reports and leaflets on the organization of hospitals, which are still read by the general public and highly respected today. Her most important work is called "Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not".

On this day, we also commemorate the difficult workload of nurses, especially during the pandemic. Due to the current situation, both healthcare professionals and the general public are aware of the complexity of the nursing profession, and the profession’s prestige is rising again — exactly as Florence Nightingale would like it to. After all, in her time she was an icon of nursing; brave, determined and not afraid to fight for what was right. Her honourable character manifested itself in the war period, when she herself stood at the front line. She nursed the wounded and in her free time thought about how to improve nursing care. Surely Florence would be proud to see that we are following in her footsteps, and in other difficult times - the fight against coronavirus – nurses can pull together and are not afraid to live up to their mission.

We wish all nurses, midwives, and students of these fields a lot of strength, determination and fulfilment from the professional care that you provide so well.

The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences of the University of South Bohemia started the operation of a social COVID helpline on Friday, April 17. People suffering from the present coronavirus pandemic can call the helpline and ask where and how they can gain social benefits. The helpline operates from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the phone number 725 917 303. People can also send their inquiries to the e-mail address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. This service was highly requested, and dozens of people have already asked questions. The most frequently asked questions relate to caregivers’ allowance and the benefit system – so they can find the right benefit for them.

The social helpline operators are FHSS students of the Master’s study programme ‘Management of Social Work in Organizations. These students have already mastered the problems of social benefits, unemployment relief, sick benefit, caregivers’ allowance, or they know someone else who can give them a quick piece of advice. It is a form of social support that aims to offer free assistance to people who, for example, cannot reach the appropriate authorities because of busy helplines or for people who prefer a less formal dialogue. Doc. Alena Kajanová, from the Institute of Social and Special-paedagogical Sciences, came up with the idea to offer this much-needed service to the public. She said, “Don't hesitate to contact us if you have lost your job and you do not know what to do. We will provide you with all the necessary information relating to the current social situation.” The social COVID helpline works under the Institute of Applied Health and Social Sciences FHSS USB, which already offers services such as free rheumatic and lactation counselling.

Before launching the helpline there was a training period and theinformation was carefully studied. However, what students find more difficult is disappointing the caller with the information that they are not elgible for any benefits.”We often answer calls from people who have failed with their applications at authorities, so they try to call us with the hope of saving them,” says Alena Kajanová, who, along with her colleague, Stanislav Ondrášek, is in constant contact with these students in a Facebook group. From the students’ point of view, this is a great experience because they feel really helpful and understand their work is a huge responsibility.

Doc. Alena Kajanová has already been invited to Český rozhlas, České Budějovice, where she introduced this helpline live on air on the show ‘Dobrý den z Českých Budějovic’, during which she has explained the circumstance leading to its occurrence. She has also mentioned the first reactions of callers who were interested in this helpline. The link relating to this ČRo show can be found at the end of this article, the interview begins at 7:36 a.m. The journalists from the newspapers Deník and Právo have also informed about this helpline, the latest interview was broadcasted by Česká televize on Monday, April 28 – in the morning show Studio 6. Doc. Alena Kajanová, and a 1st year student of the Master’s study programme, Michaela Drdáková, spoke about the mission of this helpline as well as upcoming events at our faculty. Doc. Alena Kajanová said, ”After this the helpline was busy the whole morning, and we received many e-mails too. There continues to be great interest even today. We are also answering questions from people who failed to contact us yesterday.” The link to the full broadcast can be found below. Our show begins at approximately 1 h 25 minutes (approximately in the middle of the broadcast).

Remote URL

https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1096902795-studio-6/220411010100427/