Find out about the work of our activity coordinators
Read our spotlight on peer support
Get your entries in for the Dawn Jones Art Prize
www.dwmh.nhs.uk
Welcome Welcome to the latest edition of One in 4, our quarterly magazine for our 8,400 staff and public members across Dudley and Walsall.
As you already know, for quite some time now we have been working on the Transforming Care Together (TCT) initiative which is a formal partnership agreement between Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and ourselves (Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust). The intention is to bring the three trusts together into a single, integrated organisation to improve the care we give and make the most efficient use of our resources so that we can invest in patient care.
Be n R e id
O BE
Mark Axcell
The three trust boards have each approved the full business case for formal integration and the case will now go forward for discussion with our regulators. During the coming months, we will be starting to shape the new organisation, and our members and governors will have a fundamental role to play in helping to shape our future. We have a dedicated website for you to keep updated on the latest partnership news – transformingcaretogether.org – and we have created a special edition TCT newsletter, which you will receive soon, designed to give you an overview of the partnership so far and how you can get involved. We want to hear your views on what works well and what could be improved. Looking forward, it will soon be time for our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and our annual Recognising Success staff awards ceremony which are both being held on Friday 22 September. We are busy pulling together the final programme but this year’s events will be an ideal opportunity to celebrate the achievements and successes over the past 12 months as we prepare to embark on our new venture as a wider partnership trust. Look out for more information on our AGM in the coming weeks on our website: www.dwmh.nhs.uk. Taking a look at the Trust’s many achievements over the past nine years; none of this would have been possible without the ongoing support from our members and staff. The Board would therefore like to thank all of our members and staff for your continued and unprecedented support and commitment which enables us to deliver high-quality services every day to local people. We are confident that with this level of support the organisation will continue to move forward and build on these successes not only in the coming year but for many more years to come. With kindest regards,
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Ben Reid OBE
Mark Axcell
Chair
Chief Executive
Visit us online at www.dwmh.nhs.uk
Samaritans receive record number of people contacting them, figures reveal The Independent A record number of people contacted the Samaritans for help last year, new figures reveal. The charity said it received more than 5.7 million calls to the helpline in 2016 - an increase of nearly 300,000 on the previous year. The figures were released to coincide with the start of Volunteers’ Week. Some of these calls were preventing suicides, said Ruth Sutherland, Samaritans’ chief executive, who emphasised the importance of calls to the charity being free of charge. “Suicide is complex but it’s also an inequality issue and a number of factors, including deprivation, can put you at increased risk,” she said. “Even two pence a minute was enough to deter some callers, which is why we were determined to make all calls to Samaritans free.” She added: “These figures show our volunteers are making the difference by being there for increasing numbers of people, but we’re just one part of the equation.”
The figures come shortly after it was revealed that nearly half (48 per cent) of public sector workers and a third (32 per cent) of those in the private sector, took time off for mental health reasons in 2016. She said that suicide is “preventable” and that “everyone has a role to play from politicians, parents and health workers to employers, businesses and the media.” The Samaritans’ free confidential helpline was launched in autumn 2015 and has been credited by the organisation for the rise in those seeking help. You can contact the Samaritans by calling them for free from any phone on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www. samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch. Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/ news/uk/home-news/good-samaritansrecord-number-contact-phoning-themhelpline-figures-a7766626.html
7 Resources To Bookmark For Good Mental Health Huffington Post While one in four people will experience mental health issues in their lifetime, recent figures reveal as many as two thirds (65%) of Brits have experienced a mental health problem, such as panic attacks or depression. This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week focussed on “surviving or thriving”and rather than focussing on why so many people are living with mental health issues, the campaign turns the issue on its head and asks why so few are “thriving” with good mental health. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up a range of resources to explore your own mental health, learn from others and explore the notion of good mental health. • Read: Do What You Want Zine
• Read: The Happy Newspaper
• Listen: Bryony Gordon’s Mad World Podcast
• Visit: The School Of Life
• Shop: Dept. Store For The Mind
• Make: Something Crafty
• Download: Pause
• Subscribe: Headspace Read more here: http://ow.ly/1qNV30cdHPr Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/resources-to-bookmark-for-goodmental-health_uk_59133eede4b0a58297e1936e
Instagram ‘ranked worst for mental health’ in teen survey NHS Choices “Instagram is rated as the worst social media platform when it comes to its impact on young people’s mental health, a UK survey suggests,” BBC News reports. The survey asked 1,479 young people aged 14-24 to score popular social media apps on issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, bullying, body image and “fear of missing out” – where your social media peers seem to be enjoying a better quality of life. The survey fed into a larger report looking more generally at the impact of social media on people in this age group – so-called “digital natives”, who have never lived in a world without the internet. Despite many headlines flagging the negative effects, the report – published by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) – also explored the potential positive benefits for teenagers, such as improved sense of community and self-identity. YouTube was found to have the most positive impact on young people, and photo-sharing platform Instagram the most negative. Acting on this information, the report calls for measures to help protect individuals when using social media platforms. Their recommendations revolve around increased education on cyber safety and providing more help to protect the mental wellbeing of young people. The report was produced by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) and the Young Health Movement. The RSPH is an independent charity that works to improve the health and wellbeing of the public. The Young Health Movement, run by RSPH, is a collective of individuals striving to raise public health awareness in young people. Source: http://www.nhs.uk/ news/2017/05May/Pages/Instagram-rankedworst-for-mental-health-in-teen-survey.aspx
We’ve been rated as good! You may have already heard the good news that our services have moved from a rating of ‘requires improvement’ to being rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our inspection in November 2016. But for those who haven’t, here’s a quick run-down of the CQC’s findings:
Mental Health Awareness Week and National Nurses’ Day During the week of 8-12 May, we had a busy week celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week and National Nurses’ Day.
• Core services were found to be responsive to the needs of the people who used them and demonstrated listening and learning from complaints • Staff morale was good and staff reported that managers supported them to carry out their roles effectively • Leadership across the Trust at a senior management level had continued to develop a new positive culture of leadership • Since our last inspection in February 2016, the Trust had reduced waiting lists for the specialist community services for children and young people The inspection team also praised staff for showing a ‘dedicated and caring attitude towards the people who used our services’, and found that staff were ‘aware and proud of the Trust’s values of caring, integrity, quality and collaborative’. The full report can be viewed via our website or the CQC’s.
Save the date – Friday 22 September On 22 September, we will be holding our quarterly Mental Health Forum and Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the New Art Gallery Walsall, 10am – 2pm. The event will consist of presentations from Trust staff, workshops and a series of information stalls from local support groups and organisations. Our AGM will take place at 1pm following a free lunch and will give people the opportunity to hear about the Trust’s achievements during 2016/17 and our plans for the future, as well as the chance to ask any questions you might have about the Trust. We are still finalising the details so keep an eye out on our website www.dwmh.nhs.uk or on Twitter @DWbetter2gether for more information in the coming weeks. Anyone is welcome to attend either the Mental Health Forum, AGM or both and you can register your interest by emailing communication@dwmh.nhs.uk.
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David dresses to express
For Mental Health Awareness Week, we encouraged our staff to #Dress2Express, a campaign that was inspired by one of our experts by experience, David Stocks, and his decision to wear a bold shirt at a wedding and a series of Trust events. The leopard-print shirt came from a new therapy that David was trying called radically open dialectical behaviour therapy, or RO-DBT, and has helped him to express himself through what he wears, sparking conversations and reducing the stigma around mental health. Our staff took part in the campaign by donning their boldest outfits and talking about mental health. On Friday 12 May, we celebrated our nurses for the care and compassion that they put into their day-to-day work. We created a collage of compliments that our nursing staff received throughout the year for their dedication to patients and commitment to their work and you can find this on our social media accounts. Thank you to all nurses across our Trust and the NHS as a whole.
Talking Therapies Services: helping you get back to the things you enjoy Our Talking Therapies Services have been encouraging the people of Dudley and Walsall to start talking and get the help they need by talking to the experts. The Talking Therapies Services provide support to individuals who are experiencing common mental health problems such as anxiety, low mood, stress, panic, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder and trauma. Our teams of highly experienced therapists provide a range of therapies to help people get back to enjoying life and engaging with work or daily activities. Many local people have spoken out about the support they have received from the service.
One service user described their experience of Walsall Talking Therapies: “I had received some therapy in the past and was put on anti-depressants by my doctor but I felt like I needed additional help. I met the Walsall Talking Therapies team and they were really kind and understanding. At first, I was apprehensive but I was willing to give it a go and attended an anxiety course. I didn’t think I needed it but afterwards I knew it was exactly what I needed. “I have always felt, and still do feel, that I can speak or get in contact with any of the team and they would help me. It is clear that they genuinely want to help in any way they can. “Talking Therapies has made such an amazing difference to my life, I honestly don’t know what I would have been like now if I hadn’t have had the guidance, help and knowledge that the service has offered me. I would recommend it to others who are suffering with common mental health issues because it’s a friendly service where staff pay attention to the individual’s needs. This service is brilliant!” Anyone can self-refer to the Dudley or Walsall Talking Therapy Services as long as they are school leavers aged 16 or over (Dudley) and 17 or over (Walsall) and are registered with a Dudley or Walsall GP.* Self-refer online or over the phone today by visiting www.dwmh.nhs.uk or call us on 0800 953 0404 (Dudley) or 0800 953 0995 (Walsall). *Please note, this service is not available to those currently engaged in secondary mental health services.
Implementation of a pan–Trust Eating Disorder Service The 0-18yrs Community Eating Disorder Service for children and young people allows for timely specialist intervention to prevent the development of eating disorders or reduce the impact of existing problems, with a view towards recovery. The main objectives of the service are to provide assessment and treatment by a specialist team, rather than Child Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS); reduce use of CAMHS inpatient beds for children and young people with a primary diagnosis of an eating disorder and enable fast access to community-based treatment from universal and primary care services through effective screening in mainstream CAMHS. The service commenced in January 2017 and consists of a multidisciplinary team across both Walsall and Dudley boroughs. The team has a 24 hour target to make contact with the young person upon receipt of referral and any urgent referrals need to be assessed within one week and routine within four weeks. The team offer early intervention and prevention and make timely and accurate diagnosis if appropriate whilst delivering an evidence-based pathway and interventions in line with national guidance. A part of the team’s workload is around delivering education and awareness in schools, youth and other community settings, promoting partnership working and providing carer, family and sibling, support, advice and guidance. There will also be a robust transitional pathway for transition to adult services.
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Get creative; enter the Dawn Jones Art Prize 2017! Calling all budding artists! Entries are now open for an art competition for people across Dudley and Walsall with experience of ill mental health. Dawn Jones was a talented artist from Walsall who tragically ended her life in 2005, aged 25, following a long battle with mental illness. Now in its twelfth year, the competition was set up by Dawn’s mother, Maureen Jones, in memory of her daughter. The aim of the competition is to offer people with experience of mental health the opportunity to express themselves and create meaningful artwork for people to enjoy. It also aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
Competition guidelines Who can enter?
The artwork must comply with the following rules:
You can enter if you:
• It is between A5 and A1 in size (only one side for poetry)
• Are aged 18 or over • Live within the boroughs of Walsall or Dudley • Have experience of mental health, for example, as a service user, carer, relative or friend of a service user or you work in mental health • Are happy for your work to be exhibited should your work be shortlisted • Give permission for you and your work to be photographed for publicity purposes
What can you enter? You can enter one piece of artwork for either of the following categories: a) What makes me happy b) What I am hopeful for Artwork can be completed using any medium, or combination of media, as long as it can be hung onto a wall. It can be oil or water paint, charcoal, textile, collage, photography or digital art. Please note: sculptures must be no larger than 30cm in height or width. This year, we will also be accepting poetry.
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• It is ready to hang without further work (framed and hanging fixtures on the back) • It is new, original work which has not been previously submitted • It is the work of the person who is entering the competition • It is labelled with the name and contact details of the artist and entry category (please include a telephone number) • It includes a short piece (up to 250 words) about yourself, explaining how mental health has touched your life and how art helps you. If you are shortlisted, please note that this will be exhibited with your work Full terms and conditions can be found at www.dwmh. nhs.uk/artprize. .
Top: Winners Susanna Frances and Anne Babbs with Maureen Jones Above: Artwork by Beth Wooldridge Below: Artwork by Stella Davis
Deadline for entries All entries must be received no later than 5pm on Monday 31 July. They must be handed in or posted to one of the following addresses: • Emily Johnson, Library Services, Henry Lautch Centre, Bushey Fields Hospital, Bushey Fields Road, Dudley, DY1 2LZ • Stella Greenlees, Dorothy Pattison Hospital, Alumwell Close, Walsall, WS2 9XH • Communications Dept, Trafalgar House, 47-49 King Street, Dudley, DY2 8PS • Dawn Roe, Bloxwich Hospital, Reeves Street, Walsall, WS3 2JJ
‘What art means to me’
by Susanna Frances
Art and craft has always been very important in my life. Even from an early age I enjoyed being creative, splashing paint around to create pictures and patterns and dressing up in all sorts of costumes. I loved playing outside and getting a glimpse of the ‘real world’. I had many friends in the form of dolls and teddies who I shared my world with. With this creativity, I could create my own make-believe world where I could be myself – somewhere fun.
Please note that the Trust accepts no liability for any damages to the artwork. After the closing date, a panel of judges will shortlist 14 pieces of artwork (seven for each category). Shortlisted artists will be notified and their artwork will be exhibited in a public-facing location. Everyone who enters will be invited to attend a special presentation on Tuesday 5 September where the winners and runnersup will be announced. All entrants will receive a certificate and a medal; whether they are shortlisted or not. Shortlisted entrants will be invited to collect their award. The two winners will receive a trophy and £100 in vouchers of their choice*, along with the opportunity for their work to be displayed in one of our Trust sites in Dudley or Walsall. For any further information, please contact communication@dwmh.nhs.uk or call 01384 325015. * a list of available vouchers can be found at www.dwmh.nhs.uk/artprize
Susanna with her 2014 entry
Along with a group of friends that I met at Kaleidoscope Plus wellbeing groups, I have entered the Dawn Jones Art Prize competition each year. Art and craft has introduced me to a new circle of friends; it’s a great way to bond with people.
I always have a great time thinking about and planning out my pieces of art and it is something that I really look forward to. I try to ‘upcycle’ items where I can, and then I am back in my world of chaos, filled with glitter and glue! Art allows you to take time out for yourself, which is so important as we can often feel lost and unseen. I feel so much better knowing that I can do art and entering this competition gives me a wonderful opportunity to have a go at creating something that I otherwise wouldn’t have thought of doing! Susanna’s winning piece for 2016
Winning artwork by Anne Babbs
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The positive power of peer support Peer support is the simple act of people with lived experience of ill mental health helping and supporting one another to overcome low self-esteem, self-stigma and social isolation. It is a very powerful tool that can support someone on their road to recovery and can mean different things for different people coming from a wide array of sources such as family, friends, employers or other people living with similar experiences. In mental health, peer support can provide a helping hand built on shared personal experiences and empathy, focusing on an individual’s strengths and working towards more positive wellbeing and a steady recovery with realistic and achievable goals. Our community recovery service in Dudley initiated the Working Together for Recovery group, which was dedicated to investigating the development of support and resources that are available within the community for patients following their discharge from services. As an offshoot of this, a peer-led support group – Dudley Peer Support Hub – was established by the Trust, taking place fortnightly with the next session at ASDA,
Merry Hill Shopping Centre, on Friday 28 July, 1pm – 3pm. As well as this, Walsall Friendship Group takes place every Wednesday, 11am – 2pm, at TMO Resource, Burrowes Street, Walsall, WS2 8NN. It gives those with mental health the opportunity to socialise, share their experiences and knowledge, including new techniques and coping mechanisms they may have learnt to help them move forward in their day to day lives. A peer support group takes place in Walsall every Tuesday, 10 - 11:30am, for those aged over 60 at The Robert Parker Centre (All Saint’s Church, Bloxwich), Elmore Row, WS3 2HR. You can call 01922 607209 for more information.
These groups are not about therapy but are there to provide both practical and emotional support to those needing it in a safe, non-judgemental environment by signposting service users to the relevant resources available. The driving idea behind these groups is to offer support to those in similar situations, bringing service users together and showing them that they are not alone. This is reflected in the facilitating of these group sessions, of which our service users (particularly our experts by experience) are heavily involved. By empowering our service users to take recovery into their own hands, peer support aims to increase the confidence of those involved.
Our employment services Working towards employment can be a positive attribute to improving one’s mental health and wellbeing, whether this is through training, developing personal and life skills or just taking part in a course. Our employment services work hard to ensure that our patients are supported every step of the way.
Employment retention (Walsall only) Are you in employment but either off sick or at risk of becoming sick due to your mental health? Our employment retention team aim to help you retain your job by offering you advice and support in relation to your current health and employment circumstances. Our retention advisors may be able to relieve stress-related issues. An initial assessment will be carried out to determine the type of support required and to gain consent for us to liaise with others on your behalf, this may include
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employers, GPs, occupational health, human resources (HR), union representatives, care coordinators and family members, if applicable. This service can be contacted by calling 01922 607808.
Employment support (Dudley and Walsall) Employment support is for people who are unemployed and seeking to enter some form of paid employment (part or fulltime). Support could aid you in identifying the job that you want to do, updating or writing your CV,
and searching/applying for jobs. You’ll also receive help in finding out more about your rights, giving you a starting point to continue your journey into employment and beyond. Contact can be made through care coordinators in the secondary teams. Alternatively, if you are already under our services, you can self-refer by calling the following numbers: • Employment Support Walsall – 01922 607900 • Employment Support Dudley – 01384 813424
Putting peer support into practice Peer support is something that not many people know about although it’s one of the simplest coping mechanisms around. Many people believe that medication is the only way to aid recovery from a mental health condition, and whilst it has a role to play, considerations should be made for someone’s social, education and employment status. Andy is one of the Trust’s experts by experience. He has dedicated his time and effort to improving people’s awareness of what peer support is and how it can help both staff and patients. Peer support can improve the chance of getting a diagnosis and reduce miscommunication, with the peer acting as an advocate. Through peer support, Andy has helped people become more aware of the support that is available to them and their rights to benefits. Whilst staff may find it harder to provide in-depth emotional support, those involved in peer support can befriend people in an informal way that isn’t time managed. Supporting somebody can span any amount of time but it’s about putting strong foundations in place, built on empathy and trust. An example of this is his time spent with an informal patient, which has spanned for three months so far, beginning when she was acutely unwell with psychosis. She is gradually getting better and has been encouraged to focus on her recovery process. She now relies on parts of peer support to motivate her to carry on with the things that she enjoys and will hopefully soon be discharged. Many people find it easier to relate to someone who has been in the same or similar circumstances to themselves. Andy expressed the importance of peer support for another patient, who is an inpatient, saying, “The most important thing is to just listen, not ask too many questions because people begin to feel more comfortable in sharing their issues and experiences in a conversation.” It’s a unique kind of support. It’s not clinical or complex, it’s easy to understand, practice and be a part of. “Before becoming an inpatient,
she had experienced a lot throughout her life,” Andy tells us, “but having someone who is there for her she feels that she is being understood at last. It’s only a couple of minutes of my time but it can make a massive difference to their day when they’re feeling a bit lost.” Andy also stresses the importance of separating the person from their mental health. You can relate to someone much easier once you get to know them in an informal way. “Something so simple can be so powerful and if people just had someone to talk to maybe we could reduce social isolation, which can lead to a crisis.” Andy says, “As a peer, the approach taken is very different. You can understand and empathise more because you’ve been through it as well and sometimes you can bring people down from their crisis and back to ‘normal’ levels.” Andy is currently looking to start up a peer support group himself on wards and within community recovery services. As part of the group, people would be asked to consider realistic and achievable goals – this could be something like going to a café or a concert – and then working on a twelve step plan to achieve this in milestones. Through the project, Andy would hope to see people who have experienced ill mental health putting their skills into practice. It would be about making the ward environment a community where people feel empowered to learn life skills, an opportunity that many inpatients or those struggling with their mental health miss out on, such as maintaining a garden, cooking and, most importantly, mental health first aid. The model would aid continuous and consistent mental health support in all areas, encouraging people to find out what they are good
at and have the confidence to try new things. “I’ve asked people what their goal is in the past and some people will just say going to the café or something that seems easy for most people but is massive for them.” Andy says, “I’ve also realised if I become unwell and can’t support them, they will one day be able to support themselves and, if needed, be there for me and others. It’s like you can pass on the satisfaction of helping someone – it’s like a cycle.” For the five years that he spent thinking he wasn’t going to get a job or improve his mental health, Andy believes his journey may have been different had he felt someone was there who understood or could relate to what he was going through. “That’s why I believe in it so much,” he explains. “It’s so simple and just builds up your own and other people’s confidence. Working with patients has motivated me and given me a purpose in life again.” “I talk about my story to people so that I can plant a seed of hope in them that recovery is possible. If you don’t sow seeds of hope then people are less likely to respond.”
You can read about Andy’s journey with his mental health in our previous edition of One in Four on our website.
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Working on the wards – Sadie Bond, Bloxwich Hospital Activity Co-ordinator Sadie Bond is one of several activity co-ordinators across the Trust who dedicate their time and resources to creating a friendly and stimulating environment on the wards for our patients. Sadie Bond and her fellow activity co-ordinators at Bloxwich Hospital won the patient champion award at our Recognising Success Staff Awards in 2015 after being highly commended for being ‘compassionate, passionate, caring and friendly’ by a colleague. In the nomination, they were also recognised for how invaluable they are and for giving a part of themselves to the service that cannot be bought. We caught up with Sadie to find out why she does the job that she does with so much passion. Sadie comments, “I always struggled at school as I’ve never really been very academic. When I was about 15, a friend of mine worked in a care home and I used to go and help out voluntarily once a week. I really enjoyed it and I just knew that I wanted to work with older adults in the future. When I was 16, I was offered a work experience placement at Bloxwich Hospital. After one week of work experience I was invited for a job interview at the hospital as an activity co-ordinator and that was the beginning of my career here at Bloxwich Hospital. Now I’ve worked here for almost 28 years and I’ve loved absolutely every minute of it. I know I’m really lucky because I genuinely love my job; the satisfaction I get from helping the patients is indescribable. Over the years I have learnt so much from the patients, it’s not just about me helping them. Every day that I come in, we take the newspapers to the wards and talk to the patients about current affairs and what’s in the news today. Some patients will choose to read the papers on their own with a cup of coffee
because that’s their daily routine at home; we try our very best to keep people within their routines as it can be particularly unsettling for dementia patients if their daily routines are disturbed. My role as an activity co-ordinator is all about helping patients who are suffering from dementia to reminisce and think about memories that they have from the past and remember any happy times, key milestones and accomplishments throughout their life. All of the activities that we provide and facilitate for patients are to support them in their recovery and help them not only with their mental wellbeing, but also their physical health and social skills. We carry out a wide variety of activities such as bowling, card making, bingo, gentle exercise and reminiscence, all of which have a therapeutic impact and help patients on their road to recovery. All of our activities are scheduled on a weekly basis but we do tailor these to suit the mood and preferences of patients which we will assess each day. We use all sorts of techniques to help us engage with patients. Some patients aren’t keen on taking part in group activities but will engage with us on a one-to-one basis so we make time each day to go around the ward and get to know every patient as they come in to the hospital so that we can tailor activities to their interests and needs. For patients who have particular hobbies at home or religious beliefs, we can come up with activities that help to embrace their interests. This is often a much more effective way to engage with patients. Patients who have been diagnosed with dementia are encouraged to create a memory book called ‘This Is My Life’.
This red book is a similar concept to the TV show ‘This Is Your Life’. We ask carers and family members to bring in any photos that may help jog special memories and we talk about music, everyday items, sounds and smells and how they relate to their memories. These are then noted in the book which acts as a memento for the patients to take with them if they move onto a care home or back home to help their family engage with them, especially when they can remember memories from many years ago but tend to forget recent memories and names. Music is also a great aid, you often find that many patients are no longer able to speak very well, but once they start listening to music they sing along to older songs that they remember from their younger years. My job isn’t always about doing constant activities and sometimes all that a patient needs is someone to talk to or hold their hand. We also host weekly ‘time to remember’ sessions where carers, friends and family members can come along to have tea and cake. It’s a chance to sit together and we encourage the patients to talk about their memories relating to a particular topic for example, past holidays. This is a great way to encourage patients who have become quite disconnected from relatives and/or friends to come forward so that we can work on reconnecting them. It’s incredibly satisfying to see patients who are unable to recognise family members come together, sit side-by-side and share precious moments listening to their mom or dad talk about memories and sit together informally, which may be something that they haven’t been able to do for such a long time. It’s the little things like this that mean so much to their relatives, especially when their loved ones are really unwell. I feel very lucky to say that I genuinely love my job.”
Dignity in care at Bloxwich Hospital We’d like to say a big thank you to all of our dignity champions at Bloxwich Hospital who worked exceptionally hard to make the most of their Dignity Action Day event on Friday 3 March. The event included a series of exciting activities from playing instruments and singing to a special game of charades and limbo! Dawn Roe, service administrator and dignity champion, gave a speech about the Dignity in Care campaign and what our dignity champions are truly about. Service users got involved with a performance given by the Trust’s very own Mark Whitmore, Memory Nurse, who has contributed a substantial amount of effort, commitment and live music year after year for the event. There was a free raffle draw for those in attendance with two winners getting a prize. We’d like to congratulate and thank all those involved in making the event what it was and for putting dignity at the heart of everything that they do.
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Staff dig deep for charity A big thank you to our staff at Blakenall Village Centre for raising an impressive £100 for Comic Relief. The money was raised through a ‘wear red’ day and bake sale. Staff at Trust headquarters also dressed down to raise money, donating £50 to the cause. We’d like to recognise Dawn Hawthorne, one of the Trust’s cleaning staff, who has raised an incredible £2,420 for various cancer services and charities across Dudley by shaving off her hair. We’d like to congratulate and thank Dawn for her generosity.
Georgia Price, business administration apprentice, and Gemma Pearce, team administrator.
Following the attacks in Manchester, our staff at Trust headquarters came together to raise £72 which was donated to the We Love Manchester charity, supporting those affected
by the devastating attack in Manchester and their families. The fund will also support people who have been injured or bereaved by the attack. If you wish to donate, please visit www.welovemcrcharity.org/. Also, in support of the community that have been affected by the fire at Grenfell Tower, staff at headquarters raised £60 which has been donated to The London Community Foundation’s campaign.
We joined CLASP in a walk out of darkness At the start of May, we encouraged staff members of our Trust to come together and take part in Walking out of Darkness, a ten mile walk through Birmingham organised by Counselling Life Advice Suicide Prevention (CLASP). The walk took place on Saturday 6 May and saw people of all ages and backgrounds walk together in support of individuals and families who are impacted by mental health conditions or have lost loved ones to suicide.
Although the day was dark and cloudy, the organisers, volunteers and crowds were bright, motivated and in high spirits, ready to tackle the ten-mile challenge and raise awareness of mental health.
Attendees came in their hundreds to take part and got to hear from Johnny Benjamin – an individual with lived experience of ill mental health – and mental health advocate Neil Laybourn, who told the story of their experiences as well as talking about the benefits of positive support and unity.
The stigma that surrounds mental health is still rife and the subject is still a taboo, but with one in four people likely to experience ill mental health in
Founder of CLASP, Kenny Johnston, took to the stage to talk about why he set up the charity and how his life has been impacted by his mental health. The message from Kenny’s speech was clear; togetherness and peer support can change someone’s life for the better. This message rang true in Clarke Carlisle’s speech through the retelling of his journey with mental health, advice for avoiding a crisis and discussing the importance of supporting those in need.
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their lifetime, it’s time to start talking, educating and, most importantly, ensuring that nobody is alone.
Celebrating equality and diversity
Raising awareness of dementia Dementia Awareness Week ran from 14 – 20 May and to celebrate, our staff at Bloxwich Hospital held an afternoon tea on Thursday 18 May for patients, their relatives and staff.
On Tuesday 16 May, the equality and diversity lead for the Trust, Paul Singh, and the community development worker team delivered a presentation on mental health and equality to members of the Dudley Borough Interfaith Network (DBIN). The event took place at Wellington Road Community Centre in Dudley and attracted over 45 members to the event. Paul Singh delivered his presentation on religion and belief, one of the nine protected characteristics of the equality act and spoke about the chaplaincy service within the Trust. Reverend Bev Thomas delivered a talk entitled ‘What Race?’ which looked at equality and diversity and focused on stories from immigrants to the UK. Iram Maan, Community Development Worker, finished off the evening with a presentation on mental health services available locally in Dudley. It was an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of both mental health and equality and diversity.
The event was held in Sue’s Tea Room and attendees were treated to homemade scones and cakes, strawberries and ice cream and a cup of tea/coffee in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our dignity champions and dementia friends hosted the event to help attendees learn more about dementia, living well with the condition and provide the opportunity to become a dementia friend. They were also on hand to answer any questions. It was reassuring to see so many people come together and show their support for a condition that affects so many.
JOIN OUR INNOVATIVE TRUST Our Trust is a nationally-recognised, award-winning mental health trust that provides services to a population of approximately 560,000 children, adults and older adults across Dudley and Walsall. We offer our staff a close-knit, friendly working environment. Staff engagement, recognition and wellbeing are vital to the success of our organisation. We strive to provide an environment in which our staff can showcase their skills, innovative solutions and dedication to healthcare. Along with our workplace
advisors, we have engagement champions, a group of over 30 staff that provide your voice on a number of things. We have lots of exciting and rewarding career opportunities in nursing at all levels and you could be just the person we are looking for to join our organisation.
Check out all our latest vacancies at www.jobs.nhs.uk or at www.dwmh.nhs.uk.
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Dates for your diary Coffee Break
Events in Dudley • A Song to Remember Sunday 17 August, 7pm - 1pm, Dormaston Mill Theatre, Millbank, Sedgley, DY3 1SL An evening which will prove a musical feast of hits from the 30s/40s/50s era incorporating the genius o f Kern to Porter. For tickets contact theatre box office 01384 816389. For all other enquiries call Tara 07957 661222.
Unscrambler 1. ESRNUS
5. YTEHPRA
2. TGINYDI
6. NARSSWAEE
3. REPE PPOURST
7. OVRYCEER
4. CRNIAG 1.Nurses 2.Dignity 3.Peer support 4.Caring 5.Therapy 6.Awareness 7.Recovery
Answers
Be involved, be a member Our service users, carers and members of the public can become members of the Trust. Being a member means that you will receive regular updates about the Trust, a copy of One in 4 magazine every quarter and the chance to be involved in shaping local mental health services and help reduce the stigma around mental health. We would love to welcome you as a new member of our Trust. For more information visit www.dwmh.nhs.uk contact the membership office on 01384 325015 or email communication@dwmh.nhs.uk for a membership form. To contact any other area of the Trust, please call the switchboard on 01922 60700.
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• Guided Walk around the grounds of Himley Hall Sunday 6 August, 10am - 12pm, Himley Hall and Park, Dudley, DY3 4DF A walk around the historic Grounds of Himley Hall looking at some of the architectural features and the wildlife found on the park. Meeting point by the notice board on the main car park. The walk is on uneven ground so suitable footwear should be worn. Free event, but booking is essential on 01384 817817. Car parking charge applies. • Wear It Pink charity dance Friday 20 October, 8pm - 11:15pm (doors open 7:15pm), The Cornbow Hall, 10 Hagley Street, Halesowen, B63 3AT A ballroom and sequence dancing event is being held in aid of breast cancer support. Live music will be performed by Graham Darby as well as a raffle with all proceeds going to the charity. You can get more information or tickets (£6.50) by contacting pinkcampaign@bgem.co.uk or call 0121 501 2917.
Events in Walsall • Dementia friendly film screenings Every month: 12:30pm, The Light Cinema, Wolverhampton Street, Waterfront Way, Walsall, WS2 8DD The film screenings will start with refreshments, donated by Iceland Foods, at 12:30pm with the film starting at 1:15pm. Films are as follows: ‘GIGI’ (Tuesday 8 August) and ‘An American In Paris’ (Tuesday 12 September). There will be no trailers and a 20-30 minute interval half way through the film. During the interval, there will be singalong entertainment from Stacey Price. Contact 01922 841344 for more information. • Senior Citizens Orchestra concert Thursday 3 August and Thursday 7 September, 2pm, Forest Arts Centre, Hawbush Road, Walsall The Senior Citizens Orchestra perform monthly concerts at Forest Arts Centre. Their programmes offer fabulous music and feature a whole range of classical favourites and performances commence at 2pm. £1 tickets will be available on the door. Call 0300 555 2898 for more information.
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Support our staff – nominate someone today! Do you know someone who deserves a special thank you for going above and beyond the call of duty? We are looking for nominations for our annual Recognising Success Awards, to acknowledge those staff members whose hard work, compassion and commitment has made a real difference. By nominating teams or individuals who really demonstrate excellence in what they do, you can play your part in saying thank you to our amazing staff and volunteers.
The public categories for this year’s awards are: Unsung Hero An individual or volunteer who goes the extra mile to provide a service.
Working in Collaboration An individual or team who has exemplified working in collaboration with other teams departments or externally to improve services.
Patient Champion An individual who has been dedicated to improving services for patients and/or carers. They will have promoted inclusion and engagement.
You can make as many nominations as you want via the staff awards pages on our website where you will also find guidance on writing an award-winning nomination. Alternatively, you can submit your nomination using the form on the other side of this page. The closing date for nominations is Tuesday 1 August. Nominations will be considered by a panel of Trust staff and service users and shortlisted nominees, along with their team/ colleagues, will be invited to a special celebratory event, where the winners will be presented with their awards. For further information or support in submitting your nomination form, please contact the communications team on communication@dwmh.nhs.uk or call 01384 325015. 15
Nomination Form Individual/team/volunteer you are nominating: Contact information for team/individual/volunteer you are nominating: Award category:
r Unsung Hero Award
Only one category can be ticked. If you wish to nominate for several categories, please complete separate forms.
r Working in Collaboration r Patient Champion Award
I am nominating this individual/volunteer/team because: (Maximum of 250 words. If you need to please continue on separate sheet)
Your Details: Name: Telephone Number: Email: Please ensure all of the above fields are completed and return your nomination form to the Communications and Engagement department by emailing communication@dwmh.nhs.uk or by posting it to Communications Department, Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Trafalgar House, King Street, Dudley, DY2 8PS If you need support with filling in this form, please contact Sarah O’Leary on sarah.o’leary@dwmh.nhs.uk or call 01384 325022.
Closing date for nominations is 5pm, Tuesday 1 August