So much more than...
In this issue: t wo M e eftou r o nt ice s a pp re
on a l s u c o F m e nt t u rg e n lt h ca re h ea
di n g n a t s r U n d ee a t i n g e rs di s o rd
Spring 2015
W e lco m e
to the Spring 2015 issue of One in 4, our quarterly magazine for our 8,000 staff and public members.
As we begin a new financial year, it’s a fitting time for us to reflect on our activities over the previous year and look forward to what is coming up on the horizon.
um
Da n ie lle O
Last spring we had just come out of our Care Quality Commission pilot inspection and received positive praise, with our Trust being recognised as a safe, caring and compassionate organisation. We have built upon this over the past 12 months and addressed areas for improvement. We launched our crisis card which has been a big hit. The pocket sized cards include useful information to help service users and others if they experience a mental health crisis.
Gary Graha m If you know someone who you think would like to become a member, you can direct them to: www.dwmh.nhs.uk/ foundationtrust Alternatively please contact the Foundation Trust office on 01384 325015 or email ft@dwmh.nhs.uk for a paper copy.
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Our quarterly Mental Health Forums – open meetings for local service users, carers and community groups – have been going from strength to strength with growing attendance levels. Later in this issue you can read about our December forum which focused on Personality Disorders. This year we were delighted to receive a number of awards including the NHS Leadership Recognition Awards for our work around Equality and Diversity and our Experts by Experience programme. One of our nurses, Barbara McGarrity, also gained recognition by receiving the Queen’s Nurse Award for her work in Walsall CAMHS. Our staff are not the only ones in the limelight: our service users have also done well. Bryan Salt was awarded the David Grainger Award at the British Association of Supported Employment Awards to recognise his success in gaining supported employment. Emma Salt, one of our Experts by Experience was recognised for her long term support for the Time to Change campaign.
A fantastic addition to our Trust has been the introduction of eight Business Administration Apprentices who began their placement in September 2014. We have received some fantastic feedback from the teams they are with, and we hope to recruit additional apprentices later in the year. In the Autumn we welcomed our new Chair, Danielle Oum. She has settled in well to her post since replacing Glyn Shaw, who stood down earlier in the year. We also held a successful ‘Be Happy, Be Healthy’ event in Priory Park, Dudley to celebrate World Mental Health Day in October. The Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Margaret Aston, praised the event for raising awareness of mental health issues. We used the event to help launch our first ever mobile app which has since had over 3000 downloads. Our ‘WellMind’ app offers information, advice and tips on looking after your wellbeing. It also features an innovative tracker to monitor your moods. And finally, a highlight over the past few months has been the results from our annual patient and staff surveys which were all very positive. Whilst we recognise there are areas for improvement, we have received some very encouraging feedback and would like to thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey. We look forward to the coming year and would like to thank you for your continued support. If you have any suggestions or comments on One in 4 please email them to communication@ dwmh.nhs.uk With kindest regards, Gary Graham Chief Executive Danielle Oum Chair
meet us online at www.dwmh.nhs.uk
s w e n e h t n i M e nt a l H ea lt h Study suggests it’s never too late to cut dementia risk Research by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, has found that adopting a healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of dementia even if the changes are made in later life. The study, which was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal, The Lancet, tracked 2,600 individuals from Finland aged between 60 to 77, all of whom were considered to be at risk of dementia. They found that those who were enrolled on a programme to encourage healthy eating, exercise, and regular ‘brain training’ performed far better in mental tests than those who were just given basic health advice. Professor Miia Kivipelto, from the Karolinska Institute said: “Much previous research has shown that there are links between cognitive decline in older people and factors such as diet, health, and fitness. However, our study is the first large, randomised controlled trial to show that an intensive programme aimed at addressing these risk factors might be able to prevent cognitive decline in elderly people who are at risk of dementia.”
Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation launched The Sport and Recreation Alliance, alongside the Professional Players Federation, has launched The Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation, with support from the mental health charity Mind. The charter sets out how sport can help to tackle mental ill-health and the stigma that surrounds it, emphasising the benefits of an active lifestyle for mental, as well as physical health. Emma Boggis, Chief Executive of the Sport and Recreation Alliance, said: “Evidence from our research report Game of Life outlined how exercise can be as effective as an anti-depressant for those with mild clinical depression. This is one of those areas where sport and physical activity really can change lives, but there’s not enough awareness of it as a treatment or as a way of preventing people from falling into poor mental health in the first place.” To find out more and sign up, visit www.sportandrecreation.org.uk.
Find out more at www.nhs.uk.
NHS launches mental health mobile app library The first ever directory of NHS-endorsed digital mental health services has been launched by NHS England. The new initiative features online tools, resources and mobile apps that have a proven track record of effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes. It will be accessible through the NHS Choices platform, which already has a page of health and fitness trackers that suggests free downloadable apps to help those who want to quit smoking or lose weight. Geraldine Strathdee, NHS England’s Clinical Director for Mental Health, said: “Mental health care can be enhanced by technology and its ability to connect us with the right treatment in a more personalised and accessible way. Increasing access to digital services which support those suffering with mental health difficulties will help people get the right care, at the right time.” Last September, the Trust launched our first mental health and wellbeing mobile app, WellMind, which has already been downloaded over 3000 times. Find out more at www.dwmh.nhs.uk/wellmind.
Charitable grant for NHS to assess veterans’ mental health needs The NHS is set to benefit from a charitable grant of £75,000 to review the mental health needs of military veterans. The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) has awarded the money to fund a national review of Health Needs Assessments for veterans’ mental health and other health-related needs. It is estimated that 20,000 service personnel leave the Forces every year and many of these suffer with common mental health problems or struggle to readjust to civilian life. Carrying out a systematic review will give the NHS the information it needs to ensure valuable resources are spent wisely and the right services are provided in the right place. If you would like advice and information around military veterans’ mental health, please visit www.dwmh.nhs.uk/military-veterans.
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You’re hired! Last autumn we recruited eight business administration apprentices across the Trust. During their year-long placement, apprentices will receive job specific training and will be supported towards gaining an NVQ qualification. Following celebrations during National Apprenticeship Week (9th – 13th March), we met with two of our apprentices to find out more about the work they do here at the Trust, and what life as an apprentice Chelsea Wood is really like. Chelsea Wood, Communications and Engagement Modern Apprentice, and Corrie Williams, Walsall Community Recovery Service (CRS) Modern Apprentice, reveal all. So what is it like being an apprentice for the Trust?
What made you apply to be an apprentice?
Chelsea: Being an apprentice for the Trust is really interesting. I love that whilst I work, I get to learn more about mental health and gain new skills that I can take with me. Overall, I have found the experience very enjoyable. Doing different tasks that I haven’t done before can be challenging at times, but it enables me to build on my existing skills, and will provide a stepping stone for the future.
Chelsea: Before joining the Trust, I had looked into permanent positions in similar sectors. However, I felt that an apprenticeship would open up more opportunities in my career. Working for a large organisation such as the NHS will show future employers that I am able to work on large scale tasks, such as events and campaigns. I also find mental health very interesting.
Corrie: Amazing – I get to learn different things that I didn’t know previously, such as the different illnesses, an understanding of what mental health is and how the NHS works behind the scenes.
Corrie: I’ve always wanted to do something with dementia so when the apprenticeship came up online, I thought it would broaden my horizons, which it has. This is definitely the kind of job I would like to pursue in the future.
What skills have you picked up during your time here and how do you think these will benefit you in later life? Chelsea: I have improved my writing skills for both internal and external communications. I also feel more confident liaising with key contacts as it is a major responsibility in my role. I have learnt more about the technology used in the workplace, building efficient documents, editing websites and general office abilities. I feel all these skills will contribute massively to my future career path. Corrie: I have picked up better communication skills including telephone skills which will help me to feel more confident in the future. I have also gained a better understanding of mental health which will benefit me if I stay in this line of work.
Corrie Williams
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What have you enjoyed so far about your time working in the Trust? Chelsea: I have found the people to be both friendly and welcoming, helping to provide a positive office atmosphere. In my job role, I attend Trust hosted events which means travelling to other sites, something I enjoy as I get to learn about other areas. Learning about the logistics of how a large organisation is run will be beneficial, as I will know what to expect from other companies. However, the main thing that I have enjoyed has been learning more about mental health. Attending the mental health forum in December was interesting as I was able to learn more about personality disorders specifically. Corrie: I have enjoyed learning about the different job roles and what kinds of things happen in the NHS. I especially like being part of an amazing team and understanding individual methods of working, and how there is always support for everyone’s needs.
What are your plans after your apprenticeship comes to an end? Chelsea: If I were to be given the option of staying on in my current position then I would remain where I am. However, if this isn’t possible, then I would look for work elsewhere within the communications/PR/marketing sector in a more permanent role. I would like to remain in the more corporate side of work rather than clinical as I feel this suits my skills more. Corrie: My plans all depend on whether there is an opportunity for me to stay on in this role. I would like to get an administration position within the Trust. If not, I would look for a similar role elsewhere.
What advice would you give to someone who was considering becoming an apprentice? Chelsea: I would advise that anyone coming into an apprenticeship should be willing to put their whole effort into any task they are given, even if it is a task you haven’t had experience of doing before. I would also suggest getting to know the people that you are working with as they can further your skills and opportunities. Corrie: Make sure your heart is in it as if you do not have any interest in the line of work, you won’t feel the benefits. If it is something you have an interest in then it’s an amazing experience.
And it’s not just the apprentices who can see the benefits of apprenticeships. Over the duration of the year, we have received a number of positive comments from various managers across the Trust, including Corrie’s line manager Charlotte Jennings who comments “Within the CRS team, Corrie has integrated really well. The team welcomed her and were really appreciative of the extra support.” It is comments like this that really make apprenticeships worthwhile. The Trust will shortly be on the lookout for their next set of apprentices to begin this autumn. If you would like more information on our apprenticeship programme please contact Michael Hirons in our Learning and Development Department at Michael.hirons@ dwmh.nhs.uk or call 01384 324525.
Our apprentices
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Service spotlight – eatin g disord ers Eating disorders can affect people from all backgrounds and ethnic groups. It is estimated that 1.6 million people in the UK suffer from some form of eating disorder, and 11% of these are male. An eating disorder is a complex illness that can have a devastating effect on both your physical and mental health. However, they are treatable and recovery is always possible. The sooner someone gets help, the greater the chance they have of a full recovery.
What is an eating disorder?
How to refer to the service
An eating disorder is not just about food or dieting: it is an expression of deep emotional conflict that results in an individual experiencing a distressed relationship with food. This can give the sufferer a ‘feeling of being in control’. Eating itself may provoke feelings of fear, anxiety, guilt and self-hatred. The individual may restrict what they eat, binge, purge or overexercise. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder.
The first port of call for anyone who thinks they may have an eating disorder should be to see their GP. After receiving the referral the team will then contact the individual by telephone or send out an appointment in the post. They offer the majority of appointments within two weeks of receiving the referral. They will then see the service user for an assessment and decide together what help and support they may need, and how best to provide that for them. They work together with psychiatrists, GPs, mental health nurses, social workers, psychologists and many other professionals who may need to be involved in the service user’s care.
The eating disorders service Our eating disorders service has two members of staff – Karen Higgins, Clinical Lead, who is based in Walsall, and Melanie Andrews, Nurse Practitioner, who is based in Dudley. The team work in a community setting, visiting various different clinics, alongside carrying out home visits. Support is tailored to individual needs and might include: • Dietary advice and support in planning meals • Providing education on the effects of the eating disorder • Assisting in formulating strategies to tackle an eating disorder • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy • Interpersonal Psychotherapy Based Therapy Many of the service users seen by the team are ashamed of their illness so by putting their trust in them and believing in what they do, treatment can be very effective.
Karen Higgins and Melanie Andrews from our Eating Disord ers Service
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r with Karen from ou A service user talks rvice Eating Disorders Se
Liz’s story A case study by Karen Higgins Liz, 20, was referred to the service two years ago after returning from a gap year. Her parents were horrified by her significant weight loss. During her gap year, Liz had broken up with her boyfriend and, as a result, had lost her appetite and gradually lost weight. Her BMI was 14 when she was seen for an eating disorder assessment. She was very unwell. Her low BMI put her at risk of collapse; she had a slow pulse, low blood pressure and was very sensitive to the cold. She didn’t want to go into hospital and after discussion with Liz, her family, her GP and the psychiatrist it was agreed we would try and treat her in the community. As a team, we had very strict guidelines to follow and targets to meet otherwise she would have had to go into hospital. Working with Liz to establish a healthy eating pattern, and monitoring this weekly, was the basis of her treatment. It was important to manage her weight increase carefully, as putting on too much weight, too quickly can be dangerous. Liz initially kept food diaries and we worked together to increase her portions and introduce food that she had stopped eating.
She had lists of hints and tips to help her eat, and she recorded her thoughts and feelings. In sessions we used the diary to challenge her negative thoughts. Liz worked with the team to agree goals and initially these were: to sleep better at night, working with her family to get the right support, and to improve her concentration. Lots of people do not realise how a poor eating pattern affects lots of other things, not just your weight. Liz kept waking throughout the night, her concentration was nonexistent, she had excess hair, and a weak bladder, amongst other health problems. Later on in her treatment, Liz’s goals were to return to work, eat a meal out with her family and get a boyfriend. We worked towards eating with the family by starting with a biscuit and a cup of tea, graduating to eating lunch with us and one family member, and finally she was able to go out for a family celebration meal. Although she found it very difficult, she was extremely proud of herself, as were we. After two years of hard work, Liz finally achieved all of her goals, including the boyfriend, and over six months ago was discharged from all mental health services. I spoke to her GP recently and he informed me that she is fit and well and in the process of planning her wedding. It is success stories like this that make our job so worthwhile and enjoyable.
Contact the eating disorders service The team are always more than willing to offer advice to anyone who is worried about someone they think might have an eating disorder, service users themselves, GPs who may be unsure about the referral process, or anyone else who is unsure about what they can do or what might be available. They try to offer appointments to suit the individual’s needs and work varying hours, including both early and late appointments.
Karen Higgins, Clinical Lead Eating Disorders Tel: 01922 607470
Further help
Email: karen.higgins@dwmh.nhs.uk
B-eat UK Eating disorders Charity www.b-eat.co.uk
Melanie Andrews, Nurse Practitioner
Eating Disorders and Carers www.eatingdisordersandcarers.co.uk
Tel: 01384 366516 Email: Melanie.Andrews@dwmh.nhs.uk
MIND for better mental heath www.mind.org.uk
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Supporting urgent care in Dudley and Wals all Black Country Street Triage Pilot Last year saw the launch of the Black Country Street Triage Pilot, a service where police officers team up with psychiatric nurses and paramedics on a dedicated response vehicle to answer calls involving people believed to be experiencing mental ill health. The service provides instant assessments and ensures individuals are taken to safe health facilities and given appropriate treatment and support. It also results in far fewer individuals being detained under the Mental Health Act. The Black Country Street Triage Pilot has so far been a huge success, reducing the number of hospital admissions and ensuring the right care is given when and where it’s needed.The pilot, which runs in association with West Midlands Police, West Midlands Ambulance Service and Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, consists of mental health nurses, paramedics and police officers.
Our Trust contributes two mental health nurses to the scheme. Following a successful pilot, funding has now been secured to extend the pilot for a further 12 months.
Psychiatric Liaison Service extensions
Extension to young people’s mental health services in Walsall
Our Psychiatric Liaison Service provides assessment and support to individuals who attend local hospitals and are experiencing mental illness.
Our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Walsall have recently been extended to help reduce the number of young people who require hospital treatment for mental health issues, and to reduce their waiting times. In Walsall, we have seen a rise in the number of young people showing signs of poor mental health, including suicidal tendencies. The service ensures their needs are met in an appropriate time frame.
Psychiatric Liaison involves mental health nurses being based in acute hospitals to assess and support patients. The service has several objectives, including trying to ensure that people in need of mental health support are offered it, that discharges are not delayed because of mental health issues, and that individuals are not unnecessarily admitted in the first place. The provision in Dudley was successfully extended to a 24/7 service last year, resulting in a full-time dedicated liaison service on-site at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. Since then, there has been a 30% increase in activity, which is continuing to grow. The service in Walsall runs 7 days a week, 8am until 11pm, and is staffed by four Clinical Nurse Specialists.
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eet Triage team Black Country Str
Staff within the service are currently involved in a training programme at Walsall Manor Hospital, which provides mental health awareness sessions and service information for paediatric ward staff on an on-going basis. This helps to support our acute hospital colleagues and establish strong working relationships. One of the benefits of having a close team is that staff are already familiar with some of the patients and other professionals working alongside them. Along with this, home visits are now also being untaken, delivering intensive support to anyone aged 17 or under whose mental state is worsening. Although it’s only early days for the service, we have already received some really positive feedback from staff at Walsall Manor Hospital who have praised its timely response and positive outcomes.
Black Country Liaison and Diversion Pilot The Black Country Liaison and Diversion Pilot was commissioned by NHS England. Run in conjunction with a number of local agencies, it aims to improve access to treatment or support for people who are in, or have had contact with, the criminal justice system. Rather than focusing solely on adult mental health, the new model aims to provide services to people of all ages, in a variety of places, including community settings, police stations, magistrates and youth courts. This includes the identification and referral of offenders who might have mental health issues, learning disabilities, substance misuse or other vulnerabilities to appropriate treatment or support. Although the pilot was only launched across the Black Country on 7th April, elsewhere it has seen a reduction in offending and the number of people coming into contact with secondary services. Jacky O’Sullivan, Clinical Development Director for the Trust, said: “We put together a joint bid with the Black Country to improve our links with all community services and identify those people who come into contact with the criminal justice system with a broad range of unmet healthcare needs.”
st, nds Probation Tru e and West Midla hir rds d ffo an Sta MH ey, Ril wn Homer, DW From L to R: Laura pson, DWMH, Da Sim dy An , on ers Ev Sargent Niki ampton to Health Wolverh Eddie Azu, Steps
Through appropriate intervention, the pilot aims to reduce health inequalities, improving both physical and mental health, whilst increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. It has been commissioned for 12 months.
Mental Health Urgent Care pilot In December 2014, we began a three month pilot for a Mental Health Urgent Care Centre based at Bushey Fields Hospital in Dudley. The centre, which operates out of hours, provides an enhanced crisis service, enabling patients to go directly to the team at Bushey Fields, rather than attend A&E (unless there is an accompanying physical health issue). The aims of the pilot were to ease the pressure on A&E staff and ensure individuals were seen by more appropriate health professionals. Referrals to the Mental Health Urgent Care Centre include: • GP referrals • Walk-ins at A&E that are re-directed to the centre • Self-referrals • Patients calling the crisis team requiring urgent assessment or intervention The centre also works with the NHS111 service, which patients can use for advice and referrals if required. This service is an important quality development from a patient experience perspective, as well as supporting winter pressures and the A&E four hour target. Although the service hasn’t been running very long, activity figures have shown a gradual increase in attendance.
Bushey Fields
Hospital
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Po s it ive re s u lt sd a ll a rou n Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust has scored highly in two surveys exploring experiences of mental health care, based on the views of local people. We scored among the top 20% of trusts in the country for service users rating their experience as ‘good or very good’ in the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Community Mental Health Survey. In the same survey, 75% of respondents reported that they felt that they were treated with dignity and respect, and nine out of ten reported that they felt their health or social care worker listened to them carefully. Results from the National Mental Health Inpatient Survey were also positive. The Trust scored significantly higher than the national average for patients feeling welcome on the ward, hospital cleanliness, and being listened to by psychiatrists and nurses. Significant improvements from last year’s survey were made in areas including access to out-of-hours phone contact, availability of activities on the ward and quality of hospital food. Marsha Ingram, Director of People and Corporate Development, said: “We take part in these surveys every year to help us to understand how we can improve services and offer a better experience for all of our service users. We are extremely pleased with the results received this year, but we also recognise that there are areas for improvement. An action plan for both surveys has been put into place to ensure that these standards are met in next year’s results.” You can find out more about the published results from the 2014 National Community Health Survey by visiting www.cqc.org.uk/content/community-mental-health-survey-2014
Staff have their say Our Trust has been ranked among the best performing mental health trusts in the national NHS Staff Survey. The results highlighted a number of high performing areas including staff engagement, staff feeling satisfied with the quality of work and patient care that they are able to deliver, job satisfaction, percentage of staff experiencing harassment, bullying or abuse from staff and staff feeling pressure to attend work whilst unwell. The survey also highlighted some areas for improvement, including staff experiencing physical violence at work, the reporting of incidents, staff receiving an appraisal and effective team working. We will be developing a robust action plan to support improvements in these areas. Gary Graham, Chief Executive of Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, said: “We are extremely delighted with our staff survey results which provide us with important feedback to help us improve the working lives of our staff. “Whilst there are areas that we need to build upon, we should take this feedback positively, as we want our staff to feel valued by the organisation, which in turn will help us improve the experience and quality of care for patients and carers.” To see the national Survey results, visit: www.nhsstaffsurveys.com/Page/1006/LatestResults/2014-Results/
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Ch a n ge s t c A e r a C e h t o t From 1 April 2015, most of the changes from the Care Act came into force. Anyone currently receiving care, or supporting an adult family member or friend as an unpaid carer, could be affected by these national changes. Many of us will need care and support at some point in our lives and most people will pay at least something towards the cost of their care. The new changes are designed to help you plan for the future and put you more in control of the help you receive. Any decisions about your care and support will consider your wellbeing and what is important to you and your family, so you can stay healthy and remain independent for longer. If you receive care and support, or you support someone as a carer, you could stand to benefit. Some changes were introduced in April 2015 and others will be introduced in April 2016. This year the following changes will come into effect: • A new national level of care and support ensuring more consistency across the country • New support for carers • Deferred payment agreements for care costs As part of the 2016 changes, there will be more financial help for those who need it and people with modest means will benefit too. There will also be a new form of protection from unlimited care costs.
For more information about the new Care Act, contact Adult Social Care Services in Dudley on 0300 555 0055 or Walsall Council Social Care team on 0845 111 2922 or visit www.gov.uk/careandsupport
Mental health foru ms go from strength to strength On 18th December 2014, we hosted our final mental health forum of the year, and this time, the focus was on personality disorders. A huge success for all those involved, the forum was well attended and saw the local people of Dudley and Walsall, along with Trust staff and current service users, come together to find out more. The forum, which took place at Walsall Art Gallery, got off to a great start with an opening from Gillian Cooper, Non–Executive Director, followed by a presentation from Dr Brian Levy, Joint Associate Director of Psychology and Psychological Therapies, on understanding personality disorders. Attendees were invited to learn about the different types of personality disorders, along with the various treatments available. Emma Salt, one of the Trust’s Experts by Experience (EBEs) went on to share her experience of living with a personality disorder, including her positive recovery after treatment at the Trust. The forum was brought to a close with a question and answer session and the opportunity to offer any feedback, all of which was very positive. Our next Mental Health Forum will be taking place on 23rd April, 11am – 1pm at Insight House, Pearson Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3BL. The theme for this forum will be child and adolescent mental health services, early intervention and perinatal mental health. The forum is open for anyone to attend. For more information contact Tracy Cross, Service Experience and Engagement Coordinator, on 01384 324531 or email tracy.cross@dwmh.nhs.uk
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Tru st N e w s
hospital Staff at Bloxwich
Bloxwich Hospital travels back in time at 1940s themed event Staff, service users and carers came together on 2nd February for a 1940s inspired event to celebrate Dignity Action Day. Staff at Bloxwich Hospital, the Trust’s Older Adults hospital, held an aptly named ‘digni-tea dance’ as part of the celebrations that aim to ensure people who use care services are treated as individuals and are given choice, control and a sense of purpose in their daily lives. The day was a great success, with plenty of tea and homemade cakes to go around. Visitors were also treated to a live performance from two members of staff, and a 1940s memorabilia room that proved popular. Silvia, a service user at Bloxwich Hospital, said, “I have had a fabulous day. I always enjoy my time here at Bloxwich Hospital. Today especially has been really lovely – a great get together.” The community spirit was evident throughout the day, with laughter and enjoyment aplenty. The Dignity Champions even managed to get everyone together for a sing along! Dawn Roe, Administration Assistant and organiser of the event, commented: “Today’s event was another resounding success. I want to say a big thank you to all the Dignity Champions for their hard work in promoting dignity in care both in work and in their own time.”
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New Non-Executive Directors join Trust We are delighted to welcome to the Trust our new Non-Executive Director, Dr Simon Murphy, and our new Associate Non-Executive Director, Pawiter Rana. Together, they bring a wealth of experience to help us further improve mental health services in Dudley and Walsall.
Pawiter Rana
Dr Simon Murphy has over 25 years’ experience in senior and high profile leadership, management, strategic and advisory roles. His previous roles include the Independent Chair of the Sandwell Local Improvement Finance Trust Company Ltd (LIFTCo) Dr Simon Murphy and interim Chief Executive of Worcester Community Trust. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2004. Pawiter Rana, who lives in Walsall, is a senior executive with eight years’ experience at board level in a variety of executive roles for Fujitsu. Speaking about his new position as Associate Non-Executive Director, Pawiter said: “I am excited to apply the skills and experience I have gained through 26 years of commercial experience to assist the Trust in maintaining its vision of providing services that inspire confidence, trust and pride in my community.“
Trust joins in Time to Talk On Thursday 5th February, it was Time to Talk Day, a national event which hopes to get people talking about their mental health, whilst challenging those stigmas often associated with mental health issues. With the help of our Community Development Workers, we visited various locations across the two boroughs, including Russells Hall Hospital, Broadway North Resource Centre and Alumwell Pleck Surestart Centre. This was an opportunity for local people to have a chat with the team and find out more about Wellbeing Services in both Dudley and Walsall. On offer were a range of resources including our self-help guides, app cards and service leaflets. Along with promoting our services, in Walsall, there was also the chance to take part in some brain stimulating activities courtesy of Mindful Gifts, and Hand Reflexology courtesy of the Walsall Mind & Body Centre. The day itself was a great success and saw many of the local public engage in conversation. Over 50 conversations
Young people’s mental health service opens its doors Our child and adolescent mental health services took centre stage at a recent open day aimed at raising awareness of the work we do. Staff from across the service came together at the Elms Health Centre in Halesowen in early February to showcase their work and to get people talking about mental health services for children and young people. services staff about youth Visitors talking to
Often a hot topic nationally, the team were keen to show the variety of support on offer. We had staff on hand from eating disorders, early psychosis, ADHD, deliberate self-harm, psychological interventions, learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder services, occupational therapists, psychotherapy and looked after children service all talking about how we work together to provide a whole package of support for children and young people. Visitors to the open day included staff, families and carers, partners, local agencies and schools. The team received positive feedback from attendees, including one comment describing the event as “Very useful and a positive way of networking with agencies.” Following its success, the team are looking at planning future events. Visit our website www.dwmh.nhs.uk for more information on our child and adolescent mental health services.
L to R: Dr Christia n Jessen and Paul
Singh
Staff scoop top awards Two of our staff have picked up prestigious awards at the regional finals of the NHS Leadership Recognition Awards which were held on 9th December at Birmingham Town Hall. Tracy Cross, who won Patient Champion of the Year, and Paul Singh, who won Leader of Inclusivity of the Year, were presented with their awards by Dr Christian Jessen, TV doctor and host of Embarrassing Bodies. The awards celebrate inspirational leaders across the NHS. Judges praised Tracy Cross, Service Experience and Engagement Coordinator, for her work coordinating the Trust’s Experts by Experience programme – former and current patients who draw on their own experiences as service users to help shape mental health services. Welcoming the award, Tracy said: “Giving patients a voice is at the heart of everything we do, and I’m so pleased that this award recognises the great work that our Experts by Experience do to improve the experience of mental health services for patients.” Paul Singh, Equality and Diversity Lead, was praised for his commitment to promoting equality and ensuring service users from all backgrounds are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. As regional winners, Tracy and Paul were finalists in the national finals which took place recently in London.
Staff celebrating Tim e to Talk day
were recorded in total, along with other feedback, all of which was very positive. Many of you joined in the conversation on Twitter, too, by using #TimetoTalk. To find out more about Time to Talk Day, visit www.time-to-change.org.uk.
Staff from DWMH with Dr Christian Jessen
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Innovations and Outcomes
in Psychological Therapies Event Success On Thursday 5th March, we hosted our Innovations and Outcomes in Psychological Therapies showcase event at Walsall Manor Hospital, which was a huge success. The event highlighted the range of innovative practices in psychological therapies here at the Trust and drew over 130 attendees including staff members, service users, commissioners and external stakeholders. Dr Brian Levy, Joint Associate Director for Psychological Therapies, opened proceedings with a brief overview of how psychological therapies have changed over the years. He also spoke about the successes of this type of therapy within our Trust, enthusing the audience for the upcoming presentations. Throughout the day, delegates heard from staff on a range of topics including mindfulness, transitions in dementia, psychological approaches in child and adolescent mental
Dr. Brian Levy
health services and psychological therapies in primary care. A particularly popular talk came from Emma Salt, one of our Experts by Experience, who talked about her experience of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. There were a number of opportunities throughout the day to view the various posters on display, which detailed the hard work of those involved with organising this event, and also gave attendees the chance to find out more about the work of specific services and innovations. The day came to a close with an expert panel session involving our key speakers. We have received some really positive feedback from the day, including a comment on extending the event across the West Midlands, something we will be looking at in the near future. The presentation slides and posters are now available to view online at www.dwmh.nhs.uk/innovations-and-outcomes Once again, we would like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication in making this event a success.
Mindfulness for mental wellbeing It can be easy to rush through life without stopping to notice much. Paying more attention to the present moment – to your own thoughts and feelings, and to the world around you – can improve your mental wellbeing. This can be called ‘mindfulness’. Jon Kabat-Zinn – founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – explains that ‘mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally.’ The ‘present moment’ is something you will hear a lot about when learning about mindfulness. Practitioners believe that becoming more aware of the present moment can help us enjoy the world around us more and understand ourselves better.
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The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness week is mindfulness. To mark this we will be launching Mindfulness Meditation: Seven Practices for Everyday Mindfulness, a collection of mindfulness audio practices developed by our psychologists available on CD and to listen to online. Visit www.dwmh. nhs.uk/mindfulness from 11th May 2015 to download your free tracks and start your journey into mindfulness.
L oo k De e pe r...
C o f fe e Brea k
I’m not just an illness, I do have a name,
Mental Health Myths True or False?
So when you look at me don’t just assume I’m insane,
1. Nearly 1 in 10 people will suffer from some form of mental illness in their lifetime. 2. There are more victims of depression than of road accidents.
There’s a lot more to me than may first meet the eye, So please look deeper, please do try. You may think I’m paranoid and crazy,
3. Mental illness generally affects people with lower income and intelligence.
But that’s not the real me, At times it’s hidden inside, buried very deep,
4. Antidepressants are addictive.
But if you take time to look, a great reward you could reap.
Guess the Picture 1.
You see me scared, responding to the voices in my head,
2.
So you try to drug me up, with a cocktail of meds, You see paranoia, delusions and self-harm, But please look past that and you may see my charm.
3.
Because the real me has a great big smile, 4.
5.
I’m always very friendly, willing to go the extra mile, I have great friends and family and I always try to stay in touch, I’m into sports and music, which I love very much. I’m not just an illness, I do have a name, So when you look at me don’t just assume I’m insane, There’s a lot more to me than may first meet the eye, So please look deeper, please do try. Poem by a service user
Mental Health Myths: 1. False (the number is closer to 1 in 4) 2. True 3. False (no one is immune to mental illness - it strikes without discrimination, regardless of status or level of education)
Answers
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Guess the picture: 1.Can Top 2.Battery 3.Fork 4.Toothbrush 5.Strawberry 4. False (to this day there is no proof that antidepressant medication is addictive. Patients should talk to their doctor about adjusting their initial or final dosage)
Be i nvo lved -r be a m e m be We are currently applying for NHS Foundation Trust status. As an NHS Foundation Trust, our service users, carers, staff and members of the public can become ‘members’ of the Trust. This means you can be involved in shaping the future of your mental health care services and help us to reduce the stigma around mental illness. As a member you can: • Come along to our events to help raise awareness of mental health in our communities • Participate in consultations and feed back your views on our services • Receive regular information about the Trust • Join in our membership events 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 ft@dwmh.nhs.uk to request a membership form.
Dates for your diary
Events in Dudley
• Age UK swimming lessons for the over 50s Dudley Leisure Centre – 10:30am - 11am – 28th April 2015. Age UK Dudley has teamed up with Dudley Leisure Centre to offer an eight week course of swimming lessons for the over 50s starting on 28th April 2015. For more information call 01384 343535. • Housing Support Drop In Advice Sessions Available to all residents in the Dudley Borough. Social/private landlords, homeowners and residents can attend any of these sessions regardless of where they live in the borough. If you need any further details such as venues and times or to pre book an appointment please contact Hannah or Natalia who run the sessions on 01384 812504 or email housingsupport.dachs@dudley.gov.uk • Yoga classes for Health and Wellbeing One of these sessions will be at Queens Cross Day centre, Wellington Road, Dudley on Tuesdays 2:30pm 4:00pm, starting 14th April. The other will be at St Peters Church Hall, Upper Gornal on Saturdays 10:00am – 11:30am starting 18th April. Anyone interested can contact Tracey Bealey 07825 378737. • “Walking Football” for the over 50s Leasowes Sports Centre, Kent Road, Halesowen, B62 8PJ Age UK Dudley has teamed up with Leasowes Sports Centre to run Walking Football sessions for the over 50s. Sessions are held the Leasowes Centre and the first session is free! If you would like more details, contact Luke Wilkes on 01384 818 046 or via email Lwilkes1@leasowes.dudley.sch.uk
Events in Walsall Contact Us Online: www.dwmh.nhs.uk Email: communication@dwmh.nhs.uk
Follow us on Twitter @DWbetter2gether
Dudley & Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust Public Membership by Constituency Dudley Walsall Rest of England/ Rest of Black Country/ Out of Trust Area
• Mind Matters Café Walsall Hub, 17 Lichfield Street, Walsall, WS1 1TU – 10:30am - 12:30pm – fourth Wednesday of every month. Mind Matters Café is a place where older people with mental health conditions such as depression and their carers, families and friends can come together in a safe and welcoming environment. This is a free service for people living in Walsall providing a great opportunity to meet others and share experiences. • ‘Our Community’ group Voiceability session Palfrey Sure Start Centre, Walsall – 10:30am – 12pm. An opportunity to take part in various workshops and informative talks, this group is also a chance to pick up further information about local health and wellbeing services. The group will be holding fortnightly sessions starting from 18th March until 10th June. • Active Steps A specialised exercise programme for people who have previously experienced a fall or are at risk. Every Monday from 10:15am - 11:15am at Willenhall Chart Centre, WV13 2NS.