NewsForYou Issue09 April2010 by CDC

April 2010 | issue 9

Members’ magazine

Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

In this issue...

• Meet the Practitioner who met the PM! • Living with Depression • Focus on Stimulant Misuse

In this issue Page 2

Welcome from the Chair

Page 3

Red Carpet at Number 10 for Rebecca Page 4

Day of Music and Art for Dignity in Action Page 5

Welcome to our New Governors Page 6

Dragons Den Page 7

Living with Depression Page 8

International Audience for Mental Health Page 9

Focus on Stimulant Misuse Page 10

Insight on In-reach Page 11

Listening to Learn Page 12

Official Opening of Innovative Unit

Contact If you have comments or suggestions please send them to us at: ft@gmw.nhs.uk Call: 0161 772 3857 Or write to: Joanne Pilling Membership Office, Trust HQ, Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 3BL ‘GMW newsforyou’ is available to download and read on our website: www.gmw.nhs.uk page

Welcome to April’s issue of newsforyou, the magazine which keeps members informed of the latest news of Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. This edition features Rebecca Dawber, an Inpatient Advanced Practitioner, who won a Nursing Times Award for her research into a liver screening tool which analyses the liver functions of people with severe alcohol dependency. Rebecca was recently asked to attend 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister and top health officials. More on Rebecca’s visit is on page 3. Previous editions of newsforyou have given details on the elections to the Council of Governors. The elections have now closed and the new governors joined the Council on 1 April 2010, see page 5 for more details about the new governors. There is also an election in progress for the users of substance misuse service’s seat. Voting packs were sent to members of the constituency on 12 April and the new governor will take up their post in early May.

This edition also features Marion Nulty, an Advanced Practitioner in Training, who was recently invited to an international conference, hosted by the World Health Organisation. It was a great honour to be asked to showcase our work for the first time at the conference and the full story is on page 8. There is also news on a pioneering new unit which is the first in the country for women with substance misuse problems. The unit offers inpatient treatment for drug dependence and alcohol detox services, for more information see page 12. The Chapman Barker unit is based at the Trust’s headquarters site in Prestwich. I hope you enjoy this edition of newsforyou. We are always keen to hear from people who would like to contribute, so if you have any ideas for mental health or substance misuse articles please contact: Joanne Pilling, Communications and Membership Officer on 0161 772 3857 or email ft@gmw.nhs.uk. Make sure you check our website www.gmw.nhs. uk for details of events the Trust are planning to hold later in the year. Yours sincerely

Alan Chair

The Trusts next Council of Governors meeting will be held on Tuesday 20 April 2010. As a member you can attend and learn more about the Trust. See the website www.gmw.nhs.uk or contact the Membership Office on 0161 772 3857 for further details.

Red Carpet at Number 10 for Rebecca! Rebecca Dawber, an Inpatient Advanced Practitioner based at the Trust’s Chapman Barker Unit, won a prestigious Nursing Times award and even got to visit number 10. Rebecca won the prize in the ‘Mental Health Innovation’ category for research into a liver screening tool which analyses the liver functions of people with severe alcohol dependency. The Nursing Times judges described Rebecca’s work as excellent and highly innovating; noting that it should have a significant impact for patients. Alastair McLellan, Editor of Nursing Times said, “the individuals and teams involved in all the short listed entries are examples of the best in the nursing profession and demonstrate that nurses and midwives have the ability to take an increasingly influential role in the development of healthcare”. Since wining the award in November 2009, Rebecca has been invited to 10 Downing Street to meet a host of top health officials including Christine Beasley, Chief Nursing

Pictured is Prime Minister, Gordon Brown addressing the delegates on the day

Family Praises Staff

Mr Perry and Christine Perry with staff from the Trust

Pictured is Rebecca with Sarah Brown, Ann Keen MP and a delegate from the day

Officer in England whose report was published in March. Rebecca was invited to participate in a round table discussion as part of the Prime Minister’s Commission on the future of nursing and midwifery in England whose report was published on the 2nd March 2010. Rebecca said, “To visit Downing Street and have a conversation with senior health ministers who are responsible for shaping the NHS really inspires you. “It was an honour and a privilege to win the award and

be recognised for the work I do. I like the fact I am making a difference to people in often the darkest time in their lives and it is nice to see people getting better”. At World Mental Health Day the Prime Minister commented, “Across the country there are very few families who have not been touched in some way by mental ill health in at least one of its many forms. “And yet too often these have been illnesses which are not discussed, recognised or offered the support that they need. “As a government we are transforming the way in which the NHS sees and treats those with mental health issues with a five year plan to offer everyone who needs it, access to talking therapies and counselling. “However whilst the NHS can do its part we also need a change in attitudes and a fresh openness to recognise mental health issues across our society. The day when anyone with mental illness can live free of the fear of stigma is coming but it is the responsibility of all of us to bring that day about as quickly as possible.”

The husband of a patient at Hawthorne House, based at Royal Bolton Hospital, has commissioned a piece of art to thank staff for all the hard work that went into caring for his late wife who had dementia. Mr Perry and his daughter Christine Perry presented staff with a watercolour painting of Hawthorne House by a local artist, Susan Johnston. Hawthorne House is a continuing assessment ward for older people and specialises in caring for women. Mrs Perry was cared for on the ward for almost four years and Mr Perry was overwhelmed with how well she and all the other patients on the ward were treated. Mr Perry said:“I cannot express my gratitude towards all the staff at Hawthorne House for how they cared for and treated my wife. My wife and the other patients were and always are of the highest priority to staff. I and my family were also well supported during my wife’s stay. The support is still ongoing and I often visit the ward. On behalf of my wife, myself and the rest of my family I would like to thank all the staff at Hawthorne House for everything they have done.”

Mr Perry presenting the painting to Susan McChelland, Ward Manager

Please contact the membership office if you have moved house or if any of your details have changed. We also welcome your comments about newsforyou. If you have something to share please contact the Membership Office on 0161 772 3857 or email ft@gmw.nhs.uk.

page

A Day Of Music and Art for Dignity Action Day The Trust hosted an all-day music and art event to support the national Dignity Action Day at Trafford General Hospital.

given a choice and a sense of purpose in their day-today lives by providing stimulating activities.

Held in the hospital’s Moorside Unit cafeteria, the event consisted of various activities including an art competition and performances from the local band, Seed Band.

“We want to promote dignity in care and correct the impression that the cause is not only related to the older generations.”

Seed Band are made up of ex-service users from the Moorside Unit and play a mixed style of folk and ethnic music written by the band. The band have also been involved in similar health events including ‘World Mental Health Day’ at Lancashire Cricket Club. Dignity Action Day was about promoting dignity in care and asks health and social care workers to take action in their place of work to support the cause. Members of the public are also asked to help promote dignity in their local communities. The day aims to ensure people in care are treated as individuals and are

Rilwan Adebiyi, Mental Health Liaison Nurse, who organised the music and art event, said: “The aim of the event is to build service users self confidence through music by showing them what the ex-service users in Seed Band have achieved. This confidence can then hopefully be used to express their ideas in a similar way.

There were also a number of information stalls throughout the Trust to promote the day. These were organised by Simone Walker, Corporate Matron- leading on privacy and dignity and included; • Waterdale restaurant- Trust’s headquarters, Prestwich site • Meadowbrook Cafe- Trust’s site at Salford Royal hospital site, also held by Simone • on Trust’s site at Royal Bolton hospital.

page

Pictured (L-R) is Simone Walker, Liam Cunmane, UACT member and Ruth Heaton, Deputy Director of Nursing

Service Gain Funding for Gym Access Cromwell house users group (CHUG) supported by community care workers, have been successful in their bid to gain funding for a local leisure pass scheme.

Pictured (L-R) is Michelle Anderson, Head of Operations in Trafford, Rilwan Adebiyi, Mental Health Liaison Nurse and Annette Rooney, Assistant Director Adult Services in Trafford

Pictured (L-R) is Sylvia Seddon, Public Governor for Trafford and Rilwan Adebiyi, Mental Health Liaison Nurse

The scheme will enable 400 service users and carers free access to all of Salford’s community leisure fit city gyms and swimming pools for the

next two years. CHUG are a registered charity dedicated to improving the lives of service users and their carers in Salford, by supporting innovative projects that enable service users on their personal recovery journey. Over the years they have supported the Salford Football Project, Cromwell Gardening Group, the women’s group, jewellery group, day trips, and the Marooned Magazine. But their greatest success to date has been to gain the funding for the leisure pass scheme.

The funding from ‘awards for all’ and Manchester community and voluntary sector has enabled the scheme to develop and extend the scheme for carers. For a number of service users, the opportunity to be accompanied by a carer will enable them to access mainstream community settings. The feedback from service users regarding the scheme has been very positive, and a number of them have highlighted this opportunity as a significant factor in their recovery.

Welcome Our New Governors For 2010

Thanks to all our members who voted in our recent election. Here are our Governors who joined the Council on 1 April.

Susan Haworth

Carly Wilde

Jonathan Roberts

Re-elected to the Council of Governors as a Public Governor for Bolton

Elected as a Public Governor for the North West

Re- elected as a Staff Governor for the Non-Clinical Constituency

Chair of User Action Team (UACT)

Sue Howarth

Committed to improving services in Bolton and maintaining and improving the Trust’s excellent standards

Wants to engage with public Carly Wilde especially young people through University links Wants members to have their say on how services are run

Paul Butcher

Stacy Gill

Re-elected as a Public Governor for Trafford

Elected as a Public Governor for the North West

Extensive business experience

Will use experiences to improve patient facilities

Paul Butcher

Hazel Carter Re-elected as a Public Governor for Trafford Extensive teaching experience and with that comes a commitment to young people

Hazel Carter

Elected as a Staff Governor for the Nursing Constituency

David McCall

James Patrick Millington

Stacey Gill

Elected as a Staff Governor for the Psychological Therapies Constituency

Bill Howarth Re-elected as a Staff Governor for the Non-Clinical Constituency

Works as a senior clinical psychologist within the Trust

Works as the facilities energy Bill Howarth and systems manager in the Trust

rts

Jonathan Robe

David McCall

Works as a staff nurse at the Trusts site within the Royal Bolton Hospital

Wants to remove stigma attached to mental health

Will promote the visions and values of the Trust

Will educate others about mental health and the work of the Trust

Works as the customer care team manager in the Trust

James Millingto

We are currently running an Election to the Council of Governors for the ‘Users of Substance Misuse Services’ the new governor will take up post in May

GMW Appoint Two New Non-Executive Directors The Trust has appointed Malcolm Cowen and Terry McDonnell as new Non-Executive Directors. Dr. Jon Bashford has also been reappointed as Non-Executive Director to the Board. All three have been appointed for a three year period.

Terry McDonnell

Malcolm Cowen

John Bashford

Please contact the membership office if you have moved house or if any of your details have changed. also yourif comments you haveWe something to share PleaseWe contact thewelcome membership office you have movedabout house or ifnewsforyou. any of your detailsIfhave changed. also welcome your comments aboutplease newsforyou. If you have something to share please contact Membership on or 0161 772 3857 or email ft@gmw.nhs.uk. contact the Membership Office onthe0161 772Office 3857 email ft@gmw.nhs.uk.

page

The Trust Succeeds Within The Dragon’s Den Two doctors based at the Trust impressed a panel of health professionals in a Dragons Den style presentation and secured nearly £10,000 to fund their unique project. Based at the Silverhill Psychology Centre in the Royal Bolton Hospital (RBH) the project, for foundation year doctors will encourage reflective practice from the start of their careers. Dr Jon van Niekerk and Dr Shruti Garg presented their project to a panel of expert medical educators and board level Directors from the NHS and industry including:

• Mike Farrar, Chief Executive, NHS North West • Professor Jacky Hayden, Postgraduate Dean, North Western Deanery • Dr Gary Frances, Medical Director, Aintree Foundation Trust • Bill Gregory, Director of Finance, Stockport NHS Foundation trust • Kate Vokes, Director of HR, Bruntwood Estates Ltd The project was awarded £9,380 from NHS North West, which will go towards setting up, implementing and evaluating the project. The aim of the project is to help junior doctors develop increased understanding and empathy for patients, explore how feelings and

Pictured: Mike Farrar, Chief Executive, NHS North West presenting the prize to Dr Jon van Niekerk and Dr Shruti Garg with the panel looking on

thoughts affect the clinician-patient relationships and expand their capacity and repertoire for handling difficult situations with patients. Dr Jon van Niekerk, who will pilot the Balint Group said: “This is a great opportunity to influence change as a junior doctor and see innovation being implemented at a local level” Mike Farrar, Chief Executive, NHS

North West and panellist said of the project: “This is an innovative and unique project that will provide invaluable understanding of the doctor-patient relationship. NHS North West are very happy to be supporting such a worthy project.” The project is set to be complete by November 2011 and will be supported by the Strategic Health Authority during implementation.

Delivering Race Equality Conference Staff, service users and carers from the Trust, attended Bolton Association and Network of Drop Ins (BAND) conference in Bolton. Susan Haworth, Chair of the Trust’s User Action Team (UACT) and public governor for Bolton said, “The conference, entitled ‘delivering race equality in mental health does one size really fit all?’ attracted a wide selection of people involved in mental health from as far afield as Leeds and the Wirral. The conference was organised by BAND who are an independent community group that support people with mental health problems.” BAND work in partnership with Bolton Primary Care Trust (PCT) in implementing the delivering race equality action plan for black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in Bolton. The Department of Health provided funding for the delivering race equality in page

mental health care programme (DRE). The programme aims to achieve equality and tackle discrimination in mental health services in England for all people in BME groups, including those of Irish, Mediterranean and Eastern European origin. Karen Sharp and Rita Liddell from BAND spoke at the conference. Topics included statistics to suggest that not as many people from BME communities are receiving mental health services as would be expected, which is a challenge. The problem of ethnic stereotyping was discussed which is to generalise what is thought to be typical characteristics of an ethnic group and also cultural competence - the understanding of race, ethnicity and culture within people’s lives. This is not just about knowledge, but is equally about action. It was shown that

Pictured is Left to Right: Mike Chapman, Vice Chair of Trust, Susan Haworth, Mike Jarvis and Prem Conhye from the Trust

challenges remain in making mental health services across all sectors accessible and culturally competent. Key note speaker, Hari Sewell of marmot health inequalities team, highlighted that some service users have a lack of support from their cultural community who avoid and stigmatise people with mental health problems. He described the continued challenges that some parts of the BME community still face, such as;

income poverty, dual diagnosis and lack of spoken English in some, which continues to make translation services an important part of services. He also discussed how prison can interrupt medication regimes. BAND gave a quality conference which offered positive messages and was well received by all those who attended.

CONTACT DETAILS BAND on 01204 546070

Living With Depression

Depression is a serious illness. Health professionals use the words depression, depressive illness or clinical depression to refer to it. It is very different from the common experience of feeling miserable or fed up for a short period of time.

What was the trigger for your condition? I was 27 years old and following the birth of my first child I began suffering from postnatal depression. This lasted for two years. I was in an unhappy relationship which contributed to a pattern of feeling depressed. I stopped eating and sleeping properly and this contributed to my anxiety.

How did it affect you? I felt like I was removed from society and I didn’t want to be around people, even my friends and family. I left my job as it involved a lot of lone working which I found was detrimental to my condition. My sleep pattern was disrupted

When I began to suffer from postnatal depression I visited my GP who was extremely supportive and said that my depression could have been caused by a chemical imbalance as a result of my pregnancy. The GP monitored me and as the depression did not lift he put me on a course of medication which helped to treat my depression. I was fortunate to have a strong support network of family and friends to help me care for my child when I was suffering as I didn’t have the energy to do it. I also spoke about my suffering to the health visitor who was also extremely understanding and supportive. She told me that there were many other women who also went through the same experience so I was not alone. I read a lot about depression when I was recovering. I found that professional publications which give facts about the condition were really helpful to me to understand what I was experiencing and to help me make sense of my condition.

How do you feel now? People who know me now say I am a much happier person than I was when I was suffering from depression. I was a shadow of my former self and didn’t want to socialise or engage with other people. I had to make lifestyle changes in order

I am definitely a stronger person as a result of my experience. I have a lot of empathy for people who are suffering from depression and can spot the signs in others. I have a positive outlook on life and am more patient and appreciative of everything and I jump at new opportunities rather than waiting for things to happen to me.

Depression alliance- http:// www.depressionalliance.org/ or 0845 123 2320

I let each bout of depression take its course and don’t feel guilty about it as previously I suffered extreme guilt when I was depressed.

How did you begin your recovery? It took a very long time. I still have periods of depression today but I know how to spot the signs and I ensure I am eating well and getting enough sleep and I tell myself that I will be ok and I can get through it. My main recovery tool was to remove the negative things in my life as they were making me unwell and giving the depression a reason to return. My support network helped my recovery by talking to me.

What advice would you give to people who think they may also be suffering from depression? My advice would be don’t keep your feelings bottled up, speak to somebody you trust. Visit your GP and ask them for help. Also, be wary of internet sites which give other peoples stories and don’t be tempted to diagnose yourself. You can also visit the depression alliance, which is a

You can get through it and help and support is available for everyone who is affected.

*name has been changed to protect identity

good mood food er

What did you do?

registered charity for support and advice.

in g

I felt extremely disorientated and this was mainly caused by my anxiety which made everything seem worse.

to help myself. I ended my negative relationship and made sure I ate as well as possible and began exercising and taking pride in my appearance.

What is depression?

and I alternated from not being able to sleep at night to feeling exhausted and having no energy to complete even the most basic tasks. I also lost my appetite and didn’t want to eat.

Emily* is 40 years old, lives in Manchester and is employed in a full time position within a large organisation. Emily has agreed to talk to newsforyou about her experience of depression.

s o cial b u s

Good Mood Food employs people with mental health needs, giving them the chance to develop life skills through voluntary employment. They provide catering to organisations in Manchester, for more information telephone 0161 232 6202 or see www. goodmoodfood.org

Here’s your chance to take part in research looking at your recovery from bipolar disorder. A team at GMW are carrying out a research project which aims to: 1. Understand recovery from bipolar disorder from a serviceuser perspective. 2. Develop a measure of recovery, which is meaningful and accurately reflects service users’ experiences of recovery. People who have received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder within the last five years are being invited to take part. If you are interested in taking part, or have any questions, please contact Sally Higginson for further information. Tel: 0161 772 3984 or email sally.higginson@gmw.nhs.uk

page

International Audience for Mental Health Marion Nulty, who has been employed by Greater Manchester West for over ten years, has also been invited to speak at the prestigious World Health Organisation’s 18th International Annual Conference in April 2010. The event, which has been held all over the world, will this year be in the local town of Stockport. Marion will be there to represent mental health services in the context of health promotion. Marion said: “It is a huge honour to speak at this major health event and I think it is so encouraging to see that mental health is moving up the health agenda. Given that the estimated economic cost of mental health is £77 billion in lost productivity, then this is a huge issue which is everyone’s responsibility.”

The physical health of individuals with a severe and enduring mental illness has been an area that can be overlooked when the individual is in hospital and receiving mental health care. However, the Trust in conjunction with Bolton Primary Care Trust is streets ahead in ensuring that patients who are in hospital for six months or longer are offered an annual physical health check as well as, making an initial health promotion assessment during the admission. The information obtained from the health promotion assessment can help staff to look after patients better whilst in hospital, with the main objective being to improve quality of life and health. Marion explains: “Often, individuals with mental health problems do not get the same targeted information as the general population, about smoking cessation programmes, or the benefits of healthy eating or weight loss and sexual health advice as we are busy treating the mental health issue. This leads to a severe inequality

for this group of people which is unacceptable. We know that giving up smoking can seriously improve one’s health, in addition doing a little bit of exercise every day can make us feel better, and improve our physical and mental health. “In my role as a practitioner, based in a busy acute mental health unit, I see the admission of a patient as a window of opportunity to find about their physical health and lifestyle. Although this can be a difficult time for the patient, this may also be an opportunity where people can take a look at their lifestyle and start to make important and positive changes. This is complimented by our help and support. It is important to remember that some mental health illnesses like schizophrenia and severe depression can lead the person affected to indulge in high-risk behaviour which can impact negatively on their physical health. “Whilst this is good practice, we must always remember that the central theme and philosophy of our health promotion assessment is to promote social inclusion and recovery in the

Pictured is Marion Nulty

longer term. We must always have consideration of our service user’s physical health care needs. We want to take an opportunistic and non invasive approach with regard to health promotion as endorsed by the Department of Health and the World Health Organisation (1992) within an acute mental health unit. “We need to stop just treating the illness and treat the individual. My role is to ensure that people who come to hospital needing mental health care get the same access and support to the kind of health information given to everyone.”

Susan Haworth on being a Governor: “I have been one of the three Public Governors representing the Bolton public members for the past two years. I have just been re-elected to stand for a further three years as a Governor.” page

“I’m fairly well informed on Bolton’s public services and community issues, so I chose the public role – it’s a voice for the ordinary citizen. I’m a service user who wanted to compete for a public seat.” “I spend time considering the ordinary citizen’s view of mental health and substance misuse and look for those “voices” at local meetings and in local papers. I look towards the “less heard” voices like younger or older individuals

and I feel challenged by the rights of patients to live in the community.” “I wish to experience and consider the Governor role in terms of standards in a public office. Always is the need, in this role, to feel satisfied that Bolton is getting its fair share of finance and leadership from the Trust. I have heard about a lot of dedicated workers – I’m old fashioned and to me it is a vocation and in this celebrity obsessed world, it is wonderful.”

Pictured is Susan Haworth

Focus on... Stimulant Misuse This issue we are focussing on stimulant misuse, which has recently been attracting a great deal of media attention. Team Manager, Tony Horrocks is based within the alcohol and drug directorate at Glentop House in Manchester.

Definition of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stimulantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;:- A stimulant is a

class of drug that elevate mood, increase feelings of well-being, and increase energy and alertness.

What is Stimulant Misuse? This is when a person uses a stimulant harmfully which can lead to psychological dependency, as opposed to physical dependency. This can manifest in mood swings, depression or anxiety. People may find that relationships can become difficult. In some cases, people spend more money than intended or may need to use more of a substance to get the same effect.

Examples of legal stimulant substances Caffeine drinks and tablets, coffee, Mephedrone and Khat.

Examples of illegal stimulant substances Amphetamine sulphate, Methamphetamine hydrochloride (crystal meth), MDMA (ecstacy) and cocaine.

How does stimulant misuse start? Stimulant misuse usually begins recreationally. It can be used to override tiredness or for weight management, such as

an appetite suppressant.

Why do people misuse stimulants? Most people use stimulants such as cocaine or ecstasy socially to alleviate tiredness or the effects of alcohol. People may use amphetamines to help them stay awake, complete household chores, to stay focused when at work, to control weight or even for sexual enhancement.

What are the symptoms of stimulant misuse? There are a variety of symptoms resulting from stimulant misuse. Some people may feel extremely elated or alert. Others may experience increased alertness or enhanced self-confidence. Stimulants can also make people aggressive, anxious or paranoid, usually related to the production of adrenalin. In addition, people can lose their appetite and feel depressed or in a low mood which is usually related to coming down.

Can stimulant misuse be treated? Yes, treatment is available. People who are misusing stimulants need to be treated with psychosocial interventions such as cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention therapy and complementary therapies such as auricular acupuncture, which is a process of inserting and manipulating fine needles to relieve pain or for therapeutic purposes. If a person is misusing stimulants such as amphetamines, they can have an assessment by a specialist doctor or consultant psychiatrist at a drug service.

Pictured is Tony Horrocks

There is no standard set of medication which is offered but in some cases it may be beneficial to be prescribed Dexamphetamine, a psychostimulant drug which is known to produce increased wakefulness and focus following the assessment.

What can individuals do to help themselves? People who are misusing stimulants can attempt to cut down or stop using the stimulant. Due to the lack of physical withdrawal symptoms, it should be safe. People tend to suffer from low mood, tiredness and will think about using the stimulants, such as cocaine or amphetamine for long periods of time as a result of the psychological dependency. If the low mood becomes worse it could develop into depression, people can visit their GP who may decide a course of either medication and/or cognitive behavioural therapy is necessary.

If I think I am abusing stimulants where should I go to seek help?

People can speak to their GP or contact their local drug service. There are also a limited number of specialist stimulant services which can offer support in your area. There are a number of mutual aid groups who can offer free support such as narcotics anonymous, cocaine anonymous and SMART recovery. There is also a national helpline FRANK. I have seen a number of people who have gone on to lead fulfilling lives without abusing stimulants.

CONTACT DETAILS Drug Services in Bolton, Salford, Trafford, and other areas of the North West. For more details see www.gmw.nhs.uk Narcotics anonymous www.ukna.org or 0800 9991 212 Cocaine anonymous www.cauk.org.uk or 0800 612 0225 SMART recovery www.smartrecovery.org.uk or 01463 729548 FRANK www.talktofrank.com or 0800 776 600

page

Insight on In-Reach The Trust offers a wide range of services across the North West which includes three prison in-reach teams, one of which is based within Hindley young offenders institute, Forest Bank prison and Styal prison. The team at Hindley includes 6 qualified staff and one social worker supported by the prison governor, Keith Giles. Everyone in the team has a wealth of experience and genuinely wants to help young offenders. The team take part in a genuine multi agency, collaborative approach with input from Professor Sue Bailey and were main pilot sight for health screening of all offenders. They offer a wide range of services to include care for offenders with complex needs. The team see every young offender who comes in to the prison as they are considered to

have a conduct disorder. There are roughly 1,000 screenings per year, with the average stay being 10 weeks. Hindley has capacity for 440 and there are currently 330 young offenders with the prison accepting the highest number young offenders in the North West. The support from the team allows the prison officers to be “therapeutic parents.” Mental Health Nurse, Paul Mitchell who used to work at the Trust’s Gardiner Unit within the young person’s directorate told newsforyou that offenders tend to suffer from multiple conditions with 60 to 80% misusing substances, such as alcohol, stimulants or cannabis. There are 40% of offenders who have emotional problems which requires support from a psychologist, including trauma and low mood stemming from disrupted life events such as abuse and disjointed relationships. In addition, 5 to 10% of offenders have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 1 to 2% has a serious mental health condition. The main cause of offending are gaps in services and a lack of

Pictured is (left to right) Keith Giles, prison governor, Natalie McKee, deputy prison governor, Alan Maden, trust chair, Paul Mitchell, mental health nurse, Bev Stowell, operational manager with two mental health nurses.

support and accommodation provided by families. Offenders often fall into a cycle where living arrangements break down frequently which is extremely unsettling. The offenders then begin to associate poor behaviour with having to move on. The prison aims to help the young offender get a good experience of services which they may not have accessed before, with the view that this may encourage them to keep on accessing services after they

leave. The ethos at Hindley is that every day is a fresh start and each person gets the chance to start again despite previous events. Mental health services were reconfigured to address complex needs and a centre was created for young people with social and emotional mental health problems. The centre has been open for two years and offers a multi-disciplinary care plan and includes training for new officers.

College Students Hope for More Art Success Local students hope to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner of a prestigious art award, as they submit their entries to the Koestler Trust 2010 awards. Cloughside College, based at The Young Persons’ Directorate in The Gardener Unit, on the Trust’s Prestwich site, provides education for young men aged between 14 and 19 years old who have been diagnosed page 10

with mental health issues. The College helps students re-engage in the education system as part of their recovery. The college boasts an impressive art department and it was here 12 months ago that two students submitted their work. Their artwork, one a series of nature photographs and the other a paper maché dog, both secured a bronze award for separate categories, and a cash prize. Another photograph from the nature series is now being exhibited in the Holden Gallery

in Manchester as part of the first North West Koestler (Art) Exhibition. The competition for the differing categories is fierce, with sculptures and photographs being strong contenders. Coupled with the fact the judging panel consists of the author, Will Self and awardwinning film director Mike Leigh. Art Teacher Sarah Morgan said: “The Koestler Competition is a great opportunity to promote art work for students like ours. Current learners are inspired by

Pictured is one example of the submitted work

previous winners. This year we have two learners submitting nature photographs and a paper maché sculpture.” Mr Norman Cooke, Head Teacher of Cloughside College

Listening to Learn Service users, carers and partner organisations across Salford, were invited to a unique event in March to tell us about their views of services in the area. The ‘Let Us Listen’ event, held in Salford’s Buile Hill Park Garden and Training Centre, used a video diary booth to record peoples’ feedback. Visitors to the booth were asked five standard questions: Here they are along with a selection of responses 1) In what way was the service helpful or unhelpful to you? • “Excellent professionalism in relation to it - therapy classes and psychological evaluation. Excellent nursing ability standards and rapport.” • “Staff need to understand what people are going through.”

2) What do you feel the service is getting wrong for you or need to work harder on? • “Older people need separate wards rather than being with younger people as they need more support.” 3) What do you feel the service is getting right for you? • “Staff from the Meadowbrook unit spend time with you when you need them.” • “Support. Treating me and my needs not only at a professional level but in a friendly and intimate way.” 4) Is there anything good about the way that you were treated that you want to tell us about? • “Very good psychologists and genuine staff.”

Pictured Left to Right: Margaret Willis Service User Governor for the Trust, Alan Maden Chair of the Trust, Joanne Pilling Membership Officer for the Trust and Phil Hamer from MIND.

• “Therapy sessions. Superbly structured and run. The present psychologist is intelligent, friendly and highly professional.” 5) If there was one thing you could change about the service what would it be? • “When you leave hospital you should get information on groups and services.” • “See all the patient not just the mind.”

also commented: “We have had entries in the Koestler Award for many years now and usually have some success. This is the first time the Koestler Exhibition has come to Manchester and I am delighted that there is an exhibit by a former student.” The Koestler Trust for the arts runs an annual awards competition for art by offenders, secure patients and detainees. They offer £30,000 worth of prizes as well as expert feedback on the work submitted. This year’s judges

include: • Wendy Cope, poet • Tony Elliott, Chairman of Time Out • Anthony Horowitz, Author • Mike Leigh, Film Director • Grayson Perry, Artist • Will Self, Author • Taffy Thomas MBE, Storytelling Laureate The deadline for submissions was 25 March 2010. See next issue for details of how the students got on.

There were various stalls at the event including a stand to sign up new members to the Trust. People attending the event also took part in gardening tasters and organised walks with Buile Hill Park Rangers. Alan Maden, Chair of the Trust, said: “As a Trust, we continuously strive to put our service users and carers at the heart of everything we do. We wanted to hold this event, so that the people who really count, the people who use our services, could rate us and the services we provide. The ‘Big Brother’ style video diary booth was an innovative way for them to share their views and will

allow us to use this feedback to really make a difference.” Cath Moran, Director of Operations and Nursing at the Trust, said: “The ‘Let Us Listen’ event in Salford was a real success with 37 people using the video diary booth to share their thoughts on our Salfordbased services. We now have over two hours of footage, which we will evaluate and use to develop an action plan, so that we can tailor our services and make changes that will continually improve peoples’ experiences of our services.”

Pictured is Hayden Gray a service user from the Trusts’ Meadowbrook unit, Salford in the video diary booth.

page 11

Official Opening of Innovative Unit The first NHS service in the country for women with substance misuse problems was officially opened by Professor John Strang, Director of the National Addiction Centre. Based at the Trust’s headquarters site in Prestwich, the Chapman-Barker unit provides services for people in the North West who are reliant on alcohol and drugs. The £1.9 million unit opened in January 2010 and offers a range of services including: • inpatient treatment for drug and alcohol dependent males and females with complex needs • treatment for people with multiple drug and alcohol use, physical or mental health issues or complex social needs • treatment packages including stabilisation and assisted withdrawal • therapeutic programmes

Pictured is Professor Strang, Louise Sell, Brian Barker & Alan Maden, Trust Chair

focussing on the issue of addiction rather than the substance patients are addicted to • access to pharmacy and medical services • support groups for ex-users The unit combines alcohol detox services from Wentworth

House in Salford and inpatient treatment for drug dependence from Kenyon House in Prestwich. The Chapman-Barker unit, formally known as Kenyon House has been refurbished from a 21 bed inpatient drugs treatment unit to a 36 bed combined drugs and alcohol unit with separate male and female wards. The unit is named after the previous chair of the Trust, Julia Chapman-Barker, who passed away in October 2008. Professor John Strang, Director of the National Addiction Centre, said: “The creation of a combined drugs and alcohol unit on one site has increased the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol or drugrelated problems.

Pictured is Professor John Strang with the plaque

page 12

Units such as these are crucial to ensure those with the most complex needs, including

patients with dual diagnosis, will receive improved care and treatment. Ultimately this will enhance the overall patient experience.” Bev Humphrey, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “It is estimated there are 330,000 problem drug users in England and that one in 13 people in the UK are dependent on alcohol. The Chapman-Barker unit has given residents from the North West access to help with these problems.” Patients at the Chapman-Barker unit are looked after by a varied team of highly skilled, specialist staff that includes doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers. Services are already making a difference, with 77 patients benefiting from services based at the Chapman-Barker unit in February 2010 alone.