#weareNHFT
Northamptonshire Healthcare
NHS Foundation Trust
PROSPECTUS
2021/2022
HOPE
CONTROL
OPPORTUNITY
nhft.nhs.uk/recov ery-college 01604 658 815 @RCNHFT
MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU, WITH YOU
Recovery College NHFT offers educational lessons and workshops. All courses are recovery based and focus on different aspects of mental and neurodevelopmental health. They aim to help individuals who have experienced mental ill health and neurodevelopmental challenges to live the life they want to lead. Each course is written and delivered by both individuals with lived experience of the condition and practitioners. We want students to benefit from the knowledge and experience of someone who has faced the challenges of mental ill health and someone with professional expertise on the topic.
HOPE
CONTROL
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OPPORTUNITY
COURSES Welcome to Recovery College NHFT. At our college all courses are designed to inspire HOPE, support CONTROL and provide new OPPORTUNITIES. We need HOPE that in the face of what can sometimes seem like overwhelmingly challenging odds, a meaningful life is possible. Learning about our health conditions and regaining CONTROL over some of our symptoms is a focus for many of our courses. These courses encourage you to manage the things that are within your control and make choices about the things you do. People tend not to recover in isolation. Part of recovery is being able to take on meaningful, satisfying, and social roles within local communities. The courses focused on OPPORTUNITIES can help you think about your next steps before going on and taking them. The focus of the information is about personal growth and moving out of services, whilst getting the most out of services.
WHO CAN ATTEND Students attending the courses may have their own experience of mental health difficulties, neurodevelopmental conditions and / or physical. Students may also be family or friends or staff members from organisations who are supporting someone with these conditions. Our courses are aimed at individuals; and everyone attending attends as a student with a focus on personal development. The courses are free to attend. Students need to be over the age of 18 years. 3
WHEN AND WHERE DO THE COURSES TAKE PLACE? We are currently only able to offer courses online due to the COVID-19 pademic. You will find the course dates, times and venues on the separate timetable. If you haven’t got a timetable you can find one on our website www.nhft.nhs.uk/recovery-college Or we can send you one: • email: recovery.college@nhft.nhs.uk • phone: 01604 658 815 Please check the website regularly as new courses are being developed all the time.
REGISTERING AND ENROLMENT If you are interested in attending courses the first step is to register with us. The registration form can be completed online by visiting the website or alternatively we can post you a copy of the form for you to return to us. By registering we can keep you abreast of new courses when they become available. If at any point you have any concerns, questions or worries please do contact our office to discuss these further. To enrol or find out more about a course: Website: www.nhft.nhs.uk/recovery-college Email: recovery.college@nhft.nhs.uk Call: 01604 658 815 (Open Monday – Friday, 9:30am to 4pm)
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CONTENTS Autism Diversity 6 Autism anxiety 6 Autism miscommunication 7 Personality Disorder awareness level training
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An introduction to trauma 8 Suicide awareness and prevention
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Food and mental health 9 Eating well on a budget 10 Introduction to mindfulness 10 Colour and mood 11 Artisitic practices 11 Caring and me 12 Reducing loneliness 12 Diversity through film 13 What is coproduction? 13 Staying well at work 14 Introduction to MS Teams 14
FAQs and Getting involved
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A space for your notes 23
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AUTISM DIVERSITY
This course aims to develop attendee’s appreciation and understanding of the diversity of the Autism spectrum, from Neurotypical (NT), through Aspergers syndrome (Aspie) and Autistic and how different people may be effected. During the course you will: Develop appreciation of the term ‘Autistic diversity’ and improve your understanding of folks on the spectrum.
AUTISM ANXIETY
Anxiety is often associated with autism due to differences in social communication, interaction and sensory sensitivities. It can be difficult recognising signs of anxiety in people with autism and easy to assume anxiety when not. This session allows reflection and development of awareness of anxiety and autism During the course you will: • Develop appreciation of what anxiety might look like in autistic individuals whilst realising anxiety affects people differently. • Improve your understanding of simple strategies and reasonable adjustments that can reduce anxiety for people with autism to make their experiences easier. Level of participation: Students will be given the chance for discussion and to share information and experiences with the trainers and the rest of the group, but this is optional.
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AUTISM MISCOMMUNICATION WHO’S DIFFERENCE IS IT ANWAY?
Autistic people are defined by diagnosis as having challenges with social communication but whose difference is it anyway? This course redresses the balance, developing understanding that miscommunication does not only occur across neurological boundaries. The same words can be interpreted in different ways and being misunderstood can be very painful. When consistently being misunderstood, wellbeing and confidence can reduce, self-esteem lowered and even jobs can be lost. By developing understanding of Theory of Mind, Double Empathy Theory and Intersectionality the learner can consider and respect why there might be confusion in understanding depending on lived experience and perspective taking. We will hear of real life examples of communication differences from autistic folk and discuss these. There will also be an opportunity for you to share your own experiences of miscommunication if you wish, autistic or not, for discussion. After reflecting on why miscommunication may happen we move on to considering how we can avoid miscommunication and check communication partners do understand each other and feel heard. This can also be an opportunity for you to share your own experiences of miscommunication if you wish, autistic or not, for discussion. After reflecting on why miscommunication may happen we move on to considering how we can avoid miscommunication and check communication partners do understand each other and feel heard. 7
PERSONALITY DISORDER AWARENESS LEVEL TRAINING: FOCUSING ON EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE PERSONALITY DISORDER (EUPD)
This is a one day awareness level course about Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder and is delivered over two sessions online The overall aim of this training is to help you understand what personality disorder is and how it impacts on those living with the diagnosis and those caring for someone with EUPD. It is hoped the training will reduce some of the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding this diagnosis. The course aims to be interactive and uses different methods of learning throughout the day to support learning for all.
AN INTRODUCTION TO TRAUMA
The aim of this course is to increase knowledge and understanding of trauma and validate the feelings for those who have experienced it. It will cover the different types of trauma, what causes them and how we can move forward. Students will learn skills to become more in control of what they are feeling and gain an understanding of distress tolerance techniques. Students will recognise the impact/contribution for those caring for someone with trauma and how that affects them. This is a knowledge-based course and not suitable for those looking for therapy. Some of the course content could be distressing or triggering for those who have experienced trauma. 8
SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
This course is ideal for men, their families, carers and clinicians to learn about the importance of warning signs, knowing the questions to ask, how to listen and access effective support to reduce the likelihood of suicide. Facilitators will refer to their “lived experience” and why they are passionate and motivated about men’s suicide reduction. Information will be provided and discussions will be facilitated to increase participants understanding of a really difficult subject that needs to be talked about. Links to materials will be provided and recommended materials, e.g. books, apps.
FOOD AND MENTAL HEALTH: EATING WELL AND IMPROVING YOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING
This course discusses the links between food and mental health and a persons’ mental health and their relationship with food. Students will understand the different reasons why we eat, include emotions people can have with food and where we go wrong and why. Students will look at why people over eat and under eat. The course will also look at why people gain weight and have an increased appetite with some medications. Students will discover how deficiencies and food intolerances can affect a persons’ health both physically and mentally. Students will go away with a personal goal in mind and resources to help make one step change. 9
EATING WELL ON A BUDGET
This course will give guidance on eating well and help students to produce budget friendly and personalised meal plans. Students will learn how to plan ahead and make the most of their weekly shop. This can give students the tools to help reduce stress both financially and emotionally, aiding in improving health and wellbeing. During this course you will be introduced to topics such as: • • • • • • •
setting a budget looking for cheaper brands batch cooking reducing food waste deals and offers – yellow ticket items cooking for one or for a family accommodating dietary requirements
Students will take away examples of flexible meal plans and a weekly shopping list.
INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS
This course offers an introduction to mindfulness to aid relapse prevention. We will clarify what mindfulness is, outline the potential benefits and guide you through brief exercises. Guided mindfulness meditations will be around ten minutes in duration; you may sit quietly if you do not wish to participate in a particular meditation for any reason. This course is not suitable for those who are currently suffering with acute symptoms of post-traumatic stress. 10
COLOUR AND MOOD In this course students will:
• Develop an understanding of art and artists • Develop an understanding of the impact of colour on mood • Learn how to use colour and art to improve general wellbeing • Be able to recognise their own mood and the use of coping techniques through art • Develop an understanding of how mental health/physical health/neurodiversity affects artists and art This course is for anyone with an interest in art and wellbeing - no art experience required.
ARTISTIC PRACTICES AND MINDFULNESS
The aim of this course is for you to explore how applying mindful techniques to our creative activities can calm our minds. You will learn how some famous artists linked their creativity to their recovery of mental illness, using their art to express emotions that cannot be spoken or written down. The course will include a brief introduction to artistic techniques and mediums such as pens, pencils and charcoal, and show you how they could be used in your own exploration of creativity. Level of participation: No artistic experience is needed for this course, everyone is welcome. You will have an opportunity to use mediums to explore your own creativity.
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CARING AND ME
This e-learning session aims to give carers multiple skills to help support themselves as carers, which in turn enables them to support the ones they care for. This course gives carers a safe space to share through lived experiences, personal stories and peer to peer support. Carers will have easy access to physical and mental support along with resources to help to continue with daily needs. Students will learn to understand and acknowledge the life of being a carer. Carers will be empowered to voice challenge, respond and make positive changes and improve wellbeing. We hope carers will feel more valued every day for their bravery and resilience.
REDUCING LONELINESS
The aim of this course is to raise awareness of how to recognise loneliness and reduce the shared impact of social isolation. Students will gain a better understanding of strategies that may help, awareness of increasing personal connections and the opportunities available in the community. Through increased awareness of self-reflection and where areas of improvement are needed, the intention is that students will feel empowered to take positive steps towards reducing loneliness. This is an e-learning course that can be accessed via the internet at your own leisure.
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DIVERSITY THROUGH FILM
Diversity through film is all about exploring mental health and social diveristy through film. It invites participants to develop discussion skills and broaden their world view by watching films that have a social message or link in some way to mental or neurodevelopmental health. It is a regular discussion group that aims to develop critical thinking skills around films that challenge participants’ perceptions of the world. It also aims, through a shared love of film, to alleviate feelings of social isolation and loneliness through a common interest in film.
WHAT IS CO-PRODUCTION?
HOW TO INFLUENCE CHANGE IN HEALTH SERVICES
This course aims to provide a basic understanding of co-production and its benefits, provide space to consider how co-production can be implemented and the benefits and challenges of this. This course provides opportunity to try co-production tasks and consider the assets we all bring to a situation and action plan for future co-production activity.
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STAYING WELL AT WORK
This course seeks to recognise the positive role that employment can play in supporting mental wellbeing whilst also appreciating that in the work place there can be sources of stress that if not recognised or addressed early enough can result in any individual suffering from mental ill health. Awareness is raised of the sort of work place challenges that can increase personal stress whilst also enabling you to identify the early signs which will help you to support your wellbeing. Importantly this course also aims for you to gain a better understanding of the main sources of support that may be available to help overcome unhealthy work place challenges. The course finishes with a focus on practical tasks to show individuals that they can support their own positive health and wellbeing in work.. This would include a wellbeing in work action plan. Level of participation: You will have opportunities to participate in small group activities and share your thoughts with the group if you wish. You will be given a workplace wellbeing pack to take away.
INTRODUCTION TO MS TEAMS
This course is a short introduction session to using MS Teams. It is aimed at people who have no or limited experience of using MS Teams. Written instructions will be sent to out prior to the session to guide students to log onto MS Teams. Once online the trainers will cover a range of topics such as issues that may occur when trying to log on, navigating the system and using various functions of MS Teams, online conduct and etiquette and sharing screens. 14
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How is the content of the course developed? All of the courses delivered by the Recovery College are codeveloped and co-delivered by both a Peer Trainer and a Practitioner, with a view that courses designed in this way bring together different perspectives and expertise. If someone is a Peer Trainer - what does it mean? Peer Trainers use their lived experience sharing their insight into self-management and what keeps them well. Peer Trainers work alongside Practitioner Trainers to bring together clinical expertise and personal experience. How much do courses cost? The courses are free to attend for NHFT service users, service users who have been discharged within the last 12 months, families, friends, carers and NHFT staff. Do I have to take any tests? No. We want to inspire you to realise your potential and make the most of opportunities. You will receive a certificate for attending the course which provides you with evidence of achievement. What if I want to bring a family member or friend with me? Everyone is welcome at the Recovery College. All we ask is your family member, friend or supporter registers as astudent with the college so they can then enrol on the same course.
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How many other students will be on the course with me? Class sizes are kept small with around 12 students at any one time, although there are some exceptions, please feel free to ask on enrollment. What if I need support with my mental wellbeing whilst attending the course? If you are struggling whilst attending a course it is important to speak with the trainer. We would encourage you, where possible, to seek additional support from your social and clinical support network as the Recovery College operates in a similar way to a Further Education establishment (such as a college).Therefore we do not provide clinical interventions. Do I need books, or other equipment for the courses? It might be helpful for you to bring along a notebook and pen. All other materials for the course will be provided on the day. Is food and drink provided? Most of the venues offer tea and coffee, although sometimes this may need to be purchased. We are not able to provide lunch and it is advisable that you bring something with you if the course lasts all day. What if I can’t attend? It is helpful if we know that you’re unable to attend. If you would like to withdraw your place on the whole course, please let us know as then your place can be offered to someone else. It is also possible to defer your place on a course until next time the course is offered. 16
What happens if there are low numbers on the course? We try to make sure that courses do go ahead as timetabled however, at times, we may need to cancel a course if there are very few students who are booked to attend. If a course has to be cancelled on the day, the trainers will do their best to answer any questions you may have about the course content. Sometimes when the numbers are low we may try to rearrange the course for later in the term. What if I want to give feedback about the course? Your experiences of our courses are important to us and therefore if you would like to discuss anything related to this please contact us. We review the content of each course regularly, and so your feedback (both positive and negative) can help us to design and offer courses that meet the needs of our students.
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GETTING INVOLVED WITH NHFT
We proactively encourage service users and their carers, family and friends to become involved in the day to day running of the Trust. You can do this by: Service user involvement and co-production Listening to patients, service users and carers’ experiences of our services is the first step in finding out what they think of the service they receive. If you know of a patient, service user, carer or parent that would like to be involved in helping to improve services, please contact the Involvement Team: • phone: 01536 452 243 • email: involvement@nhft.nhs.uk • visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/involvement
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Volunteering Each and everyday people are giving their time freely as an NHFT volunteer. There are many opportunities to enhance and complement the care provided by paid staff by sharing your skills. A volunteer is someone who gives their time, skills or knowledge, freely and by choice, for no financial reward, to benefit others in the community. Volunteers help in many different ways in our hospitals and services. There are a variety of roles including befriending on the wards, supporting occupational therapists, psychologists and clerical staff, as well as volunteering in roles such as gardening and as shop assistants. To find out more contact the volunteer services: • phone: 07841 860 522 • email: volunteering@nhft.nhs.uk • visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/volunteer for more information or to register your interest in becoming a volunteer.
Northamptonshire Healthcare
NHS Foundation Trust
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Peer mentoring People who are experiencing mental distress often benefit from meeting others who have had similar experiences and have been successful in their recovery. A peer mentor is someone who has experienced mental ill health and wants to use their personal experiences to volunteer support to other service users and patients with mental health conditions. Carers often also value meeting other carers. If mentoring is something you would like to do or you would like more information contact the Volunteer Coordinator by: • phone: 07841 860 522 • email: volunteering@nhft.nhs.uk • visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/volunteer Research and Innovation NHFT involves patients, service-users, carers and volunteers in the design, delivery and evaluation of innovation and research projects. We encourage everyone to take the opportunity to find out about and participate in research that they might be interested in or might benefit. Innovation and research is critical to the delivery of evidence-based care and the future of the a high quality NHS service. NHFT Innovation and Research team are involved in delivering national and local innovation and research projects across all our services. If you are interested find out more from • phone: 01604 685 549 • email: R&I@nhft.nhs.uk • visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/research 20
Work for NHFT We encourage people who have experienced mental ill health to come and work at NHFT. Here at NHFT we are committed to making a positive difference. Whether this is to the life of our service users, patients and carers or the careers of those who work as part of our fantastic team. As a Trust who provides support in the community and in hospital settings, for physical and mental health, as well as for adults and children, there are many opportunities available. To find current vacancies visit: jobs.nhft.nhs.uk Individual Placement and Support Employment Service If you are a service user accessing one of the community teams and would like support finding and sustaining work either in the NHS or outside the NHS our ‘Individual Placement and Support’ Employment Team can help. To find out more information or to contact a team member: • phone: 01604 658 986 • visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/ips
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Become a Trust member Our members play a key part in the shaping and development of NHFT. They directly influence the way we are run and how we will develop in the future. Our members add value to the Trust by representing the people who live in the communities we serve, our service users and carers. To find out more information about becoming a Trust member: • phone: 01536 452 257 • email: foundationtrust@nhft.nhs.uk • visit: www.nhft.nhs.uk/membership
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A space for notes
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Visit our website at www.nhft.nhs.uk
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Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Recovery College Campbell House Northampton NN1 3EB Telephone: 01604 658 815 www.nhft.nhs.uk/recovery-college © 2021 Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust All Rights Reserved
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Review date: August 2022