Nottinghamshire Healthcare
NHS
NHS Trust
MAY 2011
about integrated healthcare
See page 5... HUMAN LIBRARY CREATIVE THERAPY RED NOSE DAY COMMUNITY SERVICES UPDATE LIVING NARRATIVES WELLY-WANGING
MESSAGE
FROM THE BOARD
This edition of Positive provides a good snapshot of some of the ways in which the Trust and its partners are working locally, nationally and internationally and the many related success stories.
range of healthcare and hospital procedures explaining in a step by step manner what will happen to an individual who requires such treatment. These films are a fantastic resource and will really help service users, their carers and health professionals.
A successful open day was held recently to celebrate the Let’s Talk Wellbeing service providing support to people in Bassetlaw. This service is provided by the Trust in partnership with Rethink for NHS Bassetlaw. Anti stigma work continues across the county with the Nottingham Panthers and the successful Human Library project, which reached its 1000th loan and held its first event specifically aimed at a BME audience at the Sikh Temple in Nottingham. The My Health Vision films premiered last month. Designed specially for people with a learning disability, they cover a
It is great to see much research activity ongoing and being recognised for the positive impact it has on service development. We also rely greatly on the feedback of service users, patients and carers to inform developments and improvements to services. A new survey has been launched to gain such insight and I urge you all to take part. Much change is taking place as our new colleagues join us as part of the Transforming Community Services agenda. A lot of work has gone into ensuring a smooth transition and that robust governance is in place to provide support and ensure safety for all. You can
Mental health in national news The Institute of Mental Health has been hitting the headlines recently with a number of high profile media events and interviews to spread the word about excellence in mental health research. Following former Number 10 Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell’s visit to Nottingham to hear about work involving the Institute and Mental Health Research UK, there has been significant national press coverage containing Institute commentary from experts such as Professor Chris Hollis and Professor David Daley on ADHD research stories. The latest event has seen the Institute’s Professor Conor Duggan
and Professor Eddie Kane host a media briefing in London with members of the national press. Journalists attended from the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Express, The Mirror, New Scientist magazine and the Press Association. The briefing, held at the Science Media Centre near Green Park, was to enlighten the media with the facts behind the headlines on stories involving personality disorder. An example of coverage can be seen on the BBC Health News Online website at www.bbc.co.uk /news/health-12395656. The one-hour briefing for the press also included Professor Derek Perkins and Professor Kingsley Norton from the West London Mental Health Trust on the panel.
read more about the developments on page 12. In recognition of this the Trust strapline has been changed to Positive about integrated healthcare. This will be rolled out across the Trust as new materials are developed. I look forward to working with our new staff and would like to add my own welcome to you all.
Peter Miller, Executive Director Clinical Governance and Medical Affairs
Hotel Services Team shortlisted for national award The Hotel Services Team (Local Services) has been shortlisted for a national Health Estates and Facilities Management Association (Hefma) award. The team will find out if they are successful in the Training Initiative of the Year category at an awards ceremony held as part of the 14th Hefma Annual National Conference this month. The awards recognise outstanding contributions within NHS Estates and Facilities services which play an integral part in improving the patient environment and experience. The Training Initiative of the Year award celebrates teams or individuals that have developed an innovative initiative that adds value to Estates and Facilities, improved services for greater efficiency, managed training to demonstrate technical innovation and enabled all levels of staff to access training and development. The Hotel Services Team currently holds the title of Hefma Facilities Team of the Year 2010.
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New way of working proves a winner “Our role was introduced to see if having research specialists based within the clinical teams could increase the numbers of people participating in studies,” said Veronica. “We hope that our work will raise awareness of the work of the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) and promote the role of research within the clinical setting.
issues and team issues, such as covering clinics, should take precedence over ongoing research work. Our biggest challenge is ring-fencing our research time in a busy, reconfiguring team.
I’ve enjoyed learning about our local research and the research field, and getting to work with another team of people, many of whom come from nonnursing backgrounds and have a range of experiences to share. In the future we’re hoping to raise awareness of the MHRN further still, particularly with clients who work with the Recovery Team and visit the Stonebridge Centre. We also want to make sure we share the findings from studies with clients and clinicians so that this can influence practice and help to create an environment where research is part of the normal service experience.”
“Having dual roles has proved difficult at times. There is often an expectation (probably rightly so) that client
“We’re both really enjoying the role and the chance to do something different; we’ve been CPNs for several years.
Veronica French can be contacted on 0115 823 1282 or email veronica.french@ nottshc.nhs.uk.
A new way of working with nurses in clinical settings is boosting the number of people taking part in research studies. Two research liaison nurses are now sharing one post whilst also maintaining a clinical presence within their original teams. Jon Lander and Veronica French are both community psychiatric nurses within the Recovery Team at the Stonebridge Centre and have had notable success working with clinicians to put forward potential recruits for particular studies. Due to their positions within the team, Jon and Veronica are already known to many staff members and are familiar with work practices and the clinical environment.
Specialist Team Exhibits at Care Homes Conference
The Nottingham City Specialist Dementia Outreach Team (MHSOP) based at Duncan Macmillan House was recently asked to exhibit at the ‘Care Homes Conference 2011 – Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention’. Held at the Indian Community Centre Association on 31 March, the conference was exclusively for care home providers in Nottingham City (care home owners, managers and senior staff) who are in a position to make positive changes for the residents in their homes through effective partnerships with health and social care commissioners. The Outreach Team provides specialist mental health, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy to residents in care homes across the whole of Nottingham City.
l-r Debbie Cooper, Dementia Outreach Nurse, Jayne Kirkby, Clinical Service Development Lead and Michelle Vert, Senior Occupational Therapist with the team’s exhibit.
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Human Library reaches 1,000 loans 23 March 2011 marked a very special day in the story so far of the Human Library as it issued its 1,000th loan. The Human Library works like a normal library but instead of borrowing a book, users borrow a person who tells their own story. The 1,000th ‘book’ to be loaned was Stuart Critchley. Stuart’s ‘living book’ title ‘Mad Hatter and Alice’ has been part of the Human Library since it began in October 2009, making him a fitting person to be the 1,000th loan. Stuart has taken part in 11 Human Libraries and has been borrowed over 40 times. “It’s been a great experience,” said Stuart. “The Human Library has made me a more open person and this has helped with my own mental health. One
Left-right: Jonathan Wright, Anti-Stigma Campaign Manager; Stuart Critchley; Hannah Johnson; Natasha Smith; Liz Walker from the Trust’s Involvement Team.
of the best comments I had came from a student who said ‘you’re quite human’.” In the Human Library Stuart talks about his experience of mental health services and how he lives with schizophrenia. “There’s a lot of stigma around mental health and the media doesn’t help,” he said. “I think we should run a Human Library for journalists.” Hannah Johnson and Natasha Smith, students at North Notts College, Worksop, were the 1,000th borrowers from the Human Library. “I learnt about schizo-affective disorder and the meetings were very insightful,” said Hannah, while Natasha added: “I learnt
Trust promotes positive mental health at Bassetlaw event Three Trust colleagues from Ward B2 at Bassetlaw Hospital helped to promote positive mental health at a health and wellbeing launch held at the hospital on 6 April. Simon Barnitt, Mark Cammidge and Bethan Grimditch manned a stall at the event to discuss mental health issues and provide information and handouts.
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that you can recover and live life as normal after being affected by a mental health issue. The ‘living books’ changed my perspective on mental health issues.” The first Human Library Stuart was involved in took place at Beeston Library on 12 October 2009. Since then Human Libraries have taken place in empty shops, community centres and at the Trust AGM and have now begun visiting universities, schools and colleges in Nottinghamshire. If you would like to be involved in the Human Library Project in any way please contact jonathan.wright@nottshc.nhs.uk or telephone Jonathan on 0115 9934525.
During the event the trio was approached by a multitude of people attached to Bassetlaw, Doncaster and Nottinghamshire services. The visitors’ main interests were around anxiety, low mood, depression and sleep problems which most people could relate to. Many people also talked about stress, with several saying they found work to be related to the stress they experienced on a regular basis. The group also discussed topics such as healthy living and exercise and how these contribute to a healthy mental state and wellbeing.
Mark Cammidge and Beth Grimditch at the health and wellbeing event.
Information booklets by MIND and the Trust were available and proved to be a popular resource, while handouts on 16 local ‘doorstep walks’ were also well received.
Listening to experiences: new Service User Feedback Survey launched Nottinghamshire Healthcare is committed to listening and responding to the views and experiences of service users. Since June 2009 a service user/patient survey has been running within all teams in the Trust. More than 5000 responses have been received. Now the Trust is launching a new survey which is brighter, smaller and easier to use. The questions and design of the new form are the result of consultation with a wide range of service users, carers, staff and governor members. The aim of the survey is to gain regular feedback for teams about the services they provide. They will be able to find out where they need to make improvements and where they are providing a good service. It is hoped that all service users will have access to a survey form so they can give their feedback on the service they have received. Every three months the Involvement Team produces a report on survey responses. This goes to the Trust Board, directorates and to each team. The information is used to inform any actions necessary and to ensure that what respondents have said is being done well continues. Some of the changes that have been made as a result of service users’ feedback include: • In Adult Mental Health services in Nottingham people wanted
staff to spend more time with them and for there to be more activities on the wards. As a result staffing levels have increased on the wards. Also all wards are taking part in an initiative called Releasing Time to Care which aims to free up staff time so they can spend more time with patients. • In Substance Misuse Services service users wanted better information about the services. As a result improvements have been made to information leaflets by working with service users on the design and content. • People using Psychological Therapies services requested a follow up service after treatment had been completed. In response, a ‘leavers’ group’ has been set up. Survey results are published every three months in Positive and on the Trust website. Paul Sanguinazzi, Head of Involvement, said: “We hope that all our service users and patients will take a couple of minutes to let us know about their experience of our services. “It is important that our teams know what specific things people think need to improve so that they can take action to make our services better. It is also important that staff know what people think is good about our services. Many people have already taken the opportunity to let staff know about the fantastic job they do and the difference it has made to their lives.”
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Spotlight shines on delirium and dementia in hospital A conference taking place next month will consider the major current and future issues facing hospitals helping people with dementia and delirium. Keynote speaker Dr Shaun O’Keeffe, a consultant geriatrician and international expert on delirium, will be on hand to help examine the problems and look at how the latest research is being applied to solve them. The event will aim to describe the problems of dementia and delirium; explore the patient, carer and workforce perspectives; discuss service developments emerging from research and focus on the key issues in research and the implications for clinical practice. It promises to be a thought-
The East Midlands with South Yorkshire CLRN Mental Health Research Network Hub is running the event in conjunction with the Medical Crises in Older People research team. The conference will take place on Wednesday 8 June from 9am to 4pm in Room B03, Sir Colin Campbell Building, University of Nottingham Innovation Park, Nottingham NG7 2TU. The cost is £75 with refreshments and lunch provided. CPD points have been applied for. To book your place please contact Gail Arnold on 0115 8230239 or email gail.arnold@nottingham.ac.uk.
Arnold Lodge colleague to join Special Olympics
disabilities and mainstream athletes. 20-year-old Kellie Brabham from the club has been selected to take part in the Athens games with Simone selected as the special needs Great British Judo Coach.
A member of the Arnold Lodge sports and leisure team has been selected to travel to Athens as part of the GB squad for the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
“To have been accepted to coach the Special Olympics judo is a great honour to me and my family and I feel very proud to represent my country,” said Simone.
Simone Strong, 42, works as an assistant sports and leisure instructor at Arnold Lodge and has three children. She is also a champion judo coach. Simone has been participating in judo for 32 years at national and international level and took a gold medal in the World Games in Japan in 2003 as part of the GB masters squad. Simone has been coaching at Southfields Judo Kan in Leicester for 18 years and also coaches Leicestershire and Northamptonshire judo squads. Southfields Judo Kan is a judo club specialising in integrating athletes with physical and learning
Kellie Brabham (left) and Simone Strong (right) with medals from previous international events.
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provoking day for all health care professionals.
The Special Olympics does not receive any government funding and both Simone and Kellie must fund their own transport and training costs to take part in the event. If you would like to help them get to their combined target of £3,000 please contact Simone on 0116 2077742 or 07709 313781 or email simone.strong@nottshc.nhs.uk. The world games runs for three weeks from 19 June 2011. More information about Special Olympics Great Britain can be found at www.sogb.org.uk.
New project team aims to improve inpatient care pathway A new project team has been established within the City Services Adult Mental Health Directorate to reduce unnecessarily long hospital stays. The team, led by Mick O’Driscoll, Nurse Specialist in AMH City Services, comprises multi agency team members from across professional disciplines and with service user and carer representation. It is now undertaking a one-year project aimed at improving the service user experience of hospital stays by ensuring that the admission to discharge care pathway is as efficient as possible. The aim is to achieve this by reducing unnecessary delays, involving the service user in decisions affecting their stay and having reasonable timescales for all steps along the pathway. The length of time spent on mental health wards is often longer than necessary. Delays can be for any number of reasons, from awaiting housing to something simple, such as not having a key decision maker present to agree discharge. This can often have a negative impact on the service user who, quite naturally, would prefer to be at home. As a trust, our average length of stay is compared against other trusts both within the region and at national level. Along with the other providers in our Strategic Health Authority we have an agreed target to reduce the average length of stay. A percentage of our funding is given on the basis of providing quality care in different areas of mental health provision and reducing length of stay is one such area; another is reducing the percentage of delayed discharges. It is therefore vital that we have the most efficient admission to discharge care pathway which ensures that if a hospital stay is required, the stay is purposeful, quality focused and kept to a minimum length whilst maintaining quality and safety. The project team is currently sending the admission to discharge care pathway to all stakeholders associated with this issue, asking for feedback to identify bottlenecks in the process and establish a pathway which reduces unnecessary stays in hospital. The improved admission to discharge pathway will be presented to representatives from all stakeholder groups at an official launch event planned for Monday 20 June at Highbury Hospital. For further information contact Mick O’Driscoll or to book a place telephone Jenny Poole on 0115 8760 124.
Some of the family work champions and family intervention coordinators. Back row, left to right: Kuzy Mwayera, Jo Daukintis, Liz Galloway. Front row, left to right: Graham Roe, Andrea Emmens, Graham Sadler.
Peer supervision helps family work champions in adult mental health services Peer supervision groups are helping support family work champions across adult mental health services.
ensure that it is sensitive to the needs of family, friends and carers, and they ensure that action plans have been devised from each service to ensure high standards are pursued at all times.
Family work champions work alongside family interventions co-ordinators to challenge the attitudes and beliefs of staff as well as the culture of the work place so that family work becomes integral to service provision. They benchmark each area to
The three family interventions co-ordinator posts were created in October 2009 following a successful bid for NICE monies. The aim was to make sure that high quality family work became integral to all service provision within adult mental health services.
Now a clinical supervision peer group has been established to ensure that the family work champions are supported in their roles. The group meets on a monthly basis for one hour and the three sessions that have taken place so far have been well evaluated and attended. One family work champion said: “It really helps me to see what others are doing in other teams and to get help and support from them in the challenges I face in my work�.
Poetry Corner Just a glimpse of an anxious eye As Anne passes by To meet pressing needs And sow healthy seeds.
The clinical supervision allows the champions to identify and share good practice with each other and to pass the learning on to others in their teams. It also encourages problem solving to deal with any obstacles. For more information please contact Jacquie Cullen on 0115 952 4098 (County South), Jo Daukintis on 01623 785700 (Mansfield/Ashfield) or Andrea Emmens on 01909 502068 (Bassetlaw/Newark and Sherwood).
Hugh Webb, a patient at Parkhouse Day Unit until his death last year, was a prolific poet. He wrote this untitled work about Anne Fairhurst, Staff Nurse at Parkhouse.
Thoughtful loving smile Displays mind agile Seeking to please And not to tease.
Expresses doubt. What are these poems about? Ideas caught Provoke deep thought. Positive May 2011
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A creative therapy workshop in action.
Applause for Amy A Trust colleague has come top of her degree class and picked up a prestigious award for doing so. Business Manager Amy Barksby, from Mansfield, works in the Trust’s Capital Planning Unit. She has graduated from the University of Derby with first class honours and scooped a Vice Chancellor’s award for ‘best undergraduate performance’ in the Arts, Design and Technology Faculty. Amy completed a foundation degree in Construction (Built Environment) at West Notts College in 2009 and then went on to complete her studies with a ‘top-up’ course at the University of Derby, graduating earlier this year with a first class BSc (hons) degree in Construction Management. Both her courses were funded by the Trust. “I found out I would receive the Vice Chancellor’s Award at the beginning of the year,” said Amy. “I was really surprised and honoured. “I’m quite shy and so it felt daunting going on stage to receive the award but I also felt very proud. There is no way that three years ago I would ever have thought I’d be able to complete a degree and win an award like this. The top up year in Derby was very challenging but also very rewarding. I hope people understand that if I can do it, anyone can. It’s just about putting in the time and not giving up the first time you hit an obstacle.” It’s not the first time that Amy has been recommended for a high achieving award for her studies. Back in 2009 at her graduation from the foundation degree at West Notts she was nominated for the Principal’s award for student of the year.
Amy at her graduation from the University of Derby.
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Creative therapy success for adults with Asperger Syndrome In March Nottingham City Asperger Service hosted three creative therapy workshops for individuals with Asperger Syndrome. Participants were offered the opportunity to join in introductory art, drama and music workshops with the aim of providing the chance to engage in a therapeutic approach that service users may not have experienced before. Nottingham City Asperger Service was established in April 2009 and works to improve the support offered to adults with Asperger Syndrome. The group wanted to try art, drama and music therapy with the service users and invited their opinions about the benefits of these therapeutic approaches for adults with Asperger Syndrome. The workshops created a great deal of interest with the service users and feedback was extremely positive. All the participants who completed the evaluation questionnaire said that, for those who find it challenging to process and express themselves verbally, arts therapies provide an effective alternative to traditional verbal therapies. All the participants felt that taking part in arts therapy sessions would be beneficial to them; 80% considered these approaches would help them explore and address
issues in their lives that they find difficult to express verbally. All the participants said that they would like arts therapies to be available to them in the future. Feedback from participants included: • “The workshops encouraged me to express my thoughts and feelings easily.” • “I was shy at first but everyone soon joined in with the activities; it was great fun!” • “I walked out of that room feeling much more confident.” • “I didn’t know anyone when I arrived but we all quickly got on with one another.” • “The group spoke honestly to one another.” • “I would never normally speak out in a group.” • “I felt stimulated in mind and body.” Considering the success of these initial exploratory workshops, Nottingham City Asperger Service will be investigating the possibility of funding future arts therapy opportunities. The service would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in the workshops and gave their evaluations.
Food safety course taken by patients As a result of ongoing joint working between the Occupational Therapy Department and the Hotel Services Department, patients from three forensic wards at the Wells Road Centre were invited to participate in food hygiene training.
Susan Brown, Hotel Services Manager, delivered the nationally accredited Certificate in Food Safety to seven patients. The course was delivered using the accelerated learning method which includes lots of interaction and some role play. This was extremely well received as a relaxed and positive learning environment was created. It enabled engagement for those who have been away from educational opportunities for some
time. It was clear that these vocational qualifications were highly valued by the individuals who had plans to return to work. The course included food hygiene, bacteriology, contamination, storage and temperature control, personal hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, pest control, design and construction of premises, legislation and featured a multiple choice examination.
Susan Brown delivers the training to patients.
Essential training – time well spent Colleagues across the Trust often ask why they need to spend their time undertaking essential training; it is not always seen as a priority when there are other important things to do in the workplace. So, why do we have to undertake essential training? The Trust has a requirement to ensure it complies with legislation, statute and Trust policy and procedure. The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) assessment process measures whether the Trust is meeting this requirement. The Trust also
has a duty to ensure its staff are provided with the right training and are safe. All directorates and services have developed an essential training needs grid, which has resulted in training becoming more appropriate and relevant to each job role and area of work. Staff should refer to the locally devised grids to determine the essential training attached to their individual roles. To try to make the training more accessible for staff, various methods of
delivery have also been developed including face to face, e-learning packages, DVDs and block training. As a result, the attendance figures have improved but there is still work to be done to maintain these levels and, in some cases, make improvements. For any more information about essential training please contact Denise Harrison, Head of Learning & Development (Local Services) on 0115 9691300 ext10606 or email denise.harrison@nottshc.nhs.uk.
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Red Nose Day support from across Colleagues around the Trust donned red noses and got into the fundraising spirit to help raise money for Red Nose Day on Friday 18 March.
Left to right: Julie Spencer, Business Manager, Joanne Clarke, Manual Handling Trainer, Paula Ingamells, Centre Manager and Ann Jones, Administrator.
The Horizon staff team on Red Nose Day.
Horizon Day Centre
Staff and service users at Horizon Day Centre, Highbury Hospital, held a Red Nose fun day and dressed up in school uniform for the day. All staff made a donation and the team raised £40.24 for Comic Relief.
Once the Mike Harris Learning and Development Centre decided to fundraise, Business Manager Julie Spencer held no prisoners. Sporting the official pirate red nose, Julie presented her pitch for her fundraising idea and Chief Executive Mike Cooke was the first to get the ball rolling by generously donating cash.
MVA Department In the Managing Violence and Aggression (MVA) department Tracey Bonser, Lee Mills and Keith Andrews (all TMVA Trainers) dressed up to raise money. Friday 18 March was the last day of a five-day MVA training session and the team started the morning with delegates warming up to Phil Collins’ ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ then spent the rest of the day training in their Red Nose Day outfits.
With collection boxes at the ready, home made cakes and biscuits on cake stands and staff with red noses in situ, everyone was in for treat and, once Left to right: Lee Mills, Keith Andrews, Tracey Bonser.
Mental Health Act Department Colleagues in the Mental Health Act Department at Rampton Hospital raised an impressive 313 pounds for Comic Relief. Oliver Cuff, Mental Health Act Caseworker, dyed his hair, eyebrows and beard red for the day. The rest of the department dressed in red in support of his efforts. The team would like to thank everyone at Rampton Hospital who sponsored Oliver and contributed to the total raised. Left to right: Lisa Spencer, Bev Storey, Oliver Cuff, Lindsey Smith, Lindsey Haller, Rachel Turner.
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Mike Harris Learning and Development Centre
the Trust
Some of the successful graduates. Front to back, left to right: Margaret Farrington, Julia Parkes, Natalie Saunders, Wanda Blore, Teresa Reynolds, Xandra Arundel, Margo BrockvanderZanden, Karen Lawson, Paula Brocklehurst.
Therapists celebrate graduation success the word was out, staff from across Rampton Hospital indulged their sweet tooth by donating cash in exchange for a cake. Colleagues also delved further into their pockets to sign up for ‘Pick a Pose’. Once all the celebrity poses were sold, the lucky winner waltzed away with half the money and the rest went to Comic Relief. The centre raised a total of £414.17 for Red Nose Day, which will go towards transforming lives across the UK and Africa. Julie Spencer, Business Manager said: "Whoever you were, thank you for popping into the centre and making a difference. It really meant a lot to us and showed just how generous people could be.”
Fifteen therapists from the county Let’s Talk – Wellbeing service were delighted to receive diplomas at a presentation ceremony held at the University of Derby on Saturday 22 January. The ceremony marked the achievements of the first cohort from the service with 100% of the registered trainees gaining postgraduate diplomas in cognitive behavioural psychotherapy (CBT). A further 15 CBT trainees have registered at Derby University and four have registered at Nottingham for graduation this autumn. Improved access to psychological therapies is a national training programme to increase the numbers of therapists who deliver talking therapies to people with common mental health problems. Let’s Talk – Wellbeing provides essential support for people with mild to moderate psychological difficulties, helping to improve their overall health and wellbeing. It is available in many different places in the community across Nottinghamshire County. The service is provided by Nottinghamshire Healthcare in partnership with Rethink and funded by NHS Nottinghamshire County.
New Learning & Development Prospectus The Learning & Development prospectus for 2011-12 is available now to all staff within the Trust. The prospectus offers courses in the following areas of training and development: Essential Training, Therapeutic Skills, Skills for Work and Life and Leadership and Management Development. The prospectus is available online on the Learning & Development intranet site and hard copies can be requested from Kimberley Spencer and Karen Watson at Duncan Macmillan House, 0115 969 1300 x 1250 or Sharon Allen and Paula Ingamells at Rampton Hospital, 01777 880 333. Mike Cooke, Chief Executive takes a look inside the prospectus.
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Community Services Update In future editions of Positive, this section of the newsletter will focus on the developments within County Health Partnerships and the services provided. This month however, we are providing a brief insight into some of the community service developments and highlights elsewhere within Local Services and the Offender Health Directorate.
Citihealth services expand Trust’s offering On 1 April the Specialist Services Directorate, within Nottinghamshire Healthcare, welcomed additional substance misuse services that were previously provided by Nottingham Citihealth. We welcome those staff who have joined the Trust with these services and thank them for their cooperation throughout the transition period. The Specialist Services Directorate comprises Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Learning Disabilities (LD) and Substance Misuse Services (SMS) and many of the services which previously formed the Psychological Therapies Directorate. Specialist Services support primary, community and acute health care, and other specialisms, in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients, offering consultation, advice and shared care, in crisis and in the longer term. Specialist Services support family and social carers, and other community agencies working with service users, in promoting and sustaining service users’ health and wellbeing, managing vulnerability and risk, and achieving their own desired outcomes. The two services that have joined the Directorate are the Health Shop including Sexual Health, and also Chill Out Sound Support (COSS). Both are based in Nottingham City centre.
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Above: Health Shop student nurse Holly Thomas (front left); Health Shop Sexual Health Nurse Kim Hodgkinson (front right) with other members of the Health Shop team at a ‘homeless breakfast’ event held in December. Right: Health Shop Sexual Health Nurses Sarah Evans and Kim Hodgkinson at the July 2010 PRIDE event with the Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Brian Grocock, and Mayoress Judith Grocock.
The Health Shop
Chill Out
The Health Shop was established over 20 years ago. Originally set up to work with HIV, the service has developed into a forward thinking harm reduction project with a multidisciplinary team providing interventions for clients who require support around substance use and the promotion of sexual health. The team consists of drug workers, sexual health nurses (including a harm reduction nurse) and health care advisors.
Chill Out provides a free and confidential service for non-injecting drug users aged 18 and over.
Staff at The Health Shop pride themselves on their innovative approach and have received local and national recognition for their work. Services such as needle and syringe exchange, one-to-one advice and support, distribution of condoms, a range of health tests, vaccinations for hepatitis A and B and specialist steroid provision are all provided both at The Health Shop and at venues across the city and conurbations. In December the team organised a ‘homeless breakfast’ event by approaching local businesses for contributions and then providing a cooked breakfast for homeless clients in the city. They served over 80 full cooked breakfasts and over 30 take away breakfasts for clients at St Peter’s Church Drop In. For more information about The Health Shop call 0115 9475414 or visit the team at 12 Broad Street, Hockley, Nottingham NG1 3AL.
Led by Neil Brooks, who first established it in 1997, the service comprises two drug workers, one outreach coordinator, one administrator and three sessional workers. It provides information aimed at mild to problematic recreational and experimental drug users to try to eliminate or minimise the risks associated with drug use. The project takes a pragmatic approach which relates to the client group’s own attitudes and lifestyle and also offers: • Harm reduction advice and information. • One to one crisis intervention and ongoing support, based on cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational interviewing. • Holistic therapies provided as part of a care plan, including aromatherapy, auricular acupuncture, Indian head massage and reiki. • Outreach sessions in night-time venues. • Information stalls at relevant events. • Safer sex and contraception advice. • Training on drugs, drug use and safer nightlife guidelines. • Referral to other specialist services. Chill Out is based at Waverley Health Centre. For more information call 0115 8452361.
County Health Partnerships The formal transfer of 2,381 staff from Nottinghamshire Community Health to County Health Partnerships took place on 1 April. Work is ongoing around the transition and ensuring staff are informed and involved in the process. Key members of the CHP visited a number of sites on 1 April to meet with staff, hear their views on the changes and answer any questions. Further staff engagement opportunities will continue with more ‘meet and greet’ and open surgery events planned. The IT department is working to ensure all CHP staff can access the Trust intranet site and that new email addresses are created. The partnership will gain a new logo and branding and CHP staff will be asked to be involved in shortlisting the options. Locality structures will be reviewed and developed and policies and procedures will be aligned to the relevant Trust policies. Chief Operating Executive, Clinical Director and General Manager posts for the Partnership will be appointed to shortly. Paul Smeeton Transition Director said: “I’d like to thank everyone involved in managing the CHP transition process for their hard work and to all staff involved for bearing with us at this time of change. Your cooperation, understanding and general positivity is much appreciated. We understand periods of change can cause a great deal of uncertainty and stress and we hope we have been able to respond to your concerns and ensure you are all fully informed. I echo this sentiment to our colleagues who have joined us from Citihealth. Once again, welcome to you all and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions and I will do my best to help.” Engagement workshops about the new arrangements are being held with GPs across the County. Feedback from the session with colleagues from High Point included: Enjoyed afternoon very much, need more of the same to help build relationships
Nottinghamshire Healthcare
NHS
NHS Trust
Positive about integrated healthcare
HMP Whatton team recognised for innovation and hard work Staff at HMP Whatton involved with the Kings’ Fund End of Life Care Project have been successful in gaining a Butler Trust Commendation. The Butler Trust Annual Awards recognise outstanding dedication, skill and creativity on the part of people working in correctional settings across the UK. Awards and commendations are given for work with offenders, and the people who work with them, which has, over a sustained period demonstrated outstanding dedication, skill and/or creativity and brought significant benefits in one or more of the following areas: • effective care of offenders; • health and well-being of staff; • crime/public safety; • other public benefits.
Patients report good experience of community services 97% of community service patients who used the Patient Tracker (over 2,000 patients) expressed a positive experience. The Patient Tracker is an electronic handheld device that was used for a period in all services over the course of last year to capture real-time patient experience. Patients and carers were asked for their experience of: • The length of time waited for first contact with the service • Being treated with respect and dignity • Being involved in decisions about care • Standards of hygiene and cleanliness • Being given enough information about the service There has been a very low level of complaints, 78 formal complaints in total with 100% of all complaints achieving local resolution. Mixed sex accommodation has been eliminated in all hospitals.
Celebrating success in the community Congratulations to the team at the Sure Start Summer House Children’s Centre in Sutton in Ashfield, which recently did exceptionally well in an OFSTED inspection, receiving an overall rating of Outstanding. This is the first children’s centre to achieve this recommendation within the county.
Good session but time to turn the talk into action
Jenny Wells, Children’s Centre Coordinator, said: “Everyone involved with the inspection felt very proud that we were able to demonstrate the good practice and the difference we are making to children and their families lives.”
Enjoyed and valued the chance to work and listen to colleagues
Well done to everyone involved!
Useful session – need to move on and work together Great to start links with Primary Care Appreciate involving frontline staff
Summer House Centre (credit: Mansfield Chad).
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Booth, parent/carer, provided a moving account from a carer’s and service user’s point of view.
Communication in focus The Speech and Language Therapy Service held a successful ‘Communication Conference’ on Thursday 3 March at Trent Vineyard, Nottingham. The inspiration for the conference was the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists’ (RCSLT) proposal for launching 2011 as its ‘Year of Communication’. The College’s main focus for this nationally has been on children’s services, but it was decided that it would be timely for speech and language therapists from the Trust to highlight the communication needs of people with learning disabilities. The main objectives of the conference were to raise awareness of the range and scale of communication difficulties in people with learning disabilities, to highlight communication as a basic human right for all people and to offer
Living Narratives An exhibition celebrating the results of ten months of hard work by patients and staff on the Peaks Unit was held on Friday 15 April and reported by attendees to be an incredibly impressive and moving event. The exhibition showcased the publication of the Living Narratives poetry book, ‘Whatever Our Story’, an anthology of original works and the works of others whose lyrics have played an influential role in supporting patients. Service user involvement was central to the Living Narratives project where patients were encouraged to narrate their life experiences through an exciting blend of multi-media resources and techniques such as art, crafts, woodwork, horticulture, poetry, cookery and digital art and sound files. Not only did the project foster creativity and help provide therapeutic optimism but it energised positivity and hope towards recovery.
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practical strategies to different organisations to enhance good practice when working with this group of people. The conference was opened by Mike Cooke, Chief Executive, and guest speakers included Sue Thurman, consultant speech and language therapist and author of the BILD guide ‘Communication is a Human Right’. Sue set the scene powerfully, highlighted the legal aspects of the Human Rights Act, and spoke about how the communication rights of individuals with learning disabilities have been implemented in reality.
The afternoon began with the launch of the Speech and Language Therapy Service’s new communication strategy, followed by workshops focusing on the themes of reducing risk, building capacity in others and developing relationships, all led by members of the Speech and Language Therapy Service. The conference also featured a display about the RCSLT’s ‘Giving Voice’ campaign and gave delegates an opportunity to write down their own thoughts about the importance of communication by creatively filling in speech bubbles (pictured above). l-r Beverly Dawkins, Mencap representative, Della Money, Head Speech and Language Therapist and Sue Thurman, Consultant Speech and Language Therapist.
Beverly Dawkins, Mencap representative, provided an interesting national perspective on these issues, mentioning the impact of ‘Death by Indifference’ and the ‘Getting it Right’ campaign, and Leslie
Sixty guests were invited to the exhibition including Trust Board members, Commissioners, lecturers from universities, therapists, consultants from the Learning Skills service, occupational therapists, prison staff and students. Steven King, a previous service user of Rampton Hospital’s personality disorder directorate, presented his life story to the audience and the changes that have affected his life including the discovery of a passion for art. Steven is currently studying a BA in Graphic Art at university. On closing his presentation Steven generously presented patients and staff with one of his paintings which will be prominently displayed in the Peaks Unit. Six patients attended the event to represent their work and read poetry and answered questions about the project. They were all motivated and inspired by Steven’s experiences.
Professor Mike Cooke CBE, Chief Executive, closed the event with a review of his experience of the morning. Mike found the exhibition to be a “fantastic experience”; commenting that the creativity and quality of the projects is something each patient should be proud of. On Saturday 16 April the exhibition was offered to carers of Peaks’ patients and Carer Governors. Everyone attending the event remarked favourably about the quality and creativity of the projects. The exhibition has prompted two separate nominations for awards based on supporting recovery and social cohesion. For more information about the Living Narratives poetry book please contact Perdita Jackson at perdita.jackson@nottshc.nhs.uk.
New forum becomes alcohol resource A new independent forum is set to launch later this month to bring together different perspectives on alcohol and responses to alcohol problems. The Nottinghamshire Alcohol Forum is aimed at local people in recovery, carers, commissioners, researchers, service providers and volunteers/interested members of the community. The forum will provide opportunities to exchange ideas and information about alcohol and alcohol problems in the local community, encourage open debate about local and national policy on alcohol and act as a supportive network to those delivering and using local alcohol services. The forum’s first meeting will take place on Wednesday 25 May from 11.30am to 12.30pm in Lecture room 1, School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, Duncan Macmillan House, Nottingham. To maintain neutrality and independence the organisers will be asking for a new host each time the forum meets. For more information and to confirm attendance please email paul.cassedy@nottingham.ac.uk, jane.mcgregor@nottingham.ac.uk or mark.holmes@nottshc.nhs.uk.
China linkup leads to new plans The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) has held its first teleconference with colleagues in China. The three-hour session attracted 20 participants who discussed a wide range of topics and proposals for future collaboration. It was convened by the Institute’s China Committee and follows a visit to Shanghai last October when, among other activities, a seminar was hosted on mental health and sustainability at the Shanghai Expo. Professor Nick Manning opened the teleconference for the IMH and Prof Hua Fu opened on behalf of the Fudan University School of Public Health and the Shanghai Centre for Disease Control. Topics considered included: daily stressors among children of the floating population in Shanghai; the University of Nottingham ADHD research centre; depression in students and relationships to pubertal timing; promoting physical activity in children with a risk factor of
obesity. Presentations were also included on adolescent behaviour related to eating disorders in Shanghai, school violence in general and school violence and bullying in Shanghai. Those taking part included professors and PhD students and as a result of the discussions an agreement has been reached by IMH representatives to work with Chinese colleagues on their next survey of mental health in 36 Shanghai schools.
Non Executive Director steps down Linda Garnett attended her final Trust Board meeting in March, following her resignation as a Non Executive Director to focus on supporting organisational development arrangements for Transforming Community Services and the Board. Since joining the Trust Board on 1 June 2008, Linda has made a significant contribution to developments within the Trust, including chairing the Risk Management Committee. An Independent Human Resources Consultant and Coach, Linda has extensive experience working with organisations across the East Midlands. Linda’s expertise covers all aspects of people management and organisational development, ranging from helping to improve individual performance and contribution through to achieving transformational changes across organisations. Linda particularly enjoys working with teams to help them identify barriers to where they want to be and developing workable and sustainable solutions to overcome them. The recruitment process for a new Non Executive Director is underway. We wish Linda every success in the future. Dean Fathers, Trust Chair, presents Linda with a certificate at the Trust Board meeting.
“I was delighted to be able to chair the teleconference in order for us all to learn more about research interests in relation to child and adolescent mental health at Fudan University School of Public Health, the Shanghai Centre for Disease Control and our Institute, with a view to this informing our future collaborations,” said Professor Manning. “The teleconference was a natural development from the recent IMH visit to China and we now hope that practical research partnerships will develop, including grant applications, data collection and analysis, and joint publications.” Professor Justine Schneider, who closed the seminar with Professor Fu, said: “We were all excited to discover how easy it is to communicate across the globe in this way, and to reinforce the working links made on earlier visits to Shanghai.”
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I Retirements
Farewell Jan Blackwell Jan Blackwell, Short Breaks Manager at Newlands, retired from the Trust at the end of March after 35 years supporting people with learning disabilities, their carers and families and various staff teams. Jan’s NHS career began in 1976, when she started her nurse training at Balderton Hospital. After qualifying and working as a staff nurse she became “Sister Jan” for a number of years. The closure of the hospital saw Jan take on a new role as manager, caring for adults with an acquired brain injury. She then took up her role at Newlands.
Farewell Conor Duggan Conor Duggan, Professor of Forensic Mental Health, retired on 31 March after a notable career in psychiatry. Conor trained as a psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry in London. He took up a new Chair of Forensic Mental Health at the University of Leicester in 1998, transferring to the University of Nottingham in 2004. He was an Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at Arnold Lodge until his retirement, sharing responsibility for the 22-bedded in-patient unit that treats men with personality disorder and a history of serious offending. Friends, colleagues, Arnold Lodge patients, Chief Executive Mike Cooke and Mike Harris, Executive Director, Forensic Services, all attended a celebratory lunch on Friday 8 April to say their farewells to Conor.
Steve Geelan, Clinical Director, Arnold Lodge (left) with Conor (right) at his retirement lunch.
Her departure will be a huge loss to the service and her approachable, friendly and kind manner will be greatly missed. Jan enjoyed a private retirement party with work colleagues and friends and now plans to spend her retirement making more time for herself and organising home improvements.
Eating disorder research conference a success A conference looking at recent developments in eating disorders took place on 22 February at the University of Nottingham’s Dearing Building. The event brought together over 40 healthcare and education professionals from across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, highlighting the growing importance of research into anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and related conditions. The conference got under way with an introduction to the services available by Hub Executive Board member Professor Justine Schneider from the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham. Next, Lynne Addicott, Eating Disorder Clinical Development Lead at the Trust, walked
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the audience through the successful establishment of the county’s Eating Disorders Service. Elaine Todd, the Trust’s Clinical Lead in Eating Disorders, followed with a talk on the service’s carers’ strategy. Afterwards, Debbie Butler, Clinical Studies Assistant and Patient and Public Involvement Officer, gave a deeply personal talk about her hard-won battle to overcome her own eating-related difficulties. The day was concluded by Elizabeth Goddard from the Eating Disorders Unit at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. Elizabeth talked about an exciting new study looking at the effectiveness of a new way of
helping carers of young people with anorexia nervosa deal with stress – a pilot randomised control trial of a package of self-help materials called Expert Carers Helping Others. Sheetal Dandgey, Clinical Studies Officer with the Hub and joint event organiser, said: “This was our first conference where we looked specifically at research into eating disorders and it was an extremely worthwhile experience. We really enjoyed showcasing our work assisting researchers to improve the quantity and quality of mental health studies in England. We were really encouraged to see so many experienced professionals coming together to find out about our work and hear about the latest research and service developments.”
From archery to welly-wanging at Newark sports day Holly Lodge hosted another successful sports activity day in February at the Magnus School Sports Centre in Newark. Around 150 people took part in the day, which was organised as a follow-up to the success of the summer 2010 event.
professional archery club and with awards presented for the top scorer. There were also Boccia competitions, new age curling, giant Connect 4, parachute games and the ever-popular welly-wanging as well as many other activities.
Activities kicked off with everyone joining in some gentle exercises before three large parachutes were brought out for a variety of lively games.
The other highlight of the day was live music performed by Brian Fitzpatrick (Full Bloomers) with many of the clients singing along to their favourite songs. Once again it was wonderful to see old friends meeting up with each other and everyone having a fun-filled day.
One popular activity was archery, organised by a
The day was another great step forward for partnership working, with representatives from the NHS, adult social care and health, Nottinghamshire County Council, Mencap, clients’ families, and Newark and Sherwood
Main: Holly Lodge service users Kate Thorpe (left) and Delia Moran (right) practice their curling skills. Below: Brian Fitzpatrick (Full Bloomers) (left) Holly Lodge service user John Coupe (right) entertain the crowds.
District Council all contributing to the event’s organisation. Many thanks to everyone who helped make the day a success, especially Helen Purdy (Newark & Sherwood D.C. Sports Development Officer) and her team of helpers; the Newark Advertiser for photos and coverage in their paper; the
Leisure Group Team of Vince Cross, Raschel Sanghera, Sue Johnson, Liz Moan, Liz Moran and Tereasa with Bev providing refreshments; all the staff, carers, and support workers without whom the day wouldn’t have taken place. The next sports activity day is planned for 16 August 2011 – see you there!
Professor David Chiddick CBE, Acting Chairman of NHS East Midlands, visited Nottinghamshire Healthcare in February to find out more about the Trust and meet newly-appointed Chair Dean Fathers. Professor Chiddick began his career as a town planner with Hertfordshire County Council, joining the academic world in 1979. He joined the Board of the SHA as a non executive director in 2005, taking up the role of Acting Chair in May 2010. Dean Fathers, Trust Chair, outside the Resource with Professor Chiddick.
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‘Images of Nottingham’ – Lord Mayor opens inspiring exhibition Jim Broughton, Mencap, Gerry Molumby, Lucy Clegg, Danielle Rubio-Meyer, Micky Arnold, George Badiali, Kim Lewin.
My Health Vision: an insight into healthcare A series of films specially designed for people with learning disabilities was premiered at Broadway Cinema in Nottingham last month. ‘My Health Vision’ features nine short films about a range of healthcare and hospital procedures including scans, dentistry and radiotherapy. Each film follows the patient journey, explaining in a step by step manner what will happen to the individual from the moment they arrive at the clinic or hospital, taking them through the procedure itself and any process that might follow. The films are designed as a resource for healthcare professionals and carers to use to help people with a learning disability gain a better understanding of something unfamiliar to them, helping them feel more at ease and less daunted by the forthcoming procedure.
Workshop highlights local forensics research A forensics workshop planned for 24 May will provide an opportunity for anyone working in forensics to increase their knowledge of current trends in forensic research and practice.
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George Badiali, Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s Senior Acute Liaison Learning Disability Nurse said: “Going into hospital or undergoing any new healthcare procedure can be daunting for any patient, but people with learning disabilities can feel very intimidated in hospital settings and find it harder to understand what will happen to them when they are there. We hope that these films will ensure that individuals can gain a better understanding of the procedure and therefore feel more informed and at ease about the whole process.” ‘My Health Vision’ is the result of a collaboration between the NHS and Nottingham Mencap working with partners Confetti Studios, Voice Ability and Nottingham City Council. Advocacy organisation Voice Ability and Springwood Day Centre provided actors for the films, all of whom have a learning disability. Students from Confetti Studios carried out the majority of the filming and editing and will use the project as part of their coursework submissions.
The Trust was delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor of Nottingham to open an inspiring photography exhibition in Café Art, Duncan Macmillan House on 11 April. ‘Images of Nottingham’, the beautiful photographic work of Paul Boast, captures the many different views and aspects of the City and its people. The series of images is being exhibited in Café Art, one of the spaces curated by Arts in Health, part of the Trust’s Adult Mental Health (AMH) Services. Also supporting the exhibition opening was Simon Smith, Executive Director Local Services and Sue Thornton, General Manager AMH City, joined by Christine Burgin, fundraiser from local charity PASIC (Parents’ Association for Seriously Ill Children). The charity Paul Boast with the Lord Mayor of Nottingham.
The films will initially be distributed to healthcare professionals across Nottinghamshire, with plans to make them more widely available in the future.
A Snapshot of Forensic Studies within the East Midlands will showcase examples of new research underway in the region. The free one-day networking event will be valuable for all staff, clinicians and healthcare professionals, both in the NHS and the private sector. The event will take place on Tuesday 24 May from 9.30am to 3pm at The Mike Harris Learning and Development
Centre, Rampton Hospital, Retford, Notts DN22 0PD. The agenda for the day is: • Welcome: Dr John Milton • Insight into the Mental Health Research Network: Professor Richard Morriss • The Evaluation of Women's Enhanced Medium Secure Services project: Hannah Wilson • Local Forensic Research: Professor Conor Duggan • CLAHRC Forensic Research:
Dr Amanda Tetley • The NALoxone InVEstigation (N-ALIVE) Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) Study: Dr Nicola Muirhead This event is being organised by the East Midlands with South Yorkshire CLRN Mental Health Research Network Hub. To book your place contact Jo Greenwood on 0115 8231282 or email joanne.greenwood @nottshc.nhs.uk.
provides help and support to families throughout the region and was chosen by Paul to benefit from the sale of the photographs. Commenting on the exhibition the Lord Mayor of Nottingham said: “This is an absolutely fantastic exhibition, with some magnificent pieces of photography. It is a credit to Paul Boast and the exhibition provides an important opportunity for people to recognise the work that he does.” Paul Boast, photographer, said: “I would like to thank the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, as well as Penny Coulson and Kate Deamer from the Trust’s Arts in Health team, for all their support and hard work with this exhibition. Nottingham has given me a lot of opportunities and I wanted to focus on the area because of this. I also chose the charity PASIC as it is a Nottingham based organisation and is a very worthy cause.” The ‘Images of Nottingham’ exhibition will be displayed until June. For further details contact Penny Coulson or Kate Deamer on 0115 969 1300 Ext.11853.
Let’s Talk – Wellbeing open day held in Bassetlaw A special open day was held on 13 April to celebrate the Let’s Talk – Wellbeing Service in Bassetlaw, which provides vital support to people who are feeling low, anxious or stressed. The service, provided by Nottinghamshire Healthcare in partnership with Rethink for NHS Bassetlaw, offers a range of talking therapies to people across Bassetlaw experiencing common difficulties such as anxiety and depression. The event brought together representatives from the three organisations, Let’s Talk – Wellbeing staff and partner organisations at its premises in Worksop. Attendees were able to find out more about the service and speak to staff before speeches were made and a cake was cut to officially mark and celebrate the service.
Simon Smith, Executive Director Local Services at the Trust, Sue Gill, Head of Partnership Commissioning at NHS Bassetlaw and John Rose, Associate Director of Psychological Therapies at Rethink, each congratulated the service on its work to date, highlighting the importance of psychological therapies and successful partnership working. Dr Maureen Tomeny, Clinical Partnership Director, then delivered a presentation about the service, its achievements and future plans. Since first opening its doors on 1 October 2010, over 1037 referrals have been received. Simon Smith, Executive Director of Local Services, Nottinghamshire Healthcare, said: “The open day provided a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the service and raise awareness of the support available. “Talking therapies are recognised as an effective method of treatment for mild to moderate mental health problems. Let’s Talk – Wellbeing provides essential support which can also help to improve people’s overall health and wellbeing. It is available in a range of locations giving people greater access to and choice about their care.” Anyone feeling low, anxious or stressed is encouraged to speak with their GP who can make a referral to Let’s Talk – Wellbeing. For more information visit www.letstalkwellbeing.co.uk
Helen Simpson, Implementation/Operational Manager (holding the cake) and Let’s Talk – Wellbeing Bassetlaw staff at the open day.
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Sikhs open temple to anti-stigma work A Sikh temple has opened its doors to the Pacesetters’ anti-stigma project. The temple on Nottingham Road, Nottingham, hosted an emotional wellbeing day on Sunday 10 April – just one of many events organised to reach out to Black Minority and Ethnic (BME) community groups to reduce fears and stigma about mental health and learning disabilities. The event was organised in collaboration with the Human Library Team, Acute Learning Disability Liaison Team and Learning Disability Healthcare Facilitators. Staff manned information stalls and spoke to over 100 members of the
temple about mental health and learning disabilities. The Human Library also took part and reached 26 loans on the day. It was a positive day and it is hoped that work with the Nottingham Sikh Temple will continue. For further information about the Pacesetters Anti Stigma Project contact: • Dorcas Akyeampong on 0115 8542222 or email dorcas.akyeampong@nottshc.nhs.uk • Jaswinder Basi on 0115 9934580 ext 10280 or email jaswinder.basi@nottshc.nhs.uk • Krishna Bhatti on 0115 9524098 or email krishna.bhatti@nottshc.nhs.uk.
Apprentices build skills Our Trust apprentices have been busy adding further qualifications to their NVQ in business and administration.
The group with their certificates for ‘Train the Trainer’ and ECDL. Left to right: Heather Porter, Trust Apprentice Coordinator; Sam Wheatley; Olivia Tyler; Nikki Chamberlain; Matt Craven; Jess Richards; Blaze Furley; Reece Bramwell; Laura Carter, Workplace Assessor from Prostart.
The young people recently completed the City & Guilds ‘Train the Trainer’ certificate at Level 2 as well as the full ECDL award to enhance IT skills. The courses were completed in a short space of time and most of the apprentices are keen to continue and undertake advanced word processing qualifications. We hope that these opportunities and additional qualifications will help the apprentices secure work when their placement ends in December. Congratulations to all the apprentices.
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Diabetes experts advise Rampton team
Diabetes Awareness Week
Two diabetes experts visited Rampton Hospital in February to share their knowledge of diabetes, a common problem amongst people with severe mental illness.
Diabetes Awareness Week 2011 runs from 12 to 18 June and Rampton Hospital colleagues are lining up a series of events to raise awareness of this life-threatening disease and raise funds for the Diabetes UK charity.
In the general population about one person in 20 has diabetes, but among people with psychosis the incidence is about one in five. Both Type I and Type II diabetes shorten lives, being associated with a greatly increased risk of heart disease and strokes as well as specific eye and foot problems. Diabetes plays a significant role in the shorter life expectancy of people with severe mental illness, as well as causing a poorer quality of life. Specialist General Practitioner Dr Tom Humphries presented data from Rampton Hospital while Dr Rowan Hilson, National Clinical Lead for Diabetes, and Professor Richard Holt, Professor of Endocrinology, Southampton, compared it against the broader national picture. The trio, along with colleagues from Rampton Hospital, discussed the role of antipsychotic medication in causing diabetes, agreeing that this does occur occasionally but that the greatest risk factors were lifestyle and obesity. Antipsychotic medication can, of course, add significantly to obesity.
Dates for your diary: Working towards a future without diabetes Sunday 12 June • Walk the extra mile (patients and staff event) • 10.30am: 10K run in aid of Help the Heroes and Diabetes UK (staff event) Monday 13 June • 10.30am: Healthy option food sampling from the patients’ menu in the Peaks (patients event) • Circuit challenges with prizes for each directorate (patients event)
The group identified that the onset of diabetes among Rampton Hospital patients was much earlier than would be expected in the wider population, with many Rampton patients developing Type II diabetes in their 20s and 30s, while in the wider population the typical onset is thought to be in the 40s, 50s and older.
Tuesday 14 June • Food sampling, fitness assessments, ‘keep the bike moving’ challenge, presentations from diabetes medic, Chrysalis weight management programme demonstration, healthy heart, back stands, occupational health and counselling information (staff event in the Mike Harris Learning centre) • Swimming gala (patients event)
The importance of weight management strategies was highlighted and some of the excellent work already in progress was discussed. The group also considered the importance of taking a proactive approach, especially when people start on a new antipsychotic medication.
Wednesday 15 June • 12.20pm: Charity netball match on the female astroturf pitch (staff event) • Swimming gala (patients event)
“We are extremely grateful to Dr Hilson and Professor Holt for their enlightening afternoon and for their tremendous support for the services we are currently developing,” said Dr Humphries. “We hope we can continue to lead the way on developing services for people with diabetes in a secure environment.”
Thursday 16 June • Healthy option food sampling from the patients’ menu and the shop in the recreational hall, weight management stands, health promotion stands and challenges (patients event) • 6.45pm: Charity rounders match on the pitch in front of the MVA pitch (staff event)
Left to right: Barbara Pryse, Senior Manager Physical Healthcare; Dr Gopi Krishnan, Associate Medical Director (Forensic); Dr Tom Humphries, Specialist General Practitioner; Dr Rowan Hilson, National Clinical Lead for Diabetes; Professor Richard Holt, Professor of Endocrinology, Southampton.
Friday 17 June • 6pm: Charity football match on the pitch in front of the MVA pitch (staff event) • Active leisure circuit in the recreational hall (patients event) • Three peak challenge (patient and staff challenge, Peaks unit) Saturday 18 June • ‘Keep the bike moving’ challenge on the wards (patients event) There will also be additional sporting challenges, poster and wordsearch competitions and raffles for everyone to get involved in over the week. For any more information contact Evelyn Goodwin on 01777 248321 ext 6168 or email evelyn.goodwin@nottshc.nhs.uk.
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Redundancy support on offer Redundancy is never easy, but if it’s happening to you there is support available to help you make it a positive change. A workshop on Thursday 19 May will offer a range of support programmes and resources to help you make the most of redundancy.
Radford group gets a boost from team building day On a grey, damp, Tuesday morning in March, members of the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) East Midlands Hub plus South Yorkshire picked up their paint brushes and descended on the premises of the Radford Care Group to carry out a spring makeover of their ‘Friendship’ room. Radford Care Group is a purpose-built centre that offers daytime activities for older people in Nottingham, with extended facilities for the more frail elderly, including some people with dementia. The group is a registered charity and has been providing a service to older people for over 40 years. The MHRN team redecorated the venue’s Friendship Group Room and carried out minor repairs to fixtures and fittings as part of a team-building day. Paint colours had been chosen by the service users to match those on the centre’s new-look literature and website. Ann Priddey, MHRN Research Network Manager, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and all felt it was really worthwhile. Not only did we leave the room looking like a completely different place, but I think we all worked brilliantly together to get the project completed in one day.” Sarah Wilson, the charity’s Centre Manager, said: “We’d like to thank our NHS colleagues so much for all the hard work they put in to decorating. They did a great job and we and our members are very pleased with the result.”
Top: The team-building decorators. Left to right: Sandra Simpson, Sheetal Dandgey, David Kelly, Jon Lander, Liz Andrews, Veronica French, Joanne Greenwood, Claire Litherland, Ann Priddey, Amy Shuttlewood.
Above: Joanne Greenwood, Hub Administrator, brightens up a wall. Right: Sheetal Dandgey, Clinical Studies Officer, adds a touch of colour to a shelf.
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Flexible support programmes on offer will include: • One to one career guidance sessions • Help with updating or creating your CV • Interview skills and preparation • Looking at training needs and suitable courses • Questions and answers about finance/benefits The workshop will run from 11am to 2pm; please book your place in advance. For more information or to book contact Heather Porter, Skills for Work & Life Advisor, on 0115 9691300 ext 11269 or email heather.porter@nottshc.nhs.uk.
Time to Talk What is the link between... • My wedding album • My jewellery • My drum kit Have you guessed it? These are some of the treasured possessions colleagues have said they would like loved ones to have when they die. What would your choice be? Have you told anyone? Have you written your choices down? Launching this month is a campaign designed to help you think about these aspects of end of life. The campaign will tie in with National Dying Matters awareness week. According to Dying Matters research we’re all exactly the same in agreeing that talking about death generally is taboo (general public 38% agree and NHS staff 39% agree). Because of our reluctance to talk, it means that when we need it, we may not get our final wishes, such as choosing where we wish to die, or getting the treatments we do or don’t want. And our families may be left with some difficult choices to make. The campaign aims to encourage us all to think and talk more about death, dying and bereavement. Look out for more in the coming weeks.
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What is your job title and what does your role entail? a Contracts and Performance Manager for the Local Services Division. My role has two distinct features; Contracting involves writing, managing and negotiating Service Level Agreements for the Local Services Division. Ensuring services provided are of high quality and meet the needs of the Division. I also manage the Trust Central Register of contracts and agreements, ensuring that the Trust is compliant in meeting external audit requirements. Performance involves supporting the Directorates in meeting National, Regional and Local performance targets. Providing regular reports and dashboards and working with teams to identify ways to improve on current positions. I work very closely with the Local Services Senior Management Team, producing performance trajectories and providing assurances of predicted performance achievements.
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How long have you been with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust? a I started working with the Trust straight after leaving University in 2002, therefore nearly nine years.
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What do you see as your priorities for Nottinghamshire Healthcare? a To provide accurate, up-to-date performance information so that managers and teams are aware of their current position and provide support and assistance to improve positions. This is to ensure high quality services are provided to our service users. Also, to ensure all Local Services service level agreements are up-todate, accurate and are negotiated to ensure the Division receives high quality services at reasonable prices.
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What is your employment background? a I have worked as a Nursing Assistant and an Assistant Clinical Psychologist at Rampton Hospital and as a Clinical Studies Officer for the East Midlands Hub of the Mental Health Research Network. I like the fact that I have worked on the frontline within the Trust which gives me a better perspective of the challenges clinical staff face and helps me in my current role in how to support services when meeting performance targets.
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What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given? a I have been fortunate to have had a number of great managers in my working career and the one piece of advice that will always stay with me is: The people who
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q&a
This month we talk to Sandra Creasey, Contracts and Performance Manager, Local Services Division
succeed are the ones who take a dream and turn it into reality. I have adopted this into my management style and encourage and support my staff to set goals and work to achieve them.
q What was the last CD you bought? a Pink; I am a rock chick at heart!
What single thing would improve your working life at Nottinghamshire Healthcare? a The one thing that will help is something I am currently trying to do at the moment and that is to give staff a better understanding of performance targets. Some people see performance management as hindering practice and have quite a negative opinion about targets. I am trying to promote that performance targets are there to help better manage a service and ensure high quality care is given to service users.
q What is your favourite hobby? a Camping with my friends and family. q What keeps you awake at night? a Playing Professor Layton on my DS, I am addicted to brain teasers.
q What is your favourite film? a That’s a difficult question, I love all kinds of films but at the moment I would have to say The Departed and Twilight (go team Edward!)
q What is your idea of bliss? a A fully green balanced scorecard and of course lying on a beach with my soon to be husband in a hot exotic country.
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What three words would you use to describe yourself? a Genuine, hard working and dedicated.
q What is your greatest achievement? a Graduating in 2008 with two Master q Degrees: MSc Psychological Research Methods and MA Social Sciences I am hoping I can soon say graduating in 2012 with a MBA specialising in Quality Management.
q What makes you angry? a Prejudice of any type and bullying. q
What are you most passionate about? a Research has always been a passion of mine, and I am very fortunate to be in a position where research can be seen to influence daily practice for service users. This really is my goal in life to be able to make a difference and influence best practice by combining evidence based research and the realities of providing a good service for service users. My MSc dissertation, which was an ethnographic study of self help groups for people with depression, really opened my eyes to how people help each other and how this help is invaluable. This insight helped me realise and understand that service user and carer involvement is paramount to providing a good service.
What is your favourite holiday destination? a Italy, it is where I will be going on my honeymoon.
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Who would you take to a desert island? a My soon to be husband.
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Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? a Qualified as a doctor after finishing a PhD and working in a more senior role within the NHS, ensuring practice is informed by evidence based research and service user needs, and of course celebrating my 10 year anniversary with my husband.
q Do you have a ‘claim to fame’? a My soon to be husband is a direct relation of John Buchan, the author of ‘The 39 Steps’, so from June I’ll be Sandra Buchan.
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How would you like to be remembered? a As someone who put others first and worked hard to make a difference.
Positive May 2011
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Three of the Nottingham Panthers squad (seated, front) with Paws the mascot, some of the students who attended the day and their teacher.
Paws puts his print on stigma Pupils from two local schools turned out in force to take part in a full day of activities around mental health. More than 150 students came along to the event held on 29 March at the Mansfield Civic Centre. Pupils from Brunts School, Mansfield, and Ashfield School, Kirkby-in-Ashfield attended the day which kicked off with Rachel
Munton, Director, East Midlands Leadership Academy, introducing the subject of stigma and mental health. Samanya Theatre Company performed their emotional health and wellbeing play ‘Let’s Talk About It’ and the Nottingham Panthers – along with their mascot, Paws – were on hand to demonstrate the value of physical health in helping mental wellbeing. The afternoon ended with workshops and two very personal stories from service users Luke Donnelly and Joe Pogson, who had also been part of the ‘It’s OK to talk about it’ campaign at the ice stadium. The event was organised by the Early Intervention Teams in Newark and Mansfield and was part of the anti stigma
project work with the Nottingham Panthers that began at Christmas. Rachel Munton said of the event: “The day has been fun and interactive. I was impressed by the students’ interest, level of knowledge and understanding. The opportunity to discuss stigma and the young people’s willingness to listen gave the event integrity and valuable learning outcomes.” Mel Somes from the Early Intervention Team, who organised the event, said: “It was a great success. The results from the evaluation show that the young people really got a lot out of the day. I would like to thank Catherine Cheyne who supported the organisation of this event; it wouldn’t have happened without her.”
WHO WE ARE... WE NEED YOU! You may have picked up this copy of the newsletter not knowing what Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust is. We provide mental health and learning disability services for the whole of Nottinghamshire. We also manage medium-secure units in Leicester and Rotherham, and the high-secure Rampton Hospital near Retford.
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If you have any ideas or suggestions for the newsletter, please contact Suzanne Aitken in the Trust Communications Team on 0115 955 5403 or via email at suzanne.aitken@nottshc.nhs.uk We are always pleased to receive articles for possible publication, but ask that they do not exceed 300 words. If any individuals other than yourself are mentioned in what you write or featured in accompanying photographs, please make sure you check with them that they are happy to be potentially featured. Please note that the Communications Team has full editorial control and may have to edit articles appropriately. Therefore, if you want to see the final version please ensure you send your article in with plenty of time before the deadline and state clearly what you require.
If you would like copies of any past editions of Positive, or if you are having any ‘distribution issues’ with the newsletter – whether you’re receiving too many copies, too few, or none at all then please contact us. If you would like your story in the July issue of Positive, please contact us by 3 June 2011. However, due to space constraints we cannot guarantee the publication of all articles received by the deadline. Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, The Resource, Duncan MacMillan House, Porchester Road, Nottingham, NG3 6AA. Tel 0115 9691300 www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk