Positive October 2010 by Hargrave Design

Nottinghamshire Healthcare

NHS

NHS Trust

OCTOBER 2010

about mental health and learning disability

Workshops, Workouts and Wow factor!

Trust’s AGM 2010 see centre pages

NOTTINGHAM CARNIVAL LET’S BUILD PRISON ARTS AWARD ALBUM LAUNCH SPIRITUALITY AND WELLBEING CARERS’ EVENT

MESSAGE

FROM THE BOARD The Trust’s Annual General Meeting took place on 24 September and I was delighted to be part of such a fantastic day. Once again, we were overwhelmed by the support and interest this event attracts. The day was attended by staff, service users and carers and Trust members all eager to find out how we have performed over the last 12 months and what we plan to do over the coming year as we achieve Foundation Trust status. There were some truly brilliant exhibitions; well done to everyone who put so much effort into producing one of the 54 display stands. There were also a number of different activities to take part in on the day, from interactive workshops to sessions including Tag Rugby, Human Library and even Bellydancing! This AGM was the best ever. Find out more about the AGM on pages 8-9. We are very proud to have opened the Mike Harris Learning and Development Centre at Rampton Hospital. The stateof-the-art building is really impressive and will offer a great environment for training and development. As the Centre is outside of the secure area, we also hope that it will benefit not only staff, but members of the public and the local community too. See page 14 for more information and a look at the building. As you read this, we will be in the midst of Nottingham Mental Health Awareness Weeks. From 4-15 October a variety of events will be held to raise awareness of mental health and tackle the stigma associated with it. Ranging from poetry recitals, art exhibitions, and film festivals to a human library and the launch of the second service users’ CD, ‘Labels’, there really is something for everyone. Please visit the website www.nottinghammentalhealthawareness weeks.org for further details.

Clair Chilvers, Chair

Partnership delivers improved healthcare for offenders in Doncaster

Annette Laban, Chief Executive, NHS Doncaster with Mike Cooke, Trust Chief Executive, signing the contract.

The Trust, in partnership with Rethink and Nottinghamshire Community Health, is delighted to have been awarded a £45.7million contract to provide healthcare services at HMP Doncaster and associated prisons and Mike Cooke, Trust Chief Executive recently attended an official signing of the contract.

enable staff to ensure that healthcare needs are matched and treated effectively. This healthcare support will be consistent during their stay in prison and they will be supported on release back into the community with links to healthcare and housing on the outside.

Mike Cooke said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract. We’re From the end of August 2010 prisoners at excited about being part of the innovative HMPs Doncaster, Moorland and Lindholme contract approach that NHS Doncaster has taken with their vision for the delivery of (including the Immigration Removal an integrated service. We believe that it’s Centre) have been receiving the full spectrum of healthcare from the Doncaster essential to provide adequate healthcare to what is often a very disadvantaged Offender Health Partnership. This could group of people. Through working range from a simple GP check up and collaboratively with HMP Doncaster, advice on quitting smoking to therapy for Rethink and Nottinghamshire Community mental illness such as depression. Health we will provide comprehensive care When arriving at the prison each offender whilst offenders are being rehabilitated for the outside world.” will receive a healthcare screen. This will

NHS gets involved at Nottingham Carnival

Eric Adjaidoo (left) with Giles Matsell, Head of Equality and Diversity, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (right) on the NHS carnival stall. Below: Part of the carnival parade at the Forest Recreation Ground.

Mid-August saw around 80,000 people enjoying Caribbean entertainment and traditional food during the annual Caribbean Carnival at Nottingham’s Forest Recreation Ground. The carnival is two days of activities and entertainment with live performances from the main stage, music tents, workshops, funfair, and a variety of stalls – one of which was hosted this year by Trust colleagues and representatives from other NHS organisations. Eric Adjaidoo, Clinical Nurse Specialist, represented the Trust and also attended in his role as NHS ambassador. Colleagues from NHS Nottingham City and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust worked alongside him, giving out information, advice and free gifts to visitors. Keeping true to its Caribbean roots, the event ended with a showcase of dancers, dressed in stylish and flamboyant costumes, making a journey around the city accompanied by floats and music from more than 20 sound systems. “What a day,” said Eric, “I can’t wait for next year!”

Arnold Lodge cycles to health

29 August was the ideal opportunity to launch the programme as it coincided with Leicester’s Sky Ride, a national cycling event. This gave the patients a chance to put their new-found skills to the test as they got on their bikes along with staff and 12,500 other people to complete a 9km route from Abbey Park through the city centre on traffic-free roads that had been closed down especially for the event.

There was a festival atmosphere on the day with live music and celebrity appearances from TV and sports stars including Mark Dolan, Gethin Jones, Sunday 29 August was a big The Team Sky Tour de France cyclists, Tigers rugby player George day for the City of Leicester and Arnold Lodge. The Sports Chuter and Olympic swimming bronze medallist Jo Jackson.

and Leisure Team at Arnold Lodge had been working hard over the previous three months to develop a cycle programme called ‘Cycling to Health’. The programme is designed to promote and engage patients in physical activity, whilst developing their skills, knowledge and confidence about how to cycle safely. It provides the opportunity for patients to use cycles both within the Arnold Lodge grounds and in the local community.

A number of positive comments came from the patients who completed the Cycling to Health programme and took part in the Sky Ride including: “The Cycling to Health project is easy to complete and provides everything you need to be a safe cyclist” and “I really enjoyed the day and it was good to get out with staff and other patients and mix with everybody in the community.” After a successful launch the next stage is to engage as many patients in the programme as possible, and make next year’s Sky Ride an even bigger event for both staff and patients at Arnold Lodge.

Community of Interest open event The Trust’s Community of Interest for Recurrent Depression is hosting an information, education and consultation event aimed at anyone with lived experience of chronic and recurrent depression, as well as their carers, friends and families. Clinicians, commissioners and researchers are also welcome. The event, titled ‘Dealing With Recurrent Depression’, will take place on Wednesday 13 October from 1pm to 4pm in the main hall at Life @ The Centre, 22 Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham NG1 3DA. A buffet and hot drinks will be provided. Come and speak to people who know; find out about recovery resources; hear about the latest evidence-based treatments; feed back on current service provision; join the Community of Interest. A Community of Interest is a group of people with a shared interest, understanding or passion who want to work together to shape or improve services. For bookings and more information about the Community of Interest contact Mat Rawsthorne on 0115 9111657 or email mat@selfhelp.org.uk.

Paranoia group welcomes new members A new paranoia group has been set up and is looking for new members. The group is based at Middle Street Resource Centre in Beeston and is open to anyone with experience of or an interest in paranoia. For more information please contact Michael Osborne on 07890 871769 or email mike2osborne@yahoo.co.uk.

New netball group looking for members Following the success of the Nottingham netball group, Michael Osborne, Service User Volunteer, is looking into the possibility of setting up another new netball group for Trust staff and service users in either the middle or north of the county.

Left to right: James Routen, Deputy Sports & Leisure Co-ordinator, Arnold Lodge; Kelly Walker, service user; Jo Jackson, Olympic swimming bronze medallist; Lee Bailey, service user; Zack Hawksley, Sports and Leisure Assistant at Arnold Lodge.

If you would be interested in taking part please contact Michael on 07890 871769 or email mike2osborne@yahoo.co.uk.

Positive October 2010

Let’s Build awarded direct claims status The Let’s Build training resource has been awarded direct claims status by City & Guilds – a very rare achievement on a first inspection. Let’s Build became a City & Guilds accredited centre earlier this year to deliver NVQ health and social care at levels 2 and 3 and teacher training 7300 and PTTLS. Now, on its first inspection by City & Guilds, the centre has been awarded ‘direct claims’ status, meaning that the team can directly award NVQs without needing to refer decisions to City & Guilds for approval first. Let’s Build aims to provide information, training, support, and advice around drugs and alcohol issues. It provides training to

staff and volunteers working with people accessing drug and alcohol services and offers a wide range of courses that help develop the competence and confidence necessary to work with substance use. Let’s Build also facilitates consultation work around various issues relating to drugs and alcohol and attends events to provide information on drugs and alcohol. As part of the quality assurance process involved with delivering NVQs, an external moderator from City & Guilds visits Let’s Build on a regular basis. The team came away from the recent first visit with no action plans as the inspector was very happy with the delivery and organisation of the NVQs. Comments in the report included: “There was evidence of excellent support for candidates” and “the

centre is developing some excellent practice”. Let’s Build is now working with City & Guilds to deliver an NVQ specifically designed for people working with drug and alcohol users. For more information please contact the office on 01623 652743 and ask for Cath Vasey. Let’s Build’s current training programme can be found at www.letsbuild.org.uk or on the Intranet under Learning and Development. If you are interested in doing any of Let’s Build’s training or have a group of people that would like to access it please call 01623 652743 or email john.gough@nottshc.nhs.uk.

Graduation congratulations

Mick Collins at his graduation ceremony.

Congratulations go to Nurse Practitioner Mick Collins, who graduated in August with a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sheffield. Mick has been working within the Trust for the last 25 years, with a significant proportion of that time spent in forensic mental health research. He has published extensively and worked on some significant national and international research programmes. Over the last three years Mick has also been undertaking additional clinical training in cognitive behavioural therapy and has specialised in treating post traumatic stress disorder in the Trust’s Centre for Trauma Resilience and Growth. The PhD spanned more than eight years of work investigating links between trait hostility and aggression. For more about Mick Collins see this month’s ‘Q&A’ article on page 11.

Special interest group promotes shared learning and development The Trent occupational therapists learning disabilities special interest group is bringing together occupational therapy learning disability teams from around the Trent region to promote sharing and learning from each others’ experiences and ideas. The special interest group is an official locality group recognised by the College of Occupational Therapy’s

Specialist Section – People with Learning Disabilities (COTSSPLD). Meetings takes place four times a year and last for around two hours. The meetings are held open to occupational therapy learning disability teams across the Trent region (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire) and venues are rotated around each locality.

and share research projects and findings, assessment tools and care pathways. It also provides peer support and promotes continual professional development opportunities. Some group members have recently developed a practice placement education tool which will be highly beneficial to therapists taking on students.

The group provides a forum to network and exchange ideas

“The meeting is really valuable and essential to the

development of both national and local services,” said Gemma Simkin, Occupational Therapist, City East Community Learning Disability Team. The group has recently been fortunate enough to obtain funding for three occupational therapists to attend the National Conference for COTSS-PLD to further recent discussions on the future of the specialist occupational therapy role within learning disabilities.

Trust service users recognised in prison arts awards Trust service users have won no fewer than 58 awards in this year’s Koestler Trust prison art awards.

Each year experts from the various fields volunteer their time to judge the entries. Every entrant is sent a participation certificate, most get feedback on their work, and a quarter win cash prizes up to £100. The awards have a profound impact on offenders’ self-esteem, often

The Nice Try! Tag Rugby League will be launched on Friday 22 October at the Nice Try! Festival of Rugby. The Festival invites service users, carers and members of the public of all abilities to join in this fun, non-contact version of the sport. The event will be held at Paviours Rugby Club at Burntstump Park between 11am and 3pm. To book your place by the closing date of 15 October please contact Lisa Evans on 0115 969 1300 ext 10507 or lisa.evans@nottshc.nhs.uk.

The Koestler Trust is the UK's best-known prison arts charity. It has been awarding, exhibiting and selling artworks by offenders, detainees and secure patients for 47 years. Its annual awards receive over 5,000 entries a year, inspiring offenders to take part in the arts, work for achievement and transform their lives. The entries come in 52 artforms including creative writing, employment projects, film, graphic design, music, needlework, painting and drawing, photography and sculpture. Winning entries from the Trust’s service users included weaving, photography, music, papier mâché, fiction, stage play, painting, drawing, needlecraft, woodcraft, graphic design, fashion, and film.

Book your place and practice your catching for the Nice Try! Festival of Rugby

leading them to positive new directions in life. Simon Balmer, Technical Instructor, Wathwood Hospital, said: “The Koestler awards provide patients with a real opportunity to showcase their talents. Many of our patients come to us with little or no creative experience. To see the amount of pride and sense of achievement they get from their own work being recognised and acknowledged is immense. “For many patients, working towards the award is a real turning point and in their own words they feel that they are not just ‘doing art’, they now

Top: “Sheep Dog” by Con Care art group – silver award (mosaic). Middle: “Net Huts” by Leon Jobling – platinum award (ceramic).

have a real purpose and something to aspire to. Some patients have spoken of this being the first time in their lives that it has been acknowledged that they have done something to be proud of.” In this year’s awards service users from Arnold Lodge received 21 awards; Rampton Hospital won 30; Wathwood Hospital took five and two went to the Wells Road Centre. Congratulations to everyone who took part.

“Terrace” by Lee Yarrow – platinum award (ceramic). This piece also won the Dick Dowdall commended award and will be exhibited in London at the South Bank Centre, along with 145 other art works shortlisted from 5,619 submitted pieces.

Positive October 2010

Releasing Time to Care: final cohorts update Following last month’s progress update on the Releasing Time to Care project, this month we update you on cohorts two, three and four.

project in November 2009. It has embedded the foundation modules and process module leads have engaged colleagues in standardising ward round and medicines processes. Teams on A43 and A44 are enabling patients to use cooking facilities to promote healthy meals, choice and recovery principles. A43 has finished a games room and is driving forward the therapeutic interventions module in direct response to patient feedback. ‘Protected time’ continues to be successful on A43, ensuring patients have daily protected time with the nursing team and uninterrupted mealtimes.

All wards in cohort two have completed the initial facilitation. The Learning Disability Services Assessment and Treatment Unit has redesigned its ward office and now has purpose-built shelving and work areas in its storage rooms. It is working on the safe and supportive observations module and has completed the meals module, as has Daybrook. Bronte Ward has progressed with A44 has designed a ward vision and ‘patient the handover module and will pilot a display status at a glance’ board, providing board to keep clinical information available. immediate access to information. It has introduced a daily breakfast meeting to plan In cohort three, the Queen’s Medical Centre activities and increased its direct patient care time by 27%. (QMC) A42 assessment ward started the

CLAHRC update Graeme Currie has confirmed that he is leaving his role as Director of CLAHRC - NDL (Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care – Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire) with effect from 1 January 2011 to take up a position at Warwick Business School.

In the two years with the CLAHRC, Graeme has led the team in the development of a robust business and organisational development model which will, in time, see the evidence of research being followed through into clear, evidence based practice. Diffusion fellows are already taking much of the learning into their organisations. The CLAHRC is now moving to greater mobilisation of the workstreams and engagement with partners, systems and structures. The emphasis now is on clinical results and so the intent is to seek a new Director

to continue with the work already established and to take clinical, practice based developments forward.

Graeme commented: “I would like to give my personal thanks to the CLAHRC Board and Mike Cooke in particular, as Chair, for his personal and professional support, encouragement and leadership, as we bid for, gained support for and mobilised the CLAHRC. I am sure Mike will continue to be an important element of the CLAHRC’s success, with his progressive and distributed style of leadership.” Mike also commented: ”Graeme takes with him our best wishes for the next stage of his career. He has developed the CLARHC to a point where real impacts can be felt in clinical practice – I look forward to working with his successor to make sure that patients, service users and carers all benefit from the service improvements that this great research function can bring.”

In cohort four, Dovecote Lane is the first residential team to start the programme. The team has embraced ‘well organised ward’ concepts to become clutter-free, well signed, bright and welcoming. As a direct result of the therapeutic interventions module residents now have two planned activities every day. B2 at Bassetlaw has used the ward community meeting to maintain involvement and generate ideas. The Mother & Baby Unit at QMC has used safety crosses to evidence ward activity and the team is working on the process module admissions and discharge. The Mother & Baby Unit displays results of its own inpatient survey, visually articulating improvements in patient experience. Look out in next month’s Positive for a review of the benefits and challenges of the Releasing Time to Care project.

Art therapy ‘invest to innovate’ project success An art therapy project known as ‘Invest to Innovate’ has been hailed a success. The project ran from January 2009 to September 2010 and offered art therapy to service users within the Trust’s Learning Disability Directorate. The treatment was tailored to the needs of individual service users and the project engaged specifically with service users referred to the Community Assessment and Treatment Team North and the Newark Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT). The aims of the project were to: • Measure and evidence the effectiveness of art therapy over a long term period for adults with a learning disability within the Trust. • Make recommendations about the effectiveness of a specialist art therapy service in the future. • Improve access to psychological therapies and increase the opportunities available to people who access the learning disability service. Art therapy is the use of art materials as a means of self-expression and self-reflection within a professional relationship with a trained art therapist, and in the context of a therapeutic or treatment setting. It can be particularly helpful to people who find it difficult to express their thoughts and feelings verbally.

Service users’ album to launch at city centre record store

Wathwood Hospital produce carers’ DVD Wathwood Hospital Carers’ Forum has produced a DVD aimed at carers of newly admitted patients. The short 12-minute film features carers sharing their experiences; a staff nurse giving his view about the importance of carers being involved; professionals discussing the important role of the Carers’ Forum and carers talking about positive outcomes of care received from Wathwood. Carers of newly admitted patients will now be given a copy of the DVD along with other welcome information to help them cope with some of the difficulties associated with the admission of their relative and encourage their positive engagement with the care team. Wathwood Hospital has also appointed a part time carers support worker, funded through The National Institute

for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), who will work with carers to promote their involvement in patient care and to provide them with valuable support and information. “I think the DVD is a really good and genuine product,” said Steve Ball, General Manager at Wathwood. “I hope it will give reassurance and hope to carers, supplementing our other programmed carer engagement activity.” Copies of the DVD are available on request from Sally Morris, Social Worker at Wathwood Hospital. Contact Sally on 01709 870835.

The involvement of art therapy in CAT North and Newark CLDT enriched the teams by providing a psychological therapy which is accessible in ways that a verbal therapy is not. Clients were able to express and communicate their feelings safely. As clients made progress in the therapy its positive effects were recognised by themselves, carers, families and referrers. Art therapy has improved access to psychological therapies and increased the opportunities available to people who access the Learning Disability Service. The response to the ‘Invest to Innovate’ project from professionals, carers and referrers was overwhelmingly positive. They believe that art therapy is an important and relevant service within learning disabilities, which benefited clients who worked with the therapist. Of those clients who responded to a feedback questionnaire, 80% felt that art therapy had helped them a lot; the other 20% felt it had helped them some of the time.

I Art Therapy in Action Client ‘C’ was able to use his art therapy sessions to explore past experiences through his art work which were often too difficult for him to express in words. ‘C’ described his art therapy sessions as a place where he could ‘get stuff out’. Putting his past experiences on paper allowed him to think about and express his feelings about what

had happened in the past. He was able to reflect and demonstrate some insight into his current difficulties and behaviours as he began to make sense of what happened in the past. ‘C’ increasingly grew in confidence within the sessions as the therapy progressed and he began to feel more comfortable trying out new art materials and techniques.

“Attractive, bright and bold,” are the words used by Anti-Stigma Campaign Manager Jonathan Wright to describe the piece of artwork voted to be the cover of Positive Note Records’ second album, ‘Labels’. A number of pieces of artwork by artists who access services across the Trust were displayed in the Involvement Centre in Duncan Macmillan House. The winning piece, by Nicola Page, was selected following a vote by executives, staff and services users. “It’s a lovely surprise to be chosen,” said Nicola, who, after a diagnosis of depression five years ago, got involved with art via mental health services. “People with mental health problems experience some really horrible labels, but by meeting other service users I found that there are many lovely ones too. That’s what I tried to show with my artwork.” ‘Labels’ follows the debut album ‘Music is what feelings sound like’, which was launched during Mental Health Weeks last October. It features songs by musicians from across the Trust who have accessed mental health services. “Last year the theme of stigma was subtle,” said Jonathan, who had the idea to produce the albums. “This year it’s more overt. The album promotes equality, it’s very diverse, and it aims to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health.” Musicians have been performing their tracks at a number of live shows across the Trust, including Worksop’s new and improved library, the HUB. The HUB performance, hosted by Trax FM, takes place on Thursday 14 October, shortly after the album’s premiere on 7 October at the Fopp record store in Nottingham. Jonathan was delighted with the venue for the launch, saying: “It’s not a mental health place; it’s an actual music venue. It gets the message of anti-stigma out into the mainstream.” “We’re inside, not on the roof,” he continued. “It’s one better than The Beatles!” Look out in next month’s Positive for more about the album launch.

Positive September 2010

AGM demonstrates Alignment, Ability and Agility

he theme for this year’s AGM was Aligned, Able and Agile and that was demonstrated in a wide variety of ways, with 426 delegates made up of service users, carers, partners, the voluntary sector and staff coming together in a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere at the Trent Vineyard in Nottingham. Numbers this year were restricted, due to increased financial pressures, and a more public facing event; but that did not stop the enthusiasm of everyone involved – in whatever capacity. The Exhibition stands were genuinely creative and informative – with greater secrecy from all the Teams in advance of this year’s event. This made the judging much more exciting and Professor Clair Chilvers, the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Amanda Farr and Eimear Strong, Staff Governor Member took over an hour to visit each and every stand – being

accosted on the way with offerings from the Trust’s Catering Team, with pastries and then canapés on offer. All this in advance of a beautiful hot and cold buffet, showcasing the Trust’s excellent catering facilities. Delegates were also able to take part in a range of interactive workshops including a Human Library, Healthy Lifestyles and Individual Placement and Support workshops. The formal part of the day began with an introduction from Professor Clair Chilvers who introduced the format of the event and formally acknowledged the newly elected Governor Members, who were seated, along with the

Trust Board, at the front of the Auditorium. The new Members’ Council will play an important part in shaping the services that the Trust delivers to the communities it serves. Ruth Hawkins, Director of Finance and Performance, then delivered a review of 2009/2010 – and formally published the Annual Report and Accounts. This creatively produced document, illustrated by portraits of staff, service users and carers tells the story – in scrap book style – of highlights and key events of the year. It is accompanied by the Annual Involvement Report and the Quality Report. The three documents are available to download from the Trust’s website and in hard copy on request. Mike Cooke, Chief Executive, then introduced some examples of excellence that he had noted through the year. Dr Adarsh Kaul presented on the developments within Prison in Reach services and the positive impact these have had on patients with high levels of satisfaction reported. Dr Kaul also highlighted key achievements throughout the year including the team’s

Exhibition Judging Results: 1. Equality and Diversity 2. Dieticians – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Adult Mental Health and Learning Disability 3. BME Mentoring Group

others. Mike also spoke about the golden thread of high quality leadership running throughout the organisation, our future Foundation Trust status, innovation and recovery, and how we all have a part to play in the exciting and challenging times ahead.

Judging the exhibitions

selection as regional winners in the Health and Social Care Awards 2009 and finalists in the Health Service Journal’s Mental Health Innovation Award 2009. Jo Horsley and Rob Rodgers from the County Recovery Group gave an insightful overview of Recovery within the Trust, emphasising that recovery is

not about cure but about reaching your potential, and the importance of partnership working and a person centred approach that is inclusive and holistic. Finally, Steve Williamson, Project Lead for the Releasing Time to Care project, introduced a short film about the Releasing Time to Care project, including views from service users and staff about its many benefits and how this has increased direct patient care. Mike Cooke then set the AGM’s ‘Aligned, Able and Agile’ theme in context, outlining how the Trust is Aligned – we have direction with purpose, Able – we deliver consistently, and Agile – we can respond, with and for

The formal part of the AGM was concluded with a thought-provoking performance from the Samanya Theatre Company, focusing on two young people’s experiences of different mental health problems. The performance was introduced by Vicky Baldwin, Education and Practice Consultant at the Institute of Mental Health, who explained the context of the performance, exploring triggers, coping strategies and support networks. The emotional health and wellbeing project is being delivered by the Samanya Theatre Company, in partnership with the Trust and the Institute of Mental Health, through one hour drama performances in secondary schools. Thank you to everyone who participated in making the event a success. Feedback received has been very positive, with comments including: ‘It was a great day’, ‘It was brilliant’ and ‘The whole day was enlightening and informative’.

Positive October 2010

Main: The group at work creating their pieces; Inset: Nicola Page’s artwork, showing a brightly coloured front but a grey ‘brain’ back section.

“I’m fine”

Nicola Page is a service user who took part in the project. She writes about her experience: I suffer from depression and my first session on this project was a nightmare for various reasons. Given my mood I decided I’d like to produce something based on the helmets we’d seen, wishing that it was possible to somehow put a physical barrier between my brain and those things that tip my depression out of control. However, as the weeks passed, my mood stabilised and the idea for my work evolved.

Public exhibition of service users’ textile artwork Visitors to Nottingham’s Brewhouse Yard Museum can view an exhibition of textile artwork created by a group of service users from the Trust’s Social Inclusion and Wellbeing Service. Organisers Jacqui Hudson-Scott and Yvette Deverill (both occupational therapy technical instructors) worked with the museum’s curator to identify a small number of artefacts from many that are usually kept in storage for the students to use as inspiration. Local textile artist Nadim Chaudry then led a series of six workshops during the summer, in which the students were encouraged to work with ideas around mental health and the way in which many people protect themselves emotionally from life and from hurt to create pieces of textile art. The resulting work is now on display in the Brewhouse Yard Museum along with the artefacts and notebooks showing the students’ research and progress throughout the workshops. The exhibition will be on display until November 2010. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

10 14

“I’m fine” is often my response to the question, “how are you doing?”. Like many other depressives who say it, I’m not actually fine at all. My wretched illness is a constant, exhausting drain, both mentally and physically. Days when I’m “fine” are the days I have the strength in body and spirit to put on the outward façade of normality. Hence the front of the piece I created is bright and cheerful, although the eyes are covered, so no-one could look too closely to see what lies behind. It’s the ‘face’, the metaphorical armour of pretending you’re OK and hoping no-one chips away at the front you’re putting on. But at the back still lies the no man’s land of depression, a brain that’s often black and bleak. Very early on in my depression I discovered the power of creative activities in helping to manage my illness but this is the first time I have produced something directly inspired by my illness and it has been very rewarding and cathartic.

Landmark partnership for Institute Delegates to next month’s Foundation Anniversary Lunch of the Institute of Mental Health will be able to hear more about its new partnership agreement with the Centre for Mental Health (formerly the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health). The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this year to lay out the groundwork for forging a closer alliance in years ahead and making the best use of shared resources.

q&a

What is your job title and what does your role entail? a I have recently changed roles and am working as a CBT therapist in the Bassetlaw Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service.

How long have you been with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust? a This is my 25th year.

This month we chat with Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) Mick Collins

What do you see as your priorities for Nottinghamshire Healthcare? a To highlight the importance and utilisation of evidence derived from research in clinical practice and also to help clinicians improve their professional status through research.

What is your employment background? a I qualified as a mental health nurse, working in Rampton Hospital. I then went on to spend 15 years in clinical forensic research. Latterly I have been extending my clinical skills training in CBT and working predominantly in the Trust’s Centre for Trauma.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given? a Someone once told me this quote from Reinhold Niebuhr, an American theologian: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference”.

q What was the last CD you bought? a Blood of the Nations by Accept. q What is your greatest achievement? a Gaining my PhD and seeing much of my research work utilised to strengthen evidence based practice for patients and staff.

Sean Duggan, Joint Chief Executive of the Centre for Mental Health, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, will be speaking at the event which takes place at The University of Nottingham on Wednesday 3 November. He will join a number of local and national speakers to explore the theme of partnership working. As a prestigious and expanding research organisation, the Institute is able to bring to the partnership substantial academic skills and resources. In turn the Centre for Mental Health is a highly respected third sector think tank with a strong network

q What makes you angry? a Discourtesy. q What are you most passionate about? a Clinically relevant research that is utilised

q What three words would you use to describe yourself? a Compassionate, committed and focused.

for the benefit of patients and staff. And not forgetting playing rock guitar with our band ‘Redemption’.

q What is your favourite holiday destination? a The Greek island of Ithaca.

q Who would you take to a desert island? a My wife.

What single thing would improve your working life at Nottinghamshire Healthcare? a The last three years have been fairly uncertain for me so I would have to say ‘stability’.

q What is your favourite hobby? a Playing rock guitar.

q Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time? a I would like to think that I will be in a role that makes the best use of my research and clinical skills.

q What keeps you awake at night? a Not following the good advice in my

q Do you have a ‘claim to fame’? a A couple of my major published

answer to question 5.

research projects are recognised nationally and internationally and utilised widely in this context.

q What is your favourite film? a Aces High. q What is your idea of bliss? a A late summer evening by the sea relaxing in a taverna on a quiet Greek island.

of links both politically and among leaders and practitioners in the mental health field across the UK and abroad. Sean Duggan added: “I am delighted that the Centre is working together with the Institute of Mental Health to achieve better life chances for people with mental health problems in the UK. Our two organisations have a lot in common and there remains much to do to ensure people with mental health problems get a fair chance in life. The Institute’s high academic research standards, and our focus on informing policy and practice with good evidence, create a perfect partnership for future work between us.”

q How would you like to be remembered? a It would be good to think that I had made a positive difference for people.

Professor Mike Cooke, Trust Chief Executive, commented: “I am excited to be a part of this collaboration. Bringing together knowledge, research and academic skills with the practical knowhow to implement such resources can only be of benefit to the one in four people in the country who experience mental ill-health.” If you are interested in attending the Institute of Mental Health’s Foundation Anniversary Lunch, please contact Lorna Viikna on 0115 823 1301 or email lorna.viikna@nottshc.nhs.uk.

Positive October 2010

Focus on spirituality and wellbeing

A spirituality and wellbeing event in August was so well received that the organisers are now making plans to repeat a similar event on a regular basis. The idea came about as Des Haigh, Deputy Team Leader at 35 Dovecote Lane, saw how well one of his service users was supported by the congregation at the church he attended. Des met with the church’s minister and began to work with Katja Milner, Trust Spirituality Healthcare Worker, and Support Worker Helen Baxter to explore good work already going on in the area of spirituality and consider how it could be taken forward. The group decided to set up sessions open to anyone whatever their beliefs, religious or spiritual background, to reflect, share and celebrate their unique spirit together. To offer an opportunity to sample the planned sessions and to assess interest, they put together a ‘trial’ event. Central to the day was a spiritual reflective, meditational workshop. Alongside it ran music and circus skills workshops and

complementary therapy sessions. Displays provided information on spirituality, life story and food and mood. Katja Milner ran the reflection workshop. She said: “We reflected on the theme of appreciation – both for aspects in our lives and also for aspects in ourselves. I facilitated a visualisation to help people reflect on this and then invited people to write on a tag something they were thankful for and something they felt they could give. These could be very small and simple things. Then people went up to the pear tree one by one and tied their tags to it. They were invited to say a little prayer or blessing or make a wish or intention as they did so. “The day was a great opportunity to bring people together to be outdoors, to eat, drink, mingle, celebrate, find out information and try out some fun, challenging, reflective or relaxing activities. I think these are the things which really are central to many people’s wellbeing or spirituality; being together with others, friendship and connection, being nurtured on all levels – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.”

Inset: Service user Michael Limerick from Dovecote Lane, Beeston, tried his hand at drumming. Above: Tags hanging on the pear tree.

Health Informatics Update – Change to Microsoft Office home use licences Many of you will be aware that historically NHS staff were able to obtain Microsoft software licences, primarily Microsoft Office, for use at home. This was known as the Microsoft Home User Program and was a privilege gained under the terms and conditions of the NHS Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft. It has been widely reported in the press that the NHS has not renewed this agreement; this is correct. For the majority of the Microsoft software we use at work the non renewal makes little or no difference. We simply lose the ability to

International links for women’s service A group of Trust colleagues flew out to Canada in May to facilitate a workshop titled ‘Promoting positive risk reduction through systemic change: The delivery of the Trauma and Self Injury Programme for women in a high secure healthcare setting’. The group from the Trauma and Self Injury Programme Steering Group from the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women, Rampton Hospital, attended the 10th annual conference of the International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services in Vancouver. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) funded programme uses an adapted risk reduction approach. Level 1 looks at proactive ways of

promoting understanding through staff training and patient education; level 2 involves collaborative working in a positive therapeutic milieu so that the women can manage their distress and urges to self injure in non life threatening ways; level 3 increases individual and group therapies for trauma and self injury such as dialectical behaviour therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, cognitive analytic therapy and eye movement desensitisation reprocessing. The conference audience

included professionals working with women in Canada, America, the UK and Norway. The workshop provoked lively debate about the management of self injury including an adapted risk reduction approach. Links have since been established to share practice and the team intends to maintain and develop these links. The group also provided information to interested visitors on the National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women display stand at the Trust’s AGM.

The presenters at the conference in Vancouver. Left to right: Dr Sue Elcock, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist; Christine Millburn, Nurse Consultant; Jane Jones, Specialist Nursing Practitioner; Dr Phyllis Annesley, Consultant Clinical Psychologist.

upgrade the licensed Microsoft software to the latest versions and have to locally purchase this software in future rather than it being paid for centrally. However, for those of you who did obtain home use software (which almost certainly would have been Microsoft Office 2003 or Office 2007), if you read the licence agreement you will know that with the termination of the NHS-wide licence agreement you no longer have the right to retain and use this software.

Despite the termination of the NHS Enterprise Agreement, Microsoft continues, for the time being, to offer the NHS Resource Centre (www.microsoft.com/uk/nhs), which has various offers as well as e-learning for many IT skills orientated towards the needs of the NHS.

Unfortunately, the HIS cannot offer any advice as to what applications you should choose to use to replace your Microsoft Office software. However, you can purchase Microsoft software at the full cost. Alternatively, there are many The Health Informatics Service (HIS) is 'freeware' applications that claim to offer obliged to advise you to remove any copies comparable functionality that you may of the software that you have installed on personal equipment. Clearly the HIS is not in wish to consider. A good place to start a position, nor is required, to physically check your research would be to put "Microsoft Office clone" into a search engine, but that you have uninstalled the software, but remember that Microsoft does electronically remember there is no guarantee of full compatibility and our Service Desk cannot check the licence when the product help resolve any issues that may arise. undertakes routine automatic updates.

Success celebrated at CLAHRC-NDL conference More than 250 delegates attended the CLAHRC-NDL annual conference in Nottingham in September – and now highlights of the event are available to view online. CLAHRC-NDL stands for Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care with the centre covering Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. It is housed within the Institute of Mental Health and aims to speed up the process of getting research into practice. The conference placed the spotlight on areas where the involvement of CLAHRC-NDL is making a real difference to services through its applied research and implementation studies. It also considered other topics such as how local health communities can become active ‘communities of practice’. Visitors to the www.clahrcndl.nihr.ac.uk website can view the conference video and download the new CLAHRC-NDL newsletter which contains all the latest stories on major research areas and the impact being made. Articles cover a range of areas including: •Helping to prevent depression in adolescents •Assisting people with mental health difficulties to find employment •Addressing the lack of information on psychological problems following personal injury •Innovative approaches to supporting patients who have had a stroke •Reviewing research into tackling health inequalities •Overcoming barriers about getting research into practice. Find out more about CLAHRCNDL by visiting the website, calling 0115 823 1253 or emailing clahrc@nottingham.ac.uk.

Positive October 2010

Mike Harris Learning and Development Centre now open

he Mike Harris Learning and Development Centre has opened at Rampton Hospital, offering a bright, state of the art centre for training and conferences. The centre, built at a cost of £3.5 million, is named after Dr Mike Harris, the Trust’s Executive Director with responsibility for the Forensic Division. Mike, who has managed Rampton Hospital since 2001, has played an important part in the development of the Trust as the leading provider of forensic mental health services in the country.

The centre has five separate fully air conditioned training rooms, which can be combined for multi use, and boasts a conference room with high spec audio visual provision, ergonomically designed seating and flexible table arrangements. A full catering menu is available on request at competitive rates. The centre is also the base for the largest forensic library in the country. It is stocked with a range of books and periodicals exemplifying Rampton Hospital’s leading status as provider of three national services.

The Mike Harris Learning and Development Centre has been designed with the environment in mind and will continue to deliver ecologically sustainable services wherever possible. One third of the centre’s energy is taken from renewable energy resources. The centre will also host a range of art work, with exhibitions drawing from the wide portfolio of work from the patient group at Rampton and local artists. Mike Harris commented: “It’s usual for a new building to be named after someone who has died or is retiring but I am planning on neither of those yet! I am immensely proud of this new building and the facilities that we can now provide for our staff and indeed the local community. I look forward to the centre becoming a popular and effective conference venue, with its wide variety of potential uses.”

Top: the outside of the building. Above: the library. Right: one of the training rooms.

Newark carer, family and friends event a success Enright Close Community Rehabilitation Unit hosted a successful carer, family and friends afternoon in August. The event was organised in partnership with carer/family work champions from the Newark area and service user and carer volunteers from Rosewood Involvement Centre. The occasion had two aims: to inform carers, family and friends of services currently available in the Newark area and to find out what services carers, family and friends would like to see developed. To achieve the first aim representatives from voluntary agencies, the local authority’s carer assessment team, the county’s newly developed family interventions service and the Trust were all on hand to talk about services available. Carer and service user volunteers from Rosewood Involvement Centre also spoke

about opportunities for involvement within the Trust. A ‘tree of hope’ was used to help achieve the second aim. Carers, family and friends were asked to write their hopes or wishes on leaves and place them on the tree of hope. Some of the wishes included: • A carer support group in the local area. • A carer support worker post to be established. • Respite care to be brought back into the Trust. • One of these events annually in Newark and Mansfield areas (staff from the Mansfield area are already planning a similar event). • Someone to tell carers, friends and family about medication. Jane Lord, Manager of Enright Close, said: “We now know what carers, family and friends want, so let’s move forward with this without delay.”

Ingrid Hunt, carer, places a leaf on the tree of hope, while carer Jean Astle looks on.

Feedback showed that the day was an overwhelming success, with much laughter and chatter in a really relaxed environment. One carer said: “It’s just so good to feel valued for the care that I give to my loved one and also to feel listened to and heard.” For any further information please contact Joan McKenzie (Enright Close) on 01636 702719, Jo Fuller (Meden Ward) on 01623 784776, Sarah Blaydes (Rosewood Involvement Centre) on 01623 835210 or Andrea Emmens (Family Interventions Service) on 01909 502068.

Interview skills training – a first for learning disabilities A group of learning disability service users and carers has been signed up to take part in the Trust’s interview process after completing a four-day training course. The Employment and Resourcing Interview Forum is well established in the Trust and provides experienced interview panel members to drive the Trust initiative to involve carers and service users in interviews. As part of this initiative, Learning Disability Services has run a course for service users and their carers about how to interview for staff. The course took place over four weeks at The Rosewood Involvement Centre. It included equality and diversity training (delivered by Catherine Conchar) and broke down the essential components of an interview, person specifications and questions including how to structure, ask and score them. The course was

well evaluated by the attendees who said they liked the role play and interactive nature of the days. Paul Theed, Matron, said: “What made it for me was hearing someone say it was the first course she had been on where she had fully understood what was going on.”

A second course in Nottingham is already full and there is a waiting list for a third. A refresher day is planned for trainees to come and share experiences and refresh skills. Thanks go to all the trainers: Paul Theed, Deb Blinkhorn, Catherine Conchar, Paul Robinson, Jane Danforth, Michelle Persaud and Mary Bickford Smith.

Deb Blinkhorn, HR Recruitment and For course details contact Paul Theed on Team Leader, commented: “It is rewarding to see that people were able 0115 9770000 ext 12140 or email paul.theed@nottshc.nhs.uk. to participate fully in the training sessions and have had the opportunity to put their learning into practice.” Michelle Persaud, Associate Director of Nursing (Local Services), presented the certificates and told the group that she would like them to be involved in the recruitment for a senior post she was advertising. Each trainee also received a training folder with accessible information for future use. The participants came up with their own methods to score and record.

The successful service users with trainers and support workers.

Positive October 2010

Work experience with the Communications Team My name is Holly Wilson. I am 18, and after participating in an anti-stigma postcard campaign with the Trust to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, I was given the opportunity to work in the Communications Department in the Trust on work experience for a week.

Poetry corner Service user Lynda Marriott wrote this poem as an expression of her internal feelings whilst an inpatient “to show that mental illness is nothing to be afraid of and that people with a mental illness are not bad people but are simply unwell.”

During this week I carried out many tasks including writing a press release, creating blurbs for ‘books’ in the Human Library, making leaflets for various areas of the Trust and taking part in a live interview on BBC Radio Nottingham to talk about the anti-stigma campaign. I also learnt about the important work the Communications Department does and its on-going anti-stigma work. I was given a crash course in shorthand, wrote an article for Positive magazine, and attended a ‘Catch Up with Cooke’ session at Manor House in Gedling, where staff had the chance to talk to Mike Cooke, Trust Chief Executive. I really enjoyed my week with the Communications Team, especially being able to write for Positive, as I am going to pursue a career in journalism. I am very grateful to the Communications Team for allowing me to join them for a week, and also for asking me to contribute to the campaign. Thank you Comms! Holly is preparing for a creative writing degree, with an ambition to one day write for The Guardian. She has bipolar disorder and has been self-harming for several years. In a difficult childhood this behaviour has led to stays in hospital, but now she has it under control. Holly is one of the faces featured in the Trust’s new range of anti-stigma postcards.

Me! In a police cell, I cannot believe. What has this come to, my drinking must cease. Handcuffs and restraints, they hurt let me say. I need to take stock, this is not the right way. Dignity lost, it’s cold and it’s bleak, No comfy pillows and satin bed sheets. Just misery, pain, hospitals next Read your reports and get all of the facts. I’ve been ill for a long time I just didn’t know, I certainly do now sat here in this cell. I’m mouthy and violent; I know it’s the drink, I’ve hours, no days, now to sit here and think. No more overdoses, self harming or drink. I pray ward B2 will teach me to think. Positive thoughts I will cling to like glue I get so confused, don’t know what to do. Pick up the phone not the bottle or knife, Learn how to live, have a quality life. Do something each day for somebody else. Count blessings, not tablets, the feelings will pass. God in your wisdom heal my body and mind. Cleanse me and love me one day at a time. I’ll do my utmost to be a vessel for you, Little by little one day at a time Every hour, every minute, my will will be thine. No more resistance, my life in your hands Heal my sick mind only you understand. I bow at the cross, lay it at your feet. No more losing, declaring defeat. I’ll climb my own mountain one step at a time, No more sickness I will do my best I know in my journey I’ll be put to the test. Onwards and upwards that’s the way it will be. I’ll prove to my loved ones there’s strength still in me. A friend and a mother, a nanny, the best. Last chance saloon, you opened your doors, You’re not needed now, it’s time for a pause. I won’t hold my breath yet but just watch this space I deserve to be part of this old human race I’ll give it my all I owe that to me And then soar like an eagle and fly away free.

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 January issue of Positive, please contact us by 10 December 2010. 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