Spring 2017 – Issue 28

Trust receives CQC rating of ‘Good’

There was an air of anticipation across Trust Chief Executive, Tracy Taylor, said, “We reflects the huge efforts of every single the Trust in the days leading to the are delighted that the Trust has been assessed member of our staff. The CQC made announcement, on Friday 17th February, as ‘good’ following a re-inspection of our strong positive comment on our care and of the outcome of the Care Quality services, and that the excellent work of our compassion, all of which makes me proud to Commission (CQC) announcement of its staff has been recognised. represent this Trust.” second inspection. So there was much elation when the Trust received official The outcome of the CQC inspection is The full CQC report is available on the notification that it had been awarded a fantastic news for our staff, partners and Trust’s website: www.bcpft.nhs.uk rating of ‘good’. importantly the people who use our services. The Trust Board is extremely proud of the The CQC’s report provided detail of the continued determination and commitment rating including a rating of good across all of our staff, who work tirelessly to ensure domains of the inspection – safe; well-led; improvements are made. caring; effective and responsive, leading to the overall rating of ‘good’ I am particularly proud of the feedback received from CQC inspectors in respect of The CQC noted that there had been the caring nature of our staff, and the way improvements across services since its last in which people are treated with dignity and inspection, and highlighted a number of respect. CQC recognition of these factors is outstanding examples of compassionate a testament to the dedication and hard work care in teams for adults of working age, and demonstrated everyday by our staff.” specialist community mental health teams for children and young people, where the Mel Passmore, Lead Governor, said, “I’m service was rated ‘outstanding’. really pleased to hear that we have been rated ‘good’ by the CQC. This is welcome comfort for people across the who rely on our services because they can be confident they will receive safe, quality care. Equally their carers, parents and referring agencies can be assured of the high levels of care provided. In this issue... We have a dedicated workforce that work Research helping our patients...... hard every day to ensure that people using Spotlight on children’s P4 our services receive the best possible care, services in ...... and for this to be recognised by the CQC Introducing our new Head of PIEE...... P6-7 New alcohol and drug awareness group..... P9 If you have a story contact P11 the Communications Team on 0121 612 8032 Looking after the health and wellbeing of our staff

Tuesday 31st January saw over 50 staff The advice and information I have been visiting the Beeches at Penn Hospital, provided with has certainly prompted me Wolverhampton to take advantage of the to increase the number of days I use my opportunity to get a health check and treadmill, and hopefully this will get me on information about various benefits on offer the right track to get fitter.” to staff. Gill Hunt, Smarter Choices Officer at The day provided a range of health and Transport , was encouraging wellbeing information being offered staff to make more use of public transport internally from Trust teams including: with the offer of discounted travel cards, Human Resources, Staff Support whilst Parmjit Dhillon, representing Services, Wolverhampton Healthy Minds, Health Exchange, offered staff advice and Occupational Health, and Diversity information about smoking cessation, and and Spirituality, and externally from Michelle Blanchard from Quorn, offered Wolverhampton Healthy Lifestyles, Transport advice about healthy eating encouraging West Midlands, Evans Cycles representing attendees by offering samples of some of Connected Benefits, Quorn and Health her tasty recipes. Exchange. Angie Dunkley, Human Resources Advisor, Wolverhampton Healthy Lifestyles offered said: “I’m really pleased with the number of full health checks to staff which included: people who have attended our event today. reviewing weight, cholesterol levels, blood It’s really important that we encourage and pressure, eating well and exercise. support our workforce to look after their health and wellbeing and encourage a good Andrew Chapani, Team Manager, was just work-life balance. Feedback has been really one member of staff who took advantage positive and we will certainly be looking to of the health check commenting afterwards, replicate today’s event at other sites across “I’m really pleased that I came along today. the Trust over the coming months.”

Trust to be smokefree by December 2017

The National Institute for Health and Care Joyce Fletcher, Interim Executive Director of Excellence (NICE) published guidance which Nursing, AHPs and Governance said: “We are recommends that all hospital sites, including pleased to be launching our countdown to mental health hospitals, should be totally becoming a smokefree organisation, and feel smokefree. BCPFT has taken some strides to that our implementation date of December is achieving this target by introducing smokefree a good target date. working environments. However, we now need to work on the introduction of totally As a NHS body we have a duty to be a smokefree buildings and grounds. health-promoting organisation, improving people’s physical health as well as their mental The introduction of smokefree buildings and wellbeing. Evidence shows that people with grounds will have an impact on everyone mental health conditions die on average visiting any of the Trust’s sites because to 10-20 years earlier than the rest of our achieve our target date of December 2017 to population and smoking is the largest single become a smokefee Trust, we will be phasing cause of this gap, so we must do more to in smokefree sites during the coming months. support people to quit.” The programme of phasing has not yet been finalised but details will be publicised as soon If you would like information about as they are agreed. smoking cessation please visit: www.smokefree.nhs.uk

02 Wolverhampton psychological wellbeing practitioner honoured at awards

One of the Trust’s psychological wellbeing practitioners, Maggie The NHS has always relied on people from around the world to help Galbarczyk, who works at the Wolverhampton Healthy Minds it deliver for its patients and even accounting for planned welcome service, was among one of six people honoured with a special increases in home grown staff, it always will.” Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award for NHS staff from the EU, at the HSJ Awards ceremony held at the end of 2016. The HSJ EU Staff Award, sponsored by NHS Employers, was launched to recognise the contribution that workers from around Maggie was praised for her knowledge, skill, sparkle and drive, and the European Union make to the NHS. for not being held back by her blindness at the awards ceremony held in London.

Maggie’s manager at the time of the nomination said: “This is great news, especially as there were so many nominees in this category. Maggie certainly enhances the service by seeing Polish speaking patients who welcome talking to someone whose first language is the same as their own.

Maggie said on receiving the award, I feel honoured and very pleased to have received the award. I would like to thank Bobbie Petford who nominated me and all my colleagues past and present for their support each day at work.”

Presenting the award, HSJ editor Alastair McLellan told the audience: “We wanted to do our bit to combat this tide of negativity towards NHS staff from EU countries; to celebrate their role in the service.

Trust awarded Apprenticeship Employer of the Year for second time

The Trust is delighted to announce that The Trust, which currently employs and administrative apprentices and we on Friday 10th February 2017 it won 40 apprentices across clinical and are working to expand our apprentice the Apprenticeship Employer of the Year administrative services, beat tough scheme in line with the Government’s new award for the second time at the Health competition to win the judges over with levy. We believe that apprentices bring Education West Midlands Apprenticeship its ongoing commitment to its successful huge benefits to the Trust ensuring that Recognitions awards. apprenticeship programme. our workforce reflects the communities we serve, balance out the age profile The awards aim to celebrate apprentices Becky Crowther, Associate Director of our staff base and represent an who have made exceptional contributions of Organisational Development said: excellent investment for the future of our to their work places, and employers who “We are delighted to have won this organisation.” have shown real dedication to supporting award for a second time. Our scheme and nurturing apprenticeship roles. provides opportunities for both clinical Lynn Weston, Support Workforce Development Lead, said, “I would like to express my thanks to all the hardworking teams for the tremendous support and direction they give apprentices.”

Lynn continued, “We would also like to congratulate Black Country NHS Apprentice Academy for winning the Innovative Partnership Award and thank them for their valued partnership as we work together in renewing and strengthening our apprenticeship service in the future.”

03 Running to raise funds for

John Chambers, who has worked for the Trust for over 20 years, initially in psychiatric liaison and then more recently as a high intensity cognitive behavioural therapist, is trying to raise £2000 for Oxfam by running his first marathon. Not happy with taking on any old marathon for his first one he has been successful in gaining a place in this year’s London Marathon.

John said, “I’ve been really lucky to gain a place in the London Marathon on my first attempt and am really looking forward to a great day. I’m on track with my running plan but the training is tough going, not helped by the current dark cold mornings, but I’m determined to cross the finish line and raise lots of money for Oxfam which is a charity close to my heart. If anyone would like to support me in reaching my £2,000 simply visit www.justgiving.com/ john-chambers5 or text the number shown.”

All John’s friends and colleagues wish him well for a great run on Sunday 23rd April.

Research helping our patients

Edwin from Birmingham, an individual who I got on well with the other people who I was happy to do the memory tasks and I receives services from the Trust, and who attended the group. The physiotherapist who was happy that the researcher visited me. agreed to take part in our DAPA (Dementia ran the group was lovely and even telephoned The instructions for the memory tasks and at and Physical Activity) research about the me after the trial had finished to see how I the exercise group were easy to follow and I impact of exercise on dementia, has kindly was after I’d been in hospital. cannot fault them. agreed to share his experience of taking part in one of our research projects. The research has helped me to get out of the I would definitely recommend taking part in house and see other people, which also took research to friends and family” Edwin says, “Being part of this research has my mind off my health problems. The physical helped me, and I am happy to share my exercises were beneficial to my body as well. If you want further information about experience with others. It didn’t cost me anything to take part in the above, or to take part in one of the trial as transport was paid for, and we our research projects please email Before I took part in the research I was sometimes had free refreshments at the [email protected]. provided with lots of information that gave exercise class as well. me the confidence to say ‘yes’ and take part in the trial. I was happy to do it. I decided to As part of the trial I had to complete memory take part as I could get out of the house and tasks at home which didn’t take up too I enjoyed the company of the exercise group. much time and it took my mind off things. 04 Membership Matters First governor drop-in surgery is up and running

We are pleased to announce that Trust governors have been working in partnership with our Carers Team to provide the first governor drop-in surgery for carers.

The purpose of the surgeries is to enable governors to have an informal space to listen to the views, ideas, and concerns of their members in order to effectively represent them, and also to share with members the Trust’s, vision, performance and plans for the future.

Over the last couple of months we have been busy locating venues and groups to start enabling this to happen. So the announcement of our first drop-in surgery at the carers team base is a huge step forward.

The carers team provide a support service for people caring for loved ones with mental ill health. As part of this support they hold regular forums that provide a space where people can share experiences or problems, or just have a chat to a fellow carer. Healthcare professionals and key speakers are also invited to attend benefit from having a governor drop-in surgery, the Trust's the forums to help support and share information on subjects of Membership Manager, details below. interest. More information about membership can be Watch this space for notification of drop-in sessions near you obtained by 0121 612 8061. And for information as we work on getting surgeries started in Dudley, Walsall and about the carers forum call the carers team on 0121 Wolverhampton. And if you know of any groups that would 612 6000.

Health and wellbeing sharing day in Dudley

Paul Riley, Dudley Governor and The Trust's talking to staff Membership Manager, were given the and service chance to get involved with an inspiring users alike, information sharing afternoon with Dudley helps us in Canal Trust. ensuring that In an effort to reduce our impact on service users the environment, and to reduce costs, Bringing together a diverse range of health are aware the membership function aim to be and wellbeing professionals including: of what is paperless by 2018. We will be replacing Sandwell U3A, Dudley Stroke Association, available to the Grapevine hard copy with an Age UK Sandwell, Agewell UK and them in their local community and actively E-version. Birmingham Mind, the event allowed encourages them to be engaged.” attendees to get a taste of what museums If you would like to continue to receive and heritage sites in the West Midlands can Michelle continued, “By working in Grapevine via email please contact the offer service users. partnership we hope that this helps remove team at [email protected] barriers in accessing groups and will help to Recently groups have been set up across with the following details: build on existing resources that are already Birmingham and the wider West Midlands on offer to help support people in the • Name that offer people with dementia and community.” • Address their carers a chance for respite with • Contact number an afternoon of enjoyable things to do If you would like more information • Email address including: reminiscence, handling objects, on this, or think it is something that music and craft activities, all of which would help benefit your service or We understand that not everyone provide stimulation. service users contact Birmingham has access to an email account so Museum Trust on BMAG.Enquiries@ Michelle said, “Building links with local please contact Membership on birminghammuseums.org.uk or Dudley networks and getting information to key 0121 612 8061 to confirm that you Canal Trust on info@dudleycanaltrust. people that are trusted, such as Trust would like to continue to receive a org.uk. governors who are out on the ground hard copy.

05 Spotlight on Children’s Services in Dudley

The Trust provides numerous community services for children in Dudley as well as a range of services in Wolverhampton and Sandwell for children and young people experiencing mental health problems. The services we are featuring in this issue are for children and young people aged 0 to 18 years, and their families, living in Dudley. There are a range of services including: the children’s assessment unit (CAU); occupational, speech and physio therapy services; haemoglobinopathies services, health visiting, and Family Nurse Partnership to name but a few. Below we feature some of these services. Cheryl Newton, General Manager Dudley children’s learning disability nursing team (CLDNT)

The team Over the coming weeks Jean and Kathryn • Specialist training Jean Taylor and Kathryn Cole are learning will be out about to meet staff across Dudley • Access to health provisions disability nurses who have worked in the to discuss the support they can offer. If you • Health promotion/healthy lifestyle choices Trust for several years supporting people with need more information or are unsure about learning disabilities in the community. During making a referral – give them a call! The aims and expected benefits of the the last few years they have been working service are: within Dudley Local Authority Children Who can refer into our service? • To provide individualised therapeutic Services Dual Agency Children’s Disability The team operates an open referral system, interventions to support children with Team. where parents, professionals and anyone else learning disabilities to remain living at working with the child can refer. There is a home in a positive way with their families Changes within the Local Authority created referral form which can be completed or a • To work in collaboration with other an opportunity for the nursing team to re- letter is also acceptable. The referral needs professionals; health, education and evaluate the service provided and in October to clearly identify the child’s disabilities/needs voluntary organisations to provide a high 2016 the nursing team moved back into the along with any level of risk as well as a clear quality holistic care package aimed at Trust. reason for why the service is being sought. improving the child’s health and wellbeing • To enable children with learning “Jean said, “It’s an exciting time for us How do we help? disabilities to have good health by to continue developing a service that is The team works with children and their ensuring they access and receive timely innovative, responsive and adaptable. The families mostly at home however, they can health interventions, and supporting the move back into the Trust has allowed us to work flexibly so that assessment can be family and the health provider to meet continue the multidisciplinary working we offered in a variety of community settings, the child’s specific needs had previously developed. It also gives us the dependant on the presenting need. opportunity to utilise our skills How do you reach the service? Examples of the types of specialist The CLDNT is located at Health to support interventions we can support with are: and Social Care Centre, Venture Way, Brierley children and Hill, West Midlands, DY5 1RU. their families • Toilet management with significant • Sleep management The core hours for the service are 8am to disabilities • Behaviour management 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank where their • Skill development (e.g. play, Holidays) however, the nurses work flexibly health needs independence skills) dependant on casework. cannot be • Positive parenting programme effectively met • Family work to support understanding For further information please telephone by universal disability Jean or Kathy on 01384 323163. Jean Taylor services.” • Health care plans

New continence service for children in Dudley In February 2017 a new service for children in Dudley who have continence problems was launched. The service, provided through community clinics, is being led by Louise Andrews, Continence Lead Nurse and Angela Nunn, Continence Nurse. Louise and Angela will provide advice, assessment, treatment and management of bladder and bowel problems for children aged 5-18 years of age. This can include daytime or night time wetting, constipation and/or soiling and support where there is delayed toilet training. Louise said, “We are very excited about our new service and will ensure that it develops and is shaped through a strong ethos of patient/staff engagement, and current evidence based practice. We will be listening to our service users to ensure their views and comments are taken on board Louise and Angela to help us continually improve the service.”

06 Spotlight on Children’s Services in Dudley

The New Dudley Early Help Offer!

Within the Dudley Local Authority area if children and families need additional support (above the standard universal service) referrals will be made by completing an early help assessment to one of the five family centres, these are:

Family Centre Telephone number Kates Hill Family Centre (Dudley Central Cluster) 01384 812440 Helping young mums Family Centre (Dudley North Cluster) 01384 813096 to stop smoking

Brierley Hill Family Centre (Brierley Hill Cluster) 01384 813322 The Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) service in Stourbridge Family Centre (Stourbridge Cluster) 01384 818780 Dudley is one of 11 sites across the country to develop and pilot new models of delivery. This Butterfly Family Centre (Halesowen Cluster) 01384 813954 accelerated design and programme testing (ADAPT) is a rapid testing model and will allow Allocation meetings will take place fortnightly (every Thursday) at each of for greater personalisation and localisation of the the family centres from 9.30am to 12.30pm and the referrals received will be programme. reviewed and discussed. Work commenced in September 2016 and one of Please contact the family centres for further information and support. the current projects being looked at is reducing the rate of smoking amongst young pregnant women and new mums.

Whilst quitting smoking is already addressed within FNP, our project will allow us to try out a number Paediatric Physiotherapists part of adaptations to the current programme. These will be put through rapid-cycle testing to gain a of regional cerebral palsy hip better understanding of what works. Our development work pointed to the influence screening programme of family and friends on whether a young mum quits, and encouraging those around the pregnant The paediatric physiotherapists in Dudley are now part of the regional cerebral palsy hip woman to stop smoking is a secondary outcome screening programme developed by a group of children’s orthopaedic surgeons and we’re hoping to achieve. On top of this, we hope physiotherapists from all regions of Scotland. reciprocal training with maternity health support workers will mean this project could benefit a The aim is to provide a high quality, standardised follow-up programme, including hip wider local population of pregnant women beyond surveillance, for children with cerebral palsy that will identify musculoskeletal problems FNP. by regular physical and radiological examinations to enable effective management for these problems during childhood. Ceri Evans, FNP Manager, said: “Data from last year showed that the quit smoking rates at time The pathway follows a nationally agreed protocol including standardised of delivery in Dudley were higher than the national musculoskeletal examination for children with cerebral palsy to ensure equity average. FNP ADAPT is a brilliant opportunity to throughout. This involves structured physical and radiological assessment examinations test how we can improve these outcomes in a being carried out six monthly between ages 2 and 6 and annually for those over 6 careful, data-driven way, and we are confident that years old. It is based on best practice guidelines from Sweden and Australia and meets the adaptations made will help us see a decrease the principles of care recommended in the 2012 NICE Clinical Guideline ‘Spasticity in in numbers.” children and young people with non-progressive brain disorders’.

Within the West Midlands, Steve Cooke Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon has lead on the project, working with the West Midlands Association of Paediatric Physiotherapists to develop and deliver training to all physiotherapy teams. Our Dudley staff received their training from Steve at the Sunflower Centre in November 2016.

Jacqui Hemmings, Paediatric Physiotherapy Manager and AHP Lead for the Group said, “We have been working with Steve on this project for some time and, having had training, staff are excited at the prospect of working with children who have cerebral palsy to help prevent hip dislocation which we have known for many years is potentially preventable if children receive surveillance at an early age.”

07 Family fun day raises over £3,000 for the Sunflower Centre

A big thank you goes out to all the wonderful Sue Weston, Children’s Occupational parents and friends of the Sunflower Centre Therapy Manager, said, “All staff at the in Stourbridge, a centre providing services Sunflower Centre are extremely grateful, for children, including occupational and but I want to extend my personal thanks to physiotherapy, who organised what was a everyone who supported the family fun day fantastic family fun day last year and raised and raised such a huge amount of money. over £3,000. We have been spending the money on new specialist toys and equipment to enhance Held at Spring Meadow Social Club in Cradley the experience of all children and families Heath there were loads of fun activities to attending the Sunflower Centre for therapy keep everyone happy including: face painting; sessions because we know how much these a bouncy castle; tombola, cake sale, penalty expensive toys help the children who attend shoot-out, and a raffle with some great prizes our centre.” Some of the toys purchased with donated by local businesses. funds raised

Staff get creative about quality

December and January saw another intake of new staff and we were delighted that they showed some great skills and abilities, especially around the creative section when groups are asked to discuss quality. The poems generated are well worth a read so see below for a small selection of the poems generated by staff:

What does high quality Poem 2

care mean to me? When I come to you for help You wash your hands and wear an apron when attending to me You speak to me so I can understand you You smile at me and make me feel safe You involve me and allow me to make choices for myself You put me at the centre of all you do You respect me not minding my background or race I feel valued

Poem 1

The BCPFT wanted staff to delivery high quality care, So they set up a challenge to new recruits Poem 3 to find ways of taking them there, Post it notes, flip charts and questions to Really high quality care; ask, where were all part of the induction tasks, Should always be accessible and fair But after lunch just to throw them, the We hope our NHS professionals will generally recruits were asked to write a poem, keep our health needs in mind

Engaged staff trained well to perform well, Be patient, compassionate and kind make CQC inspections the norm, patient care Don’t whinge and whine and services will fly with motivated staff Please listen and give me time willing to try Integrity, dignity and respect will assist caring We prefer you are speedy, staff to have the desired effect, When we’re feeling needy, Creating a pathway of individualised care But, we appreciate through diagnosis, good That the community will be proud to call treatment and prognosis there’s. We want you to be there, Through good times and despair To help us walk or take time to talk To prescribe a pill if we really are ill So we can get back up again, and climb around hills 08 Our new Head of Patient Involvement, Engagement and Experience

Hi I’m Ruth, and I The people who use our services know what’s working am the new Patient because it will be working for them. They will know Involvement, exactly what we need to focus on and how to make Engagement things better. They know what matters most, because it and Experience mattered to them. Manager. I’ve been working for Over the next year I will be working with staff, and the the Trust since people who use our services across the Trust, to build on 2011, mostly on the work that is already taking place; to improve quality projects with by working together. service users and staff to improve Here are some of the ways that you can be the experience involved:- of patients using Trust 1. Patient Experience Strategy and Patient services. I was Experience Involvement Steering Group – involved in the refreshing the strategy and group and working to design of The Lighthouse improve experience and involvement at all times. and refurbishment of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting room at Lodge Road. 2. Always events (experiences) – Asking the question that matters to you? From the first to last In my new role I’ll be focusing specifically on improving contact on the care pathway ensuring that co- our service user and carer involvement from the grass production and improving quality together is always roots up. the way we do business.

‘Nothing about me, without me’ is a core part of 3. Family and Friends Test – revisiting our processes our guiding philosophy but it is sometimes hard to put and systems to ensure we have a consistent into practice. But we must. For anyone to truly get well, approach of implementation, take-up, data analysis they have to own and make the choices, decisions and and responses. actions about their treatment and care for themselves. It’s our job to offer information and support to help 4. Patient engagement and involvement people to do this. It’s also our job to make sure that any self-assessment toolkit – collaborating to decisions or actions about the services we provide are improve quality and mapping our priority areas of made collaboratively with these people, because they improvement based on professional collaboration know what matters most. with service users and teams.

I’m not a clinician. I have a background in teaching, The Nursing Directorate and Quality and Safety Steering coaching and the arts. But, I am also a service user and a Group have prioritised the above work and want to mum and have at points in my life accessed pretty much ensure improvements in patient experience, engagement all of the services we provide. and involvement. Joyce Fletcher, Executive Director of Nursing, AHPs, Psychology and Governance (Interim) I’m passionate about listening to people and said, “This is a great opportunity to refresh all efforts empowering them to make decisions and choices about in this area of work and to drive and improve patient their treatment and care, and I know that by doing this experience and engagement outcomes.” individuals will, step-by-step, start to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

09 Student nurses embed Trust values in their practice As part of the student nurse practice support sessions held at the To support and implement these values, we encourage all students Beeches, the Practice Placement Management Team, with support from the fields of mental health and learning disabilities, and who from university practice team colleagues facilitated key topics linked have the opportunity to be placed within the Trust’s services, to to practice. The aim is to get an understanding and awareness from become accustomed with the values and to share their experiences the students’ perspective, on current issues and themes occurring within practice. within their area of learning. The students were asked to give examples of how they achieved the At the most recent sessions held, our students looked at the Trust’s above, relating them to their area of practice and by focusing on the values. These are the values our patients and colleagues expect from following questions us as we go about our business on a day to day basis. As a reminder the values are: 1. Key achievements and key strengths demonstrated in practice 2. Areas of further developments to be implemented in year 2 / 3 3. How the implementation of the values fits with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of conduct

Each cohort of students were asked about their experiences through their year and how they would build upon the values going forward into their second and third years, registration and beyond as appropriate.

1. Honesty and Transparency: we will act in a transparent way The days were extremely well received, with students taking the that supports honesty and openness opportunity not only to network with fellow students, but also to 2. Integrity: we will act in a professional and competent way contribute to what were valuable days of interactive reflection and 3. Empowerment: we will empower: people who use services; sharing of experiences. carers and staff 4. Compassion and Kindness: people who use our services, Helenah Duffill, Practice Placement Manager, said: “The sessions carers and staff will be treated with compassion and kindness have been really insightful and I am delighted with the outcome. 5. Dignity and Respect: people who use services, carers and staff All of our students have worked hard to understand and embed will be treated fairly, with dignity and respect, appreciating their the values of the Trust in their everyday practice which is a great individuality. outcome going forward.”

Students feeding back following group discussion

ECT service receives accreditation Well done to the ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) team at Edward Street Hospital, West Bromwich, because following a visit from the ECT Accreditation Service (ECTAS) in September 2016, the service has once again been awarded full accreditation. The accreditation is for a period of three years subject to a satisfactory review.

The team is part of the continuing accreditation scheme and have previously been accredited as ‘excellent’, but changes were announced to the accreditation process last year and ‘accreditation as excellent’ has now been phased out. Under the new scheme there are three categories of accreditation - ‘accredited’, ‘deferred’ or ‘not accredited’.

Dr. Manikoth, Consultant Psychiatrist said, “On behalf of the ECT team, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Tina Hall, our Lead ECT Nurse L-R: HCSW Nicola Shilvock, Lead ECT Nurse Tina Hall, Lead ECT and to Dr Choudry for the support he offered us on the day of the inspection. Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Manikoth, ECT Anaesthetist Dr Zulueta. ECT Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Susarla, ECT Recovery Nurse I would also like to thank my consultant colleagues who also completed L. Keates, ECT Associate specialist Dr Murali questionnaires as part of the accreditation process.”

10 Communication champion’s making communications more accessible ‘Supporting the communication needs of adults with learning disabilities’

The communication champion quality improvement programme was completed in 2016. We developed Communication Champions across the learning disabilities group with the aim of:

 Supporting the communication needs of the people who access our service, inpatients and community  Increasing the amount of written information given or sent out in an accessible format to service users

Communication Champions are staff with an interest in and a belief in good communication. Their primary role is to be responsible for promoting communication issues within their team.

• There are now 17 communication champions across the learning disabilities group • There are champions in all four localities and from different professional groups • Champions have received specialist communication training and a toolkit of resources to support good communication • Champions are supported by quarterly divisional support sessions.

Some examples of good practice put in place by communication champions • ‘Makaton sign of the month’ now in use in the assessment and treatment unit in Walsall. • A session for members of the team which outlined the work of the communication champions took place in Wolverhampton. • Standard letters are in an accessible format across the teams in Dudley. • Accessible discharge report designed and being used in Sandwell. • Accessible support for mindfulness sessions.

What next? • The role of the communication champion will continue because communication needs continue • Champions share ideas and receive support via group sessions and refresher training • A shared divisional communication resource (shared drive) is being developed as this will make producing accessible information more efficient and will provide more consistency across the group • More communication champions across the division will be recruited

For more information please contact your local communication champion or speech and language therapy service

New alcohol and drug awareness group helping rehabiitation

Hallam Street Hospital therapy services give up-to-date information about services has coordinated a new alcohol and drug available to those who are seeking help. awareness group with Iris and Swanswell, the drug and alcohol services provider Elsa Mathew, a therapist involved with in Sandwell, which is now offered as the group said, “The establishment of the part of the therapeutic programme for group to help support people affected by the patients admitted to Hallam Street the use of drugs and alcohol will be of Hospital. huge benefit to our patients. I believe that having a space where services can come The establishment of the group is part together will bring better interaction and of our ongoing efforts to develop better follow up.” links with community services, and to enable smoother transfer once clients are Elsa continued, “The feedback received discharged from the unit. from clients has been excellent including: “very informative session”; “excellent”, The sessions are delivered in an informal and “staff answered all my stuff and were setting where clients can clarify doubts and really caring”. ask questions. Attendees at the group are also provided with information on how The Swanswell / Iris team can be contacted alcohol and drugs affect their physical on 0121 553 1333. You can also contact and mental health, and also how services the inpatient therapy services at Hallam can assist them in their road to recovery. street Hospital on 0121 612 8640 for Indeed, community service providers view referrals at the unit. the sessions as a rewarding opportunity to

11 Decorations brighten lives of elderly Two gallant young people who receive services from the *Key Team provided an unexpected surprise to a number of residents in a local nursing home in Wolverhampton over the Christmas period by creating handmade Christmas decorations. The decorations were made to brighten up the rooms of several delighted residents at Sunrise Senior Living Nursing Home.

The visit was part of the Key Team Christmas activities with the aim of encouraging the season of giving amongst the young people referred to the service.

The young people were unsure at first what the response would be like but found that their gifts were vey gratefully received, and they got an added bonus because they were fascinated by the stories of the elderly residents.

Senior Youth Worker Curtis Shelton commented, “Making decorations was a perfect activity to do as the benefits to both the residents and young people were huge. It was good fun, and enabled the young people to come up with their own creations whilst also learning how to make decorations.”

*The Key Team is part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Wolverhampton, and is a multi-disciplinary team delivering intensive therapeutic support for the young people referred.

Liaison and Diversion Service win Patients enjoy workshop ‘Working in Collaboration’ award On the 16th of February, Samina Allie (Chartered The Liaison and Diversion Service fought off stiff competition Psychologist) and Fauzia at Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust staff Khan (Assistant Psychologist) awards ceremony in December to be awarded the ‘Working in coordinated a ‘distress Collaboration’ award. tolerance’ skills workshop for patients across the wards at The award was presented to the service to recognise the excellent Hallam Street Hospital. The way partners work in a collaborative way to ensure that services workshop was centred around provided are personal, fair and diverse, and that everyone has equal supporting patients to develop skills to manage their distress more opportunities and treatment regardless of their differences. adaptively through the use of self-soothing techniques. Melvena Anderson, General Manager, said “The team have worked The workshop introduced patients to grounding and self- hard over the past 18 months to embed this new service and the soothing techniques and how these can be useful during times award is well deserved. We have excellent working relationships of overwhelming distress as a means of calming themselves. The with our partner organisations and this ensures better recovery importance of creating a self-soothing kit or emergency box was outcomes for the people we work with in the criminal justice discussed and patients were supported in developing their own system.” self-soothing boxes containing items that were meaningful to them. The contents of the boxes drew upon all of the five senses and Dominic Fisher, Team Lead, said, “I’d like to thank everyone who included items such as favourite pictures, rainy day letters, positive supported this nomination and made it possible. We do get great affirmations, CDs, stress balls, chocolates, teddy bears and favourite feedback about the scents. service at all levels, and knowing that Patients also took part in a range of creative activities and also you are making a enjoyed some mindfulness meditation. Positive feedback was difference makes received from the patients. it all worthwhile. It’s a fantastic Fauzia said, “This is the first time we have run this workshop for achievement and patients but given the positive feedback we have received we hope we are all really to run similar workshops in the coming months.” pleased to have been recognised.”

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