Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
OURVOICESUMMER 2011
Volunteering
Staff Awards 2011
Improving inpatient environments at Charter House, Trowbridge. See page 3 for the full story. welcome
Welcome to our contents 3 Cover story: An artistic summer issue environment Artwork at Charter House older How time flies. It seems no time at all since we produced our people’s unit in Trowbridge first issue back in the summer of 2009 and here we are on our ninth already. It is also my last issue as editor for a while 4 Volunteering so I hope you will excuse me using this slot to thank all of Making a difference to service users you who have contributed to Ourvoice over the last couple and carers of years whether by giving your time and allowing us to feature you, by making suggestions for articles or by giving feedback. It has been such a pleasure talking with so many 7 AWP Staff Awards frontline staff, service users and, for this issue, volunteers, Recognising great people do and writing about your work and experiences. I am always great things hugely impressed – and often moved – with what you say and it has been a privilege to have highlighted, albeit in a 11 A future in control small way, some of your achievements. Nathan Wallbank, Acer unit. Blackberry Hill, Bristol While I am on maternity leave please give the communications team the same support with Ourvoice that 12 Building a life that you have given me and continue to send your ideas and feedback to [email protected] – we always look forward is worth living to hearing about what our frontline teams are up to. Sharon Harvey, Wiltshire dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) service Lucy Robinson 13 Advocating advocacy Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)
14 What do people do all day? Making a difference: Kate Halliday, senior mental health practitioner people who use our services 14 Sponsor a colleague tell us what they think Supporting colleagues – raising funds
Everyone at Cove Ward gave my grandmother 15 A network of support world class care. Seeing the dedication of the South West Dementias and doctors, nurses and HCAs on the unit was an Neurodegenerative Diseases “inspiration to me. I have no doubt that the Research Network (SW DeNDRoN) attitude and perseverance of all the staff (long after I, in truth, had given up) contributed to her 16 The achievers
miraculous recovery. What you have done for our family cannot be overstated. I was sceptical of the 16 Greensteps psychiatric profession before this experience, but Going low with the Trust never again. You are all doing a very important job. You should all take justified pride in that.”
2 Enabling people to reach their potential. cover story An artistic environment
The environments in which we treat and care for people can play an important therapeutic role.
Our community teams can sometimes choose the most beneficial place to meet a service user, whether that is in the familiar surroundings of a person’s own home, a café, or a park. The choice for our inpatient teams is usually limited to the spaces offered within the unit itself. Across the Trust we now have an enviable range of new, carefully designed buildings incorporating therapeutic features, but we still have a handful of older sites where the challenge for staff is to create the best therapeutic environment within the existing building.
The team at Charter House older people’s unit in Trowbridge met that challenge head on, when they asked arts psychotherapist Siobhan McElroy to help them create a series of artworks to improve their inpatient environment. Siobhan McElroy Siobhan’s brief was to involve service users and Anna Drewett staff in creating pieces that are easily transportable. She said, “I have been involved in similar projects elsewhere, including at the Victoria Centre where I’m based, so I didn’t hesitate when I was asked to of walking through a bluebell wood. Her original help at Charter House. The finished pieces mean so painting is up for all to see and we have given her a much more than artwork that has been bought or photograph of the picture to keep.” borrowed from elsewhere and the confidence and enjoyment service users gained from the project Other service users who helped create the artwork was huge.” commented on how proud they felt of their efforts and their achievements, and how much the pieces Siobhan worked alongside Anna Drewett, a Charter have cheered and brightened up the ward. It helped House nursing assistant with artistic talents. Anna patients realise that they are still able to learn and said, “I really enjoyed working on the artwork with take part in new activities, inspiring one to ask, patients and they gained a lot from it; it worked “Being cheeky, how much do you think we could very well from a therapeutic point of view. Now that sell it for?” the pictures are up it makes the ward all that more inviting and homely. Patients enjoy looking at them The project was so beneficial for service users that and carers have been using them as talking points Anna has continued running regular art workshops with their husbands or wives who have dementia.” with service users. Anna concluded, “Although we can’t hold big workshops like we did during the One landscape of a spring woodland was painted by project, the sessions are appreciated by patients and an 88 year old lady. Siobhan explained, “Although carers alike – some have even made suggestions for she said she had never painted before, she sat themes and materials we could experiment with. It with Paul Smith, service user involvement worker, was great to have the opportunity to be involved and started to paint the trees. As she painted she in a project like this and because all the pieces are reminisced with Paul about her life in Germany transportable, if we want to we can create variety by before the second world war and her memories moving things around.”
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 3 features
Volunteering Ann Thompson In previous issues of Ourvoice we have met a lot of our Hillview Lodge, frontline staff and teams who are making a big difference Bath to the lives of a huge number of service users and carers. Until her retirement earlier this But behind the scenes there are many people giving their year, Ann was employed by AWP time, energy and skills, unpaid and unsung, to support as a volunteer co-ordinator and and complement the work of our employed staff. has continued supporting the Trust as a volunteer. Volunteers work across AWP, in some cases as a single “I have been involved in volunteer wanting to support their local mental health volunteering at Hillview Lodge for services, in other cases as part of a larger team of many years and on many projects, volunteers assisting on a particular site. While some have for example the refurbishment of the games room. I now run a previous experience of working in or using mental health weekly art group with three other services and others have little knowledge when they join volunteers: Jane Martini, Mary us, the range of work all our volunteers are involved in Sullivan and Anne-Marie Barry. Our very creative group meets is impressive. from 10am until 12 noon each Tuesday and activities are service We spoke to a few to find out what they do and how user led. There is a big variety and why they became volunteers with AWP. ranging from helping service users mend and sew buttons onto their clothes, to making jewellery, crocheting and knitting. “We usually have at least four people, sometimes many more. Many prove to be very clever and creative but need one-to-one support from volunteers to use specialist equipment such as the sewing machine. We are lucky to have support from people, including the haberdashery stall at Bath market, who give us materials for the group and we collect fabric remnants, wool, ribbon, beads and buttons from wherever we can. “Service users who come to the group take away an item they have made themselves which gives them a big sense of achievement and improves confidence. Some have described the group as a breath of fresh air, which for us volunteers makes it completely worthwhile.”
4 Enabling people to reach their potential. features
Lucy Upward Ken Oxley Green Lane Hospital, Louise Middleton Applewood, Devizes Elizabeth Casson House, Sandalwood Blackberry Hill, Bristol Court, Swindon “My background is in psychology and I had been Louise had started out on a Seeking a change in direction interested in pursuing arts career in mental health before after a career as a project psychotherapy as a career. health problems left her unable manager, Ken qualified as a Then I developed myalgic to pursue her nurse training. psychotherapist in 2008 and has encephalomyelitis (ME) and had recently completed an advanced “I am still passionate about to give up work as a result. I really counselling course. struggled with the idea of not mental health. Following a series being at work and needed some of spinal operations, reduced “For the last two years I have kind of commitment to focus on. mobility left me unable to volunteered with the Samaritans I contacted Green Lane hospital perform control and restraint and and I was with them at a to ask if I could volunteer in the I was therefore unable to do my Swindon College open day when art therapy department and as a training. At the time I assumed I encountered AWP’s foundation result have been helping here on it would also preclude me from trust membership stand. I signed Friday mornings since April 2009. volunteering in a mental health up and, as I had ticked the box setting, but I eventually phoned indicating I was interested in “I support the art therapist, AWP to find out what might volunteering, was subsequently Sarah Anderton, who runs an art be possible. contacted to see if I would like to therapy drop-in group from 9.30 volunteer at Applewood. to 12.00 each Friday. The group “I have been volunteering in the is open to inpatients and service women’s psychiatric intensive care “I come in for around three hours users referred by community unit at Elizabeth Casson House each Thursday afternoon and I teams; the group size varies week for several months now, doing will do whatever needs doing by week and can be anything three sessions a week. that day, whether it is supporting service users directly or helping up to around 15 people. During “I do most of my volunteering staff. Often I simply make myself the session people can choose with the occupational therapist, available as someone with time their own subject matter and the Ceri Saunders, or simply act as to listen to service users, have a materials they want to work with another pair of hands or ears. I chat or play pool. I am sensitive to – I help people with the materials often help service users with their the fact service users may want to and listen to them and talk with laundry, take them to the family talk one week but not the next. them as they wish. room to make phone calls or “I really enjoy the role and I make drinks. “I came to Applewood with no expectations and a completely get a lot out of building good “I seem to be able to engage with open mind but I get some therapeutic relationships with people in an everyday way and satisfaction from knowing that in group members. I enjoy the it is great to be able to give the some small way I am potentially opportunity to help people use women the time that they need, making someone’s life better, different materials to express a luxury that staff cannot always whether they be a staff member themselves. The group has a real provide because their time is so or a service user.” value as a place where people pressured. Some of the women can have good conversations in a approach me simply wanting to supportive environment and it is chat. Others are very difficult to a pleasure to be part of that.” engage with but reaching out to them is worth it even if I can only draw them from their inner reality out into the wider reality of the world around them for a few moments. “I feel privileged to be volunteering in this service. For me it is about basic humanity in a world where everyone seems to constantly judge everyone else.”
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 5 features
Pauline Cook Sylvia Bob Wilde Voluntary services co-ordinator, Thwaite League of Friends shop, Callington Road, Bristol Red Gables, Callington Road, Bristol Trowbridge Pauline is a paid part-time After being made redundant employee who supports A very experienced yoga teacher, shortly before he was due to volunteers. Her input is key to Sylvia has been running yoga retire from a career in public the impressive support given classes in mental health settings relations, Bob worked in a bail by volunteers to our services at on a voluntary basis for more hostel where the majority of the Callington Road. than 30 years. residents were young men from very difficult family and social “Before Callington Road opened “I started doing yoga sessions backgrounds. five years ago I was volunteer co- in day centres in Middlesbrough ordinator at Barrow Hospital and in 1979, and then in Somerset. “Many of the young men at many of our volunteers moved When we moved to Wiltshire at the hostel had mental health site with us. I co-ordinate around the end of 1985 I made contact and substance misuse problems 60 volunteers at Callington Road with the community mental which, coupled with their criminal in total. As well as the shop, health team to offer yoga to histories, might lead people to I oversee volunteer activities their service users. think of them as ‘no-hopers’. with arts psychotherapies and But I discovered just how much I occupational therapy, befriending “I now volunteer at Red Gables, could draw out of them by giving on the wards and group work running a yoga group every them the time, respect and care with patients in the older Wednesday morning. The room they needed. Volunteering in a people’s services. holds seven people so, depending hospital had always seemed like on numbers, I sometimes run two a worthwhile thing to do and “I am also the main contact for sessions. The class is open to all my experiences at the bail hostel the League of Friends. I regularly service users aged 18 and over reinforced this idea. After I retired attend their meetings and submit and welcomes people of all levels a mutual friend put me in touch requests on behalf of our teams and abilities. Being a small group with Pauline Cook, voluntary for funding for specific items. I can give individual advice and services co-ordinator at Callington I also oversee the social evening guidance depending on what Road, who was recruiting new run each Sunday in Woodside each person wants to get out of volunteers at the time. I have reception by Bristol University’s the class. been volunteering in the shop for Student Community Action Group, which brings service users “People are referred to me by three years now. from across the site together the community teams. Having the “There are around 35 of us on for an evening of tea, chat courage and motivation to come the shop rota. I’m here each and games. to the class is a big step forward Wednesday to open at 10am and for people. run the shop until 1pm. An added “Because our volunteers are not particularly visible or vocal “Although I really know very bonus – and a big attraction for about what they do, it is easy little about mental health I am me – is talking with the staff to overlook them. However we very aware of the benefits yoga and service users I meet here. must not underestimate their can have for people experiencing I enjoy talking to patients and value to our staff and service anxiety, depression or stress. The encouraging them. I really like users across the Trust. All their great thing about yoga is that giving them time, especially if individual contributions, however everyone does it to their own they are having a particularly big or small, add up to a wealth level and, regardless of what down day and just need someone of support and AWP would be a their level is, everyone can find it to listen. poorer place without them.” beneficial. I have had service users “I feel that I am helping by who tell me it is one of the main volunteering here, not only things that keeps them going – in terms of raising funds for and that really means a lot the League of Friends that will to me.” directly benefit service users, but also in terms of being someone service users can talk to – an extra person to listen to them.”
6 AWP Staff Awards 2011
AWP STAFF AWARDS 2011
Great people do great things across the Trust – it’s time to recognise and celebrate it!
Make your nominations for the AWP Staff Awards NOW.
Closing date 5pm Wednesday 6 July. See page 10 for how to nominate 7 AWP Staff Awards 2011
Celebrating excellence!
Last year hundreds of nominations were made for the Trust’s inaugural staff awards. Nominations came from across the Trust including from directorates, clinicians, backroom staff and service users and there was healthy competition for each of the eight award categories.
Given this response, it is not surprising that the Awards are being repeated this year and look like becoming an annual part of the AWP calendar.
The Trust-wide awards recognise, reward and celebrate the positive contribution of colleagues, whether a team or individual, who deliver exceptional service.
Nominations can be made by AWP staff, people who use our services, carers, colleagues in partner organisations or indeed anyone who represents the interests of service users.
Please make your nomination today!
The award categories
Time to Change Award
Recognises individual or team achievements in combating the stigma around mental health and learning disability. Nominations will be required to: • Give three examples of inspiring others to change their attitudes and to counter discrimination. • Outline innovative approaches to reducing stigma. • Demonstrate how social inclusion and emotional wellbeing have been promoted.
Recovery Award
Recognises the individual or team who has done the most to promote recovery. Nominations will be required to: • Give three examples of exceptional engagement with service users and/or carers. • Show how they have made a clear impact on the recovery process through real and sustained change. • Demonstrate how progress has been evaluated and best practice shared to ensure continuous improvement and sustainability.
Leadership Award
Great individual or team leadership that demonstrates a positive and sustained impact on service users and staff. Nominations will be required to: • Give three examples of how they encourage full engagement of staff and those using the service. • Demonstrate the impact positive leadership has had on service delivery. • Show how leadership has built positive team spirit in a challenging environment.
8 AWP Staff Awards 2011
Innovation Award
Recognises how new ideas, approaches or technologies are improving the quality and effectiveness of services. Entries welcomed by individuals or teams. Nominations will be required to: • Demonstrate innovation as a response to a clear challenge or need. • Describe the innovation i.e. changes to who, where, when and how a service is delivered. • Demonstrate tangible gains in quality and efficiency as a result of the innovation.
Unsung Hero Award
Special recognition for the individual for consistently ‘going the extra mile’, showing reliability, adaptability and personal dedication in all that they do. Nominations will be required to: • Give three examples of making a significant difference to the lives of service users/carers/other staff. • Demonstrate going beyond what would normally be expected of them. • Demonstrate initiative and high levels of personal motivation.
Partnering Award
Developing integrated services which transcend professional and organisational boundaries. Nominations will be required to: • Give three examples of supporting multi-agency working and cooperating with local agencies. • Demonstrate how a combined approach to developing services, shows real benefits for patients, service users and/or carers. • Explain how the individual/team actively encourages the engagement of all those in support services.
Service Excellence Award
Recognises the individual, team or service that has improved the quality of life for service users and/or carers. Nominations will be required to: • Give three examples of engagement with service users and carers. • Show how positive practice and learning has made a difference. • Show how speed and responsiveness, can make a real difference to the lives of those cared for by individual/team
Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognises an individual who has made a significant difference to the lives of service users/carers/other staff over the lifetime of their career. The individual will be selected for this award on the basis of being: • Perceived by service users and carers as having made a difference in mental well being. • Highly regarded by their profession as an ‘expert’ in their field. • An inspiration to others to make a positive contribution.
9 How to nominate
Nominations must be submitted by Wednesday 6 July and in a change from last year, the nomination form is tailored more specifically at each category so that entries can be compared and judged more effectively.
For colleagues internally who would like to nominate, please search Staff Awards 2011 on Ourspace and complete the form.
For those externally who would like to nominate, please complete the form online at www.awp.nhs.uk or contact Tracey Owen on 01380 731259 or by email [email protected]
10 features
A future in control According to Nathan Wallbank, charge nurse Bybrook Lodge. Aside from being on the same site as at Acer Unit, one of the most rewarding things the SDAS management and community service, the Acer about working on a Specialist Drug and Alcohol team is finding other benefits of being at Blackberry Hill. Unit is seeing a positive change very quickly Nathan explained, “We have started going to in individuals. management meetings with other services and there is potential for some symbiotic relationships. For example, “We can see that we really do make a difference,” says many of our service users have mental health needs, Nathan, who has been spear-heading work to strengthen slight learning disabilities and use substances to cope links between the inpatient service and the specialist with everyday social situations. Being close to services drug and alcohol service (SDAS) community teams. such as the learning disabilities team at Lansdowne is very useful. We can also offer advice to colleagues at Nathan continued, “We already have a good success Fromeside, Wickham and Lansdowne about managing rate in terms of clients completing our challenging two- service users with drug and alcohol misuse problems.” week programme. By working more closely with SDAS, we are aiming to make sure that service users are better Acer’s programme differs from those offered by other prepared and in the right place psychologically when we providers, partly because of the partnership working admit them to Acer and that their aftercare plan provides with community teams, the ability to work with service the continuing solid support needed.” users with both complex physical and mental health needs and the programme’s structure. Positive changes have already been made. Nathan said, “The SDAS community teams have been receptive to “It is more intense than others on offer,” said Nathan. working together and have been very accommodating. “We focus on recovery, relapse prevention and Without the intensive work of community workers, empowering people to make their own decisions. service users would not be as psychologically and physically prepared for inpatient treatment. “Alongside detox using specific drugs to help with physical withdrawal we run a two-week group “Each person visits Acer in the lead up to their admission therapeutic programme that includes coping with so they know what to expect. A client care agreement craving, saying ‘no’ to temptation, coping with high risk sets out what they can expect from our team and what situations, managing relapse, understanding emotions, we expect from them. Breaking the contract is an self-esteem, sleep and positive thinking for dealing with indication that the person may not be ready to complete low moods. We also do a lot of one-to-one work using the programme. After they leave the unit we keep in techniques that focus on taking responsibility. It is this touch through the community teams, giving each the insight into the impact of short term best chance of success.” decisions that is key to preparing people for a future where they are Acer Unit is expanding and recently moved to Blackberry in control of their lives.” Hill, where it is temporarily housed in the ‘modular build’,
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 11 features
Building a life that is worth living
Life with borderline personality disorder Feedback supports that philosophy. One person who (BPD) can be one of despair, for sufferers joined a group, said, “When you feel lost and dead to and those close to them. Coping with it often the world and you’re starting a new therapy, it seems futile. I couldn’t have been more wrong. DBT consists means turning to damaging, sometimes fatal of skills we largely possess, but we don’t call upon behaviour. For many years BPD was considered often enough. It’s in learning these skills and putting untreatable. But a therapeutic technique has them into practice that I realise just how logical and emerged that is making a difference. We met how unbelievably helpful they are. I could not be more up with Sharon Harvey from the Wiltshire grateful to the people who taught me DBT. They gave me back my life.” dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) service, to find out more. DBT focuses on the skills that people need to cope in a positive, rather than a damaging way. DBT Sharon explained, “People with BPD represent a acknowledges the intense, often sudden, emotion significant proportion of the community team’s that those with BPD experience and accepts that their caseload, generally requiring support that can be negative behaviours are understandable. crisis-driven and staff-intensive.” The programme in Chippenham and Devizes runs Sharon and her Wiltshire colleagues have established for about a year with up to seven people taking DBT programmes in Chippenham and Devizes. “We part in each group. Sharon said, “Our programme have seen significant improvements in people’s lives is challenging and participants must commit to it. and the potential reduction in impact of BPD on our In addition to one-to-one therapy, clients attend services. AWP is committed to DBT and staff are the weekly skills training group with homework to benefiting from DBT training led by Claire Williamson practice and firm up the learning of skills.” and Gerrie Holloway. The benefits are demonstrated by a service user “Growing out of work done by community nurse who will soon complete the programme. She told Pauline Mulholland, there are now eight of us us, “DBT has been a real journey for me, it has been involved. The Chippenham DBT group is run by the icing on the cake in terms of feeling good about Sharon Harvey, Pauline Mulholland, Kiran Spence myself. DBT has taught me how to cope with difficult and Sarah Hunt. The Devizes group is run by Andrea situations. Now I have better relationships - I’m Hirons, Sarah McNab, Wendy Saw and Jill Dodd. As actually able to HAVE relationships - and the people more colleagues are trained we plan to restart a group around me don’t get shouted at like they did before. in Salisbury,” said Sharon. “Our aim is to teach people Now I have emotions - I allow myself to have them. skills that will enable them to manage their emotions No-one can tell me how I should feel. That’s a real big in less destructive ways. Not only does this support one for me. Before, I only thought about happy, sad people to move from despair to leading fulfilling and angry. Now I don’t carry the anger that I used to.” lives, it also relieves the pressure on services. The core philosophy of DBT is teaching skills to build a life that is worth living.”
12 features
Building a life that is worth living
Advocating advocacy Advocacy has been provided and of any organisation involved in Friend in N Somerset and SWAN by a range of organisations their treatment and care. Advocacy Network in Wiltshire. and used by mental health Jeremy Bond of Bath Mind said, “I’m IMHA advocates also have certain there for the patient: I have to listen, service users for many years. rights under the Act including, understand, explain, find things out, But the 2007 revisions to the on the request of the service user, give options and sometimes speak on Mental Health Act introduced visiting and interviewing that person their behalf”. the Independent Mental Health in private, access to their health and social care records and interviewing As well as the critical role IMHA can Advocacy (IMHA), a service to any professional involved in play for individuals, it also benefits which particular service users their care. staff. Often service users lack have a statutory right. confidence to speak out but by Alan Metherall, AWP’s deputy doing so on their behalf, the While any of our service users can director of nursing, is championing advocate can help make sure that access advocacy services, those with IMHA awareness. He explained that staff have the best information for a specific right to IMHA are limited staff working with service users who successful care planning. to people who are detained – or have a right to it should be aware likely to be detained – under the of the IMHA and our duty to inform Sarah Wood, modern matron at Mental Health Act (excluding some qualifying service users how to access Fromeside, backs this up. “Many of sections dealing with emergency the service. our service users make good use assessment, prevention from leaving of IMHA. The advocates provide hospital and emergency intervention Alan explained, “Being detained support that is equally valuable to by the police) as well as those on under the Mental Health Act, staff, for example taking part in community treatment orders and subject to a community treatment care planning meetings. those under guardianship or on order or being presented with conditional discharge. Voluntary the prospect of certain types of “Tom Hore from Bristol Mind’s IMHA patients under 18 years who are treatment can be disempowering service is providing useful support, being considered for specific and potentially frightening to ranging from producing leaflets treatments such as electro-convulsive those experiencing mental distress. and posters to helping us devise therapy also have a right to IMHA It is important that service users an efficient system of recording to ensure informed consent to understand, as far as possible, their and reporting comments raised treatment. IMHA helps people rights and get the support to make through IMHA. Together we have understand the specific section of the best informed decisions. Making agreed that the Trust will amend our the Act that applies to them, their sure the patient’s voice is heard is key admissions checklist so that we will rights under it, other people’s rights to successful treatment.” automatically inform IMHA of new arrivals who qualify so an advocate and the details and implications of There are six IMHA providers in any proposed treatment. The service can introduce themselves, explain AWP’s area: Mind in Bath, Bristol, the service and ask if they would like is confidential and IMHA advocates Swindon; the Care Forum in S Glos, are independent of the service user to use it.”
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 13 regulars
What do people do all day? Kate Halliday, senior mental health practitioner, Swindon & Wiltshire Primary Care Psychology Service
I joined the service in South Anyone who has discussed anxiety, self-help including group courses are Wiltshire just after it opened depression or another common enough to see big improvements. in 2006 and we are now mental health issues with their GP is For a small number, extra input invited to book into one of our clinics is needed at ‘step three’, which part of the larger Swindon at their own surgery. Typically they offers a limited amount of more and Wiltshire Primary Care will attend two or three 50-minute in-depth therapy. Most of the IAPT Psychology Service. We have sessions during which we discuss the step three funding was focused on benefited from the Improving issues in their life, what is impacting training staff in high-intensity CBT, Access to Psychological on their mental health and plan however some people are being action to improve things. That might trained in other therapies including Therapies (IAPT) programme include some of the guided self- dynamic interpersonal therapy and and provide services in line help, focused on problem solving, interpersonal therapy for depression. with its ‘stepped care’ model. cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) I practise the latter, working with Like the wider service we have based computer programmes and individuals to look at the interplay incorporated IAPT into our group courses on issues ranging between their depression, life events from coping with low mood, anxiety and their relationships and ways service philosophy to make and panic attacks to assertiveness, of reducing the impact of their sure we provide an accessible anger or sleep issues. All are classed depression on relationships. no-wait self-referral service for as step two interventions, step one everyone who needs it. being support given directly by This is a great service in which to their GP. We also signpost people work. We see so many different A core element of my role is running to other services such as CRUSE for people and are privileged to see clinics in GP surgeries. I also supervise bereavement support or housing them quickly benefiting. It is so team members and since Greg organisations. rewarding helping people to get Stacey’s retirement, have taken on back on track without needing to some of the team manager role on For many, a small number of one- access more specialist mental an interim basis. to-one appointments and guided health services. Sponsor a colleague
Impressive feats are undertaken by colleagues to raise funds for good causes. Details can be found on the charity page of ourspace and below are Angela Mason and Georgina Ruddle from the Wiltshire some examples: primary care psychology service are cycling from London to Paris for the British Heart Foundation. The engagement and responsiveness team is celebrating World Mental Health Day in October with a sponsored The Victoria-Belles, a team led by staff from the Victoria bike ride over a week where each member will cycle 30 Hospital, are doing the 15km Starlight Walk in aid of the miles, passing as many AWP sites as possible. Prospect Hospice, Swindon.
Luke Bosdet, voluntary assistant psychologist at Fountain Adrian Couper, care support worker at Callington Road, Way, is doing the Three Peaks Challenge for mental is walking the Kennet and Avon Canal from Reading to health charity Mind. Bristol, raising funds for the Red Cross.
14 Enabling people to reach their potential. regulars
A network of support Kudzai Mugweni
One of AWP’s great, but often unsung strengths supporting, as is my own background in physiotherapy is research and development. and my masters in exercise, nutrition and public health, while Abi has a psychology background. Being involved is Home of the respected Kingshill Research Centre exciting, knowing that the research is potentially making and host to the West Hub of the Mental Health a difference locally, nationally and globally.” Research Network and the South West Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network (SW Although research participants can benefit from DeNDRoN), staff are at the forefront of developing new treatments, identifying participants is difficult. mental health knowledge and treatments. Kudzai, Kingsley and Abi help seek participants through doctors and community teams, sometimes sitting in on Here we look at SW DeNDRoN with the help of memory clinics to highlight opportunities and screen colleagues Kudzai Mugweni and Kingsley Powell, two of potential participants. the network’s clinical studies officers. Julian Walker, AWP’s director of research and Kudzai, a medical doctor, explained that SW DeNDRoN development, said, “The burden of dementia on supports research that benefits patients with dementia, individuals, families and services is considerable and Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and motor the need for quality research is clear. By hosting SW neurone disease. It supports regional arms of studies DeNDRoN we are making the most of the expertise in that are on the National Institute for Health Research dementia and neuroscience within AWP, local universities portfolio, creating local opportunities for service users to and neighbouring trusts.” take part in trials. Willingness of service users to take part does not “Supporting researchers to give service users the guarantee a place – a screening process must take place opportunity to try new things is one of the most to assess if each individual is suitable. Kudzai said, attractive aspects to hosting research hubs,” explained “This makes it all the more important for us to know Kudzai, “not to mention the knowledge that staff about as many people as possible – if someone is not involved with research can apply to their work and share suitable for a trial we may be able to put them forward with colleagues.” for others. Staff can refer service users to us, or service users and carers can contact SW DeNDRoN.” He continued, “The SW DeNDRoN network is managed by Mary Griffin, supported by administrator Vicky Page, “What makes supporting research so worthwhile is senior research nurse Debbie Howcroft and three clinical knowing how big a difference it potentially makes” studies officers – myself, Kingsley and Abigail Wright. he said. Our role is varied. Governance and ethics processes are lengthy, detailed and strict so we help ensure studies are To contact SW DeNDRoN properly set up and managed as well as working with the email [email protected] or Trust’s clinical teams to identify participants.” telephone 01225 476434 or email [email protected], telephone 0117 378 4235. Kingsley explained that the networks attract staff from a range of backgrounds. “Kudzai’s medical knowledge and experience is helpful to understanding the studies we are Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 15 The achievers
Congratulations to the following colleagues. NVQ 4 business and administration: Ann Barnes, senior medical secretary, NVQ level 3 in health and social care: Callington Road Hospital Joana Banks, health care assistant, Fountain Way Mandy Kerfoot, assessment and review care Certificate in community mental health: coordinator, Speedwell Centre Mayowa Aina, mental health worker, Brookland Hall Sharon McTiernan, assessment and review Jamie De Carvalho, support time and recovery coordinator, Speedwell Centre worker, Callington Road Hospital Dionne Smart, assessment and review coordinator, Julie Fudge, community support worker, Speedwell Centre Petherton Resource Centre Debbie Webb, assessment and review care Louise Mayo, occupational therapist and coordinator, Speedwell Centre physiotherapy technical instructor, Speedwell Centre Christophe Migne, community care worker, NVQ level 3 in business and administration: Speedwell Centre Maggie Abels, senior medical secretary, Rachel Mirrlees, community care worker, Callington Road Hospital Petherton Resource Centre Carly Britton, medical secretary, Speedwell Centre Rik Stout, community mental health worker, Grace Clark, senior medical secretary, Green Lane Hospital Callington Road Hospital Gary Timberlake, assessment and Steffie Denton, receptionist, reviewing officer, Bath NHS House Lansdowne assessment and treatment unit Sarah Townsend, community support worker, Lesley Kesterton, senior medical secretary, crisis team, Green Lane Hospital Callington Road Hospital Dawn Rosolek, hotel services administrator, Information Systems Examination Callington Road Hospital Board data protection: Julie Benfell, information governance manager, Jenner House
Published June 2011 Editor: Lucy Robinson AWP communications team Greensteps Email: [email protected] Trust Headquarters Our car pool scheme is now online at Jenner House, Langley Park Estate, www.golow.org.uk Register now to Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1GG book a car and travel smarter. Telephone: 01249 468 000 Plus! If you register, you can get free membership of Bristol’s city car club. Printed on FSC approved paper using vegetable inks
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