mhm july 2009

1MENTALHEALTHMATTERS

MENTALHEALTHMATTERSwww.wlmht.nhs.uk july 2009

ShadowMEMbERShip LAuNchEd

REdEvELopMENTSt bernard’s

WARdS

2 MENTALHEALTHMATTERS 3MENTALHEALTHMATTERS

This has been done to enhance nursing governance across the trust, consequently improving the patient experience and driving up the quality of care. Four of a total five heads of nursing have now been appointed with responsibility for overall standards of nursing practice within their service delivery unit.

Sandra Bailey Jimmy Noak Hammersmith high secure & Fulham SDU services SDU

Jenn Fellows Diane Wiles Hounslow SDU Ealing SDU

Sandra Bailey has been lead nurse for Ealing CAMHS for the past eight years. She says, “I am delighted to be embarking on a new and exciting venture in taking up the post of head of nursing in Hammersmith & Fulham. The main aspect of the post is to ensure that all service users and their families/carers who come into contact with the service receive the quality of care they deserve and making it a positive experience. Another key role will be to provide effective leadership for all nurses in the SDU and making sure that their contribution is valued. I am really looking forward to working with my colleagues in H&F and am delighted to be given the opportunity to make a difference to the care experience of patients and the working experience of staff.

Diane Wiles is head of nursing for Ealing SDU. She says, “I will be working with colleagues to promote and evidence high standards of nursing care across the Ealing SDU. I will also be working alongside the other heads of nursing so that best practice is shared and that the highest standards of nursing care are achieved and maintained across WLMHT. It is an exciting time as nurses have been given the opportunity to really influence the development of services and has better defined nursing career options.”

MENTALHEALTHMATTERSJULY2009www.wlmht.nhs.uk

simonsays

Simon Crawford, chief executive has left the trust to take up a position at NHS London working on the acute healthcare provider programme for London.

Chairman Nigel McCorkell says, “I would like to thank Simon for his enormous contribution to the trust. I am sorry that I have only had the opportunity to work with him for six months but I know that during his time as chief executive he has led on a number of major service developments including the Hammersmith & Fulham Mental Health Unit, the DSPD at Broadmoor Hospital, The Orchard and The Wells Unit at Ealing. He

has overseen the establishment of National Service Framework teams in each of our boroughs including crisis resolution teams, home treatment and early intervention services – to name but a few.

“Simon has had a huge impact in improving communications externally and within the organisation. He has strengthened and supported communications internally with staff through staff forums, staff publications and the launch of the Exchange. The intranet development has also resulted in the introduction of an electronic incident reporting system, improvements to budget management at the trust and HR processes. Simon has given recognition to individual members of staff through initiatives such as the Quality Awards and the Employee of the Month scheme. During the past year he has overseen a re-structure of the trust into five service delivery units which has supported improved patient pathways and better partnership working with primary care and commissioners of services.”

Simon says, “I have worked in mental health since 1990 and have been with this trust since 1997 when I came to work at Broadmoor on a six month secondment. I have been considering my longer term career aspirations in recent months and the opportunity I have been offered to work in the acute health sector feels like a good move for me at this stage in my career.

The trust is now at a pivotal moment before embarking on its ambition to become a Foundation Trust equivalent (FTe) with an experienced chairman in post for six months. I have not taken the decision to move on lightly but believe now is the right time for the trust and myself. I wish the trust, its staff and patients well for the future and I look forward to it achieving FTe and the Broadmoor redevelopment being approved.”

There will be an interview with new chief executive Peter Cubbon in the next edition of MHM.

The cover of the magazine promotes our ambition to become a Foundation Trust equivalent. At our recent annual general meeting we launched our shadow membership and you can read more about this on page four.

Staff on the St Bernard’s site have attended roadshows to find out about the plans to redevelop the site, for the future benefits of patients and staff. The communications team is working closely with the development team and

will ensure that you are kept up to date with news on how the development progresses.

Below you can read about our new heads of nursing at the trust introduced to enhance nursing governance at the trust. This is closely followed on page seven by an interview with one of the trust’s deputy directors of nursing, Carol Scott..

I hope you enjoy the magazine. Do keep in touch with news from your area of the trust. You can email me at [email protected] or call me on 020 8354 8737

WeLCoMe To THe JULY iSSUe oF MeNTaL HeaLTH MaTTerS

Heads of NursiNg

Human rights inquiry The first major study of human rights in Britain has found that services which put human rights at their hear t deliver successful results. The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Inquiry interviewed a wide range of people, including those working in mental health services. Their repor t quotes Dr Kevin Murray, clinical director of Broadmoor Hospital, saying that the hospital generally finds the Human Rights Act very

helpful: “We find it a useful way of saying: we’re a hospital, we’re here to treat patients. Our results are extraordinarily good in terms of what people do before they come to Broadmoor and what they do after they leave.” A survey commissioned to suppor t the inquiry found that 84% of people wanted human rights enshrined in law and 81% saw them as impor tant in creating a fairer society.

With the introduction of five service delivery units (SDUs) heads of nursing are being recruited for each SDU.

4 MENTALHEALTHMATTERS 5MENTALHEALTHMATTERS 5

AGM launches FTe membership

A number of people including carers, service users and our community partners signed up to become members. Once the trust receives authorisation to become an FTe, their membership will automatically rollover to become fully fledged members.

“I am excited that the trust is taking these first steps to becoming an FTe membership organisation. I hope that our members will receive satisfaction from having greater influence on the future development of trust services and a greater ownership of local strategies,” said deputy chief executive Ian Kent.

Trust staff will be automatically extended membership. Ian Kent adds, “Our staff already invest much of their time and energy in the trust. I am optimistic that, as members and future governors, they too will enjoy shaping the trust to the benefit of service users and carers. Staff will have the option of opting out of membership, should they wish.”

Over the coming weeks, staff will receive further information about FTe membership, their involvement and benefits for themselves and service users.

Hammersmith and Fulham hosted this year’s aGM on 2 July and opened the doors to around 150 people, including staff, service users and local people. The event highlighted best practice programmes initiated over the last 12 months and was an appropriate forum to launch the Foundation Trust equivalent (FTe) membership as the trust looks ahead.

Over the last year or so, the trust has been exploring how the St Bernard’s site can be improved to provide more suitable accommodation for its patients, staff and visitors. A decision has been made to sell off parts of the site and use the income to develop more suitable long term facilities on the site.

The first step is for the trust to produce a strategic outline business case (SOC). This should be complete by September 2009 and will look at different ways in which some of the current accommodation can be re-provided. This could mean both new buildings and using some of the existing buildings on site that are suitable to be adapted or refurbished.

Once the SOC has been approved by the Department of Health, the trust will then have to undertake and gain approval for an outline business case (OBC) and then a full business case (FBC), as with the Broadmoor redevelopment.

The project is being led by Ian Kent, deputy chief executive. “Many of our patients and staff are accommodated in old Victorian buildings such as the Tony Hillis Wing,” he says. “We recognise that buildings such as these do not offer the best environment for providing quality care. They are also expensive to maintain and repair.

“Modern inpatient care and environments are key requirements for delivering our strategic objectives, clinical strategy and service development plans. We want to provide accommodation that is as safe,

modern and secure as it possibly can be. It’s an exciting project but one that will require a lot of hard work.”

The project team will endeavour to ensure that patients, staff and visitors are kept up to date with progress via the Exchange, existing Trust publications, presentations and newsletters.

Further information: Pam Scott 01344 754337 or [email protected]

Redevelopingst Bernard’s

Pam Scott and Dr Nick Broughton, clinical director of west London forensic SDU

7MENTALHEALTHMATTERS6 MENTALHEALTHMATTERS 7MENTALHEALTHMATTERS

THE HoT sEaT

What are you responsible for at the trust? I am deputy director of nursing (non forensic services) and responsible for providing professional leadership and advice to nursing staff which includes improving the patient experience and driving up the quality of care. Included in my portfolio is the trust lead for nurse education.

What are the priorities for nurses at the trust at the moment? The key priority for nurses in the trust is to continue to improve the quality of care delivery to patients which should be ‘clinically effective, personal and safe’. Key nursing priorities will be included in the trust nursing governance review document which builds on nursing developments and compliments the national strategic direction of nursing.

Your career background? I did my general nurse training at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and consolidated my training by staffing in general medical wards, accident and emergency and intensive care. I relocated to London to undertake post registration mental health nurse training at the Royal London Hospital. I joined the trust in 1999 as service manger in older adult services. The vast majority of my nursing experience is in older adult services probably because I can apply my general nursing experience in relatively equal proportion to my mental health nursing skills.

What did you want to be when you were at school? To be self employed and own a tea shop on the beach in Rossnowlagh!

Why did you choose to go into psychiatry? The decision was easy! – a mixture of wanting to work in London and the wish to help patients I had nursed who had sustained horrific injuries as a consequence of the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland, an aspiration fuelled by idealism!

Favourite part of your job? Visiting clinical areas, talking to staff and patients.

Least favourite part of the job? Doing things more than once.

Describe yourself in four words? Determined, loyal, passionate and shy.

Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? In 1983, establishing a memory clinic with a consultant old age psychiatrist in an era when such developments where considered too close to the cutting edge.

What do you like doing when you are not at work? Looking after two teenage children, who it would appear have added one word to their vocabulary ‘why not?’ from ‘why?’

What is the best piece of advice you have been given? Try to understand what motivates people.

Carol sCottdeputy director of nursing

All staff who joined the NHS pension scheme prior to April 2008 will shortly be asked to choose whether they want to stay in the existing NHS pension scheme or transfer all their membership to the new version of the pension scheme. This is the national Your NHS Pension Choice exercise which will be running over the next three years. All staff should have received a leaflet about this with their June payslips.

Head of employee services Colleen Sherlock says: “It really depends on each person’s individual circumstances what they choose to do. We cannot advise staff on whether to transfer, but we can provide information about both options. For example, the new scheme provides for a retirement age of 65, whereas the existing one has a retirement age of 60. But under the new scheme, you can transfer more of your pension into a tax free lump sum, and can rejoin the scheme if you work after retirement. The existing scheme recognises special classes, such as those doctors and nurses who are designated as mental health officers – after 20 years, each year of service is doubled under the existing

scheme. So it really does depend on what you want and how the rules of each scheme affect you personally.”

Detailed information about the Pensions Choice exercise is available on the NHS Pension Agency website at http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Choice.aspx There is also a dedicated section for employees at http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Pensions/2572.aspx including frequently asked questions, a timetable and a calculator where you can work out what either scheme will mean for you.

a choice for staff

When can i make my choice?

From April 2010 to June 2011, every member of the existing pension scheme in WLMHT will receive an information pack including a personal choice statement, DVD and a pension choice form and they will then have four months in which to decide whether to switch to the new pension scheme. We will be holding roadshows and drop-ins to see staff.

Anyone planning to retire between October 2009 and April 2010 should contact the trust pensions officer, Andy Smith straight away on 020 8483 2471 or [email protected]

Pension benefits

Existing pension scheme New pension scheme

Annual pension calculated as 1/80th of final pensionable pay x number of years service

Tax free lump sum 3 x annual pension

Annual pension calculated as 1/60th of final pensionable pay x number of years service

No automatic lump sum (transfer up to 1/3 of pension)

You And Your pension:

The table sets out some of the main differences between the two pension schemes

9MENTALHEALTHMATTERS8 MENTALHEALTHMATTERS

sarah Kramer speech and language therapist

How long have you been with the trust? I came to work at Broadmoor in 1990, as a frightened student who didn’t want to work in mental health. I completed my PHD in 2000 – still working at Broadmoor. Then in 2003, I transferred to what was then older people’s services. I now work across Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow SDUs.

How many people in your team? Just two of us - Holly Ferrier, who is full time and me working three days a week. We can’t do everything that needs to be done in that time without sharing our skills and making use of the skills of others in the trust.

What do you do? We work with people who have difficulty swallowing, who don’t understand what others say or have difficulty in getting their message across. This takes in a wide range of circumstances - it could be someone who has problems in communicating at work or in a relationship. For instance, I dealt with one client who had a problem with his speech. His wife got angry because she didn’t understand him and he in turn got angry with her. It’s about working with people getting them to communicate better with each other - in this case, I’m working with the local PCT to source a machine which the client can type into and it will speak for him.

Training teams can a big part of the job. For instance, one client in a care home had difficulty swallowing - we realised there was a bigger problem depending on who was feeding him, so the answer was to train the whole team in the right technique.

How common are speech and language problems in mental health? Lots of illnesses are diagnosed according to how people communicate - for example someone with schizophrenia may exhibit thought disorder, where they jump from one topic to another. It could be a problem with thinking or language or one feeding into the other. Other therapies apart from medication are all based to some degree on talking, so if someone

has a problem communicating, they will struggle. That’s without even talking about other things like stroke or stutters, some of which are more common in people with mental illness. Some clients may also self-medicate with alcohol or drugs, which can affect their ability to communicate. There are even some problems with side-effects of long-term medication, such as involuntary movement of the tongue or mouth.

Favourite part of the job? Making a difference and the fact that you can. When I see people in the community, it’s often obvious that a spouse or relative is unhappy and wants things to be made better. A few sessions later, seeing that they are obviously much happier is really satisfying. One woman whose husband had dementia thought people talked about her and felt sorry for her, but over time, she was able to say that she had a better quality of life than many others and people didn’t see the happiness she and her husband shared.

What makes a good speech and language therapist? It requires a knowledge of the theory but also the ability to translate this into what’s happening with a client - often by talking to others, watching how clients relate to different individuals and why some relationships work better than others. Also working out what and who are important to a client and why. Being able to share what you’ve learned with the rest of the team is a crucial part of it - doing your bit so others, including the client, can do theirs.

How do people contact your team? Email [email protected] - I will usually respond by the following day - or by mobile, 07903 019364.

mywoRKingliFE

elm lodge“I like the idea that people want to know what I do and why I do it”

That was the view of one service user who has benefited from a new initiative at Elm Lodge day services, where older people with dementia are using their life stories to help them communicate with staff and each other.

Hollie Ferrier, speech and language therapist, says: “The life story is a book with the patient’s story in it - a bit like ‘This is Your Life’. Service users are interviewed by their key workers and their families are sent a questionnaire and asked to provide photos. Everyone’s life story is different - it might cover where they were born and grew up, where they worked and things they like or dislike. “

Life stories were initially used as a means of calming service users who were agitated, until Josie Laidlow, suppor t worker, suggested they could have a wider use in group work. A pilot group of five service users was then set up to discuss their life stories - and this has been so successful that a second group has now been created.

“I went to the first group and one man was very quiet and I couldn’t see him engaging with others at all,” says Hollie. “I went back for the last one and he was chatting away, really engaged in his and others’ life stories. It’s all about promoting communication between the service user, the support workers and the group.

People find it much easier to discuss and make comments on things in their own lives. Photographs of people from their lives in particular stimulated more conversation. One lady didn’t talk as much as others, but her face lit up when she saw the photographs in her life story.”

The second pilot, run by suppor t worker Josie Laidlaw, is now up and running and if it is a similar success, the groups will be included in the main activity programme at Elm Lodge. Hollie Ferrier adds, “I would like to suppor t Tracey Linnane, who manages Elm Lodge for her suppor t, without which this would not have happened.”

This is your life


HHHH

Over 50 staff and service users came together at the John Conolly canteen, to celebrate the official launch of the Star Wards programme in Ealing. The four wards highlighted a range of activities they have implemented on their respective wards.

In addition to posters, photographs and displays, the wards also organised demonstrations for service users and staff, including Wii tennis and boxing, henna painting, beauty treatments, healthy eating, flower arranging and crafts. After lunch, the organisers gave away a lavish fruit basket to one lucky person, as well as a gift bag to all service users.

In the afternoon, the star wards champions continued the festivities on Blair ward, located in the Tony Hillis wing. Service users had prepared for their launch by decorating ‘goodie’ bags, designing posters and one talented person composed a song dedicated to the innovative programme. He played it on the guitar with the assistance of another service user who sang. Ward manager Rajoo Soocheta said, “The star wards programme has been well received by both our staff and service users. Today would not have been possible without their mutual participation.”

star Wards AT eAlinG

From the left is, Dr Gary Kielhofner, Joe Ayres and Dr Renée Taylor.

oCCupatioNal tHerapy NetWorkiNg CoNfereNCe

Broadmoor SDU hosted a trust wide occupational therapy (OT) networking conference. Organised by Joe Ayres, head occupational therapist for the south of England directorate and his PA Caroline Hampshire, this event took place over two days and featured Gary Keilhofner and Renée Taylor from the University of Illinois in Chicago who are leaders in the field of occupational therapy. Gary is best known for the model of human occupation (MOHO) used widely throughout the world as a framework for OT clinical practice.

Gemma Stanion, trust lead for allied health professionals opened the event and gave an interesting overview of her personal experiences of utilising MOHO in various clinical services throughout her career as an occupational therapist. Gary then spent the first day delivering several sessions on

the ‘model of human occupation, moving theory into practice.’ He used a range of case studies illustrated through videos to promote an understanding of assessment and intervention with motivational problems. Gary also addressed the concepts of narrative and evidence based practice with reference to our work as occupational therapists.

On day two Renée addressed ‘the intentional relationship model’ within occupational therapy and the use of self within an individual’s role as an OT in the relationship between patient, therapist and occupation and the implications for the use of relationships in effecting patient engagement in occupation. Like Gary, Renée used several case studies to get across her message.

A very informative and jam packed two days were

concluded by Flippa Watkeys, trust associate lead for health professionals who echoed some of the well received comments received following the event. Delegates from all grades and levels of experience throughout the trust felt the two days supported their work in delivering individual and recovery focused practice. The use of strong evidence based practice was also welcomed and individual concepts and modes of practice very well explained. One delegate reported that the “excellent use of clinical vignettes also helped illustrate the application of theory into practice.” Several delegates also felt the content over the two days would support and benefit inter-professional education.

report by Joe ayres, head occupational therapist for the south of england directorate, Broadmoor SDU.


Staff permit and public car parking charges introduced on the St Bernard’s site have been put to good use as part of the trust’s travel plan over the last year.

Johan Burghall, support services co-ordinator in the estates team, says: “A substantial amount of the revenue from staff parking permits has been used to improve the condition of the roads, lighting and signage to be completed on an ongoing basis across the St Bernard’s site. This has culminated in the recent major resurfacing works across the site, greatly improving the condition of the roads as well as widening and adding to sections of the pavement, phase 1 of which was completed in June 2009. There has also been a review of the permits and systems that will make on-site parking easier to manage in future.

“In line with the trust’s green travel plan, funds have also been

used to promote alternatives to commuting by car, with permanent cycle shelters outside the Regional Secure Unit and at Brentford Lodge. Last December saw the trial run of our ‘Cycle 2 Work’ scheme in partnership with Halfords, allowing staff to purchase bikes and cycling equipment with large savings on tax and national insurance. Fifteen staff have had the benefit of this service, with an additional 25 applicants so far this year. This scheme will be expanded over the next year, allowing more employees to take advantage. There will also be further road resurfacing and improvement of pavements to help people who want to walk to and from the site.”

Johan adds: “We’re also exploring the possibilities of a car-sharing database for WLMHT employees, along with an alternative scheme to car-pooling which would allow

the trust to have several low emission vehicles parked on-site to allow for easier and greener inter-site transport. We’re also looking into interest free travel loans, which would allow staff to commute via public transport at a reduced cost.”

Parking charges were introduced at St Bernard’s following consultation in 2006, aiming to regulate parking, encourage staff to find greener, alternative methods of travelling to work and allow for improvements to the site via the additional income.

The travel plan team continues to work on all the above initiatives to support the further development of the green travel plan. Any member of staff who wants to get involved is welcome to contact Johan on x2039.

Broadmoor Hospital is set for major changes this year after commissioners agreed £2M to fund improvements to the site and an increase in both the number and skill mix of nursing and other staff within clinical areas. The hospital’s clinical and service improvement programme will increase the number but reduce the size of wards, and includes the recruitment of approximately 80 new nursing staff. These changes will contribute to improved service delivery in preparation for the new hospital anticipated to be completed by 2016 under the proposed Broadmoor redevelopment.

The programme also includes development of a therapy mall, a proposal that is central to the new clinical model in the redevelopment proposals. A new intensive care unit, Oakley Ward has already been built and opened. The older facilities in Kent and Berkshire Houses are being refurbished, with particular attention paid to risk areas. A key element is the commissioning of a personality disorder (PD) service in line with the other two high

security hospitals at Ashworth and Rampton. This will use the two uncommissioned wards in the Paddock Centre. A workshop is planned for July to review the clinical model for this new service, which will be for some 22 existing patients in the first instance.

Richard Miller-Holliday has been recruited by the trust to manage this change process. He has 22 years of experience working in the NHS, and has spent the last four years as a healthcare management consultant. He said “I am looking forward to the challenges and successes ahead to achieve a quality environment for both patients and staff.

“The pace of change will be swift, with the works and recruitment due to be completed in the next six to nine months. Information about the programme is currently on display on the plasma screens at the hospital.

“The programme is split into three work streams. The clinical workstream will oversee the actual physical work, changing the physical environments and how

the clinical teams will operate in the newly configured clinical areas as well as the therapy mall development and PD service development. The workforce development workstream will address the recruitment, induction and training of new and existing staff. We will be running recruitment throughout the year to recruit the numbers of staff required. The support services workstream will mainly look at RiO implementation, with the aim of completing this by August 2010 and any other issues related to the programme.”

If you have any queries on this please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

parking charges put to good use

‘Making Broadmoor the best’


1a Manor gate, Northolt, uB5 5tgContact: Melissa Bullen

Manor Gate is one of four community mental health resource centres in the Ealing service delivery unit. The centre provides a base for a range of staff, including psychiatric nurses, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. Its broad aim is to meet the health and social care needs of local people who experience severe and enduring mental health problems and to support their families and carers.

Referrals are received from a variety of places, including some self-referrals, but the vast majority of people will come to the centre via their GP. People may use Manor Gate to see staff on an individual basis for therapy or counselling or to take part in group activities and therapeutic events.

Sector Manager, Melissa Bullen said, “We aim to support clients to live independently. We have a multi-skilled team that works really well together and everyone puts service users to the forefront.”

Active service user and carer engagement is at the core of Manor Gate’s work, which shines through in

the wealth of stimulating activities on offer, designed to support recovery.

“We have a group called the Rainbow Club, which meets four times a week, offering activities from music therapy, to gardening and cookery groups. We encourage clients to take an active role in their own recovery, organising their own trips and taking responsibility for groups,” said Melissa.

The opportunity to work is recognised as an integral part of recovery for people with severe and enduring mental illness, helping to build confidence and provide structure. Manor Gate is fortunate to have the services of a vocational worker who helps people to find appropriate education courses, prepare for interviews and eventually support them in their return to employment.

Another essential resource at Manor Gate is the carer support worker who assesses the needs of carers and helps them to access services that will allow them to continue in their vital role.

“Carers are really important and we want to make sure they can access all the help available to them as easily as possible,” added Melissa.

a-z of trust sitesmm is for Manor gate, mental health resource centre

Service users and carers have new champions to help them have their say in how the NHS and adult social services are run. Local involvement networks (LiNks) have been set up in each local authority area to reflect the new approach of ‘co-terminosity’ between local councils and health services.

Volunteering views:A LINk is a network of local people, voluntary •and community organisations who direct the LINk with support from a small staff team.

The LINk has powers from the government •which mean services need to respond to LINk requests or recommendations.

It is primarily a platform to raise issues about •local health and social care services.

The LINk works with the health and social care •commissioners, providers, the Care Quality Commission and Overview and Scrutiny Committees to monitor existing services and contribute to the development of new services.

Beth Hales, Ealing LINk development worker says, “The networks provide an important mechanism for patients and the public to have their say in the local NHS. We in Ealing took time and care in setting up a structure agreed with the community and have a democratically elected advisory steering group. This year there has been a focus on setting up action groups to monitor services where the public have flagged up concerns or big changes are planned. We have a mental health action group which will look specifically at mental health services.”

LINks cover all health services provided in a borough, as opposed to working directly with one trust, like the patient and public involvement forums which they have replaced. WLMHT will therefore deal with separate LINks in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Richmond Upon Thames and Bracknell Forest.

A new voice forpatients and carers

anyone wanting to get involved or raise an issue can contact their local LiNk team

Ealing LINk on 020 2280 2276. Suzanne •Lyn–Cook, Beth Hales or Olasumbo Ajala.

Hammersmith & Fulham LINk on 020 7610 2300. •Karen Lyon or Kevin Wiles.

Hounslow LINk on 0845 094 9497. Rubina Sharif •or Hannah Cooke

Richmond upon Thames LINk. Katherine Saker •[email protected]

Bracknell Forest LINk. Barbara Briggs •[email protected].


Last month, staff who have completed a professional development course over the past 12 months were the guests of honour at the trust’s first celebratory lunch.

Professional development is vital to ensure staff continue to feel empowered to excel at their job and progress. The trust fully supports staff endeavours, as it can see the benefits of fulfilled staff reflected in improved care for service users.

Andy Wells, associate director for learning and development welcomed staff. “Everyone here has demonstrated their commitment and dedication to develop and learn. You have sacrificed your time and energy and overcome challenges. You should be proud of your achievements as we are of you.”

Jimmy Noak, Barbara Wood, Kelvin Cheatle, Jacky Glover, Debbie Pearson-Elliott and Alison Webster presented staff with their certificates and a small gift for their efforts. This event was the first of its kind and the trust will hold another next year.

Inaugural staff development

luncheon

The use of a service user’s culture to help them to engage with treatment has been the subject of pioneering new research in which a consultant working at the trust has been involved. Dr Samrat Sengupta is one of the lead clinicians in a research project led by University College London and Camden & Islington Foundation Trust.

Despite extensive evidence that taking account of a person’s culture is important in treating mental illness, no published research has shown how cultural interventions can improve clinician-patient engagement and the patient outcome. Using ideas based on the patient’s cultural identity, experience of stigma and racism and subjective explanation of their illness, the researchers used a ‘cultural formulation interview’ to

communicate with selected patients. The approach also examined how health professionals’ identity shaped patient care.

Dr Sengupta says: “The research was carried out in four acute in-patient units in London (one being an intensive care ward). 30 out of the 60 participants received the cultural formulation interview, while the remaining 30 received standard care without the interview.

“Statistical analysis of how well the approach worked was complemented by quantitative and qualitative findings from both individual interviews and one year period of ethnographic fieldwork. Our aim was to provide a substantial body of data highlighting some of the factors that facilitate and

impede delivery of culturally sensitive care. The programme also examined how illness is shaped by the wider clinical and management culture of health services, with the aim of providing newer understandings and better treatment options.”

Detailed findings of the Department of Health-funded study were presented in a seminar at the St Pancras Centre in June. “Essentially, the project has provided new evidence of the critical importance of cultural sensitivity and awareness in providing more effective mental health services,” Dr Sengupta says. Detailed findings are available from the principal investigator, Dr Sushrut Jadhav, at University College London - [email protected]

spotlight on research a regular update on research work going on at the trust

The importance of culture

Dr Gill McGauley has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from The Higher Education Academy for her work as a

consultant forensic psychotherapist at Broadmoor Hospital and as a reader in the division of mental health at St George’s, University of London.

Dr McGauley said, “I am delighted to have been awarded this honour. I have focused on forensic psychotherapy, which is a new sub-speciality combining forensic psychiatry and psychotherapy

to treat mentally disordered offenders. I have found professionally and personally rewarding.”

While at Broadmoor, Dr McGauley has initiated an innovative learning programme that grants undergraduate medical students access to the high secure hospital. By opening the doors of the institution, Dr McGauley hopes to give students an experience of communicating with hard to engage patients, improve students’ capacity to empathise and reduce the stigmatisation surrounding mental health.

Students have stated the visiting programme has changed their attitudes to patients with mental illnesses. One student stated, “Visiting the hospital

made me think about the effects of illness on personality and on behaviour – even extremes of violent behaviour. The session was useful and informative. It was an eye opening experience which left me feeling quite inspired.”

Dr McGauley is currently an integral member of an NHS London funded project, which aims to develop an interactive web-based tool to help professionals, especially those working in the Criminal Justice System, who find it hard to access postgraduate training.

Dr McGauley is one of fifty lecturers and learning support staff to be awarded a National Teaching Fellowship and has won an award of £10,000 that will be used for professional development.

Mental Health fellowship awarded


The trust’s staff counselling and support services joined forces with right Corecare last year to create a 24/7 telephone resource service for staff which provides free confidential advice and support. The service is flexible in that it operates out of hours and therefore is able to offer advice at times to suit employees. They can assist with queries with regards to bullying and harassment, personal and emotional issues, urgent work related issues out of hours and legal and financial advice.

Due to the current economic climate, there has been a significant increase in debt related issues largely due to loss of income through job changes, illness, divorce or separation and other life changing events. Statistics show that 15% of adults now struggle with over £10,000 unsecured debt, fuel prices have risen by approximately 15% and transport and food prices have increased by 6%.

Right Corecare have been working with Payplan, an organisation specialising in debt management. Adrienne Heeley, director of work life services at Right Corecare says “at the present time, we are seeing an increase in the number of people contacting us for help and also a different profile of client in difficulty with more acute problems. We are also seeing an increase in managers contacting us to source advice and support on how to manage and monitor employees who are displaying signs of increased pressure due to the current economic climate”.

eap.

right

core

care

.co.

uk

We might not have all the answers but we do have a host of specialists to provide information and support, free of charge and in a confidential se�ing.

what if...

...stress made you smarter?

I would be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist for sure!

Call now on

0800 1116 387Advice, Information and Counselling

From outside the UK call +44 845 330 5132Text phone users dial 18001 followed by the full helpline number

V3

riGHT corecAre eMployee assistaNCe prograMMe

“There is quite a lot written about the therapeutic power of group drumming and as a music therapist I was interested in exploring this,” explained David Nicholson, music therapist based at the John Conolly wing.

The programme was piloted last year and recently received funding to continue over the next 12 months. David meets twice a week with an increasing number of service users in the Pegasus Centre, together with community drum artist Kwabena Mehutsekamen, sit in a circle and play one of the traditional African drums.

The aims of the group are very similar to those that underpin the music therapy groups, although the approach is different. “The group isn’t about teaching traditional music, but works with the natural power of rhythm and music to focus on therapeutic goals. We are trying to give people an opportunity to connect with the creative part of themselves and, in so doing, connect with others around them within a safe environment,” commented David.

It seems to be working, as one service user, said, “The session was very uplifting and energising. We worked together as a group and gradually got into the rhythm.” Another agreed, “It enabled me to focus my thoughts and clear my mind of stress.”

Though the group is well attended, they still like to advertise and do so in a very creative way. “On the days the group is run, we take some drums and percussion instruments into the canteen and play as patients are queuing for dinner. Service users and staff will often join in, which has met with universal approval.”

rhythm of life

This group is available to all inpatients and is run on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between

7pm - 8pm. For further information please contact David Nicholson,

music therapy department, Pegasus Centre, John Conolly Wing, or x8355.

Free advice, information and counselling is available by calling the right Corecare eaP freephone number 0800 1116 387 or you can visit the website www.eap.rightcorecare.co.uk

Here are some top tips to help beat debt:Calculate your net income and itemise your •expenditure, so you know exactly what you have left to spend each month.

Cut up your credit cards and use a prepaid card •instead.

Don’t borrow to get out of debt and never secure •debt against your home.

Talk to your creditors about your financial situation – •it’s best to be as open as possible, as early as possible.

If you are having problems with your bank, open a •basic account elsewhere and re-direct your salary there. Leave the first account open to maintain your overdraft.

Do not borrow from another source to meet the •interest payments on an earlier loan.

Use comparison websites to ensure you have the •cheapest utilities and phone deals.

Cut down where you can e.g. take a packed lunch to •work – it could save £10 a week, which is £500 a year.


movingon up

if you would like us to feature a colleague in moving on up send an email to [email protected]

Jacqueline John is on a 12 month secondment from her role as senior finance manager at Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to work in the finance directorate as head of management accounts. She says “I see the move to WLMHT as an opportunity to enhance the experience gained from working for a leading acute trust. I am motivated to improve performance in the health service and thereby make a real difference to the quality of care provided to service users. I hope to demonstrate that my role is not limited to just the financial view point but that I have an understanding of the pressures and conflicting demands managers cope with on a daily basis.”

Bryan Joseph, has recently been appointed as head of health and safety, to ensure the trust has effective arrangements in place to control the wide range of health and safety risks faced by both clinical and non-clinical staff. He has previously worked for the civil service, where he enforced health and safety legislation, and in the local authority sector, managing health and safety services. He will also lead on formulating the trust’s overall risk management strategy and policy, which forms the background to the new on-line trust risk register. Bryan says “working in mental health will be an exciting new challenge. I hope to move risk management up the agenda, embedding risk management in people’s everyday activities.”

richard Miller-Holliday has 22 years experience working in the NHS, he began his career as a registered nurse, specialising in all aspects of cardiothoracic intensive care. He has held senior posts in general management and has spent the last four years working independently across various initiatives within the Department of Health, primary care, commissioning and secondary care.

Richard has been employed as the programme manager – clinical & service improvement at Broadmoor Hospital for an initial period of six months. His responsibilities will include working closely with staff across the hospital around clinical model development, ward reconfiguration, and developing the new personality disorder service.

He said “This is a new area of work for me, and I am looking forward to the challenges and successes ahead to achieve a quality environment for both patients and staff.”

On 1 July 2009, Lisa Harrington was appointed as a non-executive director for the trust. Lisa is currently Customer Operations Director for BT with a background in telecoms, management consultancy, marketing and teaching. She says, “I am really honoured to be joining the board of West London Mental Health NHS Trust. The Trust plays a pivotal role in our community and I am delighted to add my private sector experience to direct and support its ongoing success.” Trust chairman, Nigel McCorkell says, “We believe Lisa’s dedication and insight will help us to improve efficiency and ensure that our processes and strategic decisions offer good value to the taxpayer and a better experience for our service users, carers and staff.”

joiners

ali nunan, communications officerte

am

wo

rks

Back row (l-r): Jon Luff (liaison psychiatry nurse), Jacqueline oliver-Hamilton (team manager), Nicky Long (liaison psychiatry nurse), Dr amrit Sachar (Liaison psychiatry consultant and Head of service). Front row (l-r): Dr angharad ruttley (Liaison psychiatry consultant), Julie Pearse (team administrator), Dr Ksenia Deverill (specialist registrar in adult psychiatry), Nadia Levy (team administrator).

a unique role leading to better results for patients Liaison Psychiatry is an area which specialises in the mental health issues of the physically unwell patient. Unlike CMHTs, Liaison Psychiatry services are usually based in the general hospital, in order to facilitate easier partnership working with the acute trust and quicker response times to see patients. They provide a service to any patient within the general hospital regardless of the patient’s address.

The Hammersmith and Fulham Liaison Psychiatry Service works across two hospital sites in the borough (Charing Cross and Hammersmith).

The service has tripled in size in the last three years, and has gone from being based on one site to now working from two office bases, one on each site. The service is funded by the acute trust (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust).

“We see our role as helping Imperial staff manage the mental health needs of their patients thus ensuring general hospital patients have access to quality mental health assessments and treatment.” said Amrit. “As part of improving access to care, we strongly believe that we should see patients when as soon as they are fit for interview rather than waiting fro them to be medically cleared”.

“We see patients with a combination of physical

and psychological issues. Sometimes medical problems produce psychological ones eg psychosis or depression. Other times patients suffer from physical symptoms with underlying psychological causes eg somatisation,” said Angharad.

educating colleagues A major part of the role is education of Imperial staff about mental health issues.

Nicky commented, “We conduct both structured and informal training with registered nurses, junior doctors and other medical staff, to ensure timely referrals and treatment.”

“We are ambassadors for mental health in an acute setting. We use every opportunity to address mental health issues and tackle stigma. We attend daily bed meetings, develop clinical plans and make mental health assessments and work with our Imperial colleagues at every level,” commented Jon.

Secret to good teamwork “The most rewarding part of working with such a capable and specialist team is getting better results for patients” said Jon.

Julie and Nadia added “as the team administrators, we work to ensure all the background information is collected in a timely manner and is accurate and accessible”. “The team administrators are key to ensuring the smooth running of the work of the clinical team and are a friendly and helpful first point of contact for referrers” said Amrit.

Jacqueline has recently started her role as team manager. “To date, the team have impressed me with their professionalism and holistic knowledge relating to patient wellbeing. I will be working with them from an operational perspective and trying to improve their already solid efficiency systems.”

Hammersmith & fulham liaison psychiatry service


robin Webster has recently retired, having worked for the trust for 29 years. He has worked in various roles within the trust such as medical records manager (Broadmoor), where he saw the introduction of the computerisation of patient records, as IT manager overseeing the implementation of an IT network in administration areas of Broadmoor and then a trust-wide role as IT security and training manager. Robin’s achievements in his most recent role as information governance manager were the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. He also raised awareness across the trust of the importance of information security, which has led to a significant improvement in the way that confidential information is handled. Robin says what he enjoyed most about this role was “working with staff of all disciplines across the trust and the challenges of administering FOI”. When asked what he will miss, he says “working with lots of people of all disciplines

and the sports and leisure facilities at Broadmoor.” Although retired, Robin will be returning to the trust as a part-time mental health act manager.

Kevin Towers, patient services manager says “in Robin’s roles he has been a first point of contact for many service users. He has always impressed me with his ability to calmly advise and signpost people on, while personally ensuring that each query he’s been party to gets resolved.”

“Robin has always been extremely dedicated to the trust, staff and patients. He has worked tirelessly, quietly ensuring compliance with a complicated system of legal frameworks and guidance, always making himself available for advice to staff and the public. I will miss him greatly. He has been a wonderful support and an endless source of knowledge and experience. I wish him well for the future and am really pleased he has chosen to continue working in mental health,” says medical director, Dr Liz Fellow-Smith.

Wendy Channell, Pa to deputy chief executive will retire from the trust this month and has worked for the NHS for over 40 years! Wendy joined St Bernard’s Hospital in the 1980s and has worked in many different areas of the site which include estates, HR, John Connolly Wing, risk department and trust headquarters, where she has gained a great deal of knowledge and experience. One of Wendy’s achievements is that she has kept an SUI database prior to the merger with Broadmoor and has kept all notices of incidents up to date. When asked what she enjoyed about working at trust and what she will miss, she says ‘In the old days there was good rapport with all the departments and I am sure some of the old staff will remember that we had some great Christmas parties, bonfire nights and some general good get togethers.

I will miss some of the people that I have met over the years but I am sure that I will keep in touch with some of them. My plans are to enjoy the rest of my life, spend more time doing what I want to do, seeing people I want to see and of course seeing more of my family. I wish the people that I am leaving behind me every happiness for the future, I will still be playing bowls so will see some of you now and again. Who would have thought it, I’m 65 yet I still feel like I’m 25! Mandy Bassi and Wendy have shared an office for 12 years, she says “We’ve laughed, joked and cried together, we’ve seen a lot of changes in our working lives and our personal lives and its been a pleasure having that hard shoulder to lean on. Wendy is an honest person who always speaks her mind and laughs the loudest. Wishing Wendy all the very best for her future.”

David Stevens, sports technician at Lakeside mental health unit, was a finalist in the Health and Social Care Awards NHS London Unsung Hero Awards 2009. When asked what he enjoyed about the awards ceremony, he says ‘It was great to meet such a variety of people working in the NHS who had been recognised for their roles in improving the experience of patients at all levels.’ He has worked for the trust for 9 years and was nominated for his motivation in encouraging patients to take part in various fitness activities, which has enabled many to attempt a new activity and gain a great sense of achievement. David will also go the extra mile by carrying a spare fitness kit, so that service users can still join in an activity if they forget theirs or even drive them to a sports session if necessary. One big achievement for David is the refit of the new gym.

Ward managers, George Mamombe and anna McLoughlin, including staff in Coniston and Windermere Wards, John Connolly Wing are proud to have been awarded Level 1 Accreditation of In-patient Mental Health Standards for Older People (AIMS-OP). They participated at a national level in the standards audit which aims to look at older people’s services needs and ways of improving the quality of care within wards. Mike Anjoyeb, lead nurse, says ‘networking with other older people’s services in the UK was a very good experience and we looked at examples of good practice.’ They shall now be working towards level 2.

reception staff from the West London forensic services recently completed an extensive 4 day First Aid at Work (FAAW) and mandatory half day Automated External Defibrillation (AED) training course which was facilitated by Mike Neary, director of Managing Excellence Through Training Ltd. Staff were then given a familiarisation session on recording an accident/incident within the incident management system facilitated by Carl Dorey, systems information manager. Satty Banga, deputy reception manager and Julliette Wright McGookin, reception supervisor says ‘We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to Mike Neary and Seamus O’Hara for organising this training seminar for the forensic reception team. We would also like to congratulate all 11 of our staff for successfully passing this course.’

MoverPam Scott, head of asset management for the capital development directorate has been seconded to the West London forensic service, three days a week, to help deliver the strategic outline case for the St Bernard’s redevelopment programme. She says “I am really excited about working alongside the clinical team on a project which will change the future shape of the St Bernard’s site and provide improved facilities for our patients, staff, and visitors” Pam can be contacted via groupwise or telephone x2064/4337

leavers

Congratulations

24 MENTALHEALTHMATTERSMental Health Matters is printed on recycled paper

As part of carers’ week, the second annual carers’ conference was held recently in Ealing to discuss the issues facing those who care for a relative or friend with a mental health problem. The event brought together carers, trust staff and stakeholders to look at national initiatives, share information and to find out ‘what do carers want?’

Mahbub Khan, carer support officer, told the conference that nationally, statistical research showed 74% of carers reached ‘breaking point’ as a result of the practical challenges and emotional upheaval they face. As a result the government has pledged to invest £150 million over the next two years to support carers who are suffering. The mental health sector will receive the largest proportion.

Amanda Cue gave a moving personal account of her life as a carer, described the different emotions she experienced when first becoming a carer, the tiredness and frustration, including the effect on family life and the challenges she still faces. “We need to listen to each other and give time,” she said. She also praised the trust’s mental health nursing staff.

The keynote speaker, Professor Louis Appleby, national director for mental health, described a new national initiative, New Horizons, which involves a wide range of organisations and individuals with an active interest in improving mental health. A consultation takes place in the summer of 2009 and he encouraged carers to become involved.

The conference also heard from Dr Philippa Russell, newly appointed chair of the Standing Commission on Carers, who is working with ministers on a national strategy for carers. She said one positive step was the development of Carers Direct, the new national helpline and online advice service. There were also speakers from the trust, the London Borough of Ealing, the national charity Rethink and the Mental Health Foundation.

Later this year, there will be a trustwide training programme for clinical staff, who will work together with carers on best practice and protocols, plus a range of other issues.

Carers’

conference

mhm july 2009

Documents