‘no frontiers’ employment opportunities for people with mental health needs – a cross border...
TRANSCRIPT
‘NO FRONTIERS’
Employment Opportunities for people with Mental Health Needs –
A Cross Border Partnership
PETER SHIELDS
ACTION MENTAL HEALTH
‘‘NO FRONTIERS’NO FRONTIERS’
• WINNING NEW OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMME
Anne Marie Nedeljkovic : Mind Matters - Raphoe
Frances Ferry : Worklink - Letterkenny
Marie Heffron : Homefirst H & SS Trust – Magherafelt
• THE MELVIN PROJECT
John James McBride
A CROSS BORDER PARTNERSHIP
AIM
• TO PROMOTE POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH USING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACHES
• AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
A 3 WAY PARTNERSHIP
• RURAL HEALTH MIND MATTERS PROJECT -RAPHOE CO. DONEGAL
• RURAL HEALTH & SOCIAL WELLBEING PARTNERSHIP DRAPERSTOWN CO. DERRY
• HEALTH PROMOTION DEPT NUIG GALWAY
INTERAGENCY & CROSSINTERAGENCY & CROSS
SECTORAL COLLABORATION SECTORAL COLLABORATION
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NORTHERN IRELAND
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GROUPS STATUTORY HEALTH AGENCIES WOMEN’S NETWORK GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FARMING ORGANISATIONS TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES
• 31 TRAINERS• 24 WORKSHOPS• 184 UNEMPLOYED• 47 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE USERS
SWOT ANAYLSIS OF SWOT ANAYLSIS OF
CROSS BORDER WORKINGCROSS BORDER WORKING
• STRENGTHS - SHARING EXPERTISE, NETWORKING, COMMON GROUND, CAPACITY BUILDING
• WEAKNESSES - GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE, SLOW PROCESS
• OPPORTUNITIES - REMOVING BARRIERS, LEARNING, MANY ‘SPIN OFFS’
• THREATS - FRUSTRATION, TOO WIDE A FOCUS
WINNING NEW JOBS
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE
OF A
NORTH WEST TRAINER
FRANCES FERRY
WORKLINK NORTH WEST
LETTERKENNY
CO. DONEGAL
JOB COACH/TRAINER/
SUPPORT WORKER
OVERVIEW
• Introduction• Workshops Delivered• Outcomes and Success• What Works• What Did Not Work• Success Stories• Conclusion
INTRODUCTION
• Another new American Programme “I can do this…”
• Trainers not the experts
• Leap of Faith
WORKSHOPS DELIVERED
• FAS Training Centre, Gaoth Dobhair
• NWHB/FAS Training Centre, Letterkenny
• NWHB, Killybegs
• NWHB/FAS/Social Welfare (Job Club) Gaoth Dobhair
OUTCOMES AND SUCCESS
How many have jobs?
WHAT WORKS?
• Confidence boost
• The participants seem to grow
• The workshop gave them direction
• It opened up new ideas and new methods to aid them in their job search
• Opportunity to “I pass”
WHAT WORKS CONTD.
• Self disclosure from the trainers helped with overall harmony of workshop – made us human
• Having 2 trainers deliver the programme made the workshop more dynamic
WHAT DIDN’T WORK?
• At times the language used was a barrier
• Participants sometimes felt that parts of the programme were repetitive
• Participants not screened properly – don’t meet criteria
• Spreading workshop over 2 weeks instead of on 5 consecutive days
SUCCESS STORIES
• Job as secretary• Job in maintenance• Job in a shop• Job as carer• Driving test• Computer course (ECDL)• Reading at mass• Further education
CONCLUSION
• Excellent Programme• Needs to be incorporated into other training
programmes• 5 days powerful intensive course and then nothing -
No follow up• Great confidence building tool• Difficult to achieve outcomes in employment black
spots e.g. West Donegal
Winning New Opportunities Programme
Marie HeffronSenior OT
Community Mental Health TeamMagherafelt
This session will explain:
• The Recovery Journey
• How the Winning New Opportunities Programme was delivered
• Outcomes
• Why the Programme worked for us
• Conclusion
The Recovery Journey
Literature Review
• Ridgway (2001)• Manage health problems• Lead an active life
• Shepherd and Hatfield (1994)• Want to work
• Cook et al (2000) & DoH (1998)• Increased self-esteem• Alleviation of psychiatric symptoms• Reduced dependency• Social inclusion
Winning New Opportunities Programme
• 3 Programmes
• 33 Participants
• 27 Known to Mental Health Services
Outcomes
Response Rate
4 People 12%
29 People 88%
RepliedDid Not Reply
3
7
2
3
5 5
3 3
2
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Furt
her
Educa
tion
Univ
ers
ity
Volu
nta
ryW
ork
Full-t
ime
Em
plo
yment
Part
-tim
eEm
plo
yment
Furt
her
Tra
inin
g
Opport
unit
yR
eady
Unem
plo
yed
Unknow
n
Benefit from WNO Programme
1 Person 3%
28 People 97%
BenefitNo Benefit
Did it help to improve self-esteem?
1 Person3%
4 People14%
24 People83%
Yes
No
No reply
Would you recommend the programme to friends or people who are currently unemployed?
1 Person 3%
28 People 97%
Yes
No
Outstanding Achievements
• BA (Hons ) Fine & Applied Art: University of Ulster
• NVQ II in Administration: NEIFHE Considering doing other courses next year
• Voluntary Counselling with Age Concern also Cruise Bereavement course this autumn
• NVQ III in Business Administration
Outstanding Achievements
• Applied for Supervisor Post at local Primary School awaiting outcome
• Diploma in Counselling: Queen’s University, Belfast also 1st Year Certificate in Management Practice: University
of Ulster
• Completed 2nd Year of a 3 Year BA (Hons) Combined Humanities Degree
Why the Programme worked for us
• Screening• Job Clinic• Opportunity Ready
• Employment Officer• Support/Follow-up from OT• Magherafelt – Resources• Information Session• Evening Group
Recovery Journey
“ Viewed not in terms of absence of illness but as a process of establishing a satisfying and meaningful life with an impairment rather than waiting to be without one.”
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• John James McBride
• Throughout 1998
• Discussions between Action Mental Health & North Western Health Board
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Development of a Service– Fermanagh, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal
• Sperrin Lakeland Trust
• Why?
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Mid 1999– Funding– Special Support programme for Peace and
Reconciliation
• I was approached– Dec 1999
• Melvin Commenced – Jan 2000
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Rehabilitation & Vocational Opportunities
• Possible & Recognised Difference
• Passive or Living System
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Staff Recruited • Administration Centre• Training Areas• Initial Stages
– Audit of Community Services & Resources
• Meetings & Expectations • Referrals
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Geographic Area
• Criteria for Referrals – 93 in total – Majority
• Why?– Isolation
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Two groups set up
• Cause of Isolation
• Training Reflected this (12 months)
• Modules
• Sessional Trainers
• Taxi Services
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Management Team– Senior Personnel from Mental Health
Services
• Was the Commitment There?
THE MELVIN PROJECTTHE MELVIN PROJECT
• Social– Integration– Quality of life Assessments – Action Plans – Community Based Resources
THE MELVIN PROJECT
• Economic– Supported Employment– Employment related activities
• Political– Public Awareness– Public Education – Partnerships
THE MELVIN PROJECT
• Evaulation
• In Conclusion– Bold initiative for change– Followed by commitment
• Go Raibh Míle Maith Agaibh