One in 4 - Winter 2015

In this issue: gi n g a g n E ou r with nitie s u co m m

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Jon e s n w Da Pri z e A rt n e rs wi n n ced u a nno

Winter 2015

W e lco m e

Welcome to the Winter 2015 issue of One in 4, our quarterly magazine for our 8,000 staff and public members across Dudley and Walsall.

After seven successful years with the Trust, Gary Graham has decided to resign from his position as Chief Executive. He will be leaving the Trust in the New Year and will commence another NHS post. Mark Axcell will continue to be Acting Chief Executive.

um Da n ie lle O

Mark Axce ll If you know someone who you think would like to become a member, you can direct them to: www.dwmh.nhs.uk/ foundationtrust Alternatively please contact the Foundation Trust office on 01384 325015 or email communication@ dwmh.nhs.uk for a paper copy.

Since our last issue, we held our Annual General Meeting on 24th September, which was a great opportunity to look back at the success of the past year and celebrate our achievements. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Over the past few months we have been moving forward on some collaborative projects with a number of local health and social care providers.

As part of the NHS Five Year Forward View, organisations were asked to bid to pilot new models of care. We are part of two successful bids; Dudley Multispecialty Community Provider and Mental Health Alliance for Excellence, Resilience, Innovation and Training.

Although both pilots are in the early stages, we are excited to be working on cutting edge projects that aim to improve our health and care system.

You can find out more about this work later on in this issue of One in 4.

We are busy preparing for our upcoming Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection. As part of their regular programme of inspections they will be visiting our Trust in February to look at whether our services are safe,

caring, effective, responsive and well-led. In 2014 we were selected as a pilot for their new style inspections and we received a shadow ‘good’ rating which we hope to build upon. We will keep you updated on the progress and outcome of the inspection in due course.

In October, we received positive results from the Community Mental Health Survey and we are still in the top 20 per cent of trusts overall. Although the survey highlighted some areas we need to build upon, we are pleased with the feedback and will be developing action plans to address issues raised. You can have a look at our results on the CQC website – www.cqc.org.uk Looking back, it has been over a year since we launched our WellMind app, which has been going from strength to strength. We were recently shortlisted for a prestigious Health Service Journal Award in the Innovation in Mental Health category, and although we didn’t win, it was still a fantastic achievement to make the shortlist.

We want to build upon this over the coming year and we will be working on a second app, so watch this space!

And finally, as we head towards the end of the year we want to wish all of our members a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Mark Axcell Acting Chief Executive Danielle Oum Chair

meet us online www.dwmh.nhs.uk/foundation-trust

M e nt a l H ea lt h

i n t h e n e ws

One-fifth of youngsters suffer from ‘high anxiety’

Almost one in five young people live with high levels of anxiety, according to figures on wellbeing published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The study looked at the wellbeing and mental health of 7.5 million young people in the UK aged 16 to 24.

The figures from the ONS show a picture of a growing number of young people who are satisfied with their lives - but with a persistent minority reporting unhappiness or suffering from anxiety.

Almost 83 per cent of young people report high or very high levels of satisfaction – a slight improvement on previous years. However, in terms of anxiety, 18 per cent report high levels of anxiety and almost 16 per cent have “medium” levels of anxiety.

Anxiety UK, a charity which helps people with stress and anxiety, is publishing a support guide to help students. The charity says that overstretched health and counselling services could mean that students do not always get access to the help they need.

Source: BBC News

Many parents ‘never talk about mental health’ to children A poll of more than 1,100 parents found that 55 per cent had not spoken about the subject to their children. Of those, 20 per cent said they did not know how to address the issue. The survey results have been released as part of a campaign, funded by the Department of Health, to break down the stigma associated with mental health.

The poll of parents to children aged between six and 18, was carried out by market research company Opinion Matters on behalf of the Time to Change campaign, which is being run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. It also found that 45 per cent of parents felt they did not need to have the conversation because mental health “was not an issue”.

Source: BBC News

Brain game ‘improves lives of schizophrenia patients’ A computer-based brain-training game could improve the daily lives of people with schizophrenia, say University of Cambridge researchers. Tests on a small number of patients who played the game over four weeks found improvements in memory and learning.

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that causes a range of psychological symptoms, from behaviour changes to hallucinations. Many patients also experience cognition problems, which affect their memory and ability to function independently.

Professor Barbara Sahakian, from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge and who researched the impact of the game, said patients who played it made significantly fewer errors in tests afterwards on their memory and brain functioning.

She added that the memory game could help where drugs have so far failed - with no side-effects. “Because the game is interesting, even those patients with a general lack of motivation are spurred on to continue the training.”

Source: BBC News

UK Government launches national campaign to end mental health stigma A new government campaign aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health is to be launched, ministers have announced. The scheme, which will target young people, will make use of social media and school visits and see a new information website set up.

Ministers claim the campaign will be the largest ever of its kind. “This is something that young people have asked for – better information about mental health, tailored specifically for them, online,” said Community and Care minister Alistair Burt.

The Government will work with Time to Change, which campaigns against mental health stigma. “Young people

have told us that stigma is life-limiting – it affects friendships and school life, and for a quarter it even makes them want to give up on life. This has to be the generation for change,” said Sue Baker, director of the charity.

The Government has also commissioned a new survey of young people’s mental health, the first since 2004, which will be used to help design services. A £500,000 fund will also be set up to encourage the development of online tools that support young people’s mental health.

Importantly it helps people take control of their own health.

Source: The Independent

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Dawn Jones Art Prize winners In September, the Trust was delighted to host the Dawn Jones Art Prize for a second time, inviting residents across Dudley and Walsall to share their experiences and artwork. The competition welcomed work from carers and service users, and this year we received a total of 45 entries.

Now in its tenth year, the competition was set up by Maureen Jones in memory of her daughter, Dawn Jones, who tragically committed suicide in 2005 at the age of 25 following a long battle with depression. Maureen, who was on the judging panel for the prize, said: “I’m really glad we’ve been able to keep the prize running this year. It’s rewarding to see how it inspires people with experience of mental health to get involved in art, which can often be very therapeutic.”

with trophies by David Matthews, Non-Executive Director, at a prize giving ceremony on 28th September, held at The Crossing at St Paul’s in Walsall. The event was open to all shortlisted entrants and one attendee commented, “Art is a release for those experiencing mental health problems.

It has been vital in my path to recovery and the competition gives us, as artists, a chance to meet each other and discuss what we have been through and why art has been so helpful.”

This year, people were invited to enter artwork into one of two categories: ‘what makes me happy’ and ‘what I am hopeful for’. Out of the 45 entries, our panel of judges had to select just two winners and 10 runners-up. The standard of work was extremely high, leading to a difficult decision.

David Matthews, who hosted the ceremony, said: “I’m really glad that we continue to support this prize.

The standard of art that was entered into the competition was exceptional and the entire judging panel had a hard time choosing the winners.”

This year’s winners, Susanna Frances and Alan Daffern, were presented

Both winners received £100 in vouchers of their choice and the long-term display of their artwork

David Matthews,

ector awards Non-Executive Dir prize ffe Alan Da rn his

in our Trust buildings. Ten other shortlisted entries were exhibited at The Crossing at St Paul’s throughout September.

The Dawn Jones Art Prize runs every year. For more information, email the Communications and Engagement team at communication@dwmh.nhs.uk

Walsa ll CAM HS ho sts su ccessfu l open da y On 28th September our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Walsall opened their doors to visitors, to showcase the wide range of support they have to offer.

The event was well attended by parents, school groups and external agencies, such as youth support clubs, health centres, SureStart and Connexions.

There was a friendly, informal atmosphere with lots of resources for visitors to take away. Feedback from those in attendance was overwhelmingly positive; many praising the helpful and informative staff.

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Professionals from all services, including Early Intervention, Psychotherapy, Eating Disorders and Learning Disabilities were on hand to explain the work they do and answer any questions.

Diane Wright, Parent Support Advisor for Alumwell Infant School, said, “It’s been a fantastic event and a great opportunity for us to have a look around, talk to staff and hear about

d Tracy Lyon from

Gemma Leddie an

Walsall CAMHS

some of the things that are happening within the service.”

For more information on our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services visit our website www.dwmh.nhs.uk

Empowering through creativity In the heart of Dudley, Woodside Crafts has been supporting individuals living with mental illness by harnessing their creative skills.

Woodside Crafts offers practical support and skills development aimed at building confidence and employability.

The organisation was founded by Chris George and Martin Marston, who wanted to support recovery by providing facilities for work and recreation. The main message Woodside Crafts tries to get across is that recovery from mental health is possible. It may be a difficult journey, but you can still live a full and rich life.

Now, almost three years down the line, Woodside Crafts has over 60 members and 15 volunteers. Over the years they have developed their offering, from workshops to fundraising and sell a wide range of hand crafted products in their shop. All money made from items sold is reinvested back into

the business, enabling it to open up more opportunities for people.

Both Chris and Martin have been amazed at how the social side has developed and one member said, “Some of us haven’t got anywhere else to go on special occasions. My prognosis is family based, so being here gives me a place to be with people. It’s like a family here.”

The shop is located at: 36 King Street, Dudley, DY2 8NY and is open all week (except Tuesday and Sunday) 10am – 4pm.

You can find out more by visiting www.woodsidecrafts.org.uk or just pop in!

Self Care Week This year, the Trust participated in Self Care Week (16 – 22 Nov).

Although the national campaign focuses on physical self-care, we thought this was a good opportunity to highlight mental health and wellbeing.

Many people are aware of the importance of maintaining their physical wellbeing but neglect to think of ways to improve and care for their mental health. The Five Ways to Wellbeing is a set of five actions that are clinicallyproven to increase mental health and wellbeing. The Trust promotes these five actions – connect, be active, take notice, learn and give – through a variety of resources including our WellMind app and various community events.

The week also allowed us to showcase our wide range of mental health self-care resources available for public use. Most notable is our self help guides with topics ranging from low mood to panic disorder and controlling anger. You can access these guides via our website www.dwmh.nhs.uk

Chris George and

Kerry Boden from Woodside Crafts

Sh a re y ou r ry re co ve ry st o We’re looking to produce a recovery stories booklet documenting the various ways in which service users have seen their mental health improve. Your story could encourage others to speak up about any issues they may face and also reassure them of the help that’s available.

Whatever has worked for you, we’d love to hear about it. However you would like to tell your story – through artwork, writing, poetry or other means – please let us know.

To get started contact Tracy Cross on tracy.cross@dwmh.nhs.uk, call 01384 324531 or complete the short form on our website: www.dwmh.nhs.uk/contact/shareyour-experience/. You will then be contacted by a member of the team to explain more.

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En g a g in g wit h ou r communities Community Development Workers (CDWs) are a vital part of our Trust.

They work in a number of different ways to challenge discrimination and stigma and to promote mental heath and wellbeing across the Dudley and Walsall areas.

Join in

Five ways to wellbeing The events that CDWs facilitate focus around five clinicallyproven ways to improve mental wellbeing – connecting, being active, continuous learning, giving and taking notice.

Connecting is about building and maintaining relationships with those around you, including family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Perhaps one of these people can help or encourage you to be active – it’s easier to maintain your commitment to physical health with the support of a friend! Being active doesn’t mean that you have to go to the gym every day, instead you can take a walk, go cycling or play football. Learning new skills can boost confidence and create a sense of achievement. Try joining a class that interests you, such as art or cooking. The smallest act of kindness can make a person’s day; it can be as simple as giving a smile, some of your time or a ‘thank you’. Finally, taking notice of the present moment and being more aware of your thoughts, body and the world around you can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

Suicide remains the most common cause of death in men under the age of 35. Furthermore, British men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women.

It is thought that men are less likely to seek help such as talking to someone or visiting their GP for advice. The 4 Men Monday Club provides a place for men who have experience of, or are living with a mental illness, to meet people and build their confidence. Activities range from reading a newspaper to playing cards and cooking classes – there is something for everyone! Mohammed, a regular attendee of the group, said: “It’s really worth coming to the group; I enjoy taking part and especially playing cards.”

From Monday 11th January 2016, men attending the group will be able to join in on a six week Get Cooking course. It is a great opportunity to socialise and showcase your cooking skills!

Attending the group is easy, there is no booking required, you can simply turn up. The group meets each Monday morning between 10am – 12noon in the Community Hall at Christ Church on Lye High Street. Activities and a light breakfast are provided.

For more information please contact: Iram Maan on 01384 366517 or Nick Tromans on 07866 020436.

CDWs in action In recent weeks the CDWs have helped organise several programmes aimed at particular community sectors. The Polish Wellbeing Group was a five week programme aimed at alleviating stress and triggers for depression. At their last session the group learned about being active through yoga. The Bengali Women Wellbeing group was a ten week programme that reached a community with little access to services and social connections. Reading for Wellbeing, a series aimed at Asian women, was a success and promoted the ideals of connecting and continuous learning.

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4 Men Monday Club

Pyari Sangat Happy 1st Birthday Pyari Sangat is our Asian Women’s mental health support group. In September the group marked its first anniversary by hosting a celebration event.

Walsall Mind and Body were on hand to deliver a meditation and aromatherapy workshop and Central Therapies provided the ladies with mini head, shoulder and hand massage treatments.

Our own group members demonstrated their skills in producing beautiful hand Mendhi art for their group members and bringing in home-made food.

We also provided mindfulness activities including a ‘gratitude tree’ which enabled attendees to display what they are most grateful for.

Our main feature highlighted Pyari Sangat’s memories from the past year on a special display board. We also displayed a collection of culturally appropriate mental health awareness messages.

H e lp o n h a n d Working in partnership with St Paul’s Church, our Community Development Workers secured funding from the Near Neighbours fund to establish a much needed support group in the Halesowen area. This is how the Community Creations project began.

The aim of Community Creations was to encourage women from all backgrounds to come together to learn new skills, make new friends and improve their wellbeing.

In particular it was hoped the group would help to reduce isolation and improve community cohesion.

After a group effort of blowing out the birthday candle, each member was individually presented with a token of affection that included a gratitude card, photos from the past year and a rose.

The group meets on a weekly basis 1-2pm, at Surestart Birchills, Birchills Street, Walsall, WS2 8NF. For more information contact Anita Chumber, Community Development Worker on 07917 559 351/01384 366517 or email anita.chumber@dwmh.nhs.uk

Although the original timescale for the project has expired, the group have continued to meet up.

It continues to be a safe place for women to interact and learn new skills.

The strength of the group means that there will be a provision in the community beyond funding contraints.

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y r e v o c e r s d i a ll a Foot b The link between physical and mental health is well-established but can often be ignored. It’s shown that being active is one of the best ways to meet new people, develop social skills and improve mood, all benefits which the Trust is keen to promote.

The Early Intervention teams in Dudley and Walsall see the value of using sport to aid recovery. For the last three years they’ve entered a joint team of service users and staff into a five-a-side football tournament organised by their colleagues at North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

“One lad in particular, Tom, won goalkeeper of the tournament. He hadn’t been out of his house for months but because he was historically quite good at sport, especially football, it was a route to getting him involved again.

An important aspect of the support they provide is social inclusion. For many people who have been referred into the service, engaging in public situations can be very difficult and at times distressing. This is something that sport can help counteract.

“Every couple of weeks throughout the summer we’d do a training session. He got more confident and he’s become like a different person. You’re building on what people have done before they were poorly,” said Tom Fox.

As well as having fun and promoting a healthy lifestyle, the focus of the tournament is on overcoming anxiety.

It emphasises the value of teamwork, camaraderie and a sense of shared purpose.

Tom Fox, Manager of the Early Intervention team, who took part in the preparations and the day itself, said: “It helps build their confidence. It’s a relaxed day with different teams and different people. Not all of the teams were there from mental health services; some just played in five-a-side leagues. It was quite a decent standard.

“Some people won’t come along because it’s just too much for them so we try to work on that throughout the summer months. We pick them up and introduce them to other people. You’re covering a lot of interventions but in a different way, in a relaxed environment.”

This year’s tournament took place on 12th September and saw the Dudley and Walsall Early Intervention team reach the semi-finals, the furthest they’ve ever been. For Tom Fox and the rest of his staff, seeing the progress they’ve made was a source of great pride.

“When you’re delivering mental health care, a lot of it is quite formal so it’s nice to get to know people in a different situation. You haven’t got that traditional nurse-patient relationship.

Everyone’s equal; we’re all playing together as a team.

“It’s all about confidence. You can tell they’re more relaxed and happy. When they’re playing it’s about football, not mental illness. You forget about that, and just have a game and a laugh. That’s good enough really.”

This is especially useful for Early Intervention, which offers a community service to people aged between 14 and 35, who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Anxiety and paranoia often lead to sufferers closing themselves off from others.

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Staff and service

ervention Service

users from Early Int

Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust alongside Dudley Mind and Rethink Mental Illness hosted an event on 27th November at Cable Plaza, Brierley Hill that explored the power of peer support.

Peer support is the help and support that people with lived experience of a mental illness or a learning disability are able to give to one another. It is a very powerful tool that can support recovery.

During the event, attendees heard from Jon, who offers informal peer support to service users in Dudley. Jon spoke about why he was motivated to start a group. Jon commented: “If I had to say just one thing about why peer support is so powerful, it would be that it makes us realise that we are not alone, and for or me that’s huge”.

Amanda Williams from Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council spoke about her experiences in Wolverhampton, including advice on the key ingredients of setting up and maintaining successful peer support groups.

Martin Mueller from Dudley Mind was on hand to highlight what current support is available in Dudley.

During the afternoon delegates explored some of the barriers to setting up peer support groups amongst other things.

Following the event, a number of individuals have agreed to meet to discuss how they can move forward with peer support and potentially develop new groups and avenues

of support in the future. They are planning their first meetings in the New Year.

Kelly Slade, Personalisation Lead said: “We are really pleased that the event has inspired people to take charge of their recovery.

Mental illness can be isolating, so even something as simple as people coming together to share similar experiences can really make a difference.”

If you are interested in finding out more about peer support contact Dudley Mind on 01384 442938.

Caring for carers Carers play a vital role in supporting service users with their illness. Often people don’t recognise themselves as being a carer and may need some extra help or information.

In Dudley and Walsall there are a number of groups for carers that offer advice and support along with an informal way to meet other carers. One example is the Asian Ladies Carers Group in Walsall. They meet on the first Thursday of every month at Brace Street Health Centre, 10.30am – 12.30pm. The group is hosted by the Carers Support Service Walsall who also offer regular drop-ins and coffee mornings for carers throughout the Walsall borough.

In Dudley, a Carers Tea and Chat group is held every first and third Friday from 9.30am – 12noon at Lunch on the Run Café, Stafford Street, Dudley.

For more information about carers support services visit www.dwmh.nhs.uk

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e c r o f k r o w e r u t u Su ppo rt i n g ou r f We recognise the value of introducing the next generation to the working environment of today’s NHS, which is why we offer a range of work experience, professional development and voluntary placement opportunities through our Widening Participation programme.

Our apprentices, one year on…

their manager

Last year, the Trust employed a total of eight apprentices working in business administration roles across various services. The Trust’s apprenticeship scheme, headed by Michael Hirons, has given school leavers the chance to gain the experience they need at the start of their working lives and has enabled them to open up new opportunities.

Kirsty Hadley, who started last year as an apprentice in our Estates and Facilities department, was so inspired by her time at the Trust that she has embarked on a career in nursing. Kirsty will begin her Mental Health Nursing course in January 2016 but continues to work for the Trust through our temporary staffing service.

Over the past year our apprentices have grown in skill, confidence and knowledge and have proved to be a great asset to our Trust. Not only are they able to support the wider team, they also bring fresh and innovative ideas to the workplace.

When asked about the apprenticeship, Kirsty said, “The most rewarding aspect of my role was having the opportunity to go out to different sites to meet with staff and patients. It really puts it all into perspective as to why we are all here – to help patients. My team have encouraged me to pursue my nursing career and supported my decision throughout, pointing me in the right direction.”

All of our apprentices have come a long way since 2014 with three of them staying with us to complete their Level 3 Business Administration apprenticeship. Two others, Corey Boddice and Chelsea Wood, have successfully gained permanent positions in our Walsall Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services administration team and Communications and Engagement team respectively.

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Our 2014/15 Trust apprentices with

In September 2015, the Trust took on a new cohort of seven apprentices and we are still seeking four more to meet growing demand across the organisation.

Graduate success Navdeep Chatha, a Graduate Management Trainee, recently joined the Trust as part of a year-long placement with our Information Management and Technology team to help roll out our agile working scheme, develop the Business Intelligence Hub and assist in work linked to the vanguard pilots. Navdeep graduated from Aston University in psychology and secured a place on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme.

Navdeep was motivated to join the NHS by the prospect of having a career with purpose rather than working for a profit focused company. During her orientation period, Navdeep explored our clinical teams and heard from our partner agencies to understand our services.

The Trust hasn’t hosted a Graduated Management Trainee for some time and we are proud to have been selected to participate. The national recruitment scheme is currently open and more information can be found here: www.nhsgraduates.co.uk.

Navdeep Chatha

Just the experience

Vol unte erin g

One of our consultants, Dr Amitav Narula, has linked with the placements team at Russell’s Hall Hospital to run an Introduction to Psychiatry taster for people on work experience in the hospital.

Hoping to encourage future doctors to specialise in mental health, Dr Narula was keen to include psychiatry as part of the programme. He devised a number of sessions giving a general introduction to the field.

One student who was inspired by the session was Khubbaib Hasan, who wanted to have a more in-depth look into psychiatry and contacted Dr Narula to gain experience.

During his placement, Khubbaib got the opportunity to spend time with trainee doctors and shadow a number of staff to get real insight into working in mental health.

Other consultants have also been keen to get involved and have supported students who have shadowed their areas of work.

If you are interested in a work placement please contact Michael Hirons, People Development Officer, on 01384 324525 or email michael.hirons@dwmh.nhs.uk

Volunteers have the potential to contribute enormously to the range of support services we are able to offer. We are particularly interested in people who have skills which can be used to complement treatments. However, anyone is welcome to offer whatever talents they have and we will always look to try and place anyone who is looking to give something back.

Our volunteers commit a wide range of time, from a few hours a month to a day or more a week – whatever is mutually acceptable to them and the service line; and many work alongside us for many years. If you would like to give something back to your community, or say thank you, then we may be able to find a place for you.

All volunteers are subject to full Disclosure and Barring Service checks and occupational health screening.

Suitable references are also required. Successful candidates must undertake Trust mandatory and PREVENT training before commencing their duties, which may mean attending on a day outside of the usual placement time.

We currently have a vacancy for a Community Development Worker volunteer who will support our community engagement programme. Ideally we are looking for someone who is able to commit 2 – 6 hours of their time per week or fortnight, to work with our communities. This might involve running groups, supporting events, holding drop-in sessions, signposting to other services and delivering basic mental health and cultural awareness training.

Find out more about this specific opportunity by contacting Kuldeep Singh on 07766 368373 or email kuldeep.singh@dwmh.nhs.uk

Khubbaib Hasan with Dr Amitav Naru

la

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u crceeasks NCuorsfinfege sB Sarah Hamilton, a Community Psychiatric Nurse in our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, overcame tough competition to win funding to support a research study as part of her Master of Science in Advanced Practice.

Sarah applied to the Florence Nightingale Foundation for funding to support her research dissertation that will explore mothers’ experiences of the diagnostic process of Autistic Spectrum Disorder within a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services setting. She was shortlisted from over 300 applicants and has subsequently been awarded £3000 to support her work.

The Florence Nightingale Foundation exists to support nurses and midwives in developing their full potential, be it through scholarships, research, mentoring, leadership development or other academic activities.

We are proud of what Sarah has achieved and we hope that her success will encourage others to take part in similar schemes.

Tasty treats raise money for charity During September teams from across the Trust held several coffee mornings to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Over three weeks we raised a total of £1,290.23 with events being held at Dorothy Pattison Hospital, Bushey Fields Hospital, Canalside, Anchor Meadow Health Centre and across our community sites. We would like to take the time to thank all those involved in showing their support, from those hosting a coffee morning to those donating.

The first coffee morning for Pyari Sangat, our Asian Women’s Mental Health Support Group, was also held on 26th October, where a total of £50 was raised.

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Each winter hundreds of thousands of people across England make visits to their local A&E for common ailments such as a cold or flu. It is understandable to want to receive reassurance or advice on the best course of action, but did you know there are easier ways to receive free, confidential information if it’s not a medical emergency? All pharmacists are trained clinicians and have private consultation rooms so you do not have to converse over the counter. If visiting a pharmacy is not your preferred option, you can dial NHS 111, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Many common ailments can be prevented by following simple advice such as practicing good hand hygiene, utilising heating systems and covering your mouth whilst coughing or sneezing. Also, if you are pregnant, aged 65 or over, or have a long-term condition you are entitled to a free flu vaccination. Speak to your GP. Staying well this winter starts with you.

To find out more visit www.nhs.uk

re a c a i t n e m e d g M a pp i n In October, the Trust took a step towards implementing one of its quality priorities for 2015/2016. Six staff members from Older Adults passed their Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) exams after an intensive four day training course.

Dementia Care Mapping is an established approach to achieving and embedding person-centred care for people with dementia. It is designed to empower staff to engage in an evidence-based, critical reflection in order to improve the quality of care for people living with dementia.

How does DCM work?

Dementia Care Mapping is an observational tool consisting of five phases. The first phase is preparation and briefing. This includes providing information about DCM to staff, carers, family members and visitors so they are aware of and understand the DCM process. The next stage is an observation period in which a trained observer (mapper) records the care experience of a dementia patient. After each five minute observation period, the mapper records results about behaviour, mood and engagement, and quality of interaction with staff members. This is followed by analysis of the data. The analysis allows us to understand how people with dementia are spending their time and how it

relates to their wellbeing, fluctuations in wellbeing, and whether staff interactions promote or undermine person-centred care. Once all data has been recorded and analysed, the mapper provides feedback to staff teams who then develop action plans relevant to their own care setting.

This cycle is repeated every six months to monitor and revise action plans.

He added,”Dementia Care Mapping not only gives us a clear picture and insight, but also enables staff to recognise and understand how the experiences and care can be improved in a very person-centred approach.

I feel DCM is a great step forward and embraces our values especially around care, integrity and quality, for people with dementia.”

Benefits of DCM Dementia Care Mapping allows staff the opportunity to see care from the point of view of those living with dementia. This in turn allows for improvements to people’s wellbeing, increased action planning, and greater motivation and confidence to implement person-centred care.

How is the Trust supporting DCM? We are committed to making continued strides towards implementing and embeding person-centred care within our Trust. In addition to the six newly qualified mappers, a dementia care steering group meets monthly. In November, a DCM programme launched at Bushey Fields Hospital, Bloxwich Hospital and several care home settings within Dudley. For more information about DCM, please contact Jo Marshall, Consultant Occupational Therapist for Older Adults, via email at jo.marshall@dwmh.nhs.uk or by phone on 07881 333991.

Nick Stephens, Head of Service for Older Adults, said, “The most fundamental and important aspect of DCM, especially with patients who may find it hard to express themselves, is for us to try to understand and measure the experiences of the person with dementia who finds themselves an inpatient on our wards”

H ea d- in fo r wint e r

In October, patients at Malvern Ward participated in Aspire Supported Living’s ‘Head-in for Winter Campaign’.

Every year Aspire appeal for winter hats that are then distributed to homeless charities to enable people to stay warm over the winter months.

beyond by knitting new hats to donate! In total, over 310 hats were collected as part of the campaign.

Although the drive asked for gently used winter hats, the patients at Malvern Ward went above and

Thank you to Malvern Ward for living our Trust values by being caring and collaborative.

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HOPE exchange progra mme In May, Jacky O’Sullivan, Clinical Development Director, embarked on a four-week visit to The Netherlands as part of the Hospitals of Europe (HOPE) Exchange Programme.

During her visit Jacky spent time in a number of services observing how mental health provision differs from the UK. She noted several examples of good practice including an emphasis on patients being seen as partners. Some great examples of this were joint meal times – with staff and patients eating together, shared facilities and even the concept of ‘the patient will see you now’. They also had excellent IT systems, with patients being able to check in online for appointments.

Jacky O’Sullivan wi

th colleagues on

the HOPE exchan

ge programme

Jacky has stayed in touch with her Dutch hosts so that we can continue to share learning. “All in all it was a wonderful opportunity and a great experience” she commented.

Staff achievements highlighted The Recognising Success Awards 2015 were held at the Village Hotel, Walsall, on 27th November. It was a celebration of staff achievements from throughout the year, with a record 141 nominations highlighting just how many positive contributions have been made. After a thorough judging process, involving the Trust’s Board members, Experts by Experience and Engagement Champions, the following winners and runners-up were chosen: Unsung Hero, The Darren Cartwright Award Winner: Sadie Bond Runner-up: Emma Fulloway Runner-up: Charlotte Jennings Innovation Award Winner: WellMind App Runner-up: Jackie Stevens Runner-up: Zita Trabocco

Living our Values Winner: Dignity Champions Runner-up: Dr Ejaz Farooq Runner-up: Chelsea Wood

Patient Champion Winner: Bloxwich Activity Coordinators Runner-up: Experts by Experience Runner-up: Becky Johnson

Working in Partnership Winner: Acute Service Leads and Ward Managers Runner-up: James Parker Runner-up: Kelly Slade

Outstanding Leadership Winner: Dr Amitav Narula Runner-up: Debbie Cooper Runner-up: Alana Daft

Frontline Team of the Year Award Winner: Dudley South CRS Runner-up: Bloxwich Day Hospital Runner-up: CAMHS Runner-up: Linden Ward Support Services Team of the Year Award Winner: Estates and Facilities Runner-up: Nursing Bank Team Runner-up: Walsall CAMHS Admin

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Dudley South CRS,

winners of frontline

team of the year

Supporting new models of care The NHS is facing a number of challenges. Longer life expectancies and more complex health issues mean that a longer term view is required. They are not things that can be fixed overnight.

The Five Year Forward View, which was published in October 2014, set out how the NHS needs to adapt to be able to provide sustainable, personalised health and care services over the next five years.

To support this, the NHS invited organisations and partnerships to explore new ways of working.

We were keen to contribute to this work and are working in partnership with local organisations in two pilot schemes.

Developing new models of care in Dudley

All Together Better describes the partnership between local NHS and care organisations, GPs and the voluntary sector which all believe there is a better way to plan and deliver care in Dudley. We are now working together to develop a new care model called a Multispecialty Community Provider (MCP) to improve the way the most vulnerable people are looked after.

Under the new model, people who are registered with a Dudley GP will have their care coordinated by them. For example, a person with frailty and long term conditions, registered with a GP in Dudley, will have their care overseen by a multi disciplinary team in the community. This team includes Mental Health Link workers.

This will ensure a more rounded approach towards care that better meets the person’s medical and social needs - at one time, in one place.

The links that we are developing with the voluntary sector also help to ensure that they have access to support and care from their local community.

As a result of the health and care system working together in this way, people are not only receiving the coordinated support necessary for their health needs, but they are also linking to the wider network of care and social interaction in their community to help them live more independently for longer. New ways of working will also mean that Dudley GPs will have more time to care for the people that need their expertise the most.

If you would like to watch a short film to describe this Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) approach please go to www.dudleyccg.nhs.uk/integration Alliance to transform acute mental health care We are one of four mental health trusts in the West Midlands that are coming together to transform the way acute mental health services are provided.

The Mental Health Alliance for Excellence, Resilience, Innovation and Training (MERIT), which comprises DWMH, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Black Country Partnership NHS

Foundation Trust and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, will focus on three priority areas – seven day working in acute mental health services, crisis care and the reduction of risk, and promoting a recovery culture.

Some of the specific transformations MERIT will work to achieve are: • Consistency and less variation in services, so they fit peoples’ lives • Faster decision making, such as discharges that are seven days a week, and a co-ordinated emergency response, • A shared care plan, meaning one assessment for patients and only having to tell their story once, • More likelihood of staying closer to home if a bed isn’t available in the immediate area, • Less unnecessary time spent in A&E or police cells, • More support for recovery in the community and less chance of a relapse or return to secondary care services, • Wider access to clinical trials, leading to improved treatments, models and outcomes, • Greater participation in our services across all communities.

The four trusts involved recognise that only by coming together can they effect the large scale transformational change needed.

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C o f fe e Brea k Word wheel Make as many words as you can using the above letters. Each word must contain at least three letters, including the centre one. There is also one nine letter word to find, relating to mental health.

Can you beat our score of 56 words?

Dates for your diary Events in Dudley

• Feelgood Choir : Every Wednesday, 6:15pm – 7:45pm, Dove House, Bushey Fields Hospital, Bushey Fields Road, DY1 2LZ If you enjoy singing, join Dudley Mind’s new ‘Feelgood Choir’! The choir is open to all, no auditions or experience required, just a love of singing. The main aim of the choir is to come away from rehearsals feeling good. For more information contact Emma Marks on 01384 442938 or email emma.marks@dudleymind.org.uk.

• Carers amble through Saltwells Nature Reserve: Second Thursday of every month, 12:30pm, Saltwells Lane carpark, DY5 1AX

Answer: THERAPIES

Be i nvo lved e-r be a m e m b We are currently applying for NHS Foundation Trust status.

As an NHS Foundation Trust, our service users, carers, staff and members of the public can become ‘members’ of the Trust. This means you can be involved in shaping the future of your mental health care services and help us to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

As a member you can: • Come along to our events to help raise awareness of mental health in our communities • Participate in consultations and feed back your views on our services • Receive regular information about the Trust • Join in our membership events We would love to welcome you as a new member of our Trust. For more information, visit www.dwmh.nhs.uk, contact the Membership Office on 01384 325015 or email communication@dwmh.nhs.uk to request a membership form.

Contact Us Online: www.dwmh.nhs.uk Email: communication@dwmh.nhs.uk

Follow us on Twitter @DWbetter2gether Dudley Walsall Mental Health Partnership Dudley and & Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS NHS Trust Public Membership by Constituency Trust Public Membership by Constituency Dudley Walsall Rest of England/ Rest of Black Country/ Out of Trust Area

Take some time out for yourself, or bring along the person who you care for to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and culture trail. You will get the chance to meet and chat with other carers, and people will be on hand from local services to discuss help available in the Dudley borough. The stroll will end with a pub lunch at 1.30pm at the Saltwells Inn. No need to book, just turn up.

• F orget Me Not Dementia Group: 26th January 2016, 25th February 2016, 11am – 12noon, Halesowen Library A monthly activity social group for people with dementia and their carers. Get together and swap stories, play memory games, sing, do jigsaws paint, take part in arts and crafts and more!

Events in Walsall • Mind Matters Café: Fourth Wednesday of every month, 10:30am – 12:30pm, Walsall Hub, WS1 1TU The Mind Matters Café supports young people to develop their physical, social and emotional abilities and to experience achievement, leadership, enjoyment, friendship and recognition.

• F reedom Women’s Support Programme: Mondays during term time, 1pm – 3pm, Homestart, Birchills Street, Walsall, WS2 8NF Sure Start Children’s Centres in Walsall have set up a Freedom Women’s Support Programme to support those who have experienced domestic violence. All women are welcome to join and learn more about healthy and unhealthy relationships in a safe, nonjudgemental environment. Please call 01922 646574 for more information about this programme.

• B rownhills Adult Reading Group: Last Tuesday of every month, 2:30pm - 3:30pm, Brownhills Library Join Brownhills Library for their weekly reading group where you can enjoy a variety of books throughout the year. Please arrive 10-15 minutes earlier to ensure that you can make the most of the hour! To find out more information, phone Brownhills Library on 01922 650730, or email brownhillslibrary@walsall.gov.uk.