HPFT, Customer Magazine, Issue 54

Issue 54/Autumn Winter 2018

HPFT provides support to people with mental and physical ill health and learning disabilities

Matters

Walking for Windrush

Celebrating the contribution made by the Windrush generation

LIFESAVERS

WINNING WAYS

The Suicide Prevention Network

Meet our talented HPFT's teams Liam Dwyer at theGovernors Special Olympics new scoop top awards

LEADING LIGHTS

PCONTENTS M

03 04-07 08-10

Welcome

By Tom Cahill, CEO

11-13

Our partnerships Lifesavers New Leaf College The A&E Project Become a MIND Trustee Pimp my Zimmer

14-15

Our Governors Our AGM A word from our Chair Meet our new governors

Our service users The Walled Garden Work placements The Service User Council

Our News Rainbow Nation Let’s celebrate Everyone’s a winner

16

About us

Would you like to receive Partnership Matters in a handy, page turning electronic format?

If so we’d love to hear from you. As well as being able to access the magazine on your mobile, laptop or home computer you will also be helping us to save money and doing your bit for the environment. If you would like to receive future issues of Partnership Matters in this format simply contact: The Membership Team Email: hpft.comms@nhs.net Tel: 01707 253903 Editor: Alison Smith Tel: 01707 253903 Email: hpft.comms@nhs.net

SOCIAL

Follow us on Twitter @HPFT_NHS

Find us on Facebook @hpft.nhs www.hpft.nhs.uk

Design and printed by: Marketing Impact Tel: 020 8399 7400 Email: hello@marketing-impact.co.uk Web: www.marketing-impact.co.uk/

Welcome

As

we approach the autumn and winter months it’s a great opportunity to reflect on what a successful year it has yet again been for the Trust. Our staff have continued to go above and beyond to provide the best possible care and have picked up a few awards in the process.

Success of our teams As we were going to print I was delighted to hear that our IAPT service (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) had won the IAPT award in the Positive Practice in Mental Health Awards (PPiMH) – the same team that also came first in the regional NHS70 Parliamentary Awards.

On top of this, our Community Perinatal Team received a Highly Commended for the work they do to support women before, during and after pregnancy.

Meanwhile, the drama group May Contain Nuts, coordinated

by HPFT drama therapist Gerald Maiello, won an Advancing Healthcare Award (AHA) and is also up for a HSJ Award.

It is fantastic to see our staff getting the recognition that they justly deserve for their outstanding efforts. Our teams really do put our service users at the heart of all they do. They are innovative and passionate about their roles as well as being supportive of each other. Their efforts make me incredibly proud and humbled to be their CEO. CQC Rating – ‘Good’ news In April we received the excellent news that we had been rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the body that regulates all hospitals, health and social care providers. This again is testament to the hard work of our staff.

Tom Cahill with Mike Barratt, Managing Director and Eni Bankole-Race, Governor

The rating provides evidence that our services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Two of our core services – forensic inpatient services and wards for people with a learning disability – were rated as ‘Outstanding.’ These results come at a time when demand for our services is higher than ever. We have continued to improve while treating greater numbers of people.

Black History Month (BHM) – celebrating diversity At time of writing it is Black History Month – this is an important event for us as those who came to the UK’s aid from the Caribbean on the HMT Windrush and their descendants form the bedrock of the NHS. We are proud that many of our staff come from a diverse background and our flagship BHM event in October celebrates the vital contribution they make to our services.

It also provides an opportunity to investigate ways we can continue to support these members of our staff and to ensure that they have the same opportunities as everyone else.

Recovery Conferences – hope and opportunity At the heart of what we do are our service users and we have recently completed a series of Recovery Conferences. The aim of these is to support people in the local community on their journey to recovery as they move away from our services.

These important events aim to show that recovery in some form is always possible and to provide people with the tools they need to aid this. Whilst we recognise that some people will always require our support, our goal is to help those we care for to lead as independent and as happy lives as possible.

03

PM/OUR PARTNERSHIPS

LifesaversHertfordshire’s Suicide Prevention Network Supporting vulnerable people and bereaved families

In

2017 a countywide network was formed to co-ordinate effective action to help prevent suicide.

This is a multi-agency group involving more than 80 people from over 20 organisations working in focused groups, including many people who have been bereaved by suicide.

“

The vision of the Suicide Prevention Network is to make Hertfordshire a county where no one ever gets to a point where they feel suicide is their only option”

Sensitive reporting A countywide strategy has been agreed and a key priority is to support the media in delivering sensitive approaches to suicide and suicidal behaviour. Research has shown that irresponsible reporting can have profoundly negative effects on the families affected and beyond, as well as on people experiencing suicidal thoughts themselves.

Many of the county’s journalists gathered to sign their commitment to the charter for responsible reporting of suicide at an event in September.

HPFT’s Chief Executive Tom Cahill said: “Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 35 and we know Hertfordshire is no exception in this. Incidents in Hertfordshire are low compared to regional and national levels, but every death is a tragedy. It is vital that we work together to help vulnerable people and prevent suicide.

“

The response to the reporting charter has been really positive.

We welcome this firm commitment from so many local journalists to report stories relating to possible suicides in the most responsible and sensitive way”

04

Members of the press sign up to our charter

Removing the stigma Spot The Signs and Save a Life is a suicide prevention campaign funded by HPFT and delivered by Mind in Mid Herts and Herts Mind Network. It provides training to increase awareness and knowledge, as well as helping people to feel more confident in spotting the signs of a person contemplating suicide and how to respond. They give sessions to organisations for professionals, adults and young people, helping to get people talking and increase awareness.

For more information www.hpft.nhs.uk/information-and-resources/spot-the-signs/ Working together Network task groups are working on projects to improve auditing and communications and to identify support for bereaved families. They are also supporting schools and railway partners to raise awareness, encourage talking more openly and to signpost people to the help they need.

Further information is in the Network newsletter www.hpft.nhs.uk/information-and-resources/hertfordshiresuicide-prevention-network/ Free online training HPFT is a member of the Zero Suicide Alliance, a collaborative of NHS Trusts, businesses and individuals helping to raise awareness of and promoting free online suicide prevention training.

For more information www. zerosuicidealliance.com Where to get urgent help In an emergency dial 999.

Alternatively contact the following organisations: Samaritans Trained volunteers offer confidential support 24 hours a day.

Tel: 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org www.samaritans.org HPFT Single Point of Access (SPA) The SPA receives and screens all HPFT mental health services referrals in Hertfordshire and is open from 8am 7.30pm. Tel: 0300 777 070

PM/OUR PARTNERSHIPS

Wellbeing College joins forces with new partner to deliver peer engagement New Leaf Wellbeing College – the Hertfordshire-wide initiative led and operated by HPFT – has partnered with a leading mental health charity Hertfordshire Mind Network to engage with people with a lived experience of mental and long term physical ill health Irma Mullins, College Development Manager, said: “The peer engagement programme is central to the college’s ethos of co-production and co-delivery. This ensures that people with a lived experience have a voice and can play an equal role in our day to day running and future development.”

“Not only does Hertfordshire Mind Network have a wealth of experience in providing peer engagement and peer support but they also share our self-help approach and philosophy of personal development, self-management and improving overall health and wellbeing. This exciting new partnership will enable us to continue to develop our peer work, allowing us to strengthen our existing peer involvement programme as well as introducing a new peer led student council for the college.”

Julie Nicholson, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire Mind Network, commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust as part of the New Leaf Wellbeing College. We are passionate about enabling local people to utilise education and learning opportunities to improve their health and wellbeing.”

Book on a course today All the courses are free of charge and available to any adult aged 18 and over living in Hertfordshire. The college operates on a self-referral basis and courses can be booked by: Visiting the college website: www.newleafcollege.co.uk.

Tel: 01442 864966 Email: students@newleafcollege.co.uk.

Currently a pilot project, New Leaf Wellbeing College is working towards establishing itself on a more permanent footing, building strong foundations in order to continue to deliver a full curriculum of educational wellbeing courses across the county.

What students say about the college

New courses for the autumn term include: • Introduction to addictions and recovery

“Enjoyed it – friendly, understanding, non-judgemental. I want to do more courses”

• Five steps to wellbeing • Self-compassion for everyday life • Wellbeing and creativity

This term also sees the return of several popular topics, including: • Understanding depression • Understanding anxiety • Mindfulness for daily living • Caring for someone with a long term illness or disability • Living with a long term physical health need

The courses run in Bishop’s Stortford, Waltham Cross, Ware, Letchworth, Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Borehamwood and Watford.

“I feel this course will really help me – the tutor was very helpful and friendly” “I’d heard of distraction techniques, gratitude diaries and other slogan-like concepts but never really grasped them. This course provided an opportunity to really delve and understand how to apply these ideas” “This is an excellent course that integrates with so many aspects of self-managing a modern lifestyle” “Please continue to offer this service to those that need it. We very much appreciate it”

05

PM/OUR PARTNERSHIPS

The A&E Project – helping hospital staff to support patients This new project is helping staff to identify those who may need mental health support

HPFT’s

Health in Mind service has recently recruited two Assistant Psychologists, Jessica Rutter and Hannah Carroll as part of their new A&E project. Hannah and Jessica are based in Colchester General Hospital and are helping to support hospital staff to identify, signpost and facilitate access to the North East Essex IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) Service. IAPT deals with such conditions as adult anxiety disorders and depression.

Working in partnership with Mid and North East Essex Mind, Health in Mind provides access to a wide range of talking therapy treatments and practical support for people experiencing different mental health problems, such as: depression, anxiety and long term physical health problems.

Helping to ease winter pressures The project aims to ease the winter pressures experienced within the local hospital by identifying people with common mental health problems who would benefit from brief psychological support. It involves improving access to psychological therapies for individuals who show signs of mental health, physical health, and social/practical difficulties, and supporting them to explore these and the potential relationship between these.

In many people physical symptoms are often the result of mental health difficulties. So, they can result in a hospital admission. For example: • Coronary conditions may actually be down to panic; • Carers who attend with patients but who themselves have

anxiety or depression; • People who come to hospital with a physical health problem,

but for whom, carers express concern about anxiety, low mood, and stress or ability to cope The project aims to support individuals, their families and professionals to access the most suitable treatment required, to enable recovery. In doing so, we hope that this will reduce future demand and attendance at the local hospital.

06

Jessica Rutter

Hannah Carroll

Would you like to be a Mind in Mid Herts Trustee?

Mind in Mid Herts works closely with the Trust.

They provide a range of mental health services in Mid Hertfordshire and have wellbeing centres in St Albans, Stevenage, Hertford and Welwyn Garden City.

Due to recent retirements they have a vacancy for a Trustee to support the management team to deliver the charity’s exciting development plans. The role involves attending six trustee meetings per year and trustees are also encouraged to take an active involvement in one of the charity’s work streams.

We are looking for someone who can spend at least 1 day per month on the charity’s development and governance.

Entries are especially welcomed from people with lived experience and carers.

For more information If you would like an informal discussion about this or just to find out a bit more about Mind in Mid Herts then please contact either: Paul Ronald Email: paul.ronald@nhs.net Sharn Tomlinson Email: sharn@mindinmidherts.org.uk

PM/OUR PARTNERSHIPS

‘Pimped up’ Zimmer frames are reducing falls and confusion for care home residents

Pimp My Zimmer – a fun project for children which helps older people

An

exciting project has seen care home residents in Hertfordshire decorating (or pimping) their Zimmer frames, with help from local schoolchildren from The Russell School in Chorleywood.

Residents at Sunrise Residential Care Home, Chorleywood, have been inspired to transform their dull grey walking aids into works of art by adorning them with bespoke playing cards, football scarves, tinsel and flowers.

Prior to the makeover, residents were asked to fill in a questionnaire about themselves including their likes, dislikes and their favourite memories. These were then sent to the school and the children designed fun Zimmer frame transformations.

Pimp My Zimmer is a pilot project which aims to reduce falls, after a care home matron noticed people with dementia sometimes find it hard to recognise their own frame This project reportedly resulted in the reduction of falls in some care homes by up to 60%.

HPFT, along with GPs, social care services and community health services, are working together to support the residents of Watford and Three Rivers to stay well and live healthier, happier and more independent lives for longer.

Having the wrong frame can lead to a much greater risk of falling

Caroline Finch, Head Occupational Therapist at HPFT, said: “This project is a great example of a simple idea with a very strong impact. Personalising the frames has really helped the residents to feel proud of their Zimmer and want to use them, increasing mobility and reducing the risk of falls and pressure ulcers”.

“By having easy to recognise frames older people are less likely to choose the wrong frame which can be dangerous as all frames are adjusted to the user’s height. Having the wrong frame can lead to a much greater risk of falling. The new look frames are also great for opening up communication and using as a reminiscence aid as they are designed around the residents specific interests.”

Seeing the faces of the children and residents undertaking this project was amazing GP, Dr Nicola Kemp, who took part in this project on behalf of Direct Local Health, the Watford and Three Rivers GP Federation, said, “Seeing the faces of the children and residents whilst undertaking this project was amazing, and demonstrated to me the real power of intergenerational work.”

“We are really hoping to demonstrate a reduced number of falls within the home, but are also very interested in the positive effect this has on the resident’s mental health. This is a project involving multi-disciplinary teams, caring for patients together, and working in an integrated way. We are very proud of how well the pilot has gone. We look forward to scaling this project up and working in other care homes.”

Since its launch, Sunrise Residential Care Home has seen a huge improvement in the overall health of participants.

07

PM/OUR NEWS

Rainbow Nation Michelle Maddison, Chair of the Service User Council discusses HPFT’s support for the LGBTQ+ community

HPFT

is committed to social inclusion and equality for all. The Trust has formed strong partnerships with Hertfordshire Council Council, local government departments, private organisations, charities and dedicated volunteers who work together to raise awareness and reduce inequalities for the LGBTQ+ community.

Herts Pride – a fun day out which raises awareness of LGBTQ+ issues HPFT staff have attended Herts Pride for a number of years to raise awareness of the issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community and the support available.

Herts Pride, which is held in September, is an annual event for the LGBTQ+ and wider community to come together to celebrate diversity in a safe and welcoming space. The event showcases some great acts from within the LGBTQ+ community, hosts a market place and there is also a funfair.

HPFT were accompanied by the team from Spot the Signs - a collaboration between the charity Mind and HPFT. Spot the Signs aims to prevent suicide by raising greater awareness of the associated signs which may be visible and enable help to be sought. As suicide rates are particularly high in the trans and LGBTQ+ community this was an important event for the team.

Supporting the trans community by educating HPFT staff HPFT has recently implemented several incentives to educate our staff on trans specific experiences and the challenges this vulnerable group continues to face. Trainers are currently visiting sites around the Trust and delivering gender identity and sexual orientation (GISO) training. The Trust has also been working on a video featuring individuals from the local trans community.

Michelle (top left) with guests at the trans awareness Black Tie event

08

The Hertfordshire Trans Steering Group HPFT is part of the Hertfordshire Transgender Steering Group which is a multi-agency group of individuals who have been working together for six years. Hertfordshire was the first county in the country to deliver a Trans Health Needs Assessment which started to identify the needs of the community to commissioners across health and social care. Since the initial document was written, the group has worked tirelessly to provide support, advice and information in respect of trans awareness.

The group is partnered with Synestra CIC, which was founded

by Amanda De Courcy, and is a charitable organisation which is dedicated to improving services for trans people of all ages.

Synestra was Amanda’s late trans daughter.

The Hertfordshire Trans Steering Group has focused its efforts this year on continuing to raise awareness and funding for services. This included a sellout Black Tie event held at Hitchin Priory in September. Speakers came from national bodies such as Mermaids - who provide support for gender diverse and transgender children, young people and their families, Stonewall who campaign for the equality of LGBT people and the Gendered Intelligence Service, who deliver arts programmes and creative workshops to trans youth from across the UK. Final thought …

Whilst celebrations such as Herts Pride are wonderful, the community strives for a world in which diversity is everyone’s business and there is no longer a need for such occasions.

HPFT staff at Herts Pride

PM/OUR NEWS

Let’s celebrate How our staff marked 70 years of the NHS HPFT marked the 70th birthday of the NHS in style with events held across the Trust’s sites in Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk and Buckinghamshire.

Songs of celebration The celebrations commenced on 4 July with a concert by HPFT’s talented choir at the Trust’s headquarters in Hatfield.

The evening included special celebratory songs and dance performances. For the finale the choir and the audience joined in singing “I get by with a little help from my friends” the song used to mark the NHS’s 70th Birthday.

Big 7Tea parties Staff, service users, families and friends came together at many of our sites to host Big 7Tea parties and raise a cuppa to the NHS. Our staff produced a mouthwatering array of homemade cakes and sandwiches, decorated their venues and dressed up for the occasion! It was a great opportunity for many to catch up with old friends and for service users to join in with the celebrations.

The Windrush Walk – remembering those who came from the Caribbean to serve the NHS On 13 July teams from across the Trust gathered together to take part in the Windrush Walk.

The event marked 70 years since the HMT Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks carrying passengers from the Caribbean who had rushed to Britain’s aid following manpower shortages after WWII. They became the bedrock of the NHS and many of their descendants still work for our health service.

Students, staff, our CEO Tom Cahill, Chair, Chris Lawrence and his dog, Monty, walked a scorching eight miles along a scenic route from Waverley Road, St Albans all the way to our Head

Yvonne Coghill and Tom Cahill

The HPFT Choir

Office in Hatfield. Walkers were rewarded with a delicious Caribbean feast, films, memories, music and storytelling.

Yvonne Coghill OBE, Director of WRES (Workforce Race Equality Standard) at NHS England had the idea for the Windrush Walks. We were delighted that both she and Baljit Kaur, WRES Programmes Manager at NHS England, agreed to join us on ours.

My dad told me about my great grand uncle when I was a little girl and ever since then l always wanted to work for the NHS”Jasmine Stokes Jasmine Stokes, great grand niece of Nye Bevan and HPFT Healthcare Assistant (HCA) appeared on BBC News and Heart Radio

Staff celebrate

Jasmine, who had just started working with HPFT as an HCA, had her radio debut when she spoke to BBC News, LBC and Heart Radio about her great grand uncle Nye Bevan, (Aneurin), Minister for Health in 1948 who spear-headed the Jasmine Stokes and her daughter creation of the NHS.

09

PM/OUR NEWS

Everyone’s a winner

The IAPT Wellbeing Team

Three HPFT projects have been recognised nationally for prestigious awards by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) and the Positive Practice in Mental Health Collaborative (PPiMH)

long term conditions but if left untreated, these difficulties can significantly affect someone’s ability to manage their physical health condition. Outcomes so far are impressive.

Scooping awards at PPiMH The Community Perinatal Team has been Highly Commended at the PPiMH awards for creating a dynamic new team supporting women in Hertfordshire who are either experiencing or at risk of developing a range of mental illnesses, as well as their babies and families from pre-conception to the baby’s first birthday.

Dr Sarah Cohen, Consultant Psychiatrist said: “I’m thrilled our staff have been recognised in this way. It reflects the dedication and commitment of the team, and the positive impact the team is having on hundreds of mothers, babies and families in Hertfordshire at this crucial time in their lives.”

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service is providing an integrated service with West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust for people living with long term conditions like diabetes. The team is already the regional champion in the Excellence in Mental Health Care category from the NHS70 Parliamentary Awards and has now won the PPiMH IAPT award.

“We’ve also seen a 45% drop in GP appointments, which suggests that people’s ability to manage their physical health is improving following successful IAPT interventions” Dr Peggy Postma, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead Hertfordshire Wellbeing (IAPT) Service said: “I’m immensely proud of our IAPT Wellbeing team, they beat off tough competition. It recognises the hard work this dedicated team puts in and the difference they are making to people’s lives.

Mental health problems are so often overlooked in people with

10

May Contain Nuts celebrate winning their AHA

Drama Group is in the running for a HSJ Award May Contain Nuts is a theatre company set up to offer continued support for service users who have completed dramatherapy.

The company won the Guardian Award for Innovation in Mental Health Services at the 2018 Advancing Healthcare Awards (AHA) earlier this year. It has now been shortlisted by the HSJ for their Innovation in Mental Health Award.

Gerald Maiello, Dramatherapist at Watford Assessment and Therapy Services started the group and said: “The success of the project lies in the commitment of the company members being open and honest about their experiences of mental illness and mental health care. Their bravery and creativity has sustained the project and served to underpin its integrity and continuing aim to challenge preconceived ideas of mental illness”.

“It has also been supported very well by HPFT, University of Hertfordshire, Roehampton University and actor, theatre director, and playwright Sir Mark Rylance.”

The HSJ Awards overall winners will be announced in November.

PM/OUR GOVERNORS

HPFT’s AGM celebrated the NHS’s 70 birthday and a great year for the Trust This year’s event was a great opportunity to showcase our services

The

Trust’s AGM in July was a great opportunity for staff, service users, carers and local residents to celebrate our successes, find out about the challenges we have faced and to learn about new services and initiatives.

NHS’s 70th Birthday The AGM kicked off with a celebration of the NHS 70th birthday. This included a video featuring messages and footage taken at the various celebratory events organised throughout the Trust including a walk in memory of the Windrush generation.

There was a giant timeline charting major milestones in the history of both the NHS and HPFT, photographs of tea parties held throughout the Trust for staff, service users and friends to mark this special occasion and an area showcasing some of HPFT’s services.

Spotlight on the diabetes project Each year the Trust’s AGM focusses on one of our services.

This year it was the turn of our IAPT Wellbeing Service’s diabetes project. Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Peggy Postma, provided an insight into this new service which focusses on caring for the emotional wellbeing of people living with diabetes in tandem with their physical needs. This service, in partnership with West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust, was a regional winner of the NHS70 Parliamentary Award for ‘Excellence in Mental Health Care’ and won the IAPT award at the PPiMH Awards.

A round up of the year Presentations at the event included: an introduction by Chris Lawrence, the Trust’s Chair, an overview of the year by Tom Cahill, Chief Executive, an insightful look at the Trust’s financial situation by Keith Loveman, Finance Director and an interesting review of the last 12 months and future initiatives by Karen Taylor, Director of Strategy and Integration. Tom also paid tribute to the Trust’s staff for their outstanding efforts.

Over the last year, the Trust has continued to deliver high quality services against increasing demand. Additionally there have been a number of positive developments including an overall rating of ‘Good’ at our recent CQC inspection, with our Learning Disability and Forensic Services being rated as Outstanding” Tom Cahill

Annual Report and Annual Review All attendees to our AGM received copies of our Annual Review and Annual Report. These can be downloaded from our website www.hpft.nhs.uk Alternatively the Communications Team will be happy to send you out a copy.

To get a copy of the report or review contact: Email: hpft.comms@nhs.net Tel: 01707 253903

11

PM/OUR GOVERNORS

We are delighted to welcome four new talented Governors to our team” Chris Lawrence, Chair, looks forward to working with our new Governors

Following

on from our successful elections, we offer a warm welcome to our enthusiastic and dedicated new Governors.

Each one of these new recruits has something unique to offer the Trust and we are grateful that they have given up their free time to help ensure that our services continue to adapt to the changing needs of the community we are privileged to serve. Reading their biographies I am struck by their passion for the work that we do, the diversity of the skills and experience they have to offer and their genuine wish to play an important role at the Trust.

Most of these individuals have a lived experience of mental health issues and speak powerfully of their experiences and the support that they have received, which is humbling. They can offer a vital insight into what our service users require and how to tailor what we offer, so that those in our care receive the very best support.

As well as acting as the perfect ambassadors for our Trust, these four individuals are proof that recovery and progression are possible and as such they are an inspiration to us all.

Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to all our Governors for their continued support. It is because of them and, it goes without saying, our dedicated staff, that the Trust continues to go from strength to strength and is widely admired and recognised for its service excellence”

Meet our new Governors Eni Bankole-Race

I am passionate about mental health issues” I am a service user of HPFT and I am passionate about mental health issues and inclusion - particularly that the perspectives of as diverse a range of service users as possible are reflected at all levels of the Trust. I believe in ordinary people contributing to the change and progress in their environment. Being a service user of HPFT, I am enthusiastic about being a part of shaping the strategic direction of the Trust.

I served as a Trustee for several organisations including Brent Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and Herts Aid for over 25 years and I am one of the Deputy Chairs of HPFT’s Service User Council, as well as an Expert by Experience.

As a Governor I will use my knowledge, understanding and work experience at a senior level to contribute positively to the wellbeing of the Trust. I lecture academically and I am an accomplished public speaker. I have legal and research qualifications and I have experience of reading, analysing and reporting verbally and in writing on complex matters.

12

PM/OUR GOVERNORS

Emily Burke

I am 16 and thrilled to have the opportunity to become a Governor” I’m currently doing my A-Levels and I plan to study Clinical Psychology at university. I wanted to be a Governor because I believe the Trust needs to include the voice of youth. I have lived experience of HPFT services, both through inpatient and community settings and I am passionate about being part of the Trust growing and improving.

I am part of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Youth Council and I believe that allowing the youth to have a voice within the Council of Governors enables the Trust to flourish and improves communication and feedback.

Positive mental health is fundamental for people’s wellbeing, and I love being a part of improving our services for those who need it. I feel the Trust’s values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional are extremely important.

Catherine Adedoyin Akanbi It is a great honour to serve my community as a Governor”

As a Governor I work in collaboration with other Governors, Trust staff and patients to promote patient needs, address patient concerns and achieve high quality outcomes at all times.

I am not only passionate about our NHS and the invaluable services it provides. I am also keen that resources are dispensed in the most efficient and effective manner, ensuring the best outcomes at all times. I have a huge amount to contribute to the NHS strategy and its continued evolution. I foster transparency, collaboration and commitment to deliver great care and outcomes from the Trust to our community.

My professional experience is as a project manager, developing skills and expertise such as leadership, accountability, transparency, interpersonal relationships and budget management. These skills have formed a sound foundation for succeeding as a Governor.

Mimi de Wolf

It is testament to the work of the Trust that I felt strong enough to apply for the position of Governor” I am a mother of three, wife of a local businessman and a teacher. Our family have lived in Hertfordshire for 30 years.

Diagnosed with mental health issues in my late teens, I have received medical care and support from a range of providers and continue to do so. I feel that 2018 was the right time for me to apply to become a Governor. I am proud to be where I am and know I have a lot to offer the Trust and the public it serves.

I live each day with mental and physical health issues and have an understanding of support available and where services may require strengthening. As a teacher I have worked with children and adults with learning disabilities, including those requiring social care.

It is testament to the work of the Trust that I am able to live a good life, as a survivor of trauma and felt strong enough to apply for the position of Governor.

13

PM/OUR SERVICE USERS

Life and soul of the community Two innovative new projects are aiming to support service users to live independently The Walled Garden Project – serving the community and supporting service users The Walled Garden Community Shop and Café is an exciting project which plans to restore the walled garden on the site of the former Little Plumstead Hospital in Norfolk, and within its walls, build a village shop including a post office and café to serve the villages of Plumstead and Thorpe End. HPFT’s Broadland Clinic is situated close by and the aim is that the community shop, café and walled garden will become a welcoming place where residents and visitors to the Plumstead villages can meet, eat, shop and perhaps learn new skills by volunteering behind the counter or in the garden.

Community owned shops become natural meeting places which reduce loneliness and where new friendships are made.

The project will: • include outreach services which enhance quality of life and

reduce social isolation • provide shared learning and development opportunities • include a garden to explore and tend and provide an

opportunity to grow food • act as an outlet for locally produced goods and services • include a shop that offers a range of essential products that

the community needs • be important for engaging volunteers to contribute to the

shop, café and garden to deliver supportive services to the community • provide an opportunity for younger residents to develop skills

and gain vital work experience Next year the community shop and café, within the walled garden, could be open for business. It could see a community that is tolerant and inclusive and an example to others. For more information visit: www.thewalledgardenshop.co.uk

Supporting our service users back into the working world Earlier this year we recruited a special employment advisor whose job it is to look at placing our service users into work placements with us.

Officially it’s called the Work Placements Programme, and it provides an opportunity for our service users to gain and refresh skills, obtain an updated reference and become more confident a confidence, which we hope will help them back into employment.

Lucy Anson-Golding, Work Placements

Employment for our service users is so important because it can play a vital role in their recovery, getting well and staying well. Between 70-90% of people diagnosed with a mental health condition express a want to work - in fact they have the highest ‘want to work’ rate of all disabled people in the UK. There is also a big focus nationally on increasing employment for service users.

I’d like to show how recovery-focussed and proactive our staff are in welcoming our service users into their teams, and how we can support them into sustainable paid employment going forwards”Lucy Anson-Golding The programme is currently open to all adults accessing community services across Hertfordshire. Placements last for eight weeks and can be between 8-25 hours per week. The only excluding factor is that a service user cannot undertake a placement within the team that they are receiving care from.

Lucy Anson-Golding, Senior Vocational and Employment Advisor for Work Placements said “Since I joined HPFT, I have been getting the word out about this fantastic opportunity. It is currently a pilot project for a year, so time is of the essence to demonstrate its success”.

For more information you can contact Lucy on Email: lucy.anson-golding@nhs.net

14

PM/OUR SERVICE USERS

Making a difference The Service User Council, an important resource for improving our services The Service User Council (SUC) serves as a bridge between service users and the Trust. Its aim is to support the Trust to improve its services by listening to and feeding back what works well from the perspective of the Trust’s wide range of service users.

How to join

The Council is keen to recruit new members and welcomes enquiries or visits from interested people. In addition, by becoming associate members service users will receive the agenda and minutes of the meetings and regular updates.

If you would like know more about the Service User Council and how you can get involved, please contact:

Leah Johnson, Service User and The SUC is represented on a number of key decision making Carer Involvement Manager groups, for example, Inclusion and Engagement Group, Single Point of Access Reference Group, Making Services Better Group Email: hpft.involvement.booking@nhs.net and Spot the Signs. This helps ensure that not only is the SUC Tel: 01727 804418 voice heard, but that it’s also accountable for actions taken. The SUC is also involved in research opportunities both internally and The Colonnades in Hatfield. Topics on the agenda include alongside the University of Hertfordshire. issues raised by service users and issues on which the Trust seeks their views. The Council engages with HPFT staff at Headed by Chair, Michelle Maddison, and Vice Chairs Wendy Ball and Eni Bankole-Race, the Council membership is limited to all levels and makes an important contribution to service improvement and development.

15 with full voting rights and involvement in the decision making process. Meetings are held approximately every four weeks at

A walk back in time – Service User Council members visit the former Leavesden Hospital In August, members of the Service User Council went on a historic walking tour of Leavesden Hospital at Leavesden Country Park, Abbots Langley - the site of the facility from 1868 to 1995. The event was hosted by Martin Brooks, Founder of the Leavesden Hospital History Association.

Martin is researching the people and places that made up the Leavesden Asylum/Hospital and is currently working on a book which will include personal oral histories and details of the

heroic ‘Acts of Caring’ that made this facility and its staff what it is most remembered for.

The visit included lunch at the Woodlands Café which was originally the hospital’s recreation and art therapy building.

This was followed by a tour of the main administration block, recreation hall (now residential housing), the old chapel (the premises of a design and manufacturing company that works with the mobility challenged/disabled) and cemeteries located along East Lane, one of the oldest lanes in Hertfordshire.

Martin discussed how asylums, or safe places of refuge, like Leavesden, were the starting points for what in time would evolve into specialised training for mental health nursing practices, mental health/learning disabilities diagnosis/ treatment and special education needs. They were first formally addressed at the hospital’s bespoke built Springfield School which opened on the south side of the site in 1967.

Leavesden Hospital Association – get in touch If you would like to contribute your stories, or arrange a tour of the site you can contact Martin: Via the website: www.leavesdenhospital.org By email: leavesdenhospitalhistory@gmail.com

15

About Us

Our Mission

We help people of all ages live their lives to their full potential by supporting them to keep mentally and physically well

Our Vision

Delivering great care, achieving great outcomes – together

Post: Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, The Colonnades, Beaconsfield Road, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 8YE Membership Office Email: foundation@hpft.nhs.uk Visit our website: www.hpft.nhs.uk

Follow us on Twitter @HPFT_NHS Like us on Facebook @hpft.nhs

16

Our services

We provide mental health and social care services – including adults of working age, older adults, children and adolescents and specialist learning disabilities services Our services cover Hertfordshire and some areas of Essex, Buckinghamshire and Norfolk