Issue 3
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Recently, the Healthwatch South Tees team (the operating name for Healthwatch Middlesbrough and Healthwatch Redcar and Cleveland), has been collecting feedback from the general public about their experiences of mental health and wellbeing services in the area. This fantastic opportunity came about in order to inform the development of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust’s (TEWV) Community Transformation Programme. The team worked in partnership with other Tees Valley Healthwatch’s to produce a digital survey and a number of focus group sessions. The support from our ever-growing number of Community Champions was also vital to ensure we reached out to as many diverse communities in the area. Nearly 600 people responded from our area, to which Project Lead, Lisa Bosomworth, showed her gratitude. She said: “The team have worked amazingly hard over the last month or so, and the feedback received is testament to that. "We’ve received feedback from our local Asian and Chinese community, deaf groups, visually impaired groups, college students, parent carers and many, many more, so we really think we’ve pulled it out of the bag. "It’s a great opportunity for our local residents to inform a whole new direction of support on such a large scale.”
Team member Linda at Middlesbrough College
We’ll now share this feedback with the Foundation Trust (TEWV), who will use it to inform the direction of their work from a local people’s perspective. In addition to this, a report will provide a baseline for the local Mental Health Alliance to improve future pathways through a model of co-production. The South Tees team will also be putting together a report in relation to this work, which will be available to view on their websites. For #WorldMentalHealthDay, the team also got together for a walk at the Tees Barrage and White Water course in Stockton on Tees. It was an opportunity for some of the team to meet for the first time, discuss future plans, chat to staff from other local PCP projects, and give some adorable dogs a bit of fresh air!
Safe Haven and the Happiness Hubs See behind the scenes of the Happiness Hubs Funding In 2020 County Durham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) provided funding to deliver a new project, Happiness Hubs (previously called Safe Haven), managed by Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP). The fund provides grants to support local community providers in County Durham and Darlington to launch or extend current project opening hours that address non-crisis mental health support to adults aged 18+, by providing spaces that can be accessed by local communities. This funding is part of the wider Community Crisis Care Transformation Fund. PCP are proud to say the distribution of Happiness Hub funds over the last year has helped a wide range of people, and will continue further with an extended three year contract. To find out more information about Happiness Hubs funding, please email Jane Cunningham, Development Officer at jane.cunningham@pcp.uk.net To celebrate recent success, PCP want to share some of the many positive outcomes from Happiness Hubs. Vicky Bailey attended the first block of 'My Mammy Twinkles-Clart About' group after experiencing postnatal anxiety, heightened by lockdown.
“After the birth of my third child I was suffering with anxiety and OCD which was amplified as I felt socially isolated especially during lockdown. The sessions have given me confidence that I am enough and have gave me some good relaxation techniques that help me when I am feeling my worries rise. Set in a friendly, warm atmosphere I really enjoyed the sessions and they have really helped me and my mental health as well as giving a safe place for my Baby to explore.” Live Well North East have three sessions per week to support men: men’s fitness, empower hour and chill and chat. Fitness sessions are being regularly attended and is having a great positive impact on attendees. Chill and chat has been accessed by individuals finding mental health challenging. Within this session the individuals have been able to speak to a mental health first aider/peer mentor and receive signposting where needed. Happiness Hubs funding has enabled attendees to focus on all different aspects of their wellbeing, which many didn't do before.
Promoting wellbeing through activities at Primrose Lodge Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) are proud to be delivering health and wellbeing benefits to residents at Primrose Lodge in Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Our new Activity Worker, Kimberley Graver, works directly with residents at Primrose Lodge to develop an exciting programme of activities. This includes their latest events of a Macmillan Coffee Morning and a end of summer barbecue, which were a great success! Primrose Lodge provides rehabilitation and recovery services to people aged 18 to 65 years with mental health problems in a community setting, in order to help them go back into their local community after spending time in a hospital setting. At Primrose Lodge there is a lounge, games room, conservatory, kitchen, laundry and dining facilities, to be shared by all residents. There is also a female resident only lounge available. Residents were actively involved with the recent activities, with many choosing to have their own responsibilities at each event to contribute and engage with each other.
The Macmillan Coffee Morning saw Kimberley and residents come together to bake a selection of sweet treats ahead of the big day on Friday 24th September. Together they raised a total of £44.62p through a cake sale and raffle in support of Macmillan Cancer. Following on from the Macmillan Coffee Morning, Primrose Fest took place on the afternoon and was decorated for the occasion. Everyone enjoyed games, a music quiz, karaoke, glitter face paints and a barbecue. They were both fantastic events, and the feedback from the patients and staff involved has been excellent! For more information on Primrose Lodge, visit TEWV.
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Celebrating excellence Charity worker invited to prestigious Macmillan event
Following a long hiatus, Macmillan Cancer Support is pleased to launch the return of its Macmillan Professionals Conference and Excellence Awards 2021. Amongst those exclusively invited to this year’s event, a dedicated cancer support worker from the Macmillan Joining the Dots service delivered by a partnership of North East charity, the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) and the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT). Paula Spark, a Macmillan Joining the Dots Facilitator for the South Durham area, said: “I am so thrilled to be given the opportunity to connect with other professionals from across the UK to share ideas and learn about future Macmillan Cancer Support. “The two-day event features specialist workshops such as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on bereavement care. Further sessions will show exciting developments in oncology in the last 24 months including a look at new drugs, treatments and technologies. “It’s the first time oncology professionals will get to come
together since the start of the pandemic and will no doubt offer a new insight into future cancer care.” Macmillan Joining the Dots is a free service for people aged 18 and over who are affected by cancer, they're also here for friends, carers and relatives too. Set to take place on Tuesday 2nd November for two days, the event will highlight the fantastic work from Macmillan taking place in the UK and offer plenty of networking opportunities. Attendees have been given the option to attend the event in person at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester, with the option to also attend sessions virtually. Connect with Joining the Dots www.facebook.com/JTDDurham and Twitter @JTDDurham
Step Forward Tees Valley wins at Middlesbrough Civic Community Awards Step Forward Tees Valley wins the Health and Wellbeing Business Award at last night’s Civic Community Awards at the Middlesbrough Town Hall. The employability support programme, which is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, has also been highly commended in the Helping People Learn and Improving Our Neighbourhoods categories.
The award and commendations recognise the outstanding contribution that the programme makes in and around the Middlesbrough area, supporting local people to improve their health and wellbeing, learn new personal and work skills and improve their local neighbourhoods through community volunteering opportunities. Since the programme began in October 2016, it’s supported more than 3,500 people across the Tees Valley, and it’s thanks to the programme's partnership working that they’ve been able to help these people overcome a range of barriers to training, volunteering and work. In Middlesbrough, Step Forward Tees Valley works in partnership with Groundwork North East & Cumbria, Changing Lives, Pioneering Care Partnership, Middlesbrough
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Voluntary Development Agency, Mental Health Concern and Middlesbrough Citizens Advice to provide tailored support for people. Middlesbrough resident Nicky is one person to recently benefit from the programme’s support, after being left devastated by the sudden loss of her eldest son. Unable to cope with life and experiencing depression and anxiety, Nicky couldn’t see a way forward. That was until she started working with Step Forward Tees Valley. Nicky received tailored support from Groundwork North East & Cumbria, Changing Lives, Pioneering Care Partnership and Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency to address her individual needs. This included working closely with Liz Godfrey, Learning for Health Coordinator from the Pioneering Care Partnership, who worked with Nicky in sessions that built on her health and wellbeing, Nicky said: “This project and the wonderful people that I have had the privilege to meet and work with have helped me to start to reclaim my life, and for that thank you will never be enough.” Nicky joined members of the Step Forward Tees Valley Team at the awards ceremony on Monday evening, including Vikkie Wilkinson, Step Forward Tees Valley Programme Manager. Vikki said: “We were over the moon to hear that we’d been shortlisted for three awards, so to win the Health and Wellbeing award is an
incredibly proud moment for everyone at Step Forward Tees Valley. "We were also delighted to be highly commended in the Helping People Learn and Improving our Neighbourhoods categories. “Thanks to funding from the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund, and support from all our delivery partners, we’re able to make a real difference to the lives of people like Nicky”. Pioneering Care Partnership and proud to work in such a transformative partnership, whereby all partners have the same goal to allow communities to take a step forward in their lives.
Like all Healthwatch teams across the country, they will continue listen to local people’s health and social care issues.
PCP awarded new Healthwatch contract for Stockton on Tees Following a competitive tendering process, North East charity the Pioneering Care Partnership, has been awarded a contract to continue to deliver Healthwatch for the people of Stockton on Tees. The award-winning charity, which also oversees Healthwatch County Durham, Sunderland and South Tees (Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland), has been delivering in the area since 2013, so the continuation of the contract is testament to the fantastic work which has been carried out over the years.
Natasha Judge, Project Lead for Healthwatch Stockton on Tees, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Healthwatch England, our Board, team and partners over the last seven years. “ I have witnessed first-hand the commitment and dedication from our peers and partners to continually strive to achieve robust collaboration, ensuring the continued development and improvement of health and social care services across the borough and our local areas. “I look forward to continuing this journey, working with the public ensuring their voices are heard as we move through a period of change looking to improve future service delivery.”
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TEWV Mental Health Survey Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees recently worked in partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust on public engagement to find out about improving access to mental health services in Stockton-on-Tees. This forms part of a wider engagement with four other local Healthwatch to develop mental health services across the Tees Valley. Through a comprehensive survey, Healthwatch Stockton-on-Tees engaged with local people to find out their views and experiences of the mental health services across the borough. A number of common themes were identified and recommendations were made, and a full report will be published in late October.
Stockton Service Navigation Project will be rebranded and relaunched at the end of October Clients will be matched with a volunteer to help support them gain confidence and motivation to reengage with society and return to pre-COVID life and activities or to connect with new activities or support groups to increase confidence and reduce isolation.
Catch up with Reaching out Across Durham (ROAD) This quarter has been a successful one for the BBO ROAD team with lots going on. The Health and Wellbeing team delivered two courses, a drop in exercise course which was led by Luke utilising his Personal Trainer qualifications and a 'Positive You' course. The 'Positive You' course aimed to tackle topics like negative thinking patterns & food and mood. During the course we delivered a practical mindfulness session, a Participant said that during the 10 minute mindfulness session she felt her anxiety ease for the first time in decades which was fantastic to hear. Luke has also been working with PCP's marketing team to produce health and fitness videos to celebrate National Fitness Day. You can find them on PCP's YouTube channel. Nicky, our FED coach, has successfully supported people to complete job applications and apply for grants supporting them to move further towards the employment market. Next quarter we look forward to recommencing face to face appointments and also delivering two courses, one will focus on sleep hygiene and one will be focused on Christmas activities with arts and crafts.
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Welcome PCP's new Project Lead for the County Durham COVID-19 Resilience Service
The COVID-19 Resilience Service is open to self referrals, simply contact covidresilience@pcp.uk.net The service is for those in County Durham that have been impacted by the devastating effects of COVID-19 and the pandemic mentally and emotionally. The team are currently recruiting for a COVID Resilience Coordinator to join them, find out more at www.pcp.uk.net
Donna Sheavills donna.sheavills@pcp.uk.net
Catch up with the Cancer Awareness Team Throughout October, the Cancer Awareness Team have been focusing on Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They've been out in the community, visiting organisations, groups and individuals to spread awareness of the signs, symptoms and early prevention of cancer. They recently visited County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service's HQ. New workshops coming in November will focus on Movember and prostate cancer, find out more by contacting andrea.mackrell@pcp.uk.net
Community Garden ‘digs’ a helping hand from Utah missionaries Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), has welcomed volunteering support from as far as Utah, USA to their Community Garden in Newton Aycliffe. Trustee and Lead Community Volunteer, David Cockburn, met two visiting missionaries at Junction 7 in Newton Aycliffe, and introduced them to the thriving Community Garden at the Pioneering Care Centre. David, said: “The support from the missionaries on site at the Pioneering Care Centre has been truly amazing. “They have offered to take on heavier and more intense tasks such as digging, building work and cutting down trees, which has been hugely appreciated amongst our team of dedicated volunteers and staff."
14 The two visiting missionaries from Utah, Elder Andrew Martin and Elder Tomas Flores, lent a helping hand to PCP’s Community Garden for six weeks, and during this time were able to put floor down in the greenhouse and new garden storage area, which has proven to be valuable asset. Further missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ And Latter-Day Saints from locations closer to the site have visited the Community Garden and additional sites in the North East to complete ten hours of voluntary work a week. Carol Gaskarth, Chief Executive of PCP, said: “Without the support of volunteers, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve half of the fantastic things PCP has worked for over the last 20 years." .
15 While the WBFL team have all been grappling with the new ‘normal’ and trying to get used to our new way of working, spare a thought for our new team members who have joined us.
Catch up with Wellbeing for Life It’s been a very busy few months for the East Hub Team over at Healthworks. Not only have they had a great turnover of one to one clients, having picked up 246 clients since April 2021, and they've had 11 groups running throughout September, including a virtual ‘Cooking with Cor’ course! Our East hub YouTube sensation, Corinne Coull, has been working with Jess Goodwin, our Digital Engagement Officer, to plan three virtual cooking courses; one per month, with the first one starting at the end of September.
Chris Jones, Capacity Building Training Officer Rowena Carr, Mental Health Social Prescribing Link Worker Holly Hayllar, WBFL Practitioner Lisa Jose, Social Prescribing Link Worker Louise Pennock, WBFL Practitioner Billy Little, Mental Wellbeing Social Prescribing Link Worker Leslie-Ann Spence, Capacity Building Training Officer Catherine Nicholson, WBFL Administrator Rachel Hunter, WBFL Practitioner Kevin Parke, Capacity Building Volunteer Officer
Daisy Ray, and congratulations to Joe and Candice on the birth of gorgeous Charlie John.
Catch up with Options at PCP This quarter has been very exciting for both Options members and staff! From welcoming new babies to working together to create a new logo, Options have been working hard to be the best the can be! As COVID-19 restrictions were slowly lifted, Options members were able to see each other face-to-face at 50% capacity for the first time since March 2020, whilst members took turns to join sessions via Zoom. One of Options current largest projects is creating designs for an updated logo. After many ideas were bounced back and forth, Options are now working with PCP's marketing team to create a logo that perfectly describes what Options aims are. Well done Options members on your brilliant ideas! In September, two of Options staff members welcomed beautiful new babies into the world! We were overjoyed to welcome a baby girl and a baby boy in September within days of each other! We'd like to share Congratulations to Charlotte and Sean on the birth of the beautiful
While enjoying welcoming babies, Options have also been looking after mental and physical well-being, by line dancing and filling sessions with belly laughter! As usual, Options have spent a lot of time helping in the PCP Community Garden, and even challenged themselves to learn French. Options favourite time of year is always Halloween! The group are known to host the most scarily fun parties, and going without one last year only means this years will be even more spectacular! All members are super excited to get into their costumes for a Halloween Disco in conjunction with Community Spirit Newton Aycliffe, held at The Big Club Friday 22nd October.
Do you know an individual or organisation looking to deliver clinical and holistic treatments? If you register your interest with enquiries@pcp.uk.net there may be suitable therapy and treatment rooms suitable to you.
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Catch up with the Befriending Research Project Healthwatch Sunderland worked in partnership with Sunderland People First, a local self-advocacy group to host an online World Mental Health Day event on Monday 11th October. What a fabulous turn out it was! There were lots of great conversations, personal stories of mental health, coping and recovery and a few laughs along the way. A massive shout out to Sunderland People First for the preparation and creativity which went into the event and to our fabulous HWS volunteers for their continuous support and involvement.
New Stockton Resilience and Recovery Project launched meet Aaliyah Aaliyah has joined the project as the Community Resilience Worker! "Hi I’m Aaliyah and I’ve just joined PCP as a Community Resilience worker. I have a huge interest in psychology, mental health, and wellbeing, so I went to university at 18 to study Psychology. After getting my Bachelors I went straight on to my masters and got a MSc in Health Psychology.
Stockton COVID Community Champaions nominated for an Award!
Besides that, I have other interests and hobbies! I enjoy going to festivals and concerts, spending lots of time dining out with my friends and my favourite hobby is shopping. I also enjoy exercising and walking/spending time with my dog!"
We are pleased to announce that the Stockton COVID Community Champion team have been nominated as finalists for the category of Innovation as a Result of COVID-19 in the Catalyst Conference and Achievement Awards 2021. Results are set to be revealed at the awarding night on Friday 12th November at the Oakwood Centre, Cleasby Way, Eaglescliffe, TS16 0RD. The categories of the Awards, reflect the work has been undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and shines like on both individuals and organisations as a whole.
Email - aaliyah.smith@pcp.uk.net Mobile - 07706315153
Further categories in the Awards are Outstanding Achievement in the Business Sector, Outstanding Achievement in the Public Sector, Young Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding for a VCSE Organisation. Results will be showcased PCP and SCCC social media.
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An invitation to Healthwatch County Durham's virtual Annual Meeting Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to join us for our Annual Meeting taking place on Wednesday 17th November, from 10.00am to 11.00am via Microsoft Teams. The COVID-19 pandemic means that the meeting will take place virtually to keep everyone safe and help minimise the spread of the virus. There will be an overview of our Annual Report and we will hear from our first confirmed guest speaker Michael Laing, Director of Integrated Community Services.
The deadline to register is Monday 15th November. If you would like submit any question in advance, please forward your name and contact details including your question to healthwatchcountydurham@pcp.uk.net There will also be an opportunity to submit questions online during the live event. The deadline for questions in advance is 5pm on Monday 15th November. We hope you are able to join us!
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Catch up with our Frailty Team Link Worker Debbie Fox is enjoying her role as Frailty Link Worker in Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH), she has so far supported 43 elderly patients through the discharge period and into community support. Although the project and position is in its early stages, it has already had an 89% satisfaction rate, which is a
Frailty Link Worker Case study David is 62 years old, and one of the younger frailty patients admitted into hospital. After suffering a major stroke four years ago, he is regularly admitted into hospital with TIAs (mini strokes). The stroke was life changing for David, he lost most of his mobility and the impact on his mental health and wellbeing was catastrophic. He really hit rock bottom during Covid and his quality of life drastically changed. After his most recent hospital admission he was referred to social prescribing so that the team could look at ways to improve his quality of life, mental wellbeing and reduce isolation. David was feeling depressed and low. His wife worked full time so most of the day he was left on
testament to Debbie and other stakeholders work. The team at DMH have been very happy with the support and the difference that Debbie is making to patients. For further information, contact debbie.fox@pcp.uk.net
his own in the house with the TV for company. He was desperate to get out of the house to give him a sense of purpose. Prior to his stroke David was very social and worked full time. Working together, the SPLW signposted David to Bethany Day Centre. On a Wednesday they have a few men that were there for the same reason. He is really enjoying the social interaction and attending has given his wellbeing a noticeable boost. He is also engaging with other activities and attends a group at Age UK ran by the Stroke Association. David feels having a social prescription it has given direction and knowing where to look for additional activities.
Catch up with Together 21 Together 21 are pleased to be getting back to their normal routine of meeting in person for activities and sessions. They have been making the most of the Community Garden's space and Garden Gym to enjoy the fresh air and build on confidence and life skills. You may have seen on social media, but Hewitts Solicitors are baking cakes and sweet treats as part of a 'Bake Off'. Fundraising support from the activity is going towards Together 21, and the team love nothing more than seeing the cakes baked each week. Find more on Together 21's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Together21PCP
Week four bake off!
Catch up with the Befriending Research Project Team Starting in April 2021, the Befriending Research Team have been underway gathering research from across the region with the goal of producing an insight into befriending services currently available in County Durham. To ensure research is reflecting current times, the scope has extended into the impact of COVID-19 on people’s mental health, and how it has caused a severe amount of social isolation and loneliness. This scope also includes both pre and post-covid research, including social isolation and befriending practices. The team have also focused on digital inclusion and the impact this has had on befriending and peer support services during the COVID19 pandemic. So far the team have been working with a variety of organisations to access information, as well as using PCP's social media and website to connect with new people of interest. The team prepared surveys to initially gather the first stage of information, which will now lead them to their next stage of conducting focus groups, with a set date of Monday 15th and Tuesday 23rd November.
Can you support the Befriending Research Project? Focus groups are set to take place on Monday 15th November at 10am 11am, and Tuesday 23rd November at 6pm - 7pm. Contact Kelly Carswell on kelly.carswell@pcp.uk.net or Viv Dixon on victoria.dixon@pcp.uk.net for more information
New Better Health at Work Award website coming soon Work has been taking place behind the scenes to prepare a new website for the Workplace Health team. The new website will feature a range of resources for recipients of the Better Health at Work Award, that will enable them to raise awareness on health campaigns and more. If you know of an organisation that could benefit from the Award's recognition in County Durham, contact the team on workplacehealth@pcp.uk.net
Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) For any enquiries regarding this publication, contact jenny.lee@pcp.uk.net
Registered Office: Pioneering Care Centre Carers Way Newton Aycliffe DL5 4SF Tel: 01325 321234 Email: enquiries@pcp.uk.net Website: www.pcp.uk.net
@PCPandCentre @PioneeringCare @PioneeringCare Pioneering Care Partnership Pioneering Care Partnership