South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health: The Service User’s Network www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk Inside this issue Suzanne’s Update……………………… 2 Keri’s Random Mumblings…………… 3 Network Member’s Forum……………..3 Volunteer News ……….……………….. 4 Tracey Reaches Out…………………… 5 Smoke Free Trust & Brendan House.. 6 Quest Football Group…………....……. 7 SSNMH Annual General Meeting……..7 Your Changes Wellbeing Stories..... 8-9 Lichfield Open Door of Hope……...…10 Cannock Hope Project,………………..11 Information Directory ………..…12—15 Noticeboard……………………………. 16 When you have finished with this magazine PLEASE pass it on or recycle it. NETWORK NEWS NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTEREST IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE ISSUE 44 Autumn 2012 Photo by Jason Burrows
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Transcript
South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health: The Service User’s Network
www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk
Inside this issue
Suzanne’s Update……………………… 2
Keri’s Random Mumblings…………… 3
Network Member’s Forum……………..3
Volunteer News ……….……………….. 4
Tracey Reaches Out…………………… 5
Smoke Free Trust & Brendan House.. 6
Quest Football Group…………....……. 7
SSNMH Annual General Meeting……..7
Your Changes Wellbeing Stories..... 8-9
Lichfield Open Door of Hope……...…10
Cannock Hope Project,………………..11
Information Directory ………..…12—15
Noticeboard……………………………. 16
When you have finished with this
magazine PLEASE pass it on
or recycle it.
NETWORK
NEWS NEWS FOR PEOPLE WITH INTEREST IN MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES THROUGHOUT SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE
ISSUE 44 Autumn 2012
Photo by Jason Burrows
2
Welcome to the Autumn 2012
edition of Network News!
By the time you receive your copy
I will have left the Network to go
on to pastures new. Although
some people consider my two
years with SSNMH to be a short-
time, it does not feel that short.
And, I don’t mean that in a bad
way. It is just so much has
happened in those two years.
Since I started as project
coordinator I have seen trustees
come and go, volunteers grow in
such confidence and in some
cases move onto paid
employment.
I’ve met many different and very
interesting people, countless of
whom have such inspirational life
stories that I never tire of hearing.
Thank you to my team of staff
Karen, Keri & Tracey. You may
read that Tracey is also leaving us
due to her project ending. I am
truly sorry Tracey will no longer be
with the Network, her bubbly
character is very uplifting in the
office and feedback shows that
service users love her too!
And a massive thank you to our
volunteers who I could name
individually but you all know I
appreciate everything you have
ever supported us with. You never
fail to amaze me with the amount
of time you give.
Thank you for the support of the
trustees. It’s been a pleasure
working with you.
And now, as I conclude my
Oscars type speech—thanks to all
the professionals I meet on a day
to day basis when out there
representing service users. I will
mention Lorien from NSUG, all at
the JCU, and those in the third
sector providers. There are also
many many others and I am sure
there is a possibility I will bump
into you in the future.
For those I didn’t get to say t’rar
to, goodbye and I wish you all the
very best in the future.
Suzanne Cole
Write to us at: South Staffordshire Network for Mental Health, FREEPOST MID 23594, Lichfield,
Staffordshire WS13 6LL or email us on
JOB OPPORTUNITY: Project Coordinator
This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to lead SSNMH.
It is the role of the Project Coordinator to lead the organisation
on an operational and strategic level in order to promote and facilitate the
involvement of adults with experience of mental distress in the development
of mental health services.
Hours 37.5 hours per week Salary: £23,708—£27,849
Closing date for applications: Monday 15 October 2012
For application packs and further information, please contact
Visit our website for more information www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk
Everyone appears to have felt the
pinch in the last year... so have
we! If you do shopping online you
can help raise money for the
Network without even putting your
hands in your pockets.
Simply sign up at
easyfundraising.org.uk and select
South Staffordshire Network for
Mental Health as your cause.
Whilst signed into easy
fundraising search for your
retailer, click on ’go shopping’ for
that shop, and when you've got to
their website shop as normal. A
percentage of what you spend will
be donated by the company to us.
The amount of money donated
varies, but as a popular
supermarket says “Every little
helps!”.
Our fundraising page is
www.easyfundraising.org.uk
/causes/ssnmentalhealth
3
Keri’s Random Mumblings
Being a part of the South
Staffordshire Network for Mental
Health has its fair share of big
challenges and even bigger
rewards, as some of you may
guess! However, my proudest day
in the three years I’ve been
working here came on Friday 20
July 2012…
As you may know, we were part of
the Improving Customer
Experience Project (ICE) in 2010
with the Joint Commissioning Unit
interviewing people on their
experiences on Day Opportunity
Services. When the JCU invited
us to support them again over
August and September, we
wondered if we could get some of
our members on board and
trained up to interview people.
The JCU have been great in
helping us to do this and some of
our existing volunteers wanted to
help also. I know people are busy,
or have their own personal
challenges, so was immensely
proud and honoured when I had
NINE people on the ICE
Involvement Project Training on
20 July 2012! That’s nine people
across the six districts willing to
sacrifice their time, taking the
brave step of travelling miles out
of their home towns, going
through the paperwork and CRB
checks to attend the training, with
the aim of nervously sitting down
with other people to find out their
experiences of services for the
JCU!
At the time of
writing (mid
September), we
have carried out
nine ICE visits to
Richmond
Fellowship Life
Links or
Changes Mental
Health &
Wellbeing
services, with six
of the ICE
volunteers
carrying out
around 20
interviews with
people using
those services!
We still have
seven visits to
go so I very
much expect our
targets to be
met. A huge,
huge
thanks to all
involved on
this, I
expect
another very proud day when we
have our ICE Celebration Event in
early October 2012 and we award
certificates to the nine people
involved.
The success of this Project so far
has really shown me that now is a
fantastic time for people to really
grasp the opportunity to volunteer
for services or to represent and
support others within mental
health. We are looking at
reviewing our Volunteer
Programme later this year, so
watch this space!
Just one more thing.. I’ve just
found out I will be Acting Project
Coordinator between now and Jan
2013! Please wish me luck!
Things I’m up to at the Moment
Improving Customer
Experience 2012 (ICE), as
above
‘Smoke Free Trust’ –
exploring how we can share
information about how the
Trust intend to have no
smoking on any of their sites
and how people can get
involved, see p. 6
Looking at our Volunteer
Programme to see how we
can attract and support
more people to volunteer
with us
Exploring what information
our Network Members
would like regarding
Benefits
Keri Lawrence—Development Worker (pictured)
4
Volunteer News
Camilla, Involvement
Champion, East Staffs
“Since we started the Margaret
Stanhope Meetings in January
2010, I’ve met loads of interesting
people who have brought up a
variety of issues that we hopefully
helped to resolve. Since the
closure of the ward was
announced, the general feeling
from the patients has been one of
compassion, appreciation, and
support for the staff who were
continuing to provide a service to
the best of their abilities whilst
facing uncertainty about what
would happen to their jobs once
the ward closed. I’m not sure what
my future role is going to be for
SSNMH but whatever I end up
doing I look forward to meeting old
friends and making new ones who
share my passion for getting the
service user voice heard.”
The Network would very much like
to thank Camilla for all her
dedication, passion and strong
leadership with the Margaret
Stanhope Inpatient Meetings. The
meetings have inspired the Trust
to develop a way of running
similar meetings on all their
wards. Camilla’s determination
and empathy really helped our
most vulnerable members to have
their say, anonymously and
without judgement, to improve
experience of the ward! Also big
thanks to Stella, Trudy and Quynh
for their commitment and support
on these meetings.
Trudy, Involvement Champion,
East Staffs
Trudy has been supporting
Camilla with the Margaret
Stanhope Meetings and has also
been a key player in keeping the
Network up to date with what’s
going on in Burton on Trent. We
have future plans for Trudy to
further support the Mental Health
cause with her strong networking
and representative skills by joining
her local GP practice’s Patient
and Public Group.
Sarah, Involvement Champion,
South Staffs District
“I have attended the Brendan
House steering group, have
chaired the Twigs Local
Engagement Group Meeting, and
have also conducted four
interviews for the ICE Project.”
Rachel, Involvement Champion,
South Staffs District, also led on
the Twigs meeting, and is also
looking at new ways to support
the Network with a new project.
Stella, Awareness Champion,
East Staffs & Mandie,
Involvement Champion,
Stafford
Stella has presented five of her
brilliant “Fighting Fear & Stigma
Talks” for the Network over the
last 3 months. Also, both Mandie
and Stella have trained to be ICE
Volunteers also and are
supporting us with interviewing
people.
Mike, Admin Support, Lichfield
Mike has done a great job
checking our website for missing
and broken links and out of date
information. Mike and Keri will be
looking to sort these out in the
near future. Mike has also
supported with data entry and
filing. It’s always a pleasure to
have his positive energy and
support in the office!
The Network also introduced six
new volunteers, supporting us
short term on the ICE project. By
the time you read this, some of
you will have met or even been
interviewed by them. A huge
thanks to them all: Julie, Joan,
Diane, Lynette, Cyril and Abi.
We look forward to some of these
guys sticking with us after the
project as we look to increase and
improve our Volunteer
Programme.
For more information on
volunteering visit:
www.volunteerstaffordshire.org.uk
We will be looking at
promoting new
opportunities to
volunteer in the near
future. If you have a
good idea of doing
something that fits into
what the Network does,
please get in touch!
The Network Team has many volunteers, contributing to our great work in different ways.
Here’s an update on what’s going on...
5
Tracey “Reaches Out”
Hi everyone
Here goes my last article for the Network News... I want to start by saying a massive ‘thank you’ to everyone who took the time and trouble to fill in the rural survey. I have had 77 replies which is 5 more than last time and is over a much shorter period of time. I’m so pleased with the response as it means I can make some really accurate comparisons and the survey reflects the views of people who live in rural areas. I’m going to spend the last couple of weeks here collating the information and then distribute the overall findings and statistics as widely as possible. This will include the Network News and our website www.ssnmentalhealth.co.uk. It will highlight the key issues that people face when experiencing mental distress in rural areas covered by South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and will show the improvements they would like to see. Since my last article, I’ve attended our Network members forum in Uttoxeter which was really interesting. Hearing different speakers and having the opportunity to ask questions is invaluable. I’ve arranged 4 stigma talks which have been delivered by Stella. I have to say, these talks have been a big
part of my work at the Network. When I started my role, I spent some time thinking about how to tackle the problem of stigma in rural areas as I saw this as one of the main areas my project should focus on. As soon as I supported Stella for the 1st time and listened to the inspiring talk she’d put together, I realised the impact it has on all sorts of people who may not normally be talking about mental health or even think about the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health problems face. I grabbed the opportunity to promote and take a share in delivering the talks as it is a fantastic tool to help the rural outreach project and promote the Network to rural communities. I really think that this has made a difference. I think that if you can change just one person’s opinions and attitudes at a talk, then it’s been well worth doing. One last plea from me! If you know any community groups who have guest speakers then please refer them to the network and someone will arrange a talk for them. That way, we’ll keep chipping away at stigma and discrimination which will, in turn, encourage more people to talk about mental health and ensure we all start seeing it as an illness like any other, not something
which we should be ashamed of and hide away. I’m also very proud of the fact that since I started my role 14 months ago, I have signed up 81 new members to the network including many from rural areas. I hope you’re all enjoying the Network News! So, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you again to the staff, volunteers and trustees at the Network for all their encouragement, training and support, I’ll miss them. It really is a fantastic role that the Network plays, giving a voice to people and ensuring they’re heard and also signposting people to a huge range of services that are out there to help. I’d also like to thank each service user, carer and professional I’ve met along the way who have all helped to teach me such a lot and look at mental health in a different way. It’s made me challenge my own ideas and preconceptions and those of family, friends and everyone I meet who wants to listen! I will hopefully see some of you again and look forward to reading future editions of the Network News... (I am a member you know!) Bye for now, Tracey.
Supported by Lloyds TSB
Foundation for England &
Wales
6
Smoking
remains the
largest single
cause of death
and disease in
the UK. The
Trust Board
has recently discussed the issue
of smoking on the Trust’s property
and has noted that many Trusts,
both mental health and acute,
have already become Smoke
Free.
Views have been received on this
issue from a number of sources
and discussions have taken place
in different settings with Trust
Governors, staff side
representatives and service users.
The Board has noted the views
expressed to date and the
challenges that will arise but has
now taken the final decision that it
can no longer support smoking
taking place anywhere on Trust
property in the interests of the
health of both service users and
staff.
Therefore SSSFT will become a
SMOKE FREE TRUST as from 1st
April 2013. This means that all
premises and grounds managed
by the Trust become smoke free.
It is recognised that this may be
difficult for those who are addicted
to nicotine and will require
sensitive engagement and active
support from staff and Trust.
Plans are being developed around
smoking cessation programmes/
treatment and education, for staff
and service users.
Views will be sought on how best
to implement this policy and
lessons identified from other
Trusts who have gone through
this process.
Discussions had previously taken
place with staff and service users
in Shropshire to consider whether
it was practical to make the new
Redwoods Centre in Shropshire
totally Smoke Free from the point
of its opening in September.
However, it is clear that that would
not give sufficient time to put in
place all the support needed. The
Redwoods Centre will therefore
also now become totally Smoke
Free from 1st April 2013.
The move to being Smoke Free
will mean working with all
stakeholders including service
users, carers, staff and health
promotion services. This move will
be centrally coordinated, but will
also need careful planning and
action in all Directorates.
The move to becoming Smoke
Free will undoubtedly be
challenging. However, being
Smoke Free will ultimately help
everyone, with the Trust being a
healthier place to visit, stay or
work and it is vital that all staff
actively support this development.
Should you have good ideas
about how this process can be
helped then please do let me
know.
Submitted by
Neil Brimblecombe, Chief
Operating Officer/Director of
Nursing at SSSFT
Note from Editor: This Letter was
sent out by the Trust on 27 July
2012 and we have published it on
behalf of the Trust. Our current
role on this is to represent our
service user members, both
smokers and non-smokers at the
relevant meetings. We are
exploring ways of how people can
be involved in developing how the
Trust do this, and ensuring we
have up to date and important
information to share with our
members.
Smoke Free Trust
BRENDAN HOUSE UPDATE
1. Brendan House will now accept people over the age of 65 (as long as all
other criteria is met).
2. Remember If you need a referral into Brendan House—this can also
been done by the service managers of Richmond Fellowship Life Links
and Changes Mental Health & Wellbeing.
Brendan House offers a safe space or sanctuary to people in mental distress
for whom a hospital admission is neither wanted nor needed, for up to 3 nights.
For more information contact Brendan House on 01543 899465.
7
FOOTBALL
ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING
Wednesday 7th November 2012 at 12 Noon
Wade Street Church, Frog Lane, Lichfield
Afternoon Tea provided
Guest Speaker in
The Brendan C ommons Lecture: “Food 4 Thought Café”
Remember to nominate people for trusteeship—see
your individual invitation for instructions.
If you are planning to attend please let us know by 26 October
2012 for catering purposes—telephone us on 01543 301139 or
If you are a member, remember to bring along your individual
invitation letter as proof of your voting right.
Come and play football and:
Keep fit
Make friends
Have fun
Learn new skills
Boost confidence
Improve well-being
‘Sometimes in football you have to score goals’ - Thierry Henri
Details:
Contact Matthew Hocking or Lesley Hall at Quest for more information: (01785) 249251 or Naomi Potter (Tamworth AOT) (01827) 308820 or Marvin Shortman (F.A. level 2 qualified coach) on 07968841976
Starts Monday 16th of July 2pm ‘til 3.30pm
Open to men and women over 18years of age, some equipment supplied.
Location Lichfield City football
Club, Brownsfield Road, WS13 6BT
local pick up/support to attend
depending on need/location
8
DJ is a 22 year old female who
has had experience of severe and
enduring mental illness since
childhood. DJ has been under a
psychologist from approximately
the age of nine. DJ does not work
and is considered a vulnerable
adult and currently has a CPN and
her Auntie is her carer.
When DJ came to Changes
Health and Wellbeing she was
completely mute and did not
speak, a few who knew her said
that she would not speak to
anyone, she suffered from terrible
anxiety and physically shook
when she entered and would just
sit in the corner and keep her
head down so no one would look
at her. At this time we knew little
about DJ or her situation, as she
would not communicate with us.
After a week DJ had started to
communicate with us here at
Changes Health and Wellbeing
and visited us on a regular basis
for mutual support groups, as time
went on DJ grew within herself
here in confidence and self
esteem enabling her to join
foundation wellness and to make
her time at college more useful by
learning to read and write. DJ has
made some friends here of which
she grew a social life outside of
Changes Health and Wellbeing
and brought new members into
Changes from the centre she
attends. Goals were set for DJ
every week including taking her
medication every day instead of
hiding it, talking to one new face
at college, talking to her tutor and
support worker and gradually over
time she will now talk to most
people who she meets including
her doctor who was very surprised
as he had never heard her speak.
DJ has a communication book
that is taken between college,
home and ourselves to her Auntie
so we monitor how the goals are
going.
DJ has now started volunteering
with us and learns new skills and
is learning to trust others by letting
them make her drinks within
Changes and using the toilet
within Changes, something she
would not do before. Through DJ’s
hard work of attending mutual
support groups and discussing her
past and present struggles and
mental distress she has grown
from strength to strength and
through attending the wellness
workshops her increased
confidence has enabled her to do
activities she never thought she
would.
The intervention with Changes
Health and Wellbeing has
benefited DJ as she comes to us
in times of need when doctor’s
appointments aren’t available, she
has built a trust with us as she
sees us regularly which enables
her to talk to us to discuss her
problems and fears. DJ has
successfully achieved goals that
no one ever thought she would
enabling her to live a full and
active life. DJ now has a social life
outside of Changes with friends
from the service, her Auntie has
more trust in her now to give DJ
more responsibility and supported
living is now being considered for
DJ a positive move towards
independence and social
inclusion.
“My Auntie can now trust me to be
on my own and I have my own
bedroom, as I can now sleep by
myself. This was a goal – I always
meet my goals and make sure
others meet their goals”
“I got a special award at college
for ‘Outstanding Achievement’ and
in September I will be looking at
work placement”
DJ is now much less likely to need
emergency help e.g. hospital bed
or Crisis Team as her mental
distress is much improved and
she knows how to manage with
problems or who to ask if she is
struggling, DJ has reduced the
weekly CPN appointments to
fortnightly, and now to monthly,
DJ has not self harmed for over a
month so if this continues then no
treatment for the severe cuts will
be required and DJ only has GP
appointments when they are
needed they are no longer on a
regular basis. DJ has reduced the
contact she is using the NHS
services and in turn has reduced
the cost to the NHS; DJ is only
one Changes member. There is
the potential to show improvement
like this in all users which would
reduce the cost to the NHS,
freeing up much needed financial
resources at this time of austerity
to those in severe mental distress
and supporting those who can
become socially included and able
to make a contribution to fulfil their
potential to do so.
Submitted by Michelle Felton,
Wellness Coach, Changes
Health & Wellbeing Centre
Changes Health and Wellbeing
Service Intervention Case Study
9
READER SUBMISSION—A CARTOON BY JENNIFER
Response from
South Staffordshire
Network for Mental
Health to the Case
Study (left):
15 August 2012
It is always great to
hear such a wonderful
story of a person’s
journey towards
recovery.
We would like to take
this opportunity to
independently confirm
we have known DJ
since she attended a
service previous to
Changes taking the
contract in the area.
We would like to
celebrate the amazing
positive change in DJ
and the way in which
she is taking more
control of her life and
wellbeing through the
support offered by
Changes Wellbeing
Centres.
A huge well done to DJ
and the team.
I have been unwell on and off for several years and used to attend a drop in centre up until last August when they closed. I started to attend Changes when they started in September not really knowing what to expect as it was completely different to what I had been used to, but I decided to give it a try. I began by attending the Mutual support Meetings and I found it really helped me as not only was I receiving support and encouragement but I was able to help others who were in a similar situation to myself. I attended the Wellness Programme which was a huge help to me as it showed me ways in which I can improve and maintain my well being that I was not aware of before. Since September I have also been attending the social activities every Saturday which I really enjoy as I am able to meet with friends , relax and enjoy myself and this is important to me as before I started going I had no motivation or reason to go out on Saturday and now I look forward to it instead of dreading it. As I access the Changes services regularly every week, I now have more structure and routine back in my life which is very important to my well being
and I have found that my motivation has improved greatly as a result of this. In October, I decided to do the Coordinator Training Programme, not knowing if I would be able to cope, but I completed it and have now qualified to assist and coordinate Mutual support meetings. I really enjoyed it, learned so much and met new friends along the way. This was a huge achievement for me and I am now enjoying my role as a result of the training. I have also been doing voluntary office work twice a week since Christmas and am really enjoying it. As well as gaining more structure and routine to my week, I am learning new skills. Overall, I enjoy everything I am doing with Changes, and as a result of the last 10 months I have been attending, my confidence has improved and I am able to have a much more positive outlook on life, and since this time last year my well being has improved a great deal, and that is all due to the services that Changes provide and I would like to thank them for the support, encouragement and opportunities that they have given me. Julie - ( Burntwood )
Cannock Out and About 11am—2pm Meet at Copper Kettle
Rugeley 10.30am-1.30pm Peer Support
Cannock 11am—2pm Peer Support
Birth Art Group
Alternative Thursdays 1pm—3pm
NFORMATION DIRECTORY - from September 2012 Please note: If a service is listed as Referral Only, please contact your GP or Care Coordinator in order to access the service.
All times & venues subject to change, please check with Service Provider before attending for the first time.
Richmond Fellowship’s services by appointment and referral only, 1:1 sessions & additional support available outside of times shown.
Please note: If a service is listed as Referral Only, please contact your GP or Care Coordinator in order to access the service.
All times & venues subject to change, please check with Service Provider before attending for the first time.
15
Burntwood & Lichfield Lichfield District Open Door of Hope Lichfield Methodist Church, Backcester Lane, Lichfield, WS13 6JH Contact Mike on 07779 980741
Changes Burntwood: Unit 8, Old Mining College, Queen St, Chasetown, Burntwood WS7 4QH 01543 679000
Lichfield: Pavilion, Beacon Park, Beacon Street, WS13 6QZ 01543 309770