Kirklees Annual Report

7/27/2019 Kirklees Annual Report

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TouchstoneKirklees Mental Health Advocacy Service

Annual Report 2012-2013

EQUAL, HONEST AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING


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Introduction

Touchstone began delivering the Advocacy Service in April 2011. A summary of our

previous work can be found in theAnnual Reportfor 2011/12.

This year, our aim was to strengthen our model of collaboration and co-production,and to demonstrate the quality of what we do, by building on the successes of the

previous year.

You will find in this report the themes of volunteering, mutual learning and support, as

well as a commitment to proving the wider benefits of an approach which encourages

citizens to speak up for themselves, to assertively demand their rights, and to support

others around them. Our Social Return on Investment exercise was a way of trying to

work out the wider benefits of what we do, and attempting to put a price-tag on it.

Although we may not all be professionalised advocates we take the quality of our

work very seriously indeed.

We regularly look at the impact our services have on excluded or marginalised groups

(e.g. Black and minority ethnic; lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people) or people who

are under-represented in our service, in order to see how we can make things fairer.

We undertook an internal Quality Audit, which was led by people who use

Touchstones Services. A group of service users came to inspect the service and

demanded we produce evidence that what we do is safe, fair and collaborative, and

that we learn from our mistakes and make keep accurate records of what we do. They

were very pleased with what they found.

Perhaps our greatest challenge this year has been meeting ever increasing demand for

what we do. Most people approach our service because they have a pressing need to

sort something out to leave hospital, to get their housing sorted or to change the

way in which they are supported. However, too much emphasis on helping people 1:1

might mean we give less time to developing and growing our group support work, and

the development of Peer Advocacy.

As you would expect from a service built on the principles of co-production our

solution emerged from discussions with the people who benefit from our service, andthe peer advocates (see page 3 for more details). We were pleased to find such a

sensible

We hope you enjoy the story of our service over the last year, as much as we have

enjoyed working to make Kirklees a warmer, friendlier and more supportive place for

everyone.
http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/


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General Developments

Our model of co-productive Advocacy is very different from some other, more

traditional models of advocacy where someone seeks help from a professional

advocate, who speaks on their behalf, in their best interest.

Touchstones way of doing Advocacy delivers a more deeply collaborate experience.

We still provide traditional 1:1 advocacy, but we also spend a lot of time trying to help

people to find their own voice to advocate for themselves by encouraging them to

share their experiences and to support other people with advocacy needs.

We think our model promotes collaborative, equal, honest, reciprocal trusting

relationship between the service users, their families, friends, peers, and neighbours

paid workers, professionals and service providers.

The service guided by principles of co-production is cautiously developing co-

production in all aspects of service delivery and design by:

Recognising people as assets

Building on peoples existing capabilities

Promoting mutuality and reciprocity

Developing peer support networks

Breaking barriers between professionals and recipients

Facilitating rather than delivering the service

Our self-advocacy and group advocacy sessions meet once a week at our offices in

Dewsbury, and at Folly Hall in Huddersfield. These groups combine social activities

with learning new skills, or hearing and learning from the experiences of others.

We currently support a team of eight peer advocates who help us to deliver more than

58 hours of peer support each week. The peer advocates provide one to one peer

support, and support and facilitate group work. Touchstones volunteer co-ordinator

provides additional support to these peer advocates offering ongoing training and

support with new skillslike working with people who dont speak English, or helping

to manage risks.

Early in 2012 we found that we were facing capacity issues. The service was designed

to support a maximum of about 100 people, and we were getting very close to this

number. Many of these people were no longer in need of day-to-day advocacy

support, but were still fearful of being discharged of losing the support they found in


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the peer advocacy groups, and in the ability to pick up a phone and speak with an

advocate without having to re-refer themselves.

After discussions with individuals, groups, peer advocates and others, we agreed that

each person we support would have their case reviewed every 3 months. When people

had achieved their agreed outcomes, we would close their file if they wished it to beclosed. However, for those people who did not wish for their cases to be closed we

decided we would refer to

Active members: those who continue to play an active part in peer/group

advocacy networks, and

Members: people who after receiving advocacy support dot not want to give

back to the service but would call the service as and when they require advocacy

support.

We are pleased to have found a way of describing the status of people who sometimeswant a little advocacy support and which allows them to keep a link to our service,

without this affecting our ability to receive and act on new referrals.

Other achievements of 2012 -2013:

We increased the numbers of referrals from Care Management Mental Health

teams

We increased the numbers of women peer advocates

We were successfully underwent a Quality Audit Inspection, led by Touchstone

Service Users to ensure we are as good as we say we are

We carried out aSocial Return on Investment auditwith the assistance of people

who benefit from our services, referrers and commissioners. We worked out

that for every 1spent on the Advocacy service, we generated a return of 3

We completed an Equality Impact Assessment

Appointed a paid female advocate and recruited more relief worker advocates.

We expanded the capacity of the services and worked with more than 138

people.
http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/


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Barriers and Challenges

Some of our ongoing challenges include

a) Breaking barriers between professionals and recipientsSome people still expect mental health services to tell them what to do, and that their

involvement is nothing more than ongoing consent. Similarly, some people who work

in mental health services still seem to find it easier to present people with plans of

care, drawing on their own knowledge and understanding of a persons best interest -

rather than helping people to work things out for themselves. This day-to-day

imbalance of power between Professionals and Patients, however well intentioned,

remains an enormous barrier to people taking control of their own lives.

b) Demand for one to one advocacyMost of our referrals come from people who need one to one advocacy support with

support speaking up for themselves in meetings with Professionals e.g. ward rounds ,

discharge meetings , managers meetings , tribunals, CPAs etc. As we have explored

above this has sometimes put pressure on our small staff team, and impaired their

ability to develop the capacity of peer/group advocacy networks.

c) Geographical distribution of KirkleesThe vast expanse of Kirklees means that the one advocate and relief advocate workers

have to travel long distances to reach out to people needing advocacy. This sometimes

makes it difficult to see people face to face as soon as they would like. It also makes

their participation in peer networks difficult if they do not have access to transport.

d) Equal provision and access of the advocacy servicePeople from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities often find getting what

they need from mental health services difficult. This can be for lots of reasons such as

language barriers or services who find it difficult to responding positively to cultural

differences. We are very pleased at the number of people from BME backgrounds who

have received our support - about 30% of all the people we have helped.


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Outcomes

Social Networks

The service has strengthened peer support, group advocacy and peer networks.Service users set up peer advocacy groups to explore areas of particular interest

(experience of being on Ward, effective discharge, CPA meetings, managing

safety) group advocacy sessions. In these peer advocacy networks, people are

free to set their own agendas, and where they are encouraged to to build and

sustain relationships new and old and to support one another through

shared experiences, expertise and time.

Average Improvement: 14%. People experiencing severe mental health

problems can sometimes find themselves isolated people from friends and

family - through hospital admission or other circumstances. Our groups helppeople to make rewarding relationships, help others and expand their social

networks.

I can not imagine where I would be without the peer support I receive from myfriends and two neighbours. They are always there for me as I am for them. We do

things together e.g. go shopping, play bingo, volunteer at a local shop and

accompany one another to GP appointments and medical reviews. At old age we can

continue to live our lived experiences if we can access Self Directed Support (SDS) to

fund those activities we enjoy most to remain active and reduce hospital admissions

Supporting each other

through peer advocacy,

sharing our knowledge,

experiences, skills and time.Ours is an equal, honest,

reciprocal relationship that

keeps us going


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Housing

The service provides advocacy support to people struggling to maintain their

tenancy due to many factors the consequences of mental health difficulties;

substance and alcohol abuse; problems with money /bills or harassment;

bullying and discrimination. We have provided advocacy support in meetings

with housing services, landlords, neighbours, the police and employers. We have

also provided advocacy support to enable people to move from residential

supported housing to independent living. We try to ensure people have a say in

what they want and how they wish to live their lives - and ensuring that due

process if followed, and that people are not pressured to live in places they do

not want.

Average Improvement: 10%: The service continues to successfully support

people speak for themselves moving from residential homes to independent

living, and those who lost their tenancies, suffered antisocial behaviour from

neighbours, lost employment or had benefits and financial difficulties due to

mental health difficulties.

We are a happy couple who were supported by the advocacy service

work through our housing, financial and harassment problems. We are

paying back to the service attending peer /group advocacy sessions

supporting other people sharing our life experiences as peers who are

supporting each other. We successfully completed the Recruitment

Selection & Interview training, and now take part in recruiting the best

workers for the organisation. The advocacy service is our service which is

service user run with support from paid workers


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Physical Health

The service provides advocacy support to people whose physical health affects

their mental health and wellbeing. We support people to lead healthier life

styles e.g. Stop smoking, drinking, drug abuse, conscious of healthy eating by

providing them with information, and encouragement and helping them link to

services where necessary.

.

TheAdvocacy service provides me with Advocacy support in Professionals

meetings about my medication, treatment, support and care. They also help in

Managers meetings, Ward rounds, and Discharge meetings. But what worksor me takin art in h sical activities and rou s

Average

improvement 9%.

People are

becoming aware

of the relationship

between their

physical health

and mental healthand the need to

take part in

physical activities

to keep the mind

occupied.


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Education & Training and Social skills

Through peer and group advocacy groups, people encourage and support each

other to return to education and training, volunteering and attend mainstream

educational training for basic living skills e.g. computer, art, craft at Pathways.

Average Improvement: 39%: Although there is a significant improvement in this

area, some people are scared of going to formal educational settings to meet

new people. We help people voice their concerns, and help them overcome

their difficulties.

What works for you in your

journey to recovery does not work

necessarily for me. For some

people Yoga and filming and

spirituality are their best therapy

but for me art makes me become

creative keeping my mind

occupied. Its not only about

medication: explore the best

intervention for you

What is stopping you? Go join

an art group close to where you

live and develop your talent,

build confidence and make

friends discovering the beautyof art and how good it is for

your mental health and

wellbeing.


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Self & Peer Advocacy

Our peer/group advocacy helps people to learn from each other. We facilitate

sessions where people can reflect on their own experiences by helping others to

gain the skills to advocate for themselves and others. Our peer advocacy groups

meet weekly at Folly Hall in Huddersfield and at our offices in Dewsbury.

Average Improvement: 41%: There is a great improvement in this domain. We

encourage a culture of giving and getting where as well as receiving advocacy

support, people are encouraged to see the value in what they have to offer other

people. From the group meetings, people often form friendships and provide

informal support to one another. Six people who have used our advocacy service

have gone on to completed the Touchstone Volunteering Training programme, and

now provide support to other people as peer advocates and advocacy group

facilitators. Our peer advocacy volunteers and interpreters training has been so

successful that we are now delivering it in Dewsbury.

I received advocacy support on my discharge and tribunal meetings, [I]went on

to train as an advocacy volunteer with the Touchstone Volunteering Project. I am

now providing advocacy support to other service users and help out as an

advocacy facilitator

There is a lot to give share and learn. I received advocacy support on my

discharge from hospital and tribunal meetings, [I] went on to train as an

advocacy volunteer with the Touchstone Volunteering Project. I am now

providing peer advocacy support to other service users and help out as

an advocacy facilitator. I am looking forward to become a relief

advocacy worker and hopefully progress to gain paid employment


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Confidence

Many of the people we work with only want advocacy support to help them with

their discharge from hospital, or in professionals meetings. On discharge, many

do not wish to attend peer/group advocacy activities. Although we respect their

viewswe think theres a lot that they might get out of being with others, and

building confidence from their shared experiences and problem solving. Many ofthe people who do find ways to support others through peer/group advocacy

report being better able to control their own thoughts, anger, fears, frustrations

and anxieties.

Average Improvement: 29%: The service supports people by referring them to

other services for anger management and confidence building sessions with

other service providers like Support 2 Recovery.

Speaking Up for Myself

One of our primary goals is to support and encourages people to speak up for

themselves - by telling other people what they want, making their voices and

choices heard, working out what they want and how to organise themselves

better. People learn different ways of speaking up for themselves e.g. planning

what they want to say, using pictures, and writing out their concerns.

Average Improvement 14%: Outside the hospital and in everyday life situations

people speak out for themselves, but many still have problems in formal settings

when surrounded by professionals.

I received advocacy support on my discharge and tribunal meetings, [I] went on

to train as an advocacy volunteer with the Touchstone Volunteering Project. I am

now providing advocacy support to other service users and help out as an

advocacy facilitator

While I have the confidence to speak for myself and others I find it

difficult to speak out for myself in meetings where there are too many

professionals who use medical jargon and tend to decide things for me.

When I fall ill again/relapse I lose all the gained confidence

I can speak up for myself as an individual and as part of a group todefend my rights as long as other people are prepared to listen.

Unfortunately when I do so I get sectioned by professionals who argue

that I will be ex ressin delusionar thou hts


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Emotional/Mental Wellbeing

The service helps people to be in control of their care and support, and ensures

that they are listened to and involved in decision making on all matters.

Understanding their rights and building confidence enables people to exercise

greater control over their mental health difficulties and to trust in what works

for them.

Average Improvement: 18%. support service

I need help.

Community Participation

The services continue to support and encourage people to be involved in taking

part in things taking place in their communities so that they meet and help each

other feeling valued and appreciated for their contributions.

Average Improvement: 56%: There is a significant improvement. Due to mental

health difficulties some people find it a daunting task to be involved in

mainstream activities taking place in the community.I am as busy as a bee taking part in a number of activities in my local area

ranging from volunteering looking after another service user, doing my cleaning

job, going to see a psychological therapist, going to Pathways and attending

events in the community. I am well connected and feel occupied and valued which

keeps me going able to cope with my panic attacks and anxiety.

I am now stable, managing my mental health and wellbeing making

positive choices about my mental health and wellbeing. I know where

support services are if I need help.

With advocacy support I now have structure in my week: I volunteer at

the fire station, I attend supporting services, the Dewsbury peer/group

advocacy sessions, the Keep the parks clean project in Wakefield and

actively take part in Touchstone organisational activities I completed the

one day Selection Interviewing & training course. All this has helped me

fight my panic attacks and regain my confidence

Taking part in activities in

my local community makes

me feel valued and

belonging which supports

my mental health and

wellbeing.


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Support Services

The service continues to promote co-productive working between service users,

their friends and families, professionals, agencies and services providers in an

open honest and reciprocal way, a collaboration of equals.

Average Improvement: 21%: Advocacy has enabled people to achieve greater

dialogue and collaborative arrangements with statutory and voluntary services.

Table of Changes, by Advocacy Star domains 2012/13

Social

Networks

Housing Physical

Health

Education

&

Training

Self &

Peer

Advocacy

Confidence Speaking

Up For

Myself

Emotional/

Mental

Wellbeing

Community

Participation

Suppo

Servic

Average 1st

Review-8.3 -5.6 +0.0 +13.3 +1.6 +12.3 +6.0 -1.8 +15.9 +4.4

Average 2nd

eview+11.8 +9.0 +4.7 -1.4 +11.3 +4.4 +2.9 +11.1 +7.4 +12.

Average 3rd

eview+0.6 +0.4 +2.0 +2.2 +0.6 -0.6 -0.4 -3.5 +0.7 -0.2

Averagecurrent

+1.4 -3.8 -3.0 +1.4 +2.7 -4.5 -2.9 +1.5 -1.5 -8.6

Average

change+1.4 +0.1 +0.9 +3.9 +4.1 +2.9 +1.1 +1.8 +5.6 +2.1

%

mprovement14% 10% 9% 39% 41% 29% 14% 18% 56% 21%

I feel empowered, involved in decision making as an equal partner in

services in my treatment, support and care getting the kind of support I

want although some professionals want to decide things for me.With

advocacy support I was listened to and my views were sort as I went

through ECT treatment.


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Annual Statistics


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Finance

The total value of this contract is 51,295 and comes from both NHS Kirklees and

Kirklees Council. This is how we have spent this money. All the figures are in s.


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Vision and targets for 2012-2013

In the next year we will

Remodel the Touchstone Kirklees Advocacy service to increase overall service

activity by 20%.

Ensure the service is dementia friendly and provide advocacy opportunities

for people living in their own homes experiencing mental health problems

related to dementia.

Increase access to Self Directed Support/ Peer led Self Directed Support.

Promote paid employment opportunities to the people we work with,

progressing from being beneficiaries of the service to peer advocacy volunteers

and interpreters, to become relief workers and paid staff members.

Increase the number of self-advocacy and peer advocacy groups in a wider

variety of locations eg Batley, Mirfield.

Work co-productively with service users and stakeholders to refine the Kirklees

Advocacy risk assessment tool.

Ensure a third of the people we work with are from BME groups.

Provide a greater array of training and development sessions for advocacy group

members, tied to Touchstones wider programme of volunteering opportunities.

Make particular efforts to address and boost peoples self-confidence issues.

Establish peer/group advocacy for informal patients on ward at Priestly Unit

ward 18, Ashdale ward 3, and Wakefield hospital.

Seek a better match between volunteers and the wider demographics of Kirklees to ensure more equal representation.

For more information or to find out more, contact us at

Touchstone Kirklees Advocacy Service

Dewsbury Business Centre

1st Floor Office, 13 Wellington Road

Dewsbury

WF13 1HFPhone: 01484 490 130

Email:[email protected]

Website: www.touchstonesupport.org.uk
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Kirklees Annual Report

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