My Name Is - EPUT · 2017. 6. 19. · Spring 2015 The members newspaper Hello My Name Is... The...

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From South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Email: [email protected] Facebook: facebook.com/SEPTNHS Twitter: @SEPTNHS Issue 8 Spring 2015 The members newspaper Hello My Name Is... The ‘Hello my name is…’ campaign was spearheaded by Dr Kate Granger, a young hospital consultant from Yorkshire who works in elderly care, to improve the patient experience not only here in the UK, but across the world. Kate became frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her when she was in hospital. Her campaign on social media platform Twitter is inspiring nurses, doctors, therapists, receptionists, porters, domestics and staff in all roles. Dr Granger, 33, has terminal cancer, and has made it her mission in whatever time she has left to get as many members of NHS staff as possible pledging to introduce themselves to their patients. This campaign is simple – reminding staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly. Kate talks about this as “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care” and sees it as the start of making a vital human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust between patients and healthcare staff. The campaign is being endorsed by an increasing number of well-known figures including David Cam- eron, Jeremy Hunt, the Countess of Wessex, Bob Geldof and Drew Barrymore. Sally Morris, Chief Executive said “I am delighted to say that SEPT has signed up to this important but simple campaign. ‘Welcoming’ is one of the Trust’s values and an important part of our customer service strategy.” Andy Brogan, Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Nurse, added “Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference to a patient. Simply starting a conversation with ‘Hello my name is…’ can help to reduce a patients anxiety and put them at ease.” We have joined forces with more than 80 NHS organisations that have pledged to launch their own ‘Hello my name is…’ collectively during February. In our Trust alone we have around 7000 staff and serve a population of 2.5 million. That’s how many lives can be impacted by this as it spreads. The collective launch will boost the national campaign around compassionate care considerably, with 400,000+ staff potentially involved. We are all connected by our commitment to engage and empower our staff to improve patient services through adoption of Listening into Action (LiA)®, and, as such, we are part of a formal network which enables this type of collective response. We’ve joined a massive social media movement launched by a terminally ill doctor from the north of England. You can support Dr Granger’s campaign on Twitter by sending her a message at @GrangerKate, including your name and the phrase #hellomynameis. To find about more about the campaign, visit www.hellomynameis. org.uk/home.

Transcript of My Name Is - EPUT · 2017. 6. 19. · Spring 2015 The members newspaper Hello My Name Is... The...

  • FromSouth Essex Partnership University

    NHS Foundation Trust

    ‘‘Email: [email protected]: facebook.com/SEPTNHSTwitter: @SEPTNHSIssue 8Spring 2015

    The mem

    bers newspaper

    Hello My Name Is...

    The ‘Hello my name is…’ campaign was spearheaded by Dr Kate Granger, a young hospital consultant from Yorkshire who works in elderly care, to improve the patient experience not only here in the UK, but across the world. Kate became frustrated with the number of staff who failed to introduce themselves to her when she was in hospital. Her campaign on social media platform Twitter is inspiring nurses, doctors, therapists, receptionists, porters, domestics and staff in all roles.

    Dr Granger, 33, has terminal cancer, and has made it her mission in whatever time she has left to get as many members of NHS staff as possible pledging to introduce themselves to their patients.

    This campaign is simple – reminding staff to go back to basics and introduce themselves to patients properly. Kate talks about this as “the first rung on the ladder to providing compassionate care” and sees it as the start of making a vital human connection, beginning a therapeutic relationship and building trust between patients and healthcare staff.

    The campaign is being endorsed by an increasing number of well-known figures including David Cam-eron, Jeremy Hunt, the Countess of Wessex, Bob Geldof and Drew Barrymore.

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive said “I am delighted to say that SEPT has signed up to this important but simple campaign. ‘Welcoming’ is one of the Trust’s values and an important part of our customer service strategy.”

    Andy Brogan, Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Nurse, added “Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference to a patient. Simply starting a conversation with ‘Hello my name is…’ can help to reduce a patients anxiety and put them at ease.”

    We have joined forces with more than 80 NHS organisations that have pledged to launch their own ‘Hello my name is…’ collectively during February. In our Trust alone we have around 7000 staff and serve a population of 2.5 million. That’s how many lives can be impacted by this as it spreads. The collective launch will boost the national campaign around compassionate care considerably, with 400,000+ staff potentially involved.

    We are all connected by our commitment to engage and empower our staff to improve patient services through adoption of Listening into Action (LiA)®, and, as such, we are part of a formal network which enables this type of collective response.

    We’ve joined a massive social media movement launched by a terminally ill doctor from the north of England.

    You can support Dr Granger’s campaign on Twitter by sending her a message at @GrangerKate, including your name and the phrase #hellomynameis. To find about more about the campaign, visit www.hellomynameis.org.uk/home.

  • 2 3

    Four SEPT health visitors have been made Fellows of the Institute of Health Visitors.

    Jacky Syme, Practice Development Lead 0 – 19 Service, Mary Sawtell, Carolyn Ramsamy and Sue Clarke have all received the prestigious accolade.

    Jacky was one of the first 29 health visitors in England to be recognised for her outstanding contribution to the profession and the first in Bedfordshire.

    The Institute of Health Visiting (iHV) will acknowledge 150 exceptional senior health visitors, spread across England, who have made a real difference to

    health outcomes for children and families. Over the coming year the Institute will award these health visitors with the prestigious title of ‘Fellow of the Institute of Health Visiting’ (FiHV).

    The intention is that this scheme will not only recognise professional achievement, but will also identify and deliver a country wide group of expert and confident health visitor leaders who can work with the Institute and their employers to help strengthen local professional capacity.

    Sally Morris Chief Executive commented:

    We joined forces with partner organisations from around Bedfordshire to celebrate World Mental Health Day on 9 October 2014. The aim of the event was to combat stigma and discrimination against mental health, promote mental well-being across our communities and this year we focused on arts, exercise and mental well-being.

    You can watch the amazing flash mob who entertained the crowds dancing to Happy by Pharrell Williams on our youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SEPTNHS

    The Power of Art in Mental Health an exhibition of art related to Mental Health was a great success with a large number of visitors.

    Richard Winter, SEPT’s Executive Director Integrated Services Bedfordshire said:

    “These events hope to inform people of the benefits of art and creativity for positive mental health, to dispel myths about mental health problems and show the wealth of talent and potential of those who encounter mental health difficulty and stigma in the wider community owing to misunderstanding.

    With 1 in 4 people experiencing mental health problems at some time in their lives, a better understanding amongst the general population is vital in helping people overcome these difficulties.”

    Welcome to the Spring Edition of SEPT News. I am sure you will all join with me in waving the winter goodbye – it did seem to last a very long time this year. This edition is jam packed with news about our staff, patients, carers, members and governors.

    One of our features this time is about our social media and we have included some of our recent tweets and facebook postings. You can follow us on both of these social networks – www.facebook.com/SEPTNHS and our Twitter profile is @SEPTNHS – we look forward to hearing from you. We have also included the ‘You said – We did’ feedback that demonstrates that we are listening and acting on your feedback.

    Thank you again to everyone who has contributed to this edition and to those who have given over their time to be interviewed and have their story told. I look forward to receiving your contributions to future issues and remember that stories can be about the work you do, a personal experience, or volunteering opportunities – and don’t forget the photos. Please send them to me by email to [email protected] or by post to Communications, The Lodge, Runwell Chase, Wickford SS11 7XX.

    Maxine ForrestEditor

    I am delighted to report that our Staff Recognition Scheme is proving to be a huge success with many staff being nominated each month. My fellow Board Members and I are delighted to meet and present awards to the staff who have won the individual and team ‘In Tune’ Awards and not forgetting those staff who have been recognised for long service. Our photo gallery of award winners is on pages 12 - 13. Congratulations to each and every one of the staff for providing excellent care and services. SEPT, like so many other NHS organisations across the country, is facing some unprecedented amounts of vacancies in all grades of nursing staff. You will see on the back of this edition a recruitment ad for nursing posts across Essex and Bedfordshire – for mental health and community nurses. If you are a nurse or you know a nurse who is looking to relocate, change employer or who has recently qualified, please contact us. We offer a generous employment package and we are a great organisation to work for. This past year has been a challenge as we have been working toward the disaggregation of colleagues from Bedfordshire & Luton Mental Health Services. I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the staff who transferred to the new provider, East London NHS Foundation Trust. Their unstinting support over the years to the patients, carers and services has been very much appreciated. SEPT will continue to provide Bedfordshire’s community health services and specialist mental health and learning disabilities services across the county.

    “ We offer a generous employment package and we are a great organisation to work for’”

    Letter from the Editor

    For they are Jolly Good Fellows

    Celebrating World Mental Health Day

    These changes to our service provision mean that we will be changing the number of governors who represent our members. Please see the article on page 20 for more details about what this will mean for the composition of our Council of Governors. We are looking forward to a busy year ahead. At the end of June, we have our first comprehensive inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This is a golden opportunity to show how well we care for people and to continue learning how to improve. The CQC will be visiting all our services to check they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, as well as talking with staff, patients, carers and local people about their experiences. I look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming Take it to the Top, Have Your Say, Council of Governor and Board of Director meetings. Details of all meetings are on the back page of SEPT News.

    Message from Sally Morris, Chief Executive

    If you need this newspaper in a different format, please contact our Communications Team on

    01268 739755 or [email protected]

    and we can provide the newspaper in larger print, Braille, on tape or disc.

    Do you need SEPT News in other formats?

    If you would like to know more about South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT), please log on to our website which we have developed and designed so that you can easily find out what we do, where we are located and who we care for.

    Go to www.SEPT.nhs.uk and have a look for yourself!

    Log on to find out more...

    “Jacky, Mary, Carolyn and Sue have demonstrated excellence in practice, are real leaders and champions of the health visiting profession and passionate about improving health outcomes for the children and families they work with. This is outstanding recognition at national level and we are very proud of them.”

    Some of the art work exhibited at The Power of Art in Mental Health exhibition

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    The creative minds of artistic patients at Brockfield House hospital have been recognised by the Koestler Trust after five pieces of artwork won awards.

    The Koestler Trust is the UK’s best-known prison arts charity. Who have been awarding, exhibiting and selling artworks by offenders, detainees and secure patients for over 50 years.

    The Koestler Awards programme aims to provide inmates with a positive goal they can work towards as well as new skills and an outlet for creative emotion. At this year’s awards ceremony they received a record-breaking 8,789 pieces of writing, music, film, fine art and design of entries.

    From Brockfield House, one patient’s woodcraft piece, entitled ‘Pianist’, scooped a Gold award and other patients won two Highly Commended awards, and one Platinum award for ceramic and printmaking entries.

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive said: “I was thrilled to attend the annual Koestler Awards. The Koestler Awards and London exhibition are very important events in the calendar for many patients within secure care.

    “I would like to congratulate all our patients who entered the awards and those patients who went on to win!”

    From the submissions around 230 examples of visual art, audio, film and writing were displayed to the public until 30 November at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

    The Lions Clubs of Leigh on Sea and Eastwood have donated £1,750 to local Talking Matters Groups to fund a specialist communications app and iPads for patients.

    Our south east Essex Speech and Language Therapy team run three ‘Talking Matters’ groups which provide support for people suffering from communication difficulties following a Stroke.

    Eric Hoile from the Lions Club said: “After hearing how one of the ‘Talking Matters’ group members benefited from the use of an iPad to carry out everyday tasks, I wanted to do more for the group, I hope the donation makes a difference.”

    Recovering from a stroke is not easy and the ‘Talking Matters’ group helps hundreds of sufferers across Essex.

    Anna Smith Lead Speech and Language Therapist, SEPT South East Essex Community Services commented: “We are very grateful to the Lions Club for this donation which will enable us to buy more iPads and support more patients with limited speech.”

    BLOOD pressure was the topic of discussion for a special event at Saffron Walden Community Hospital.

    Nurses from the outpatient department joined forces on 25 September to hold the ‘Know Your Blood Pressure’ event which measured residents’ of Saffron Walden blood pressure free of charge.

    Sister Stephanie Honour said: “Over 128 people attended the event and we referred several of these individuals to visit their GP.

    “If left untreated, high blood pressure increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

    “On the day the team found the majority of the patients with really high blood pressure were white males aged between 55-64 years and white females aged 65-74 years”.

    Approximately one third of people with high blood pressure do not know that they have it so events such as this are extremely worthwhile in raising awareness and help signposting people to the right information.

    If you are concerned about your blood pressure please visit your GP.

    Lions Club Donation Aids Patients’ Speech Patients at Brockfield House Win Prestigious Art Awards

    Blood Pressure Testing Success

    Kay Large (President Leigh-on-Sea Lions Club) presents ipad to Wendy Powles – Speech and Language Therapy Assistant Practitioner, SEPT

  • 6 7

    First-time teenage parents across Essex can now benefit from support, advice and home visits to help them to ensure their babies get the best start in life.

    The Family Nurse Partnership, a programme to provide on-going, intensive support to new teenage mothers and their children, which has been available in south east Essex for seven years launches last November across the whole of Essex.

    SEPT Director of Children’s Services, Theresa Smith said: “This programme has been running in the United States for over 30 years and has a good rate of success, so we are pleased that we are now able to deliver it across Essex.

    “It will be a great service that will be offered to those young people who are most vulnerable and in need of support during their pregnancy, we will work alongside the midwife and the GP to ensure that they receive the best possible care in their homes.”

    The aim of the programme is to help equip young mothers and fathers with the knowledge, confidence and skills to ensure that their babies get the best start in life, and to help the young parents with life beyond pregnancy.

    Pregnant teens will receive weekly to fortnightly home visits by highly trained nurses, starting in the early stages of pregnancy and continuing until the child’s second birthday.

    Nurses will support the expectant teenage mothers to develop her maternal skills during the pregnancy, developing the teens’ parenting knowledge and skills to help improve their child’s health and development, and improve the young parents’ economic self-sufficiency, by helping them to achieve their aspirations, such as employment or returning to education.

    Not only has the programme plenty of health benefits for both babies and young parents, it will also help tackle social mobility as the young mothers and fathers receive guidance on how they can return to education and get back on the career ladder after becoming a parent.

    A mother in Southend daughter has recently turned two and has been supported by a Family nurse commented:

    “The nurse made us feel comfortable. We had been quite nervous about becoming parents because I was only 18. I know some people might have been put off, thinking it was about someone judging us, but it wasn’t like that. She reassured us we were doing everything right and it has given us confidence in ourselves as parents.”

    Pol Toner, Essex Area Team Director of Nursing and Quality said: “The Family Nurse Partnership programme has been invaluable in supporting young families in south east Essex and it’s great that SEPT can now begin to roll the service out more widely. This means many more vulnerable children across the county will get a better start in life.”

    Councillor Dick Madden, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children and Families said: “Rolling out the Family Nurse Partnership across the county is welcome news. We have seen positive outcomes from the programme in the South of the County – first time parents under the age of 20 have been supported to stop smoking, numbers breastfeeding have increased and mothers are supported to return to education or employment. To see this service across the county means we can be sure that the most disadvantaged new parents will be offered tailored help and support from a specialist nurse, ensuring all children get the best start in life.”

    Family Nurse Partnership Delivering across Essex

    The cleanliness and patient environments at our hospitals and inpatient units are above the national average, according to an audit carried out by patients and staff.

    SEPT has welcomed the positive results from the Patient Led Assessment Care Environment (PLACE) report. A key aspect of the PLACE report is the increased involvement of patient assessors – individuals who represent users of healthcare services rather than providers. The aim is to provide a snapshot of how the hospitals’ patient environment and non-clinical support services such as cleaning and catering, impact on patient care.

    This includes assessing the condition, appearance and maintenance of the premises; the extent to which the environment allows for privacy and dignity during care; and the quality and availability of food and drink.

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive said: “We are thrilled with the results of this year’s PLACE audit. It’s great to know that we are above the national average in so many of our hospitals and inpatient units. The PLACE audits are an important tool for the Trust. The overall experience of being a patient in our hospitals is made up of much more than the clinical and nursing care that is provided. The PLACE audit allows us to see where our strengths and weaknesses lie, so we can make the necessary improvements for our patients.”

    SEPT Hospitals Well PLACEd In environment audit

    Dr Abu Abraham, clinical tutor, was named Psychiatric Trainer of the Year 2014 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

    The annual RCPsych Awards mark the highest level of achievement within psychiatry, and are designed to recognise and reward excellent practice in the field of mental health.

    Abu was presented with his award by Professor Sir Peter Rubin, Chair, GMC, at a prestigious ceremony held at the College on 6 November.

    Dr Abraham said: “I’m delighted and honoured to have received this award, and it was wonderful to be recognised!”

    Abu’s achievements include developing and managing the Essex MRCPsych course, clinical and educational supervisors training, and workplace-based assessments training. Within the trust he created a task force to support foundation doctors, increased the opportunities for attachments and taster sessions in psychiatry, and is lead for the Eastern Deanery’s ‘Five a year project’ to improve local recruitment.

    Competition for the RCPsych Awards is extremely tough, and the judging panels were impressed by the quality of the entries. The judges said: “Dr Abraham’s span of achievement is everywhere, from inspiring individual students and doctors to contributing to the introduction of system-wide innovations to training. He gives his time freely to individual doctors and trainers, as well as to devising ways of using new technologies to enhance learners’ experience. Truly an all-round inspirational trainer!”

    Meet Dr Abu Abraham:Psychiatric Trainer of the Year

    MAP Team - Psychiatric Team of the Year 2014

    “This programme has been running in the United States for over 30 years and has a good rate of success, so we are pleased that we are now able to deliver it across Essex.”

    “The PLACE audit allows us to see where our strengths and weaknesses lie, so we can make the necessary improvements for our patients.”

    WE celebrated two members of staff success after they won awards at the East of England NHS Leadership Recognition Awards 2014.

    Jacky Syme – Bedfordshire’s UNICEF Baby Friendly Co-Ordinator and Practice Development Lead for the 0 – 19 services won Development Champion of the year. The Judges were impressed by the breadth of

    influence and contribution shown by Jacky across multi-agency, multi-disciplinary development work at a local, regional and national level. They also commented on the significant impact which her passion for training and development has had on both service users and team which was really evident through a range of improvements achieved in service performance indicators.

    Ann Nugent – Head of Clinical Quality and Non-medical Tutor won a Quality in Education and Training poster award for her Patient Safety poster.

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive said: “We are justifiably proud that out of 450 nominations, SEPT staff have won two of these prestigious regional awards.

    Great leadership is integral to innovation and excellence; drives quality and directly improves care for patients. I would like to thank Jacky and Ann for their continued passion and professionalism as they continue to inspire change and demonstrate qualities that deserve to be recognised.”

    Success at East of England NHS Leadership Recognition Awards

    The Maintaining Adherence Programme (MAP) Team, were named Working-age Adults Psychiatric Team of the Year 2014 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

    The annual RCPsych Awards mark the highest level of achievement within psychiatry, and are designed to recognise and reward excellent practice in the field of mental health.

    Nine members of the team were presented with their award by Dr Jan Falkowski, Elected Member of Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Council, at a prestigious ceremony held at the College on 6 November.

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive said: “I am thrilled the MAP team have won this award! This is a shining example of how SEPT staff work together to create a system of best practice that will have the greatest impact on improving patient care.”

    MAP addresses non-adherence to treatment by providing regular reviews of risk factors, rapid access to consultant psychiatrists, condition-specific psychoeducation and targeted activities to support improved self-management. By providing early opportunities for staff to observe non-adherent behaviour and intervene to support patients, the Team has improved quality of care, created better outcomes and reduced use of resources.

    Competition for the RCPsych Awards is extremely tough, and the judging panels were impressed by the quality of this year’s entries. The judges said:

    “For many years the problems of non-adherence with medical treatment have been recognised. While efforts have been made to address this in psychiatry, non-adherence still remains a major problem and has a major impact on patients.

    “Through designing and delivering highly individualised packages of care involving psycho education, wellbeing activities and medication reminders, the Maintaining Adherence Programme in The South Essex Partnership Foundation Trust has led to a significant improvement in adherence, a 40% reduction in bed usage, high patient satisfaction and significant cost savings.”

    “This is a shining example of how SEPT staff work together to create a system of best practice that will have the greatest impact on improving patient care.”

  • 8 9

    Our Bedfordshire Food First team won an award for their abstract on malnutrition entitled ‘Nutritional outcomes of care home residents 6 months after Food First advice’ at the British Dietetic Association Research Symposium on 4 December.

    Cathy Forbes – Advanced Specialist Dietitian and Food First lead said: “We were pleased to have 5 separate abstracts accepted for verbal presentation at the Symposium and thrilled that we were chosen as overall winner for our abstract on ‘Nutritional outcomes of care home residents 6 months after Food First advice’.”

    All abstracts will be published in the journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics in March 2014.

    Food First have had an award filled five years, and we’ve expanded their work to help children and families with Family Food First. Why not try their scrummy recipe for Cheese Scones?

    We are working alongside North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) as Essex Health Partners in a ground breaking move to establish a single, new, specialist treatment and recovery service (STaRS) for people with a drug or alcohol dependence across the whole of Essex.

    Essex STaRS is different from current specialist prescribing and shared care service and will be a collaborative, recovery-focused system designed to empower people to move from the illicit use of drugs and alcohol towards a life free from dependency and which is maintained voluntarily.

    Essex STaRS main centre is in Chelmsford, but all clinical staff will be co-located at other partners’ premises, such as Choices, other local alcohol service providers, some GPs’ practices and other community locations. The emphasis will be on better integration of services between STaRS and the rest of the Integrated Recovery Management System (IRMS) offering people an increased choice of pathways in their recovery. In conjunction with Choices there will be user-led recovery planning throughout treatment, including:

    Andrew Geldard, Chief Executive of NEP, said “We are combining the expertise of both Trusts to deliver Essex services for Essex people. The new Essex STaRS will be accessible to all the people of Essex, in locations they can get to easily, at times that are convenient and offering services that they can understand and engage with. We will provide services in rural as well as urban areas, home visits where necessary and weekday evenings. We will have a lead practitioner specialising in women’s care. Essex STaRS’ Alcohol Liaison Nurse Specialists (ALNS) will all be qualified nurses and will continue to be based in Colchester, Chelmsford, Harlow and Basildon in acute hospitals.”

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive of SEPT, said: “As the current providers, we can offer continuity of personnel and relationships for existing service users transferring to the new system, and have an understanding of local need and resources, strong relationships with partner health and care organisations and smooth access to our own adult mental health and CAMHS services. Our focus will be on recovery, enabling people to reintegrate successfully into their communities, not just about tackling dependence on substances. Working closely with Choices and other partners, our shared recovery-focused culture will influence service users and their family and carers, by creating a visible partnership in their care.”

    NEP and SEPT joined together to bid for the contract for the service which is commissioned by Essex County Council. ECC announced that we were the successful bidders on Friday 5 December. Subject to final agreement the new service should begin on 1 April 2015.

    More Success for Food First Team

    A STaR is Born Dreaming of a Green ChristmasA poster and short story competition for schools in the Castle Point and Rochford catchment area asking children how they would celebrate a ‘Green Christmas’ received a huge number of entries.

    The competition, organised by the Castle Point and Rochford Sustainable Development and Carbon Management Task and Finish Group (comprising Castle Point and Rochford Clinical Commissioning Group, SEPT, Castle Point Borough Council, Rochford District Council, Essex County Council and Castlepoint

    Association of Voluntary Services) asked pupils up to and including Primary 3 to create a poster illustrating their ‘Green Christmas’ and Primaries 4 to 6 to write a short story (up to 100 words) or poem about how they will celebrate a ‘Green Christmas’. We’re pleased to announce the winners of the competition were:

    Edie Willis from St. Nicholas Primary School and Lilly Clarkson from Riverside Primary School

    Both Edie and Lilly received tickets to the pantomime at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion.

    Highly Commended certificates were also presented to Cameron Woodroff of St. Nicholas Primary School and Emma Coombes of Riverside Primary School.

    Every school that participated in the competition was presented with a Christmas tree for planting in their school grounds.

    Dr Dawn Hillier, SEPT Non Executive Director and Chair of the Castle Point and Rochford Sustainable Development and Carbon Management Task and Finish Group, said: “We were delighted that the Chair

    of Rochford Council, Mrs. June Lumley, took time out of her busy schedule to judge all the entries. It was a struggle to choose the winners as the standard of the entries was of such high calibre. We were so pleased at the number of pupils who really explored all the aspects of ‘green’ issues and how they can be used to make Christmas more carbon friendly. Congratulations to the winners. ” Liaison and Diversion Services rolled out in Southend, Basildon and Thurrock

    On January 4 2014 the Department of Health announced that an extra £25 million of funding would be provided for mental health nurses and other mental health professionals to work within police stations and courts so that people with vulnerabilities get the right treatment as quickly as possible with the aim to help reduce re-offending.

    The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service is provided by us and the Social Care Departments of Southend Borough Council, Thurrock Council and Essex County Council. Together the team are able to provide a range of support services for ‘vulnerable’ people (including children and young people) with learning disabilities or learning difficulties, mental health problems, gender, age, alcohol/substance misuse, housing issues and financial issues) attending the police station or magistrates court.

    Services are now available within the Southend, Basildon and Grays police station as well as the Southend and Basildon magistrates courts, where expert teams made up of nurses, doctors, therapists, social workers, support workers and administration staff are able

    to provide a comprehensive range of services that can help in many different ways.

    The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Services are available to all ‘vulnerable’ adults, young people and children over the age of ten years old who are in the criminal justice system and have been identified as having mental health problems, learning disabilities or difficulties, cognitive disorder, substance misuse and other vulnerabilities.

    The specialist support is now in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. People that require the support of the team are either able to ‘self-refer’ or can ask for someone within the above mentioned police stations or magistrates courts to refer them.

    Sometimes the support offered to individuals will be over the phone, but wherever possible someone from the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team will be sent to meet with the individual at the police station or court. This enables team workers to discuss individual circumstances and refer people to the appropriate services available to help them.

    Liaison and Diversion Services rolled out in Southend, Basildon and Thurrock

    “We are combining the expertise of both Trusts to deliver Essex services for Essex people. The new Essex STaRS will be accessible to all the people of Essex.”

    • Prevention of complications of substance misuse and reduction of harm

    • Dependence and detoxification

    • Equal access to physical health care

    • Relapse prevention and maintenance of abstinence

    • The co-location with Choices and other partners, joint working, shared assessments and a shared database will reduce risk for service users, their families and the wider community, and increase successful completion of treatment and reduce relapses.

    Training with Colleagues

    Liaision and Diversion Team in Southend’s Police HQ

  • 10 11

    On Tuesday 3 February, Southend United Football Club manager Phil Brown and a selection of players paid a visit to patients at Brockfield House, Wickford.

    Brockfield House is a medium secure hospital treating patients between the age of 18 and 65 with a variety of mental health conditions. The visit was planned after the parents of a patient asked the football club if they would come for a visit, to meet their daughter and some of the other patients.

    The players held an activities session and penalty shoot-out for some of the patients, culminating in a five-a-side session.

    Patients and staff were delighted to have their photograph taken and receive signed posters from the clubs manager, Phil Brown, assistant manager Dave Penney, and players Dan Bentley, Michael Timlin, David Worrall and John White.

    Andy Ward, Clinical Nurse Specialist commented “We would like to thank the managers and players that visited Brockfield House. The patients thoroughly enjoyed the event and have their signed pictures pride of place in their rooms!”

    Brockfield House Visit from Southend United Football Club

    TwitterFirst Response Our new First Response team are reducing wait to see a doctor from 15 weeks to 12 days from date of referral & no more multiple assessments.

    One patient commented “It’s better than private”

    Another said “I had a problem with my meds called First Response & got great info on the phone. Great service, wish all NHS was like this.”

    Brainworks Patients 14-20 using our mental health services have a new forum to express themselves and their opinions, Brainworks. The patients chose the name, designed the logo and own the forum, deciding what topics they cover.

    Interested in coming along? Contact the PALS team on 01268

    Macmillan Coffee Morning The Trust’s budding bakers dusted off their aprons to create a delicious selection of cakes to support the Macmillan Coffee Morning raising £130 from Head Office alone.

    Purple Passion Beds & Luton teams indulged in Purple Passion in November to support Pancreatic Cancer Research: Purple Beards?

    Baby Friendly Success #Southend Hospital and @SEPTNHS worked together to achieve joint Baby Friendly success. The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme which offers a practical and effective way for health services to improve the care they provide to all mothers and babies.

    New Website Haven’t seen our new website yet? Make sure you check it out! www.sept.nhs.uk

    Award for Cherry Tree Garden Cherry Tree Garden at #Thurrock Hosp highly commended in Building Better Healthcare Awards. #dementia friendly

    Social Marketing Success We won best social marketing campaign #AHCM2014 award for therapyforyou.co.uk. Making #therapy accessible.

    How Early is Too Early? Up to 15% of those with #psychosis commit suicide, #EarlyIntervention reduces this to 1% see how it changes lives by watching the short film on our website: www.sept.nhs.uk

    Open Arts Win Our Luton Open Arts won best Community Project of the Year at #BestOfLuton Awards. Programme leader Liz Aldous was runner up as Lutonian of the Year and Luton’s most Outstanding Citizen.

    Crisis Care Concordat Our CEO was one of 22 from Beds & Luton signing up to the Mental Health Crisis Care Agreement in Flitwick

    Southend United Visit Brockfield House Phil Brown & a selection of Blues players paid a visit to Brockfield House

    Top Marks Top 20% for national staff survey results with almost all scores average or above. Proud of our dedicated staff

    Flu Fighters It is essential that our frontline staff get themselves vaccinated against flu to not only protect themselves and their families but also to protect our patients.

    The Board of Directors led the way and had theirs at the start of the campaign.

    Graduation Success Congratulations on the graduation of our cohort of Health Visitors and School Nurses who we helped train in Bedfordshire - the majority of which are now working with us.

    Friends of St Margaret’s Spread Christmas Cheer A big thank you to the Friends of St. Margaret’s Hospital Epping for their generous donation. We’ll be spending the money on gifts and festive cheer for those patients that will be staying with us over Christmas.

    FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!SEPT has joined the world of social networking and is now on Facebook and Twitter.

    Our Facebook page is called SEPT NHS and can be found by going to www.facebook.com/SEPTNHS

    Our Twitter profile is @SEPTNHS.

    We’ve got 827 followers on twitter and 551 people like our facebook page. To try and increase these numbers we will be adding quick response codes (QR codes) to our leaflets and posters to make it easier for you to visit our twitter feed and facebook page.

    Just scan the code with your smartphone and you’ll go straight to the facebook or twitter page.

    Join us and be part of the conversation, give us your feedback and comment on our posts

    Just scan the code with your smartphone to visit our twitter

    profile

    Just scan the code with your

    smartphone to visit our facebook page

    Facebook

    facebook.com/SEPTNHS

    You Said… We Did…

    If you visit our wards and clinics you might see a ‘You Said… We Did...’ poster. It’s another way of us showing you how we listen and act on your feedback.

    Some of the changes we’ve implemented are:

    • Reminding staff to ask how you would like to be referred to. Are you a patient, client, service user?

    • Created a chill out room with bean bags in our psychiatric intensive care unit

    • Replaced clocks that couldn’t be seen easily with brightly coloured clocks

    • Installed new outdoor gym equipment

    • Increased the sizes of parking spaces at our Wheelchair service

    • You wanted quicker referrals to west Essex nutrition team; we’re making it happen through better referral triage.

    Open Letter from Chair of SEPT Carers Awareness GroupCalling unpaid Carers Do you really care? Do you care for someone who has a mental or physical illness, or learning disability? Have you been frustrated by ‘the system’ when you have sought help for a loved one in distress? Did the GP tell you to take her/him to A&E? Did you understand much of what was said in the hospital? Were you impressed by the care given? Were pills the only tangible treatment on offer? Were you left feeling, ‘is that all there is?’

    Perhaps you have positive experiences in the care of the mentally or physically unwell? The nurse who walked the extra mile with you, the compassionate doctor whose empathy and communication skills filled you with confidence that your loved one was really being looked after….the social worker who telephoned and visited to a see how you were getting on, the link worker who could trouble-shoot particular difficulties, the trainers who provided courses that enabled you to have a greater understanding, the receptionists who smiled and made you feel welcome, the cleaners who stopped to talk and listen.......they all care. Nobody enters the health service without wanting to make life better for patients and their carers.

    Delivering good mental health cannot be delivered by boffins in ivory towers. There has to be a good relationship between professionals skilled in psychiatric and physical medicine and their patients. Whereas in physical medicine a patient can say that he has a pain in his tummy and the doctor has the skill set to diagnose what might be causing the pain; for those suffering from mental illnesses there is often a flight of rationality that renders communication difficult. Good communication is vital for understanding, diagnosis and following treatment on the road to recovery. If a professional only has 20 minutes for a consultation with a patient, he or she is at a disadvantage unless there is input from a carer who lives with the patient 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    No matter how unsatisfactory we carers find the system, the professionals do want and value input from carers, so if we want to bring about changes for the better, then we need to present cases in a balanced and well thought-out manner so that the managers can say “that’s a good idea, let us put it into action.” This is where the Carers’ Awareness Group can have a role.

    The Carers’ Awareness Group (CAG) was set up as a forum where carers can be informed about how the mental health services work, its policies and strategies, listen to invited speakers, and, more importantly listen to carers’ experiences and concerns, so that these can be put before the executives for consideration. The group is made up of carers and representatives of voluntary groups providing services for carers, plus a few SEPT officers to provide secretariat support, contacts and expertise. The CAG does not perform miracles and neither have we managed to move mountains. At times we feel that we might as well bang our heads against a brick wall. Nevertheless, we have, like a tugboat, pulled and nudged the SEPT tanker. We have spoken out and written. We have gone out to carers’ groups to listen and brought back their thoughts, opinions and concerns. We have influenced, but we could do better.

    To enable us to improve, we do need more carers to join the CAG, so can you join us? If you care for someone and feel that you could contribute, we would like to hear from you. In addition to carers of those with depression, schizophrenia and bi-polar conditions, we would welcome young carers, those caring for people with drug & alcohol dependency, and those coping with dementia. The CAG is a friendly group, working with good professionals. We meet formally up to six times a year, usually at the Trust’s Head Office, the Lodge in Wickford, and SEPT meet our travelling expenses. Decisions taken at our meetings may involve other meetings, interviews, reports or campaigns, but nobody is required to do more than they feel they can do. We have representatives on other SEPT committees such as the Carers’ Steering Group and the Essex & Suffolk Integrated Services for Patients and Carers, both of which are predominantly formed of professionals and chaired by senior SEPT officers.

    If you are a carer, you have expertise to be shared and valued. If you feel that you would consider joining the CAG, then please contact either Fintan Smith (07508 356758) [email protected] or Steve Rabbitts (07855 752849) [email protected]

    Jem Harrison, ChairCarers Awareness Group April 2015

  • 12 13

    Congratulations to our star colleagues! Colleagues across the Trust have been basking in glory of winning an award since the launch of the new Staff Recognition Scheme.

    Under the new scheme staff can apply or be nominated (by another colleague or patient) to win the following;• i2i Award - which awards quality improvements, new service design, even a modest change to an existing form in order to help create better experiences for our patients and colleagues;

    • In Tune Award – which congratulates colleagues and/or teams for excellent customer service;

    • Long Service Award – to say thank you to those colleagues who have worked in the NHS for 30 years or more.

    Sally Morris, Chief Executive said; “I am so proud of all the members of staff that have won an award and I have met in person at Board meetings to congratulate personally. I am thrilled that this scheme applauds those who continue to go the extra mile in their work, proving that not only are they an ambassador of SEPT, but of the NHS too. I look forward to saying congratulations and a big thank you to many more of you in the future.”

    “I am thrilled that this scheme applauds those who continue to go the extra mile in their work, proving that not only are they an ambassador of SEPT, but of the NHS too.”

    If you would like to nominate a member of staff visit http://www.sept.nhs.uk/get-involved/staff-recognition-scheme/ and download the application form.

    Corrine Cunnigham - March 2015 Emma Harvey - March 2015 Joseph Duncan - March 2015 Hilary Swanston - March 2015

    Maggie Cheshire - November 2014 Patient Experience Team Beds & Luton - March 2015 Jane Dalgliesh - October 2014 - Jane Dalgliesh Eating Disorder Team - October 2014

    Jacky Weston - October 2014 Dr Feena Sebastian - October 2014 Intensive Support Team - November 2014 February 2015 - Julie King, Yvonne Hawkins, Matt Wilson, Joan Jones, Joanne Holt, Laura Richards, Penny Webb, Patricia Nash, Naomi Haywood

    Eating Disorder Team - October 2014 Lorraine Tottman - November 2014 January 2015 - Jenny Bell, Karen Lancaster, Jan Gibbinson, Linda Fisher

    Natasha Dominique - October 2014 Jane Brida - November 2014

    November 2014 - Lorraine Tottman Podiatry Service Team, South BedfordshireNovember 2014

  • 14 15

    I was very fortunate to be able to close the non-medical prescribing conference and arrived in time to hear a motivational speaker refer to ‘the grit ‘needed to achieve our personal and professional goals. Shortly after this event Simon Stevens, CEO of NHS England, gave a speech encouraging employers incentivise staff to lose weight. So, with both things fresh in my mind I was encouraged, or rather coerced, by the PAs at the

    Lodge to join this year’s pedometer challenge for the first time.

    So with a degree of initial reluctance I joined one of 18 teams entering this year’s five day challenge…and I became a full member of ‘Happy Feet’. Not a great name but to be honest with my BMI the wrong side of 30 - I will be happy just to see my feet!

    Now I would describe myself as the average bloke who has a busy life rather than an active one so when I was told that the team expectation was to exceed last year’s record of an average of 10,000 steps a day I saw no problem in achieving this simple goal. I had a practice day mid-week but was really shocked to discover I hadn’t moved more than 2800 steps in 24 hours. For anyone who has seen the intro to Channel 4’s ‘Gogglebox’ that makes me Neil!

    So I set about my plan. I aimed to move about more at work and mix up my sedentary office based life style. I was also fortunate that my neighbour had recently retired and joined the Ramblers so I arranged to attend a short walk of 7-8 miles with them on Sunday and we had a practice walk on Saturday. He had assured me that the average age of people attending Sunday’s walk would be between 55-70. I was therefore quite happy to join this leisurely stroll near Chartwell House in Kent, especially as it finished near a pub around lunchtime.

    The practice walk on Saturday took us along the sea wall, from the church in Thurrock which featured in the film ‘4 Weddings and a Funeral’ to Purfleet Station. This walk was interesting rather than picturesque. We watched and spoke to street artists who seemed to spend most of their weekends decorating the sea wall;

    watched the containers being loaded and stood directly beneath the QE2 bridge - a really bizarre experience.

    On Sunday we arrived at Westerham at 915a.m. As expected there were around 25 people mostly of pensionable age, some of whom were approaching their mid- 70s. One lady had a couple of those walking poles you occasionally see those enthusiasts use. This lady was complaining slightly about her knee before we set off to the first way point. So, unfit as I am, I was comfortable with the challenge that lay ahead.

    Boy, was I wrong…. these people were like gazelles! Whilst I initially found that the pace was significantly higher than I expected, it was a great way to spend a Sunday morning and try something different to my usual routine. The added bonus was the scenery and views were really spectacular and all available within 30 minutes of where I live.

    By the end of the 5 day challenge I was quietly pleased with my personal performance. I was slightly ahead of the ‘Happy Feet’ step target and I had made some initial changes to my normal routine. More importantly, I finally realised that I really need to do more exercise if I am to remain healthy.

    My conclusion; we all have very busy lives in the NHS looking after people either directly or indirectly but it is also important that we also take time to care for ourselves as well. I guess that’s the point of the challenge! So well done everyone one who took the time to undertake the recent challenge - I hope you achieved your target and maybe our numbers will grow for the next event.

    Finally, if like me, you feel your body is better suited for goggle boxing rather than kick boxing give it a go and try to become a bit more active. I promise - you may even enjoy it – I did.

    Good Luck.

    Nigel Leonard’s take on the Challenge

    We are looking for SEPT staff, governors and members to sign up to our campaign to help promote a personal, fair and diverse NHS. We have partnered with NHS Employers for this campaign and they have lots of information on their website www.nhsemployers.org

    The aim is to create a vibrant network of champions who are committed to taking action, however small, to create a personal, fair and diverse NHS. Your role as a Champion can be as big or as small as you would like to be. As a minimum we ask you wear your badge with pride and promote the campaign to your colleagues. We are pleased to announce that more and more members of staff are choosing to sign up with us every day and we are always keen to hear from people who would like to take part.

    Our current champions are doing fantastic work and we really appreciate all the help and support they give us. Without our champions we wouldn’t be able to offer support our staff and certify SEPT as a personal, fair and diverse place to work.

    So WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Get in touch for more information: [email protected]

    PFD Champions

    Are you a SEPT PFD Champion?If not, why not? Sign up TODAY!

    Every year the Employee Experience Team run the Pedometer Challenge with the hope that all staff members will be encouraged to think about how much activity they do. This year’s challenge saw some impressive teams and can even claim responsibility for a new relationship!

    This year’s winners were: Team Pure from Basildon Mental Health Unit

    Team members included Jennifer Richards, Sonny Golding, Jayne Devon, Charlotte Brunning, Eddie Traynor, Michael Dennis, and Jane Seaborne.

    Collectively they managed 558,830 steps which resulted in an average of 79,833 per team member.

    The Team donated their Health & Wellbeing hamper to the Salvation Army Youth Club in Basildon (‘Fauners’).

    We had some wonderful comments back from all that took part, people were using the stairs instead of lifts, walking to the next bus stop and a few of you even hit the treadmills in the gym. People enjoyed that they were given the reason to get up, and get active and have said that they intend to continue.

    The best story we heard back was from Ellen Foster from The Taylor Centre, Southend:

    “My son (21) took me to the first extra session as he wanted to join the gym. He has been a trifle lonely since his return from Uni this summer. He reversed into a car in the car park. A young lady came out and they have been dating steadily for the past two weeks.”

    Employee ExperiencePedometer Challenge

    The winners of this year’s Pedometer Challenge ‘Team Pure’ from Basildon Mental Health Unit - Jennifer Richards, Sonny Golding, Jayne Devon, Charlotte Brunning, Eddie Traynor, Michael Dennis, and Jane Seaborne.

  • 16 1715

    Hero in our RanksLee Thompson - Commended for outstanding leadership

    KEEPING calm and leading a group of teenagers off a coach seconds before it was engulfed by fire has earn a SEPT employee a commendation for his “outstanding leadership”.

    Lee Thompson, along with two other adults, helped the youngsters aged from 13 to 18 from the vehicle, which had already caught alight, to a place of safety away from the fireball.

    “The driver had pulled on to the hard shoulder and we knew we had to get everyone off as quickly and as calmly as possible,” Lee explained.

    “They all filed off the coach through the front door and we led them up the embankment and over the other side, so they could not see the coach.

    “Within seconds of the last person stepping off the vehicle, it was entirely engulfed by flames. It was shocking how quickly it happened.

    “Two of us stayed with the young people while the other alerted the emergency services, who were soon on the scene. When they put out the blaze all that was left was a metal shell.”

    Lee, who has been with SEPT for two years, and works as a housekeeper at Brockfield House in Wickford, was travelling to Yorkshire with a group of Army Cadets in July when the incident occurred

    He has been an instructor with Essex cadets for 18 years and always goes with them on their annual summer camp, which this summer was taking place in Catterick.

    “We stay in army barracks and the cadets take part in a range of military activities for 10 days,” explained Lee, who has just taken over as lead instructor of the Brentwood branch of the army cadets.

    The group of 36 cadets and three instructors were in a coach travelling up the M1, and had reached Leeds when a burst tyre caused the driver to pull over on to the hard shoulder.

    “A fire had started at the back of the coach already, so we knew we had to get everyone off quickly,” Lee explained.

    “Everyone was very sensible; there was no shouting, no panicking. They simply did what they were asked and filed off the vehicle.

    “Luckily there was a high embankment at the side of the road and the cadets were soon over the other side where they were safe but also could not see the coach which would have been even more traumatic for them.”

    The cadets, who were from all over Essex, waited until a replacement coach arrived and then continued on their journey to their camp.

    Lee said: “Luckily a separate vehicle had gone on ahead with a lot of our kit, but most people had personal belongings on the coach which they lost. Some cadets lost everything and only had the clothes they were standing up in.

    “We spent the first couple of days of the camp buying clothes and essentials on our credit cards so the cadets had enough to continue the holiday. All the youngsters were brilliant, and apart from one who had

    to go home after three days, they all continued with the trip as planned.”

    Lee, who gives up his time two weekday evenings and almost every weekend to run activities with the army cadets, was awarded for this bravery this autumn.

    He received a Commandant’s Commendation from the Essex Army Cadet Force for his “outstanding leadership” when, along with two other instructors he managed “a potentially life threatening situation”.

    He is recognised for his “quick thinking and calm behaviour”.

    Lee added:

    “It was a very shocking thing to happen, and it was staggering how quickly the fire took hold. I still think of it today.”

    We’re very proud to announce our results in this year’s national staff survey.

    Almost all of our scores are either average or above, and this is an improvement on the previous year. Our results show that our staff feel they are able to contribute towards improvements at work, have confidence in our services as a place for their family and friends to be treated and they feel engaged and motivated in their work.

    A very high proportion of our scores are in the top performing 20% of the country and our engagement score shows that the uptake is also within the top 20% of other trusts in this sector which is consistent with our 2013 results. It is important to note that during an unsettled year our engagement score remains higher than the national picture across the sector and especially significant in a year where there had been a fall in the engagement scores across the country.

    SEPT Chief Executive, Sally Morris, said: “I want to thank each and every member of staff who took the time to complete this survey. We are proud that our above average response rates show that our staff took the time to participate in the survey and that the results demonstrate their dedication and commitment to the quality services they provide. The results are a positive reflection of our Trust and show that staff feel supported and safe within the organisation.”

    Staff Friends and Family Test (SFFT)As well as the annual national staff survey we also collect staff’s opinions through the Staff Friends and Family Test which became mandatory from 1 April 2014.

    Building on the full survey, this test asks staff to rate their employment and their organisation. In the first quarter of SFFT we surveyed all staff and used the comments and feedback to develop some directorate based actions to address their concerns.

    We are now at the end of year one and an evaluation is taking place to establish the best use of the SFFT and how it can complement the existing staff survey.

    Congratulations to Hilary Swanston, administrator based at Enhanced Services Centre, Bedford who took first place in 2015’s New Year, New You – Make a change challenge. Hilary managed to successfully engage both her family and friends in this health and wellbeing improvement challenge. The Employee Experience team visited Hilary to congratulate and present her with her prize.

    It was a close call with 2nd place which was awarded to Linda Fisher, based at Harland Centre, Westcliffe who narrowly missed the top prize but also made such impressive changes.

    We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Hilary Swanston and Linda Fisher and wish them all the best as they continue their health journey

    Staff Survey Success

    New Year, New You – Make a change challenge prize winner!

  • 18 19

    A SEPT arts project which has helped more than 140 people has won an award.

    The driving force behind Open Arts, Liz Aldous, also picked up a trophy at the ceremony, held in the project’s home town of Luton.

    After receiving countless nominations, Open Arts won the town’s Community Project of the Year 2014 award at a glittering ceremony held in November.

    “Organisers told me afterwards that we had a phenomenal amount of votes,” explained Liz who was nominated for Lutonion of the Year and Outstanding Citizen at the same ceremony, and received the runner-up prize for both categories.

    A student on the project collected the runner-up award in the Luton and Dunstable adult achiever of the year category, which is just one sign of the programme’s success, said Liz.

    “This was a woman who would not even attend the sessions a year ago, let along be among 400 people at an awards ceremony. She is an example of what Open Arts is all about.”

    Started in Luton in September 2013 the Open Arts project was initially planned to be a series of three 10 week art courses. Those students who were really keen and dedicated were then offered a place in a studio where they could continue their art work.

    Liz explained: “We offer every kind of art and craft imaginable: knitting, painting, drawing, textiles, dressmaking, pottery, and mosaics, card-making to name just a few.

    “It is for the students to come along and tell us what they would like to do. They lead the project.

    “We involve them in using their own skills and talents which they may have lost the confidence or motivations to use in the recent past. For example I have one lady who is very skilful at crochet and she is showing others how to do it. The sessions are in the form of workshops rather than lessons, so the atmosphere is very relaxed, very creative.”

    Sessions are run in non-NHS premises including churches, community centres, arts centres and shops. All students, who are aged from 18 to 70, are referred by a range of organisations or themselves.

    The project looked set to end this summer but campaigning by both Liz and her students resulted in funding being gained for two more 10-week courses which will run up to the end of March 2015.

    Liz is hopeful it will go on beyond this and maybe extend to include creative writing, music-making, photography and singing.”

    She said: “We feel it would be a travesty if the project ended. It keeps people well and is a successful preventative measure. It is very economical in that respect. To pay to keep someone on the project is a lot cheaper than having to pay for medical care.

    “The course is not just learning about art. If people are having a difficult time we are there to talk to them

    “Some of our students have been in the mental health system for a long time yet have now been discharged; one has gone back to work and one to university.”

    When the project began Liz worked with staff from Anglia Ruskin University on a research project to discover the real value of the course which was based on a larger, successful one that was already up and running in Essex.

    Liz said: “The research shows that the biggest positive outcome for students was reducing social isolation, then came improving mental well-being and then reducing in-patent stays.

    “There is no doubt Open Arts is of great benefit to all those who participate

    Liz, who has a degree in 3D design and qualifications in other art disciplines, as well as being an occupational therapist and adult education teacher, adores her job.

    “I love doing this. It has been the highlight of my career. I don’t want it to end.”

    The community’s support of the project can be seen by the amount of donations

    of materials Liz has been given. This includes fabrics from a screen-printing firm that was moving, materials from a hat factory, and a large amount of wool from a kind individual.

    Liz said: “My house and garage are packed with materials. We are very grateful as it gives the students a chance to experiment with different forms.”

    As well as the classes, Liz organises trips for her students to galleries and museums both locally and in London.

    She also encourages them to enter art competitions, and said she has been delighted at the success rate of her students in having their work accepted for exhibition.

    Talks about Open Arts in luton

    “I love doing this. It has been the highlight of my career. I don’t want it to end.”

    Award winning Liz AldousHe runs his own successful media business, he has a happy marriage with two healthy young children and is physically fit thanks to working out up to five times a week.

    But for most of his life Sean, now 44, has been plagued with anxiety and insecurity which he was forever struggling to not let affect the rest of his life.

    Thanks to SEPT’s Therapy for You service Sean feels he is finally getting on top of his problems and is becoming ‘mentally fit’.

    He said: “The service is amazing. I feel brilliant. I have a very long way to go but the fact I have finally taken action and am getting help is such an enormous step.

    “It’s very difficult to describe. But one analogy is imagine a 10,000 piece jigsaw chucked on the floor and you have no idea where to start. I’m a long way from solving the puzzle but I am starting to see how I can sort through the pieces and see where individual bits can fit together.”

    Sean feels he is embarking on a long journey as his negative thought processes are firmly embedded in his mind and have been for a long time.

    He explained: “All of my life I have suffered from anxiety and what I now know is OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

    “My first childhood memories involve me worrying. I would constantly check doors; check electrical sockets were turned off. For many years I did not see it as a problem – just something I had to do.

    “But as an adult this obsession increased and I would have anxiety attacks. I would constantly worry about life, and feel very responsible for others. I would get a thought stuck in my head and it would stay there, going round and round like a washing machine.

    “These feeling would come and go. Some weeks would be worse than others. But it was having an effect on my family life. And I would look in the mirror and see a face wracked with anxiety staring back.

    “Having this condition was tough on my wife as we did not have a clinical diagnosis. I needed clarity of the situation. I knew I had to take action.”

    Sean went to see his doctor who listened carefully then handed him a card for the number of SEPT’s Therapy for You service.

    Sean said: “The doctor said I think this service is just what you need. I took the card and recognised the SEPT logo as I was familiar with their name through my work which involves advertising. This was a positive start.

    “I rang the service and had a telephone interview. I was then asked to attend a group seminar but on the actual day I was seen by myself, and after the doctor listened to my situation, I was referred for one-to-one counselling.”

    Initially Sean was given five sessions, one a week, which he has nearly completed. After a month or so if he feels he needs more he can return to the service and have further sessions.

    Sean can see massive benefits already.

    “First of all it’s a relief knowing what the issue is, and then it is knowing how to tackle it and working towards getting me mentally fit.”

    Sean’s therapist is teaching him cognitive behavioural therapy so he can change this thought patterns.

    “It’s a very black and white process. It is hard to change the way you have been thinking for most of your life but he does explain it in a very simple to understand way.”

    Sean admits it has taken a lot of ‘resolve and determination’ to follow his therapist’s guidelines.

    He said: “The sessions are very probing. Most of it is about your childhood, digging back into your past and stirring memories you did not even know were there.

    “Yes, it is draining, but my attitude is ‘bring it on’. The hard part is not the sessions where I am being instructed how to think, but the rest of the week when I must try and think that way independently.

    “From a personal perspective this is something I needed to tackle. I have gone to therapy to change the way I think. I see it as similar to someone having counselling to stop smoking or drinking – they need to break a long-standing habit.

    “I’m a very determined person so will make this work. I run my own business; train five times a week so am physically fit, but now need to ensure I become mentally fit .

    “I think when you start this therapy there has to be a commitment from the patient that they really will try and change. Your therapist can guide you but you need to do all the hard work yourself. It is rewarding when it starts to work. Every week I learn something new.

    “My therapist is an amazing guy. He does not take any notes while I am there but he will suddenly roll something out that I mentioned at a previous session.

    “I would definitely recommend therapy. It’s not the easy option but for me it’s far better than tablets which only paper over the cracks – this attempts to solve the problem for the long term.

    Sean would urge anyone else in his situation to follow in his footsteps.

    “I’ve still got a long way to go. It’s like asking someone who is very unfit and overweight to go on a 15-mile run. I can only make its few yards at the moment but in the future I will complete those 15 miles – and in a very good time.”

    My StoryFrom the outside Sean appears to have it all...

    “If you have a problem and you ask for help that’s taking a big step. It isn’t easy. There is still a stigma surrounding mental health issues.”

    www.therapyforyou.co.uk

    Your local FREE NHS talking therapies service can help

    01268 739128

  • 20 21

    Compliments Governor’s CornerCommunity Diabetes - West Essex I have been meaning for ages to write and say a big thank you for all the help you gave to R and myself during the time that he was under your care. It was lovely to know that we could phone you at any time to voice our concerns and receive very practical advice you and your department are doing a grand job.

    Mayfield Unit, Thurrock HospitalWe would just like to thank you and your staff for the care given to patient J during his time at Mayfield unit. Patient J spent eight years in the unit and over that time his condition continually changed and he faced many challenges. The staff were always there to guide and help him through the differing stages of his condition. Dealing with a loved one with dementia is a very difficult and upsetting situation to be in and we cannot thank you enough for the support you have shown to us over the years. You and your team have made the whole experience that bit more bearable, your understanding and thoughtfulness will never be forgotten and all your support has been greatly appreciated.

    Poplar Ward, RochfordI am writing to you to thank you for your help and guidance when I was ill in 2003. I was in Poplar ward for 3 months and of course if you were there with me you would have experienced how much I hated every minute. However looking back with fresh eyes I see that you saved me with all the support staff and doctors. Thanks to you I was able to get back to sixth form and dancing. This was imperative as it was part of my master plan to get my A levels and do on to do a degree in musical theatre. I am proud to announce that I achieved A, A, B in my AS’s which was, RE, Drama and Dance, also I was awarded a degree place at ‘Birds dance college’ doing musical theatre (This is my top choice). I don’t think this would have been possible if I did not have the kick start that you gave me to get better. I have so many memories from Poplar Ward that I will never forget but you gave me future and for that I will always be grateful. I hope you get time to read this letter.

    Brockfield House (Rehab Community Team) Thank you for everything, you’ve had a huge impact on my life and I will miss you.

    Often I struggle to communicate with people about how I feel and it is rare to find someone I can trust and open up to. I trust Vicky and when she leaves after Christmas I will miss her. Every week I look forward to seeing Vicky, no matter how difficult my week has been I always know that Vicky will get me out the house and cheer me up.

    Onyx WardI would like to pass on my thanks and compliments to Miriam Knowles from Onyx Ward who showed kindness to a patient who was admitted under section. The patient had been self-neglecting and within an hour of admission, was supported to wash and given new clothes to wear. Miriam established a rapport with the patient which enabled her to improve the personal care where others had previously been unable too. Well done Miriam.

    Since 2005 I have been working as an “expert patient”. Each engagement requires I fill in a job sheet recording eg job number, work, date, location, employer, hours, expenses, fee etc to ensure I am complying with the law. I recently filled in a sheet for job number 905: 5th February 2015, Admiralty House, Whitehall, 7 hours, Her Majesty’s Government, Mental Health Heroes Awards. What a day and night it was!

    I met my old Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) Alison Bass on the train and off we went. Knowing that I was going to receive the award was a hard secret to keep but there was no longer any need! I panicked slightly on the train imagining I was expected to say some words on receipt of the award, mine being Mental Health Hero for the East of England. I went into my pocket to find a piece of paper to write on. Out came a used Royal College of Psychiatrists compliments slip which just happened to be there!

    At the awards ceremony I was told we were not expected to make a speech. But we had a pre-meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister where I told him about all this, that I felt I could bring the compliments of the Royal College whose slip said NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTH and to take my nerves out of the equation read him what I had written on the back of the slip: “I’d just like to thank the Deputy Prime Minister for launching these awards, to my former CPN Alison of SEPT over there for nominating me and the committee for choosing me. It has been a long and hard road along which friends have been lost. I accept the award for all service users in the East of England including these as they are all mental health heroes.”

    I was delighted that the winner for the North West of the country was Bob Paxman, an ex 22 SAS soldier who had set up a charity for persons with post traumatic stress disorder, Talking 2 Minds, of which he had made

    me a patron. My diagnosis for 1994-2004 was paranoid schizophrenia and I nearly got killed 3 times. The only reason it wasn’t more times was that I deluded myself I was a member of the special forces myself. It was a pragmatic delusion which helped me make sense of how tough I found the lot of the psychiatric patient.

    In my role of public governor for SEPT’s Bedford constituency I feel I have on occasions brought the reality of life as a service user to bear at board level and I am very grateful to my constituents for giving me that task and indeed to a system which enables it.

    I am over the moon to have received a SEPT mug which said on one side “Clive you are...” and on the other “our hero too!” I reminded the audience that what I had learnt was that every patient was an expert patient and also a mental health hero!

    Clive Travis

    Each week we share compliments about our staff with our staff in our internal newsletter, Weekly Brief. We wanted to share some of the more memorable ones with you.

    Our Mental Health Hero in his own words

    Farewell and thank youThe following Governors stood down during the annual elections September 2014:

    Welcome our new GovernorsElections were held during September 2014 and the following Governors were elected/re-elected to the Council for a term of office of three years until September 2017:

    Constituency Governor

    Public Governor South EssexRoy BirchDavid WattsTony Wright

    Public Governor Southend Shurleea Harding (re-elected)

    Public Governor West Essex

    Brian Arney (re-elected)Colin HarrisKresh Ramanah (re-elected)Sudi Sudarsanam (re-elected)

    Constituency Governor

    Public Governor South EssexRichard AmnerJosie ClarkPam Hintz

    Public Governor West Essex Michael Edmonds

    Staff Governor Medical Practitioner Dr Thilak Ratnayake

    Staff Governor Nurse (Mental Health Services) Fiore Sannio

    If you work for the Trust and don’t receive Weekly Brief let the communications team know by

    email: [email protected]

    phone: 01268 739755

    Changes to our Council of Governors

    Due to the transfer of mental health services in Bedfordshire and Luton to other service providers with effect from 1 April 2015, the Trust’s constituency framework and composition of the Council was reviewed to take account of the changes to the Trust’s service provision. In addition, the review also took account of Monitor’s Code which aims to ensure that “the Council should not be so large as to be unwieldy. The Council should be of sufficient size for the requirements of its duties”.

    As a number of Governors’ terms of office come to an end in September 2015, both the Board and Council agreed to implement the changes with effect from 1 October 2015.

    This will mean that elections will be coming up for a number of positions on the Council of Governors. When the dates are agreed, we will be in touch with members to seek nominations and to ask you to vote once the candidates are selected. If you would like to find out more about becoming a Governor, then please contact the membership office by emailing [email protected] or calling 01268 739679.

    CONSTITUENCIES NEW (wef 1 October 2015)Public South Essex

    SouthendThurrockEssex (rest of )Rest of England

    73257

    Staff ClinicalNon-Clinical

    22

    Partnership Essex & ARU 1Service User & Carer Essex

    Beds & Luton11

    Local Authority Essex County CouncilSouthend Borough CouncilThurrock Borough CouncilCentral Bedfordshire CouncilBedford Borough Council

    11111

    Council of Governors Total 36

    New Provider of Mental Health Services in Bedfordshire & Luton

    East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) is currently consulting with their Council of Governors about the best ways to include a Luton and Bedfordshire constituency in their membership and on the Council of Governors. In the meantime, they are accepting indications of interest from residents in Luton and Bedfordshire pending a relevant constituency being created. As a member of ELFT you will receive updates from the Trust, invitations to the Annual Members Meeting and other relevant events and also have the opportunity to stand to be a Governor.

    If you are interested in becoming a member of ELFT, please call the ELFT Membership Office on 0800 032 7297 or email / visit our website

    Email: [email protected] Online form link: https://www.eastlondon.nhs.uk/Members/Membership-Application-Form.aspx

    As a result both the Board and Council approved the Trust’s constituency framework and Council composition as follows:

    “I accept the award for all service users in the East of England including these as they are all mental health heroes.”

  • 22 23

    PALSPatient Advice and Liaison Service

    freephone Essex0800 085 7935

    freephone Bedfordshire and Luton 0800 0131 223

    HousingBasildon Council Housing: Homelessness

    Essex Social Services 0845 603634 out of hours: 0845 6061212

    Brentwood Council Housing Service 01277 312500

    Southend-on-Sea Homelessness 01702 215002

    Out of hours 01702 466550

    Housing Advice 01702 215002

    Thurrock Council Housing Advice Service 01375 652652

    Bedford Borough Homelessness 01234 718058

    NOAH Enterprises www.noahenterprise.org

    Luton 01582 728416Bedford 01234 217112

    Bedford Concern for the Homeless and Rootless (BeCHaR)

    01234 365355

    Bromford; Central Bedfordshire Floating Support Service 01525 862802

    Shelter Housing Advice Helpline0808 800 4444

    Epping forest District Council01992 564027

    Uttlesford District Council01799 510510

    Stop SmokingBedfordshire 0800 013 0553

    Physical DisabilitesDisability Resource Centre

    01582 470900

    Drinkline The National Alcohol Helpline

    0300 123 1110

    Continence ServiceBedfordshire Service

    01582 528821

    FRANK 0300 123 6600

    WEB: www.talktofrank.com

    Clarendon LinkLuton 01582 732200

    CANBedford Recovery Hub 01234 352220

    Dunstable Recovery Hub 01582 501780

    OTHER NUMBERSNHS 111 for when you need medical help fast

    but it’s not a 999 emergencyJust call 111, 24 hour service

    Essex County Council Social Care Emergency Duty Service

    0845 606 1212

    Learning DisbilityMencap Learning Disability Helpline

    0808 808 1111www.mencap.org.uk

    Email: [email protected]

    Diabetes UK [email protected] or

    [email protected]

    Diabetes UK Careline 0345 123 2399

    CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAURochford, Rayleigh, Brentwood

    08444 770808Southend 08444 770808Thurrock 08444 770808Basildon 08444 770808

    Mid Beds (Ampthill) 01767 601368Bedford 0844 245 1290

    Dunstable 01582 661384Leighton Buzzard 01525 373878

    Luton 0844 245 1285 Saffron Walden 0844 477 5986

    Harlow 08451 203717Bishops Stortford 0844 8489700

    Epping 0844 2571909Uttlesford 0844 4775986

    Age UKwww.ageuk.org.uk/bedfordshire

    01234 360 510

    HospitalBedford Hospital 01235 355122

    Luton and Dunstable Hospital 01582 491166

    Basildon and Thurrock University HospitalsSwitchboard 01268 524900 or 0845 155 3111

    Southend Hospital 01702 435555

    The Princess Alexandra Hospital 01279 444455

    Counselling Cruse Bereavement Care Bedfordshire

    01582 595300

    Luton & Dunstable Counselling Centre01582 732450

    CHUMS: Child Bereavement Trauma and Emotional Wellbeing Service

    [email protected] 01525863924

    Step by Step self refer to service 01525 863966 [email protected]

    Domestic Violence helpline 0808 2000247

    Therapy for you 01268739128

    HealthwatchHealthwatch Bedford Borough

    01234 718018 [email protected]

    Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire 0300 303 8554

    [email protected] Luton

    01582 817060Healthwatch Essex

    www.healthwatcgessex.org.uk01376 572829

    Eating DisordersSouth Essex 01268 243538

    Bedfordshire & Luton 01582 709066 Caraline Eating Disorders

    Counselling & Support Service 01582 457474 Luton based charity

    St. Luke’s Hospice (Basildon & Thurrock)

    Specialist Physiotherapy Service 01268 524973

    St. Luke’s Hospice at Home (24 on call service) 07739 890140

    Information Resource Service 01375 648170

    Macmillan Dove Community Counselling Service 01375 648179 & 01277 658057

    Lukes Counselling Service for Children & Young People 01375 648175

    CARERSCarers UK

    www.carersuk.org 0808 808 7777

    Basildon Carers 01268 280441

    Southend Carers 01702 393933

    Thurrock Carers 01375 41375401375 413640

    Carers in Bedfordshire 0300 111 1919

    Young Carerswww.youngcarers.net

    Essex Carers Support 01255 474410

    [email protected]

    Brookwww.brook.org.uk

    Helpline: 0808 802 1234Confidential advice for under 25s.

    ADVOCACYNHS Complaints Advocacy Service

    Bedfordshire 0300 456 2362Essex 0300 456 2370

    Basildon Mind and Advocacy01268 524322

    Southend Advocacy Service 01702 349191

    Rethink Bedfordshire 0300 5000 927

    Essex 01702 330267

    POhWERLuton 01582 447109

    Bedfordshire 0300 456 2362Essex 0300 456 2370

    Advocacy for Older People Bedford 0300 4562362

    Luton 01582 422742

    IMPACT Mental Health01582 611079 or email

    [email protected]

    MINDThurrock Mind 01375 391411

    Basildon Mind 01268 284130

    Brentwood Mind 01277 263613

    Bedford, Luton Milton Keynes MIND 0300 330 0648

    Fond Farewells We have said a fond farewell to:

    Karen Hussey

    Nikki Richardson Kay Richards Julia Asher

    Cynthia Fernandez Teresa Kearney Maggie Jacobs

    We said a fond farewell to our long serving, dedicated Non Executive Director, Dr Dawn Hillier who left the Trust at the end of December 2014 when her second term of office finished.

    Farewell to Dr Dawn Hillier

    We’re pleased to tell you we welcomed a new Non-Executive Director, Mary Ann Munford in the New Year.

    Mary-Ann joined the Trust on 5 January 2015 and has been appointed for a three-year period.

    Mary-Ann brings wide experience from her varied 40-year career in health services. Originally trained as a general nurse and mental health nurse, Mary-Ann has previously held Director roles in both the NHS and the independent sector.

    Lorraine Cabel, Chair of SEPT, commented: “I am extremely pleased to welcome Mary-Ann on board as our newest Non-Executive Director. Her knowledge and experience of the local health economy will ensure that our patients get the best possible representation on our Board of Directors.”

    Welcome Non-Executive Director Mary Ann Munford

  • Upcoming Events

    If you, a family member or friend is experiencing an urgent mental health problem at night or at the weekend, please contact our 24 hour, seven day a week number 0300 1230808

    Our contact centre will either connect you directly or advise you of the best person or organisation to contact.

    Remember – in an emergency always dial 999 immediately.

    Need help out of hours?

    Board of Director MeetingsWednesday, 24 June 2015Park Inn by Radisson, High Road, North Stifford, Thurrock, Essex RM16 5UE10:30Wednesday, 29 July 2015English Heritage, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4HR10:30Wednesday, 30 September 2015Training Room 1, The Lodge, Runwell Chase, Wickford, Essex SS11 7XX10:30Wednesday, 28 October 2015Training Room 1, The Lodge, Runwell Chase, Wickford, Essex SS11 7XX10:30Wednesday, 25 November 2015The Bell Hotel, High Road, Epping, Essex CM16 4DG10:30

    Council of Governor MeetingsTuesday, 11 August 2015Stockwood Discovery Centre, London Road, Luton LU1 4LX17.30Thursday, 12 November 2015Training Room 1, The Lodge, Runwell Chase, Wickford, Essex SS11 7XX17.30

    Take It To The TopThursday, 25 June 2015 Park Inn by Radisson, Thurrock, High Road, North Stifford, Thurrock, Essex RM16 5UE19.00 – 21.00

    Wednesday, 1 July 2015 Southend University Campus Conference Room 1, 4th Floor, Gateway Building, 10 Elmer Approach, Southend, SS1 1LW19.00 – 21.00

    Tuesday, 7 July 2015 Epping Town CouncilLarge Conference Room, Epping Hall, St Johns Road, Epping, Essex, CM16 5JU19.00 – 21.00

    Thursday, 6 August 2015 University Campus Suffolk W115 Classroom, Waterfront Building, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1QJ19.00 – 21.00

    Wednesday, 2 September 2015 Priory Methodist ChurchSmall Hall, 63 Newnham Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9QJ 19.00 – 21.00

    Are you a nurse that is looking to change employers, relocate or have recently qualified? Then why not come and work for us?We are looking for nurses to work across all of our locations in Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk within a range of specialties, some including community health services, forensics, learning disability, integrated care and inpatients and can offer competitive relocation packages to applicants who would be looking to re-locate for the right position.

    For more information on our opportunities or to arrange any informal visit please contact SEPT recruitment on 01375 364513 or visit www.jobs.nhs.uk quoting South Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

    Have your say at the ‘South East Essex Mental Health Stakeholder Forum’University of Essex, Southend Campus, Gateway Building, Elmer Approach, Southend, SS1 1LW24 August 2015 - 14:00 - 16:0023 November 2015 - 14:00 - 16:008 February 2016 - 14:00 - 16:009 May 2016 - 14:00 - 16:00

    Have your say at the ‘South West Essex Mental Health Forum’The Basildon Centre, St Martins Square, Basildon SS14 1DLWednesday 9 September - 18:00 – 20:00Wednesday 2 December -14:00 – 16:00Wednesday 9 March 2016 - 14:00 – 16:00