Issue 45 January-March 2013 - Birmingham and Solihull Mental

1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:39 Page 1
Issue 45 January-March 2013
P3
RAID service impresses
health minister
P5
Singing in harmony
with CBSO
P8
Tamarind Centre
opens its doors
P10
Meet our new
chief executive
P11
Speaking Out to
tackle stigma
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Chief executive’s message
Our trust is making a brand new start as
we enter 2013, to embrace the challenges
that it and the wider NHS are facing and
ensure our staff deliver world-class care
to everyone accessing our services.
Following Sue Turner’s retirement in
November, I was appointed as interim chief
executive to help steer the trust through a
transitional period until a permanent
appointment is made.
To achieve that purpose I have three key
objectives: a) to “steady the ship”, b) ensure
that we keep up, perform and deliver our key
objectives, and c) to further the work that has
been going on and publish a strategy for
consultation by the end of January 2013.
I bring more than 30 years’ experience in
the NHS in various senior roles, most recently
with the NHS National Commissioning Board.
I have also held chief executive posts at NHS
Warwickshire, NHS Walsall and North
Birmingham PCT.
Already our reputation as an innovative trust
is being underlined by the recent
announcement by the Department of Health
that we will be one of six demonstration sites
Paul Jennings
Interim chief executive
across the country chosen for their expertise,
and we will be developing a new pathway to
improve access to psychological therapies for
bipolar disorder.
Service users began moving into the
Tamarind Centre in December; our first class
new medium secure facility in Bordesley
Green, which will be fully operational by
this summer.
Congratulations to our finance team who
received national recognition at the
Healthcare Financial Management
Association’s awards in December, for
their training scheme designed to give
frontline managers confidence in controlling
their budgets.
The NHS faces unprecedented challenges
in 2013 and we shall need to work together
to ensure that we continue to deliver
improving quality of patient care. From what I
have seen in these last few weeks I really
believe this organisation is capable of
delivering on that challenge.
Finally may I wish you all the best for a
happy and healthy new year.
Healthwatch to replace LINk Governor
Independent mental health watchdog
LINk will be replaced by a new
organisation from April 1, 2013.
Healthwatch will replace LINk, in both
Birmingham and Solihull, which independent
charity BVSC have won the contract to run.
Both branches will employ their own staff
and volunteers.
BVSC want people’s views on how
Healthwatch should be set up in
Birmingham and how it should be held
accountable and are particularly keen for
service users, their families and carers,
to complete an online survey www.surveymonkey.com/s/HealthWatchStart - by January 21, 2013.
They aim to give citizens and communities
a stronger voice in influencing and
challenging how local health and social care
is provided. Healthwatch will also be able to
recommend investigations or reviews of
services via Healthwatch England and the
Care Quality Commission
The National Service User Network
(NSUN) is also encouraging mental health
service users to get more involved with
Healthwatch, and let NSUN know how they
are prioritising mental health locally.
NSUN keeps its members informed about
cuts to services, government strategy and
campaigns affecting mental health services
and their users.
To find out more visit www.nsun.org.uk
or call 0207 820 8982.
For more information about BVSC
and Healthwatch, visit
www.bvsc.org.uk/news, and for any
survey queries contact Katy Cook on
0121 678 8820 or email
[email protected]
Cover photograpy
Mark Hillier, patient and public involvement
lead for BSMHFT, on song at the CBSO’s
World Mental Health Day singalong event.
Image courtesy of CBSO/Jas Sansi
Photography.
Do you have a story which could feature in Trust Talk?
If so, then contact the editor, Emma Brady on
0121 301 1298 or email [email protected].
Deadline for the April issue is March 1, 2013.
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meeting dates
The Council of Governor dates for 2013
have been set and are detailed below.
All meetings will be held at the Uffculme
Centre, in Queensbridge Road, Moseley,
between 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
January 24
March 21
May 16
July 11
September 12
November 14.
Trust Talk
deadlines
Trust Talk is published quarterly, so
please note its new copy deadlines
below for 2013/14.
All copy to be considered for inclusion
must be submitted by the dates opposite:
ISSUE
DEADLINE
April
March 1
October
August 30
July
January
May 31
November 29
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Trust to pioneer
new bipolar
service
Norman Lamb MP, Minister for Health,
announced in December that our trust
will be one of six organisations
pioneering a new project to improve
access to psychological therapies.
Our trust will be working with academic
partners the Spectrum Centre for Mental
Health Research, based at Lancaster
University, on delivering improvements for
people diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Access to psychological therapies for
this condition is very limited and
dedicated services are rare, which is why
the Department of Health chose our trust
to be the only demonstration site for
bipolar disorder, as we already provide a
specialist psychological service.
Bipolar disorder affects a person’s
moods, leading them to swing from manic
highs to deep, depressive lows.
Unlike simple mood swings, each
episode of extreme mania or depression
can last for weeks at a time, if not longer.
Traditionally patients are prescribed
medication to help maintain a healthy
balance.
Dr Amanda Gatherer, director of
psychological services and head of
psychology, said: “I am thrilled BSMHFT
has been chosen as a demonstration site.
“This will be a great opportunity to
showcase the expertise within our trust
and further develop our bipolar disorder
service.
“I would love, as a result of this
pioneering pilot, for BSMHFT to become
a centre for excellence for research and
good quality psychological care for
people with bipolar disorder.”
The Minister added: “These sites will
benefit those with the most severe mental
illnesses and personality disorders and
will help policy makers, commissioners
and providers better understand how we
can ensure people get the right help and
support that is needed.
“The successful sites have been chosen
for their experience in delivering
successful support and treatment and I
look forward to seeing the results of this
initiative.”
To find out more about our bipolar
disorder service, email Jayne Eaton at
[email protected]
Minister for Health impressed
by our innovative RAID service
Dr Mark Newbold, chief executive of HEFT, former Sue Turner, chief executive of BSMHFT, Minister of State for Health
Norman Lamb MP, and Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, chairman of HEFT, outside Heartlands’ A&E unit.
Norman Lamb MP, Minister for Health,
praised our award-winning Rapid
Assessment, Interface and Discharge
(RAID) Service, during a visit in
November.
The trust’s RAID Service, which previously
won a HSJ Award for mental health
innovation, is delivered at five A&E units
across Birmingham and Solihull, including
Heartlands Hospital – run by Heart of
England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) –
where the health minister met clinicians from
both trusts.
During the visit on November 13, he heard
how our clinicians work in partnership with
colleagues at Heartlands and how treating
mental health alongside physical health has
improved patient experience and in the
process saved money.
He said: “The RAID service is leading the
way by pioneering new approaches to mental
health care, and partnership working across
the NHS. This innovative service has vastly
improved patient experience."
“RAID is an inspirational initiative. I was
extremely impressed to see a much more
original use of resources than we often
manage to achieve in the NHS. I am keen
that the NHS learns from this model so that
similar innovations can be adopted
elsewhere.”
RAID’s specialist team work closely with
doctors and nurses at Heartlands to ensure
patients with mental health, alcohol or drugs
problems are assessed and treated much
earlier. Clinicians aim to see patients in A&E
within an hour, and those referred from
inpatient wards within 24 hours.
Sue Turner, former chief executive of
BSMHFT, said: “RAID is an innovative mental
health model which has significantly improved
quality of care in acute hospital for patients
with mental illness and alcohol problems and
especially for older people with dementia.
“So it was fantastic to see the health
minister engaged and interested in how RAID
has been developed and delivered
successfully in hospitals across Birmingham
and Solihull, and how mental health is being
treated as a priority in its own right."
Our RAID service is also in operation at City
Hospital in Winson Green, Good Hope
Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in Edgbaston,
and Solihull Hospital.
Ian Donnelly, head of logistics and capacity
management at HEFT, said: “The RAID
concept, implemented at HEFT’s sites in
2012, has been seen as a successful model
to deliver better outcomes for the patients
who access this service, delivering improved
benefits.
“The improvement in quality to patients and
support to staff has been recognised onsite
by emergency department staff and ward
teams where this provision of specialist
support ensures timely intervention, providing
improved patient focused outcomes.”
This partnership approach has helped avoid
unnecessary admissions to busy medical
wards, as RAID has shown it can reduce
length of stay for patients with dementia,
enabling them to return home more quickly.
Since the pilot RAID scheme was launched
at City Hospital in December 2009, it has
improved patient experience and saved the
NHS more than £6 million.
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Finance team wins national
award for staff training scheme
Awards judge David Rowsby, director of Europe at CIMA with members of the finance team - Richard Sollars, Karen
Southcombe, Helen Leavitt, Abi Broderick, Georgina Dean, and Niki Bridge.
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health
NHS Foundation Trust has won a
prestigious national award for creating a
training package to give managers and
senior doctors a better understanding of
finance.
The trust’s finance team won the Havelock
Training Award at the Healthcare Financial
Management Association Awards in London
on December 6.
The initiative was designed to enable Band
7 managers to take control of their budgets
and authorise expenditure, such as on bank
staff or local service improvements, following
the trust’s decision to devolve such decisionmaking to frontline teams in 2011.
Local managers, consultants and lead
clinicians would be held jointly accountable
for balancing their budgets and achieving
best possible outcomes within those
constraints – however many had little or no
financial knowledge.
An overview of how to order goods, payroll
forms, standing financial instructions (SFIs)
and savings was included in the training
package, along with what to do if a team has
overspent and the consequences of
overspending. This included group and oneto-one training, and so far 150 managers and
100 consultants have completed the
programme.
An evaluation of the scheme, conducted by
the trust in March 2012, revealed there has
been no loss of financial control since
managers took control of team budgets.
David Rowsby, director of Europe at CIMA,
who presented the award to our finance
team, said: “Birmingham and Solihull
developed an innovative training package
designed to devolve more decision making to
the frontline.
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“The resulting increase in financial
awareness has led to much better teamwork
and control of budgets, with quantifiable
reductions in the number of SFI breaches.
Richard Sollars, finance and business
manager for the trust’s adults of working age
division, said: “Most of the band 7s were
clinical managers and it was about improving
their skill levels and confidence to look at
finance.
“While it increased knowledge of issues
such as SFI breaches, there were benefits in
softer areas, such as engagement. The
scheme has now been rolled out across the
trust and we are thinking of extending it to
Band 6 staff.”
BSMHFT was one of four trusts shortlisted
for this award, beating Imperial College
London Healthcare NHS Trust, University
College London Hospitals NHS Trust and
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS
Foundation Trust.
International
award for trust
psychiatrist
An addictions psychiatrist from
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health
NHS Foundation Trust will receive a
prestigious international fellowship
award, one of just 10 awarded to
clinicians around the globe, later this
month.
Dr Sanju George, a consultant
psychiatrist who specialises in
addictions and is based at The Bridge, in
Chelmsley Wood, is the only British
clinician to be recognised by the Indian
Psychiatric Society – who confer the
International Young Psychiatrist
Fellowships – this year.
Dr George will be joined by other
psychiatrists from America, Australia,
Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Indonesia,
Italy, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, who
will receive their awards at the 65th
Annual Conference of the Indian
Psychiatric Society, which takes place in
Bangalore between January 10 and 13,
2013.
The 10 psychiatrists, who are all aged
under 40 and have already made
outstanding achievements in their
academic and clinical careers, were
chosen by a committee led by the IPS’s
President-elect, Prof Indira Sharma.
Dr George said: “I'm delighted to be
given this opportunity. I wish to thank the
trust's senior management and the
president of the Royal College of
Psychiatrists (Professor Sue Bailey) for
their support.
“I am also indebted to my wonderfully
supportive staff at The Bridge who
continually inspire me in my quest to learn
and develop new skills.”
Awards update
Staff working with our young service
users were shortlisted for two national
awards.
Youthspace was a finalist at the Health
Service Journal Awards, for its work in
developing a strategy for youth mental
health.
Our FCAMH service, based at Ardenleigh
in Erdington, was shortlisted for a Nursing
Times Award, for becoming the first secure
service in Britain to achieve autism
accreditation.
Unfortunately neither won their awards
but congratulations to both teams for being
shortlisted in such competitive categories.
Dr Sanju George.
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Partners sing in harmony to boost
mental health and wellbeing
More than 200 people filled the CBSO
Centre with some inspirational
harmonies, as part of a singlaong event
to mark World Mental Health Day.
The event, which took place on October 10,
aimed to highlight the positive impact music
can have on mental wellbeing, and also
celebrated a new partnership between the
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and
our trust.
Before the singing began our former chief
executive, Sue Turner, and the CBSO’s chief
executive Stephen Maddock signed an
agreement that both organisations will
collaborate further to support work in this
area.
People of all ages came to the CBSO
Centre, in Birmingham, to join choral leader
Matt Beckingham and special guests for an
informal day to explore the impact that music
- singing in particular - has on mental health
and wellbeing as well as addressing issues
surrounding the stigma of mental health.
After an ice-breaking warm-up, Matt soon
had attendees singing a four-part medley in
perfect harmony, as well as a variety of
spirituals and an African tribal song.
Matt explained: “Singing offers some kind
of connection with the soul and the way that
we feel better when we physically stand up
Signers, including clinical psychologist Sally Austen (right), helped deaf people at the event singalong with
everyone at the CBSO.
when we sing you can’t help but feel lifted.”
Aided by percussionists and sign language
interpreters, the singalong event brought
together people of all abilities in a nonjudgmental environment.
Lakhvir Rellon, director of community
engagement for BSMHFT, said: “This was
the perfect way to launch our partnership
with the CBSO, with everyone singing in
harmony and embracing the ethos of World
Mental Health Day.
“More than 200 people singing Together
As One was a really powerful way to
highlight this collaboration, as well as the fact
that one in four people will experience
mental health issues in their lifetime, which I
hope will benefit both organisations over
time.”
The second stage of this partnership was a
two-day mental health first aid training
Lakhvir Rellon, the trust’s director of community engagement, and Elen Elis, the CBSO’s chorus manager, at the
World Mental Health Day event.
course for CBSO musicians interested in
working with people with mental health
issues. Future work includes a joint working
community choir.
One service user, summing up the impact
singing has on their wellbeing, said: “As part
of my personal ongoing journey, I monitor my
moods every day. I began to discover that on
‘choir days’ my mood improved and soon,
singing soon became the highlight of my
week.
“Singing helps you to be outside yourself
and just enjoy the present, it uplifts your spirit
and there really is nothing quite like it.”
Sing along with
the trust’s choir
If the CBSO’s singalong for World
Mental Health Day has inspired readers
to try group singing, joining the trust’s
Wellbeing Community Choir is easy.
The growing group of staff, service users
and carers meet every Tuesday in the
seminar room at trust headquarters, B1, in
Summer Hill Road, Ladywood. Sessions
run from 5.30pm to 7pm.
The choir regularly perform at a range of
events across Birmingham and Solihull and
in 2010, less than a year after they were
established, they were named choir of the
day at a regional heat of the BBC Choir of
the Year competition.
Everyone is welcome. To find out
more contact contact Jo Neale, head
of performing and creative arts on
07985 882 748 or email
[email protected]
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Chief executive says
farewell after 16 years
Staff and service users, past and present,
turned out in force to wish former chief
executive Sue Turner a happy retirement,
after 16 years at the helm of our trust.
An evening of entertainment to celebrate her
achievements was held at the Highlight
Comedy Club in Birmingham on November 28,
where guests were treated to a performance
by Women and Theatre, with music from
saxophonist Andy Gayle, Mark Hamilton and
the trust’s staff and service user band.
A number of speeches were made by
colleagues, governors and service users –
including service user governor Faheem Uddin
and Alan Kenny, director of commercial
services and asset management. At points
Sue was visibly moved by their kind words.
Staff and service users also premiered a
short film they had put together, which gave
them a chance to leave a personal goodbye
message for Sue.
The film only featured a handful of the
people Sue has positively affected during her
time at BSMHFT, and how she took time to
get to know staff and service users.
After the speeches, Sue received a
number of gifts and mementoes from staff to
help her enjoy her retirement, and remember
the trust by.
Peter Adams, lead Unite representative for
staff at our trust, unveiled a garden bench
which will go to Eden PICU, to serve as a
reminder to all of the Sue’s standing as the
longest serving chief executive of a mental
health trust.
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Members of our trust board approved
plans to establish a subsidiary
company, wholly owned by BSMHFT,
which will be called Summerhill
Supplies Limited, in November.
The subsidiary company will operate on a
commercial basis, providing the trust with
the ability and capacity to identify
appropriate opportunities within and outside
the NHS, which are beneficial to the trust.
The scope of services to be offered will
enable the trust to maximise its expertise,
resources, skills and significant assets, in
turn the company will be able to manage
and deliver services with the flexibility
needed in an increasingly competitive
environment.
While we this is an innovative kind of
initiative, this way of working is becoming
more commonplace within the NHS and
other public sector organisations.
Health seminars
A series of free health seminars for
2013 have been announced by the
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
Sessions include how to tackle winter
bugs on January 16 and sleep disorders
on March 26.
All take place at the hospital’s
education centre in Edgbaston and run
10am to 12 noon.
For the full list, visit
www.uhb.nhs.uk/health-talks.htm and
to book a place call 0121 371 4957.
A word from our Chair
It has become something of a cliché at
the start of a new calendar year to speak
of new beginnings, but for our trust, 2013
truly does mark the start of a new era in
a number of ways.
Most obviously, we will be welcoming a
new chief executive in a matter of weeks,
after the retirement of Sue Turner, who led
our trust and its predecessors for a
remarkable 16 years.
I do want to pay tribute to the tremendous
service Sue has given - not just to the NHS,
but to service users and carers across
Birmingham and Solihull.
The people we serve have always been
her first priority, and the board will be
determined to keep that legacy from Sue
very much alive.
We will be delighted to
welcome John Short as
our new chief executive
later in the year. You can
read more about John,
whose appointment was
announced just before
Christmas, on page 10.
John Short.
BSMHFT sets up
subsidiary company
In the meantime, Paul Jennings - our
interim chief executive - has been leading
the planning for next year, working under the
new commissioning arrangements brought
in by the coalition Government’s Health and
Social Care Act.
This brings local GPs to the fore in making
the major decisions on what services are
needed in their local area, but at a time
when spending is being squeezed, even in
the NHS.
As part of that process, our trust will be
obliged to find savings of around £9m, and
we have to acknowledge that it will be
difficult to achieve that without some impact
on services.
One element of our plans will be to seek
to design the kind of integrated care
approach which GPs have said they want –
and which now seems to being favoured by
government ministers as well.
The aim is a more seamless experience for
our service users, but this could mean quite
significant changes to the way some of our
staff work. In the current climate however,
change seems to be the one thing we can
Sue Davis, CBE,
Chair.
be certain is coming.
So the year ahead will be a challenging
one, but my board colleagues do believe
there are opportunities too, to improve the
experience of care for people using our
services, and to make better use of the
public funds for which we are responsible.
If you want to know more about what we
are up to, remember that board meetings
are now open to the public – details are on
the web site.
Oh behalf of all the board, I wish you a
happy new year.
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Staff awards celebrate
dedication and innovation
Rob Grady and Kathryn Felton were jpoined by service user Brian, to collect their award for the digital life stories project.
Our annual events, the Long Service
Awards and Board Challenge, were held
at Uffculme in November.
The Class of 1971 and 1986 were all
given a big thank you for their 40 and 25
years of service with the NHS, and received
vouchers and a small gift in recognition for
their dedication and hard work.
One of the recipients, Fez Sookia, who
was born in Mauritius, began his NHS
career as a student nurse in 1970, when his
starting salary was just £713 a year.
Fez, a former teacher, now works part-time
as a community psychiatric nurse at the
Juniper Centre in Moseley and plans to
continue working for as long as possible.
These awards were followed by the Board
Challenge ceremony, which this year began
with an energetic performance by local
Bollywood dancers, Hima and Company.
The annual innovation competition rewards
projects that have demonstrated
improvements in patient care and simple
ideas which have had a positive impact on
our services.
The winner of the chief executive’s award
– digital life stories - touched the audience’s
hearts with an emotional film about Brian,
one of our older adult service users, whose
memories have been transformed through
the digital life stories project, devised by
occupational therapy technical instructors
Rob Grady and Kathryn Felton.
Photos are uploaded using specialist
software which, using touchscreen
technology, enables service users to flick
through a virtual book of memories.
Bollywood dancers opened Board Challenge.
The winners and runners-up for Board
Challenge 2012 are listed below.
CATEGORY ONE: Growth through learning,
projects that have made best use of our
resources by using latest evidence, feedback
from patients, feedback from staff, audit and
evaluation to change services for the better.
Winner: Head4Health: A new model for
CMHTs
Runner-up: See me healthcare representative:
A project involving service users at HMP
Birmingham, empowering them to become
advocates within the prison setting.
CATEGORY TWO: Behind the scenes,
projects that go on behind the scenes to
support frontline care.
Winner: Community callers: Services users,
working with staff, carried out spot check calls
to help monitor and improve levels of customer
service.
Runner-up: Key worker checklist: Staff
devised a check list as a reminder, in particular
for newly qualified staff, to help them navigate
our clinical systems.
CATEGORY THREE: The limelight award,
projects that improve the experience of our
service users and / or their carers
Winner: Carers education day: An educational
day for carers who have relatives with
dementia.
Runner up: Origami in HDU: A simple activity
to occupy and motivate our service users on
the high dependency unit at Ardenleigh,
CATEGORY FOUR: Better together, projects
involving and working with stakeholders,
developing partnerships and alliances to
improve patient experience.
Winner: Aspire recovery coaches: Working
with service users who have gone through the
recovery process and enabling them to mentor
and inspire service users who are in treatment.
Runner-up: Psychologically informed
environments: Our youth services, working in
partnership with homeless charity St Basil’s,
trained their staff to work with young people
who may be experiencing mental health
difficulties.
CATEGORY FIVE: The light bulb moment is
for a bright idea that could make a difference
to improve patients experience and / or
manage our resources more wisely.
Winner: Laughter Yoga: Using laughter yoga
as a form of therapy for service users to
enable recovery and help develop better
relationships between staff and service users.
Runner-up: Recovery radio: Running a radio
station with service users, enabling them to
share their stories and develop new skills for
the future.
CEO award: Digital life stories: Staff capturing
the stories of some of our older service users
and transferring them onto a digital book to
prompt memories.
The classes of 1971 and 1986 celebrate their long service achievements.
Welldone to everyone involved in these
events. Recognising and rewarding our
staff’s hard work is really important to
our trust.
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Tamarind Centre opens its doors
Our Tamarind Centre has seen a flurry of
activity since the first wards opened in
early December.
Acacia, a rehabilitation ward and Hibiscus,
an acute ward, were the first two wards to
open. Service users were transferred on a
phased basis, so they could be introduced to
the new surroundings, with staff on hand
helping them to settle in.
The third ward, Cedar, is due to open in
January 2013. Cedar will provide care for
service users who require a longer stay in
medium security.
Service users have settled in well, providing
positive feedback about the new facility.
One of our service users said: “The staff are
really helpful and cheerful. Everyone is in a
good mood”
The remaining wards will open in phases
during the spring and summer, with some
service users moving back to Birmingham
from units elsewhere in the country, enabling
carers and families to be closer to loved ones.
However, opening a new centre is not just
about a new building. Our secure services
have been developing a model of care, which
sets out the journey our service users will
take towards recovery.
This pathway was developed in line with our
trust’s expertise and experience of secure
Reaside celebrates
25 years
The opening of the Tamarind Centre is
not the only celebration to be marked
recently in secure services.
Reaside Clinic in Rubery, which also
provides male medium secure care,
celebrated its silver anniversary of 25 years
with a number of events to mark the
special occasion.
As part of the festivities, staff and service
users enjoyed a special lunch to mark the
anniversary.
Staff past and present were also invited to
join in an evening of entertainment and
catching up with old colleagues at a special
event in Longbridge in November.
Over the years, the trust’s secure services
have developed greatly with the
introduction of a community follow-up
service and prison in-reach, working with
partner agencies to develop pathways and
support for service users, to aid them in
their recovery.
Lorraine Conlon, lead nurse for forensic
services, who began working at Reaside in
1987, has seen a number of changes over
the years.
She said: “Amid all the changes in
staffing, expansion of services and new
ways of working, the core values have been
consistent in ensuring care is safe, effective
and person-centred and that security is
applied in the least restrictive practice.”
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care and uses a simple scale in which service
users will move along.
High on the agenda for the development
has been the recruitment and development of
staff to ensure we provide a high quality
service.
All staff based at the Tamarind Centre will
complete an induction programme which will
help them develop skills and build
relationships between staff and teams who
will be working closely together.
Carmen Hunter-Rice, a staff nurse on
Hibiscus ward, said: “This is a great
opportunity for existing and new teams to
Acacia ward staff Chris Ward, Katie Mathison and Jay Fatania.
unify and become part of one new team”
One of the main aims of the training is to
encourage staff to be enthusiastic, confident
and inspired to offer the best service possible.
The bespoke training programme allows
them to have a shared understanding of the
values underpinning an excellent service
which puts service users firmly at the centre,
and of the local and national context within
which they are working.
Fiona Caddle, staff nurse, Hibiscus ward,
believes the opening of Tamarind offers “a
brilliant opportunity and new start for service
users and staff alike.”
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:39 Page 9
Profile: Mark Stubbings, matron
Matron Mark Stubbins, far right, with Tamarind colleagues Roy Banda and Theresa McGillen.
Mark is a matron within the men’s
secure service at the Tamarind Centre, in
Bordesley Green.
How long have you worked in the trust?
I started with the trust in 1998 as a newly
qualified staff nurse.
What is a typical day at the Tamarind
Centre like?
I try to start each day with a visit to the
wards, maybe followed by a couple of
meetings. We are still developing the site, as
wards will be opening until July 2013, so
there’s often some preparation work and
decisions to be made about the next steps.
Then there are the unforeseen things, like a
power cut. Although worrying at the time, it’s
been really good to test our back-up plans.
Working with Becky McGowan, also a
matron here, we’re developing staff teams
with the ward managers ready for the wards
to open.
What aspects of your role do you enjoy?
I enjoy being a nurse, caring for people, and
being a leader. As matron I think I get the
best balance of this. I am able to spend time
with service users, meet their families, and
hopefully make a difference to the quality of
care they receive.
I am able to support staff with my clinical
knowledge and expertise, in doing their jobs
to the best of their ability. As a leader I enjoy
being part of the trust’s wider matron team,
developing quality services, promoting the
nursing strategy in the care we provide and
the work of the Nursing Advisory Council, as
well as improving direct care for our service
users and their families.
Recruitment for Tamarind Centre staff
continues and there will be jobs
available over the next few of months in
a range of disciplines.
Earlier in the year we heard from
Ebony Belle, one of the healthcare
apprentices who were taken on as part of
our first apprenticeship programme within
secure services.
Ebony has been working at Ardenleigh,
in our women’s secure services for
nearly a year.
After being unemployed for a couple of
years, Ebony decided to look for a new
challenge and applied for one
of our healthcare
apprenticeship roles, since
then she hasn’t looked back.
She said: “I love my job, I’ve
learnt so much and I seem to
be learning something new
every day.
“I am learning skills that will
not only benefit others but that
are letting me grow as a
Ebony Belle.
person.”
In the future Ebony hopes to continue her
career in forensic mental health and is
What is your role and what ward are you
based on?
I’m a matron and work across the whole of
the Tamarind Centre, with a particular focus
on our rehabilitation wards.
Have you always worked in secure
services?
Yes, I took a staff nurse post to gain some
forensic experience, and never left.
How has secure services developed
over the years?
As a new staff nurse 14 years ago, I was
only aware of some aspects of the service
but, as a matron, I see a service nearly three
times the size, with four sites catering for
men and women separately. When I started
there was only Reaside, with men and
women on the same ward.
Now we offer a much wider range of
services and, following Department of Health
guidance, we are able to provide a much
more cohesive security structure.
Like any area of speciality, it can seem
mysterious and closed to the casual
onlooker, but from the inside out you see
passion and drive to care for a group of
people that no one else really wants.
Apprentice Ebony ready for new opportunities
working towards gaining a role
as a health care assistant, within
our trust.
Our apprentices will shortly
complete their programme and
will then be eligible to apply for
healthcare assistant roles within
our trust.
All vacancies within our
trust are advertised via the
NHS Jobs website –
http://www.jobs.nhs.uk
9
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 10
Pet therapy gets
patients talking
Ruby the golden retriever made an impact on
dementia patients at Juniper.
Pet therapy is renowned for promoting
positive interaction and decreasing
agitation in dementia care.
Although areas have used pet therapy in
the past, there was a misconception that it
was not allowed due to health and safety
and infection control policies.
In order to ensure clients with dementia
do not continue to miss out on this
opportunity matrons, Jacky Webb and
Kerry Harkin assessed the risks, wrote a
protocol and sent it to divisional infection
control.
Occupational therapists Sally-Ann
McLurgh, Jade Buxton and Denise Griffin
liaised with Pet Therapy, made an
application, liaised with the owner, and coordinated the pet’s visit.
During December, Sage and Rosemary
suites at the Juniper Centre opened their
doors to pet therapy.
Ruby, a golden retriever, visited service
users, and as a result they were laughing,
engaging more in conversation, social
interaction with Ruby, her owner and the
group.
This visit also prompted patients to
reminisce about their own childhood pets,
and physical contact through stroking and
patting the dog.
One lady was asked if she would like to
stroke Ruby. She looked up, made eye
contact, smiled and readily agreed. She
continued to attract Ruby’s attention by
making clicking noises and putting out her
hand, appearing to enjoy the interaction.
This service user engaged in conversation,
recalling that she had owned a dog when
she lived on a farm as a child.
Prior to Ruby’s visit, the service user had
been consistently withdrawn and reluctant
to engage in therapeutic interventions.
As a result of Jackie and Kerry’s
determination and support, pet therapy
has been achieved and patients at Juniper
will now benefit from Ruby’s weekly visits.
10
BSMHFT appoints new
chief executive
Following the retirement of Sue Turner,
the trust’s former chief executive, John
Short – interim chief executive officer of
Leicestershire Partnership Trust – has
been appointed as her successor.
John, who has a strong background in
mental health services from psychiatric social
worker through a series of local authority and
NHS management posts, will take up this
post in April 2013.
Since 2000 he has held operational board
level posts within NHS trusts in Shropshire,
Cheshire and latterly Leicestershire, where he
has led the integrated mental health and
community services trust for 18 months.
Sue Davis CBE, Chair of our trust, said,
‘I am delighted that John is joining our trust
as our new CEO.
“He has spent his entire career working in
the field of mental health and learning
disability services and we look forward to
benefiting from the wealth of knowledge and
experience he brings with him.
“John has made a real impact during his
time at Leicestershire Partnership Trust and
the trust board and I are enthusiastic about
working with John as we prepare our trust for
its role in the future health economy.”
John is passionate about service user and
carer involvement in service design and
delivery and committed to the NHS providing
the very best service through the support that
trusts’ give to their staff.
John Short will take up post as chief executive in April.
John is married and lives with his wife and
three daughters. For the past 15 years he has
taken part in sprint triathlons and still does
three or four a year as a hobby and he
regularly runs and cycles to keep fit.
Clinical forums on
personality disorders
Working across different
disciplines, especially in
challenging situations, it can
be helpful for staff to share
best practice and experiences.
Graham Mackay, a registered
mental nurse and group analyst
working within the specialist
psychotherapies service at Callum
Lodge, in Winson Green, and the
Graham Mackay.
personality disorder group therapy
programme, based at Devon House,
in Stirchley.
Since 2008, Graham has been running
specialist clinical forums twice a year, on
different aspects of working with personality
disorder, such as therapeutic alliance and
engagement, and recovery and the service
user’s experience.
Last November more than 70 people
attended a session which focused on working
therapeutically with people who self-harm,
and resulted in some positive feedback.
Graham said: “I am keen that staff from all
parts of the organisation are supported to
develop psychological mindedness and
therapeutic use of self.
“I am also very grateful to my
colleagues from across the trust
who attend and support these
events.”
The November event included
input from Dr Gillian Rathbone,
consultant psychiatrist and group
analyst in the personality disorder
service and specialist
psychotherapies service, who
led a session on holding safe boundaries
as a team.
It also featured sessions by Liz I’Anson, an
RMN working in the RAID team at City
Hospital, and Dr Eliza Johnson, a consultant
clinical psychologist, also working within
RAID services.
Clinical psychologists Dr Roslyn Campbell
and Dr Susan Tolley, who work in women’s
secure services at Ardenleigh, spoke about
the new DBT service being established in
Solihull.
Details of further clinical forums will be
posted on Connect in 2013.
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 11
New project uses literature to challenge
mental health stigma
The written word has the undisputable
power to radically influence and change
people’s lives.
The Hearth Centre in partnership with our
trust, in a project funded by Time To Change,
plan to do just that - change people’s lives
through literature.
With support from our trust, the centre runs
weekly read-aloud groups, where people can
discuss novels, stories and poems.
There are now 15 groups taking part
across Birmingham and Solihull, which are
facilitated by freelance actors and writers,
NHS staff and people with lived experience
of mental ill health.
Participants are encouraged to reflect on
what they have read or heard and discuss
how it connects with their own experiences.
They are also encouraged to write creatively
in response to the material they have read.
Now, after a successful bid to the Time To
Change fund, the Hearth Centre is
managing a new project, that will train
service users and people with experience of
mental ill health to facilitate reading groups
Book review:
The Visiting Angel by Paul Wilson,
published by Tindal Street Press
Paul Wilson has worked in social care for
many years. His latest novel, The Visiting
Angel, deals with mental health drawing on
his experiences working with some of the
most vulnerable people within our society.
As a recovering service user, with a past
history of drug and alcohol abuse, I found
Wilson’s book fascinating.
The central character in the book is
Patrick, who manages a half-way house,
facing pressure from his corporate bosses
in the Hobart Trust. There is Edward, a
victim of ‘mate crime’, who finds himself
being picked up by the police over the
abduction of a local girl gone missing.
Then there’s the knife-wielding Roland
with challenging behaviour and Kenny who
believes the Government are transmitting
waves via masts to his brain.
Somehow Patrick is able to keep it
altogether until the mysterious Saul turns
up on an angelic mission with a list of
names he needs to save before it’s
too late.
On top of all this Patrick, has his own
personal demons to deal with.
As the narrative unfolds we learn more
about his dark secret and struggle for
redemption that leads to a gripping climax.
Wilson’s novel is an engaging and
compassion read.
Eugene Egan
Polly Wright leading a Reading for Wellbeing session at the trust’s 2010 AGM.
in libraries and other community venues,
using poetry and short stories to spark
conversations about mental health.
Speaking Out will use fairy tales and
extracts from literary classics, such as
Dickens and Shakespeare, and
contemporary literature by authors like Carol
Ann Duffy, Daljit Nagra and Andrea Levi, to
highlight a range of human experiences and
encourage people to talk openly about
mental health.
The project will be managed by staff from
our trust and the Hearth Centre, as well as
people with first-hand experience of mental
health issues.
Service users from the Sparkhill reading
group have seen their own confidence grow,
enabling them to “project their own
personalities.
H added: “Since being involved in these
reading sessions, I have seen how our group
has grown in size and how much the
participants enjoy the stories that are
chosen. Their confidence has increased and
it a joy working with them and together we
are sharing our love of reading.”
Eugene Egan, who has reviewed The
Visiting Angel for Trust Talk, first became
involved with reading for wellbeing through
the community mental health team, based at
the Zinnia Centre.
Eugene said: “When they placed me on
their social inclusion programme, it allowed
me to engage in creative activities such as
drama and creative writing and of course
reading for wellbeing.
“After attending a course at the Barberry to
facilitate reading groups, I started to cofacilitate the group with Polly Wright. The
group has gone from strength to strength
and is now service user-led with people
taking turns to facilitate each week.
“I believe social inclusion and community
engagement through the arts and drama has
played a vital part in my recovery and for
others, rather than relying purely on
medication.
Dr Peter Lewis, the trust’s medical director,
has also praised the Speaking Out project.
He said: “Reading aloud is a wonderful way
of getting people to share their perceptions
of their inner experiences.
“Sharing literature encourages people to
articulate their feelings without having to
own them directly and this project will
empower people with lived experience of
mental ill health and those who haven’t been
touched by it, to communicate about the
inner aspects of their lives through the most
engaging medium of all, stories.”
Polly Wright, director of the Hearth Centre,
added: “Everyone loves the experience of
being read to. The shared reading approach
encourages people to listen to stories, and
talk about what they hear at the same time.
“This way people who have experienced
some of the emotions and difficulties
described in the stories and poems can
communicate what it’s like to people who
struggle to understand it.
“Not only does it break down stigma - it
also brings confidence to the readers and is
a lot of fun.”
11
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 12
Christmas card competition
Earlier this year, Trust Talk launched our
annual Christmas card design
competition.
We asked the budding artists among our
staff, members and service users to send in
their designs to be in with a chance of
having their design printed and used as our
trust Christmas card.
In response we received a record number
of entries, more than 70 designs, and the
judges commented on the high standard of
the designs and how difficult it would be to
pick the winners.
The judging panel was made up of Sue
Davis, our Chair, Sarah Smith, head of
communications, marketing and membership,
and two of our trust’s service users.
After much deliberating, it was decided that
the design submitted by Helen Ricketts was
a worthy winner.
Two further entries from Paramjeet Jagdev
and Marie Holman received a highly
commended award for their designs.
Helen’s design was professionally printed
to and has been sent far and wide as our
corporate Christmas card for 2012.
Winner: Christmas party by service user Helen Ricketts, West Bromwich.
Runner-up: Season’s
greetings design by Marie Holman,
entertainments officer at Endeavour Court.
Runner-up: Christmas candles
and poinsettia by Paramjeet Jagdev, of
STEPS art group, in the working age dementia service.
Arts festival draws
record crowds
More than 1,100 people visited the Arts All
Over The Place in October, setting a new
attendance record for this service-user led
arts festival.
Now in its sixth year, this showcase
celebrates the creative talents of people who
have experienced mental ill health and also
highlights how artistic activities can benefit
their wellbeing.
For two weeks Lakeside Gallery, in the
Custard Factory, Digbeth, was transformed into
a creative showcase featuring a wide range of
artworks, performance and interactive
workshops.
Arts All Over The Place is service user-led,
and run in partnership with one of the city’s
leading charities, Full Potential Arts, which
helps to improve lives through creative
activities.
This year’s event was run by a committee of
artists, service users and people who work in
mental health services, overseen by Jenny
Ricks, of Full Potential Arts.
The 30 free workshops aimed to encourage
service users and non-service users to join
together in a whole range of art-based
activities.
While many familiar faces came to the
festival, a lot of new people also attended and
took part in sessions as volunteers, exhibitors,
performers, and facilitators.
Yet again the quality and diversity of artwork,
workshops, and performances made it an
exciting event with something for everyone
and, hopefully went a long way to reducing the
stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Feedback received during the festival, from
people who were involved, suggests that it
made them “feel good”, with many adding that
they now felt “inspired”.
Visitors and participants also noted there was
“the sense of community and involvement”, “to
feel included” and to “bring mental health
issues to people’s attention”.
Sue Davis, CBE, the trust’s Chair, closed the
festival on October 13, with more than 300
people attending the final day’s event.
The Arts All Over The Place committee
would like to thank everyone who helped us
make this year’s festival such a fantastic event.
Creativity takes centre stage at Tally Ho
An arts and crafts fair provided the
perfect platform for staff and service
users to showcase their talents and
celebrate World Mental Health Day.
Park Arts, which was held at the Tally Ho
centre in Edgbaston in October, as part of
World Mental Health Day, was organised by
the trust’s community engagement team.
Staff from Park Lane Garden Centre gave
a floristry demonstration, artist Jason Clarke
showed how simple art can be, while staff
from the Phoenix hub gave visitors hand
massages and sold hand-made cards.
Creative Support exhibited the World
12
Mental Health Day brick wall with individual
bricks drawn by service users.
There were also live performances
throughout the day by the trust’s Wellbeing
Community Choir, Loudeemy, Piece of Mind
Community Vibe drama group, vocal soloist
Dean Camps and saxophonist Andy Gayle
and his band.
The event was well attended by a wide
range of organisations, services and the
general public, so it is hoped a similar event
will take place in future.
Photograph courtesy of Lin Rampal
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 13
Origami promotes calm at Ardenleigh
Ardenleigh staff Tariro Nyarumbu, Harriet Hollies-Everett, Josie Partington and Elsie Clarkson Williams with their
origami birds.
Staff working at Ardenleigh’s high
dependency unit are helping service
users master the ancient art of paper
folding, origami, to promote calm and
concentration.
Since the traditional Japanese art was
introduced as an activity on Gaskell ward, it
has helped reinforce positive engagement
between female patients and staff.
The project, which was a runner-up at this
year’s Board Challenge, has helped to create
a friendly environment in which staff and
service users can engage in a relaxing
environment.
Following their success, the team at
Ardenleigh plan to refurbish the de-escalation
room to make it a calmer environment, buy
better quality paper for origami and upgrade
other arts and crafts materials.
Tariro Nyarumbu, acting service
development manager for the women’s
secure service at Ardenleigh, has seen
service users flourish as a result of
participating in origami sessions.
“Origami was introduced as a simple but
effective activity to us by one of the service
users, who has since progressed to a rehab
ward,” said Tariro.
“Our service users, when they’re first
admitted, can find it difficult to engage or
concentrate in some therapeutic activities.
“Origami is a simple engagement activity, no
need for tools, just pick up the coloured
paper and fold. It reinforces positive
engagement for service users who often
express their difficulties by engaging in
aggressive or self-harming behaviour.
“It also relieves stress. Staff have seen
service users visibly calm down while
engaged in origami.”
One member of staff described origami as
levelling the field as both nurses and service
users are all engaged in the same task.
Such is the success of this project that the
group have been asked to produce 4,000
origami birds as part of the trust’s working
better together campaign, and they were not
phased at all by the request from learning
and development.
Tariro added: “There is a noticeable calmer
atmosphere with staff and service users
tearing and folding up the bits of paper which
later become beautiful creations such as
swans, owls to give to family.
“They were excited to be involved in the rest
of the trust and have demonstrated the true
essence of working better together.”
Trust appoints new executive director
Sandra Betney, the trust’s new executive
director of resources, will take up her
post on February 1, following her
appointment in October.
Sandra, who is currently director of finance
and commerce for 2gether NHS Foundation
Trust in Gloucestershire, will take over from
interim executive director of resources,
Andrew Lee, who’s been assisting the trust
in business planning for 2013/14.
She brings with her a whole host of skills
and strong experience, and will play a key
role in advising our board on issues around
the trust’s finances, fiscal performance and
its estate.
Research is
reassuring our
patients
Dr Clare Eddy, senior research fellow
in neuropsychiatry, has been
researching the emotional changes
associated with the movement
disorder Huntington’s disease (HD).
This has led to two publications in
Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, and
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica.
Clare is recruiting patients from Dr Hugh
Rickards’ clinics at The Barberry, in
Edgbaston, for a study investigating brain
changes in HD.
Researcher Jenny Crooks asked patients
involved in the study, to share their
experiences of taking part in research that
involves fMRI scanning, which looks at
blood flow in the brain to detect areas of
activity.
Overall it appears that this was a positive
and beneficial activity for those service
users who participated in this research.
Some of their comments are below:
M, aged 28, said: “One of my main
concerns was that the staff would write
me off straight away as I am gene positive
and be patronising. However, what I found
out was the complete opposite. I found
them all to be very respectful and in fact I
felt part of a team.
“Taking part in research makes me feel
happier about life as it feels like I am
turning a negative outcome into a positive
action. I feel plugged into the system and
I’m contributing to a global goal – to find a
cure.”
L, aged 57, said: “I was terrified at the
thought of going into the scanner as I had
not been before ...While I was inside the
scanner I was being guided through each
session by a calm and soothing voice, I
knew it was worth the effort.”
Meanwhile H, aged 45, added: “The
whole experience was a big eye opener as
I have never done it before and I suffer
with claustrophobia... I didn’t find it as bad
as expected as you are kept busy doing
tasks which take your mind off it. I cannot
praise the staff enough, especially Clare,
they were all amazing and made me feel
at complete ease the whole time.”
Clare said: “We are really grateful for
these comments, and to everyone involved
in this research.
“It is great to know that taking part can
be rewarding for the individuals involved,
as well as being clinically informative.”
If you would like more information,
please contact
[email protected]
Sandra Betney.
13
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 14
ARCH south open day
The ARCH South team prepare to welcome visitors to the open day.
Our addictions services were redesigned
last year, and as a result four hubs which
cover different areas of Birmingham,
were established.
Multidisciplinary teams based at these hubs
offer a range of treatment and support
options to both drug and alcohol users.
ARCH South invited stakeholders to have a
look around the Stratford Road Centre and
find out more about the services available
during their open day on November 22.
People attending included the GP mental
health commissioner, and staff from partner
agencies including the Probation Service,
West Midlands Police, Irish in Birmingham
and local pharmacies.
They were asked to test some of the
services on offer themselves, with many
visitors enjoying acupuncture sessions and
adding to a Batik painting, which will be
donated to the hub.
More than 40 people visited ARCH South’s
open day, and their feedback was
overwhelmingly positive, with many taking
time to discuss the service with staff and how
to work better together.
Partner agencies including Aquarius and
Narcotics Anonymous had stands at the
event, which gave visitors an opportunity to
find out what additional services can be
accessed for service users, and the strong
links the ARCH South team has already
formed to help provide them with extra
support.
Beth Houston, team manager of Arch
South, said “I’m really proud of Arch South
and the committed recovery team.
“It was a great opportunity to showcase our
service and build better relationships with
community organisations”.
The event has led to the team sourcing a
room at Fircroft College, in Northfield, where
historically they have struggled to secure
appropriate premises.
This is a great opportunity for the team to
run groups in the area, and for service users
to link in with education.
Due to the great turnout and feedback,
ARCH South is planning to host monthly
coffee mornings to strengthen relationships
and raise awareness of the service.
Trust runners
complete Great
Brum Run in style
Staff took the Great Birmingham Run in
their stride when they completed the
city’s half marathon last October.
Keen runner Peter Hughes, associate
director for governance, wanted an extra
challenge, so – following a staff poll – he
tackled the 13.1 mile course dressed as a
cyberman, from the Dr Who television
series, in 2 hours 20 minutes.
Peter, who ran in aid of charity Crisis,
raised more than £750 as a result of his
energetic efforts.
The 23,056 yards were also pounded by
physiotherapists Froydis Tanhoff and
Harriet Norman, based at the Juniper
Centre in Moseley.
Both physios put themselves through the
gruelling race to go the extra mile to raise
awareness and money for the Alzheimer’s
Society, raising more than £250.
Froydis completed the Great Birmingham
Run in 1 hour 44 minutes, while Harriet
crossed the finish line on Broad Street in 2
hours 13 mins.
Tracy Birkett, lead clinical physiotherapist,
said: “I am very proud of Froydis and
Harriet, they always go that extra mile.
“The have been training very hard for this
event and they deserve to be recognised
for their achievements. They always give
100 per cent, always willing to take on new
projects and use their innovation to improve
on a quality physical therapy service.”
Peter Hughes ran dressed as a cyberman.
Trust showcases epilepsy research on international stage
London was firmly in the spotlight last
summer, not just for hosting the Olympic
and Paralympic Games, but drawing
thousands of epilepsy experts to the city
for a major international conference.
Clinicians from across Europe attended
the tenth European Congress on
Epileptology, which ran from September 30
to October 4.
Dr Andrea Cavanna, a consultant in
behavioural neurology, was invited to chair a
session on epilepsy and consciousness,
while two members of the trust’s Michael
14
Trimble Neuropsychiatry Research Group –
Dr Fizzah Ali and James Mitchell presented
their research on behavioural aspects of
epilepsy.
Following the conference, Dr Cavanna
was awarded the title visiting professor from
the University of Pavia, Italy, and invited to
deliver the opening speech for the
academic year 2012/12 at the prestigious
Catholic University of Rome.
During this speech he talked about his
research into paroxysmal disorders of
consciousness, connected to epilepsy,
which was conducted at the University of
Birmingham’s department of
neuropsychiatry
Dr Cavanna is pictured with Renato De
Giorgio, president of the Italian Association
Against Epilepsy-Piedmont Section and
Italian writer Enrico Richiardone, who
collaborate with our trust in the fight against
the social stigma associated with epilepsy
and in promoting clinical research aimed at
improving patients' quality of life.
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 15
PMHG Christmas
party returns to
Digbeth
A record number of staff and service
users attended the Positive Mental
Health Group’s (PMHG) Christmas party
in December.
More than 250 people, including trust
directors and managers, joined in the
celebrations at the Irish Centre in Digbeth.
Feedback from service users and carers
suggested that for many people it was their
only Christmas party of 2012.
Performances included sets by the trust’s
Wellbeing Community Choir, the So and
Sos soul/Motown band and karaoke led by
DJ Dean.
Creative Support who provided much of the
food and the Irish Centre kindly waived the
venue fee in support of mental health service
users and carers.
Faheem Uddin, PMHG Chair, said: “Thank
you to everyone for coming along to the party,
a great time was had by all.
“A special thank you to Jacqui Tame and
other members of the community
engagement team and Mark Hillier, patient
and public involvement, for all their hard work
in organising the event.”
Joy Warmington, non-executive director of
the trust and chief executive of BRAP, said:
“I was really impressed that the party was
organised by PMHG members and their
commitment, particularly of Faheem, to
ensure it was an enjoyable success.”
• The Positive Mental Health Group meet
on the last Thursday of each month at
the Friends Meeting Institute, 220
Moseley Road, Highgate, between
2.30pm and 4.30pm. The next meeting
will be on January 31, 2013.
Dates for your diary
JANUARY
24
Council of Governors meeting at the
Uffculme Centre, 52 Queensbridge
Road, Moseley, between 1.30pm
and 4.30pm.
FEBRUARY
10
Celebrate Chinese New Year of the
Snake around the Arcadian Centre,
Hurst Street. 12.30pm-5.30pm.
11-17 National eating disorders awareness
week. For more information go to
www.b-eat.co.uk
MARCH
13
No smoking day. For information about
help available visit
www.nosmokingday.org.uk
17
St Patricks Day parade through
Digbeth. Visit
www.stpatricksbirmingham.com for
more details.
21
Council of Governors meeting at the
Uffculme Centre, details as above.
Governor Spotlight:
Glen Ward
Staff governor, non-clinical
Why did you become a governor of
our trust?
I was delighted to be given the chance to
become non-clinical governor. Having
worked for the trust for many years I do
have a genuine interest in its future
development.
What motivates your interest in mental
health and our trust?
I first became interested in mental health in
1994 while working for West Midlands
Ambulance Service, when I was given the
opportunity to work occasional nurse bank
shifts at the Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric
Hospital in Edgbaston (QEPH).
I was then offered a full-time role at the
QEPH and left the ambulance service.
After two years’ working on the intensive
care unit, I was then offered a post at
Reaside Clinic where I worked for 11
years before moving to forensic child and
adolescent mental health services from
where I moved into customer relations.
excellent service which we already provide.
As we also now have a new chief
executive following the retirement of Sue
Turner, who worked tirelessly to continually
improve the services we provide, I feel
sure that the trust will remain at the
forefront of mental health services, and
remain in a strong position for the
challenges that lie ahead.
How do you relax in order to maintain
your own wellbeing?
I have a great interest in rock music which
I listen to whenever I can. I enjoy keeping
up to date with the news and sport. I also
enjoy watching films, and I go running
three times every week.
Have your experiences of mental
health helped you in your role as a
trust governor?
If so, how?
The 18 years I have worked within mental
health have helped to give me a good
understanding of mental illness, and the
effect such an illness can have on a
person and their family and carers.
As we are a foundation trust, how
do you plan to communicate with
your constituency?
I am hoping to highlight my role
through Connect. My constituents
are welcome to contact me by
email or through my office at
Ardenleigh.
What would you like to see
our trust achieve over the
next 12 months?
As the NHS goes through
very difficult times, it is my
hope that as a trust we
can continue to develop the
Contact details:
Glen Ward, c/o Foundation trust office, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS
Foundation Trust, 50 Summer Hill Road, Ladywood, Birmingham, B1 3RB.
Email: [email protected] Tel: (0121) 301 6857.
15
1542_trusttalk45_020113_trusttalk_45 04/01/2013 16:40 Page 16
Photography Corner
Winner: David Pyta, Birmingham –
Tessa at dawn in Allersley Park,
Coventry.
Runner-up: David Booton, staff
nurse, Hertford House, Solihull
– A heron at Ward End Park.
How you can enter
Photos can be colour or black and white images, must not feature people
and be the photographer’s own work. Digital entries should not be larger
than 4MB. The theme for the April issue will be Everything changes in the
spring. The best entries will receive a £30 gift voucher and be printed in
Trust Talk. Deadline for entries is Friday, March 1, 2012.
Email digital entries to [email protected]. If submitting hard
copies send them to: Photography Corner, Communications
department, FREEPOST Plus RRXE-GTKC-GRBZ, BSMHFT,
50 Summer Hill Road, Birmingham, B1 3RB.
Anagrams
Below are 10 words which are linked to
features in this issue of Trust Talk. Can you
figure out what they are?
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RHAC
SAWADR
GELLENACH
RICHO
SPYLEEIP
PILLOWSHEF
ROVERGNOS
WHETTAHALCH
GLEVANI
PATHYER
Answers: Arch, awards, challenge, choir,
epilepsy, fellowship, governors, healthwatch,
leaving, therapy.
16
Runner-up: Michele
Platman, perinatal
mental health services,
The Barberry,
Edgbaston – Field of
pumpkins.
Word Search
Words to find:
arts
bipolar
conference
festivals
minister
origami
poetry
psychology
reaside
research
running
singing