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Transcript of User Carer Matters
USER CARERMattersMattersIncluding news for service user and family carer foundation trust members
‘Helping people make the most of their lives’
October 2010 Issue 23
October 2010 celebrates
the launch of Suffolk
Health and Wellbeing
Month, a month long
campaign that brings
together anti-stigma events
from across the county.
There are events
happening throughout the
month in
locations across Suffolk.
There is a timetable of
events from pages 3-5 of
this edition of User Carer
Matters. For more
information on the events
taking place during
October please visit
www.keepaneyeout.co.uk
The month is being
coordinated by VASP
(Voluntary and
Statutory
Partnership), a
group of over
60 mental
health
organisations
including
Suffolk
Family
Carers,
ESAN,
Suffolk
Libraries and
teams from
around Suffolk
Mental Health
Partnership NHS Trust.
Suffolk Health and
Wellbeing Month is about
working together to raise
awareness of good mental
wellbeing and the benefits
of physical health.
The events are based
around having a healthy
mind and a healthy body.
The events expand on
VASP’s usual celebrations
of World Mental Health
Day (October 10th), an
international awareness
event originally started by
the World Federation for
Mental Health.
The month also
incorporates Time to
Change “Get moving”
events.
Time to Change is a
national anti-stigma
campaign which aims
inspire the country to put
an end mental health
discrimination.
Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Month:Get the feel good factor this October
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Workwise Suffolk hasset up a project todeliver training andemployment courses,including tastersessions, aimed atpeople who are:• Lone parents,
• People returning to the
job market aged 50+,
• Economically inactive or
• Unemployed.
The aim of the training is
to help overcome barriers
to employment and
access new skills and
qualifications.
The taster course includes
a skills analysis of each
participant to ascertain
their strengths, matching
job avenues with their
training requirements, and
forming an action plan for
progression.
This taster includes 10-
hours of sessions over a
period of one to two
months.
Worklink says no matter
what job you apply for, a
good standard of
computer literacy with a
qualification is very
important. Learners have
the option of working with
Microsoft Office packages
Word, Excel, Access or
Internet to assess their
skills levels.
Those wishing to continue
can work towards an iTQ
qualification with the full
training and employment
course.
This programme lasts 80
hours delivered in group
sessions over the course
of a year.
It provides instruction and
support to work with
Microsoft Office and gain
credits towards the iTQ
qualification by integrating
and using the skills learnt
in the workshops.
Included in this part ofthe course would be:• Skills analysis of each
participant, ascertaining
skills for training and job
match avenues
• CV development
workshops
• Skills analysis
• Letter writing
• Work
placement/volunteer with
real employers
• One to one mentoring
• Employability and
motivation workshops
• Job goals/job hunting
• Work options/employer
research
• Application forms
• Interview techniques
• Analysing adverts
• Communication skills
If you are interested in
finding out more contact
Neil or Natasha at
Workwise on 01284
755261 for an initial
meeting.
Worklink has free
training to help get
you back into work
Courses aim to give new skills and overcome barriers
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4 Oct to 7 OctChristchurch Mansion,Ipswich “Representing self” artexhibitionAn art exhibition co-
ordinated between
Colchester and Ipswich
Museums and ‘Inside
Out’, a local arts group.
Work involves the
creative, personal
exploration of
Christchurch Mansion’s
collections.
5 Oct, 12.30pm-1.15pm Beccles Library “Consequences of childabuse” talk This week deals with the
difficult and emotive
subject of child hood
abuse with talks and
information from agencies
that can offer further
support.
5 Oct, 10.30am-3.30pm Navigator Suite,Lowestoft Library Family carersnetworking event A networking event for
family carers and users of
learning disability services
to find out about mental
health services in Waveney.
6 Oct 2pm-3.30pm Endeavour House,Ipswich “Drugs in thecommunity” seminar This seminar is part of
Minds Matters a series of
friendly, informative and
free public mental health
seminars. Book on 01473
329148.
7 Oct, from 9am Sudbury Marketplace “Time to get moving”event with smoothiebike! Feel great and cycle your
way to a free smoothie,
with our fantastic
smoothie bike! The
event aims to raise
awareness of the
services provided
by local mental
health
organisations
and show the link
between good
physical and
mental wellbeing.
7 Oct, 10am-4pm Beccles Library Information stands and“Find yourself” talk This week deals with the
difficult and emotive
subject of child hood
abuse with talks and
information from agencies
that can offer further
support.
8 Oct, 10am-4pm Haverhill Library “Time to get moving”event with art and livemusic! Day will include an art and
photography competition
(judged by the Haverhill
Echo’s photographer and
the Haverhill Mayor),
acoustic music
performance, exhibition,
leaflets and more.
8 Oct, 10am-4pm Thoroughfare,Woodbridge “Mental health andwellbeing for olderpeople” informationstand This event will have
advice on general mental
health, fitness and well-
being issues in older
people, information
leaflets, fun games and
discussion on life changes
following retirement.
3
Suffolk Health and Wellbeing MonthLocal wellbeing events taking place during October 2010
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9 Oct, 10am-4pm Long Shop Museum,Leiston “Art on the move”touring art exhibition An amazing powerful and
colourful art display and
interactive workshop
inspired by emotionally
inspired art. Come and
have a go! Mobile library
on site and information
about local mental health
support services
available.
10 OctSt Clement’s Hospital, Ipswich Awareness day A fabric textile display
with individual squares
designed by clients
attending unit aims to
show creativity and the
learning new skills to
build confidence and
social interaction.
11 Oct to 18 OctSt Lawrence CentreCafé, Dial Lane, Ipswich Information stands Find out more about the
community projects and
health and wellbeing
support services in the
Ipswich area whilst
enjoying the lovely
surroundings and
refreshments at the café
in the St Lawrence
Centre.
11 Oct to 15 Oct, 9amonwards Lowestoft Library Art and photography
exhibition
14 Oct, 2pm-3.30pm West Suffolk College,
Bury St Edmunds “Coping with
depression”seminar This seminar is
part of Minds
Matters a
series of
friendly,
informative
and free
public mental
health
seminars. Book
on 01473
329148.
20 OctWedgwood House, WestSuffolk Hospital, BurySt Edmunds Presentation andinformation display To launch the proposed
new model of care to be
used at Wedgwood
House. To inform other
agencies and the public
of changes underway at
Wedgwood House and of
proposed changes and
how these will have a
positive impact on the
provision of acute
inpatient care.
22 Oct, 2pm-3.30pm United ReformedChurch, Stowmarket “Building a betterfuture” seminar A presentation about the
new build and
refurbishment projects of
Suffolk Mental Health
Partnership NHS Trust,
including new wards on
the Ipswich Hospital and
St Clement’s Hospital
sites in Ipswich and
refurbishment works at
Wedgwood House on the
West Suffolk Hospital site
in Bury St Edmunds. This
seminar is part of the
Minds Matters free public
mental health seminars.
Book on 01473 329148.
Suffolk Health and Wellbeing MonthLocal wellbeing events taking place during October 2010
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26 Oct, 11am-3pm The Apex, Bury St
Edmunds “Fun Feeling
Fabulous” An interactive
day to
encourage
awareness
and action on
keeping good
health and
wellbeing.
Jimmy Doherty
from ‘Jimmy’s
Farm’ will be
opening the event
and there will be
demonstrations and stalls
with information:
• Dance
• Walking
• Chair based exercise
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Courses to increase
mental health and
wellbeing
• Talking library
• Stop smoking advice
• Healthy eating and
healthy lifestyles.
Free healthy soup and
fruit available all day.
Suffolk Health and Wellbeing MonthLocal wellbeing events taking place during October 2010
The NHS White Paper,
Equity and excellence:
Liberating the NHS, sets
out the Government’s long-
term vision for the NHS.
The vision builds on the
NHS values and principles –
a comprehensive service,
available to all, free at the
point of use and based on
need, not the ability to pay.
There are four consultation
papers on which the
Department of Health is
seeking your views.
Commissioning forpatients. The White Paper
sets out proposals for
putting local consortia of
GP practices in charge of
commissioning services
supported by an
independent national NHS
Commissioning Board.
Local democraticlegitimacy in health. This
consultation builds on the
proposals to increase local
involvement in decision-
making in health.
Transparency inoutcomes: a frameworkfor the NHS. How the
Secretary of State for
Health will hold the NHS
Commissioning Board to
account.
Regulating healthcareproviders. This document
further outlines proposals
on foundation trusts and
the establishment of
Monitor as an independent
economic regulator.
There is also a Review of
the Arm’s Length Bodies
which is also open for
consultation.
The White Paper was
published in July and the
deadline for responses is
October 5 2010. The
supporting consultation
papers have a deadline for
responses of 11 October
2010.
For details see www.dh.
gov.uk/liberatingthenhs
Have your say on NHS reforms
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Kevin Byford fromSuffolk User Forum hasrecently beenrepresenting serviceusers on a panel toreview the system ofproviding supportedhousing for people withmental health problemsin Suffolk.
Sheltered housing
contracts, which are
commissioned by Suffolk
County Council (SCC),
are renewed every three
to five years.
To encourage services to
become more efficient
SCC have decided to
introduce a system of
‘clusters’.
The cluster system
means that rather than an
area having several
different providers, one
organisation will now bid
for all the services in a
particular area (or
cluster).
Kevin said: “The idea
behind the change is to
drive down costs without
affecting quality of
service, and I am really
positive about the
changes to the system.
“At the moment one
organisation might be
running services in Bury
St Edmunds, Haverhill
and Ipswich, meaning
staff must travel between
these locations.
“Clusters however mean
that services will become
more localised resulting in
less time on the road and
more time on care making
sheltered housing in
Suffolk more efficient.”
To ensure that all the
bidding organisations are
competent in terms of
finance and service
provision, a panel,
including Kevin, assessed
all of the written bids in
two phases.
The first phase was
reviewing the 16 bids for
good and bad points over
a four day period. The
second phase then
involved more scrutiny
such as reviewing
user/carer involvement.
Kevin added: “The panel
also came up with
additional questions for
the bids, which I found
one of the most
interesting and enjoyable
parts of the process”.
The information gathered
by this panel was then
added to financial data
about the organisations
and converted into a
percentage score. At the
end of this process there
were 11 organisations left
who are now being asked
to bid on the clusters,
starting with Waveney.
Thanks to Kevin Byford
from Suffolk User Forum
for getting in touch!
Service users
have sheltered
housing input
Age Concern Suffolk is a
charity that works for older
people in the county by
campaigning on their
behalf and providing
services.
One service that the
charity provides is a
‘domestic information
helpline’ that collects and
provides information on
ways to help people in
their own homes.
If you would like advice on
how to access support or
assistance with cleaning,
shopping, odd jobs etc,
then the helpline is open
9.30am - 12.30pm Monday
– Thursday on 0845 330
0470 (local rate call).
Age Concern domestic helpline
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NAME (optional:)
CONTACT DETAILS (optional:)
COMMENTS:
Please continue on a separate sheet of paper if necessary.
Feedback form
Please send ideas, thoughts, stories and queries using this form. You may cut out this
section of the newsletter and send it to the freepost address on the next page.
Asking staff
to cover upSome of the explicit tattoos
worn by Trust staff are
rather worrying for patients
when they are very unwell.
We do appreciate the need
people have for self
expression but we are
concerned that pictures of
dragons, knifes, skulls, etc,
can be observed by
patients that are unwell as
frightening and symbolic.
We have asked staff at the
Trust to adhere to the
dress policy and keep
these tattoos covered up
while on duty.
If you are a service user or
family carer who have
found tattoos worrying
Suffolk User Forum would
like to hear from you.
Larry Nicholas
Suffolk User Forum
The board of Suffolk
Mental Health Partnership
NHS Trust has endorsed a
policy to communicate
effectively with patients if
things go wrong.
The aim is to ensure
sensitive, empathetic,
honest, timely and open
communication with
patients involved in serious
incidents such as a death
or serious harm to a
patient. Central to the
policy is acknowledgement
of distress caused and the
principle that both verbal
and written apologies
should be made as soon
as possible.
Research has shown that
this type of policy improves
patient satisfaction and
reduces the number of
formal complaints and
litigation, saving thousands
or even millions of pounds
of public money.
Patients must be offered
advocates to support them,
including the Trust’s own
Patient Advice and Liaison
Service (PALS).
See www.smhp.nhs.uk
Trust endorses Being Open
If you have worries or issues about the Trust thenthe Patient Advice and Liaison Service can help youget the information you need. PALS is a confidentialservice to help sort problems quickly rather thanservice users having to make a formal complaint.PALS officer James Woolnough can liaise on yourbehalf with staff and will listen to all your concerns,suggestions and queries about the Trust. CallJames on 0800 585544 or email [email protected]
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CONTACT USIf you would like furtherinformation on any of thenews stories in this issuewe will be happy to help.Contributions arewelcomed, but may beedited.
The Editorial Team
Foundation Trust Office
St Clement’s Hospital
Freepost
RRKY-AAKL-UEUS
PO Box 170
IP3 8LS
(No stamp needed.)
Tel: 0800 585544
Email address:
Have a look at our
websites to find out more
about our services and
campaigns:
www.smhp.nhs.uk
www.ifyouknew.co.uk
SIGNPOST
Age Concern domestic
information helpline
(Mon-Thur, 9:30pm -
12:30pm) 0845 330
0470 www.age
concernsuffolk.org.uk
PALS – PatientAdvice and LiaisonServiceOpen Mondays and
Tuesdays 10am to 4pm
and Wednesdays 10am
to 12noon 0800 585544
Suffolk Family Carershelpline (Mon-Fri, 9am-
4pm) 01473 232679
www.suffolk-
carers.org.uk
Suffolk User ForumEast: 01473 329316
West: 01284 713000,
ext 2316
Voluntary andStatutory Partnership(VASP)Julia Carr 01284
764808. Hosted by
www.suffolkmind.org.uk
White Paperconsultationwww.dh.gov.uk/
liberatingthenhs
Workwise01284 755261www.
workwisesuffolk.org.uk
This page contains contacts relevant to the
stories and articles in the issue.
If you have any organisations you think we should
be signposting people to then let us know using
the feedback form!
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