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Issue 32 April/May 2010

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Campaign to stub out smoking

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Trust’s double win at HSJ Mental Health Challenge

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New guidelines could help save lives

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Mark’s life away from addiction Join us at Race for Life

Chief executive’s message

Spring has finally arrived bringing with it new starts and time for reflection as our Trust enters a new financial year. Our Trust scooped more prestigious prizes at the Health Service Journal Mental Health Challenge as our team of clinicians, led by a carer and service user governor, won two awards in March. After a day of rigorous tasks, they beat 11 teams from across the country to be named best team. They also received a trophy for best media performance in a fictitious press conference. We have also been instrumental in devising a series of new guidelines, aimed at those working with women with mental health problems who may be at risk of domestic abuse, which were launched in March. Being able to empower health workers to raise this difficult issue with women, who may have turned to alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism, will ultimately help save lives by

being able to address it early on. Mental Health Action Week (April 4-11) aims to show people how to improve their wellbeing and maintain good mental health through various activities – including sports. Our former deputy director of nursing Chris Halek had a zest for life and enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was walking in New Zealand or gardening at home. Sadly she lost her battle against cancer and died peacefully on February 6. I would like to give my condolences to Chris’s family and say my thoughts are with them at this very sad time. I do hope many of you feel inspired to join me in taking part in one of Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life events to run or walk 5k in Birmingham, Solihull or Sutton Coldfield in May and June.

Sue Turner, chief executive.

RiO set to streamline patient care records Over the next year, our Trust will take a major step forward to support patient care by migrating to electronic care records from our current combination of paper and ePEX computer systems. RiO, the new system, is already used in 17 mental health trusts in England and there are many benefits for both service users and clinicians. Service users’ information will be collated together. Staff will have access to all the relevant information at the point of care, instead of waiting for paper records to be found or transported from another trust site. RiO will ensure alerts, critical risk and care plan information are readily available and notified to the right people, which will reduce risks for both service users and staff. It also has good security measures which will ensure access to the sensitive information held in individual records is limited to those who need it and are involved in the case. Detailed planning and design work is underway and the first implementation will be in the forensic programme during the summer, with older adults services following a few months later. Staff feedback shows how much they like the screen layout, feel it will be easy to use and be of real benefit to their role.

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 June issue is May 7, 2010.

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Suzanne Brammall, care pathways programme manager, said “I really like the look of RiO and it is much easier to use than ePEX and I found it easy to find my way around it.”

A screen grab of a RiO system records page

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Substance misuse consultant Dr Veejay Murali, director of pharmacy and medicine management Nigel Barnes, Sue Coffee – head of allied health professionals, Trust chairman Professor Peter Marquis, and non-executive director David Boden at the No Smoking Day event.

Trust’s call for staff and patients to A new initiative aimed at smokers across our Trust was launched on No Smoking Day last month. Our chairman Professor Peter Marquis and Dr Chris Spencer-Jones, the city’s director of public health, launched the initiative on behalf of Birmingham Health and Wellbeing Partnership on March 10. Smokers are four times more likely to quit with the help of a smoking cessation service, and a range of events were hosted by the Partnership, between local NHS trusts and the city council. One in four people in Birmingham smoke (25 per cent) which is higher than the national average of 21 per cent. Smokers are four times more likely to stub out the habit successfully if they use their

stop smoking

local stop smoking service, which can offer free advice and support to people who want to quit. BSMHFT’s own scheme, launched at the Oleaster Centre in Edgbaston, relays some hard hitting messages to staff and service users about the impact smoking has on their health. A series of striking posters highlight the effect smoking can have on medication, people’s health, and their finances with slogans like “If you stop smoking you may need less medication” and “Children are four times more likely to be smokers if parents smoke.” Professor Marquis said: “Our commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of our staff and service users, has resulted in real

progress being made over the past few years in smoking cessation. “This approach has helped improve the health and wellbeing of our service users, along with their mental health. It has also helped to improve their economic wellbeing and their families’ health too.” Our Trust also wants to reduce smoking rates by 10 per cent over the next two years, by March 2012. Reducing smoking rates among service users is a key aim in order to improve the physical health of people with mental illness. •For information contact the national Stop Smoking Service on 0800 052 5855.

CBT for inpatient and crisis settings

Renowned author and clinical psychologist Isabel Clarke delivered a fascinating workshop for some of our psychologists on a new method of applying cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Isabel, with her colleague Donna Rutherford from Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust, gave a talk on CBT for inpatient and crisis settings at the Barberry Centre on January 21. The event, for staff in our Trust’s acute care programme, was based on recent advances in neuroscience research and what is being called ‘third wave CBT’.

Isabel’s adaptation of CBT methods focuses on the core emotions experienced by service users when they are in crisis, and putting them at the centre of their therapy. As her book - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Acute Inpatient Mental Health Units ( Clarke & Wilson 2009, Routledge Press) – indicates, this also involves creating a therapeutic environment characterised by reflective practice. Previously many clinicians have been concerned that starting psychological therapy when service users are acutely unwell may be ineffective or potentially harmful. However, NICE guidance issued last year

suggests psychological interventions for people with schizophrenia or depression should be offered at an early stage. Isabel’s work offers a means to do this safely and effectively and has evidence to support its use. Psychologists in acute care welcomed Isabel’s pioneering ideas and have now started work on how they can be applied in our inpatient, assertive outreach and home treatment teams. This well-attended CBT workshop was organised by co-psychology leads, Mary Tyson and Newman Leung, and supported by Bernadette Byrne.

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Trust scoops a double win in HSJ challenge

A group of clinicians, a service user and a carer beat 11 teams from across the country to win the HSJ Mental Health Challenge. Our Trust’s team – called Brummies on the Board – won the trophies for best team and best media performance during the day-long event at The Oval, in Kennington, London, on March 2. Liz Thurling, senior nurse at the Oleaster Centre, Jil Thomas, modern matron at Endeavour Court, Jennifer Hughes a senior nurse at Eden Unit and ward manager David Austin were on the winning team, led by Enid Said, chairman of Birmingham Mental Health Carers’ Forum, and Faheem Uddin, a service user governor for the Trust. Each team member took on board-level

Our Trust’s team – Brummies on the Board – collect the first of two awards at the HSJ Mental Health Challenge

roles including chief executive, director of nursing, non-executive directors, as they decided how to make £20 million in savings in a fictitious health trust. Throughout the day teams were also handed mini-challenges, such as meetings with union officials and holding a press conference, as a panel of judges scored their performance. Liz said: “A lot of the things this fictional trust should have been doing as part of the challenge, BSMHFT already does such as community engagement, using integrated care records and such. “I think the fact we were able to draw from initiatives and procedures already in place here shows what a forwardthinking trust we are. “Overall it was a great exercise, really good fun, I know we all enjoyed it.” Faheem, who was a non-executive director for the challenge, added: “It was a really good day, we had the main task to make £20 million in savings, but the extra challenges during the day really kept us on our toes. “Jil was very good as our chief executive in the press conference because she stood her ground during that exercise, which is probably what impressed the judges.”

Winners all: (back row) Modern matron Jil Thomas, ward manager David Austin, with (front row) senior nurse Liz Thurling and senior staff nurse Jennifer Hughes with the Trust’s trophies for Best Team and Best Media Performance.

Appreciation shown to our volunteers

Volunteers have helped provide a wide variety of activities at our Phoenix Centre, in Erdington, for many years. However due to a recent influx of volunteers offering to run activity sessions, it was decided they deserved recognition for their services at the day centre. Mary DuNoyer, the centre’s co-ordinator, suggested an appreciation day should be held to celebrate all the work our volunteers do, which was supported by Pat Hemmings, recovery and wellbeing programme director. On February 25, eight volunteers were presented with a certificate and a small token of appreciation by Mary and Val Bannister, professional lead occupational therapist, at the Phoenix Centre. Volunteers who received recognition were: John Bates (computer skills), Micheal Betts (cycling club and general help), Chris Care (Friendship Club), Martin Davies (Woodcraft), Michelle Gibson (keep fit and relaxation), Marian Hayes (arts and crafts), Pat McCashin (hair and beauty), Ralph Nash (Breakfast club and Wiii sessions). Val said: “This was a really good opportunity to recognise some of the work that done by volunteers and other agencies who often work so hard without reward.” Michelle Gibson, who suffered a head injury in 1994 and now runs health and

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Michael Betts receives his certificate from Mary DuNoyer.

fitness sessions, said: “I found that my interest and ability to exercise has made me stronger and helped me to overcome my injuries. Therefore it makes me feel happy to encourage others to enjoy becoming fit.”

Volunteer Ralph Nash added: “I wanted to give something back to the Trust for their help, support and guidance. I would like to give a big thank you to the Phoenix Centre and Birmingham Mind.”

Reducing the cost of fraud in the NHS

Fraud in the NHS is a drain on the valuable assets meant for patient care and costs the health service hundreds of millions of pounds. The situation is improving year on year as recovery of money, prosecution of offenders and awareness of the issue continue to build. However a considerable amount of money is still lost through patient, practitioner and staff fraud. The NHS Counter Fraud Service aims to reduce this to an absolute minimum, and maintain it at that level. Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust has in place a team of Local Counter Fraud Specialists (LCFS) who are the first line of defence against fraud. Their role includes raising awareness of the risk of fraud amongst Trust staff, reducing the risk of fraud through a programme of proactive work and, in the event of a suspicion being raised, conducting formal investigations. Staff who wish to find out more, request a fraud awareness training session, or highlight an area of concern, can contact one of the Trust’s LCFS. Contact: Lorna Barry email [email protected] or call 0121 695 5157, or David Fletcher email [email protected] or call 0121 695 5162.

Charity events

Staff are inviting Trust Talk readers to support two more charity events this Spring. Amateur anglers can take part in a charity fishing match at Moorlands Farm Fishery, in Hartlbury, near Kidderminster next month. The event on May 22 is a pairs match, limited to 120 anglers, with entry at £25 per person. All monies raised will go to Help For Heroes. For more details on how to enter email [email protected]. Meanwhile Tim Taylor, a CPN with Handsworth home treatment team, will set off on a 12-day charity bike ride from London to Geneva, in Switzerland, on June 16. He is currently in training for the 620-mile challenge, which he is doing in aid of the Christadelphian Meal-a-Day Fund. To find out how to sponsor Tim email [email protected].

From left to right: Liz Mayne, Department of Health; Maureen Connolly, chair of Birmingham Domestic Violence Forum; Denise Wilson, director of quality, improvement and patient experience; Dave Newnham, head of safeguarding; Joanne Carter, Birmingham City Council; Helen Garratt, Aquarius; Catch Gilliver, SIFA Fireside; and Lynne Johnson safeguarding lead.

New domestic violence guidelines to help save lives

Guidelines that could help health workers recognise potential signs of domestic violence and help save lives of women and children in Birmingham, were launched last month. Our Trust’s safeguarding team regularly see women at risk of violence or cruelty in their own homes, with mental health issues which may be linked to drink or drug problems, often developed as a coping strategy. More than 30,000 children in Birmingham either experience or witness domestic violence, which can often go unnoticed or unreported. Their lives – and those of their mothers - could be saved if frontline health workers raised the issue with patients they believe are at risk. A set of new guidelines that aim to give GPs, mental health workers and other professionals confidence to question women who may be at risk of abuse at home, were launched on International Women’s Day on March 8. Liz Mayne, the national lead on establishing routine enquiry of abuse in mental health, chaired the meeting at the Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston. She said: “This strategy represents an excellent example of multi-agency working to address and reduce the incidence of domestic violence and related substance misuse problems, protect more women and children, and identify a greater number of perpetrators.” Lynne Johnson, the Trust’s safeguarding lead for women, domestic violence and sexual safety, said: “This is never an easy subject to bring up but we know there is a link between

domestic violence, mental health and drug/alcohol problems. “To acknowledge this will ensure patients follow appropriate care pathways and interventions, with a Lynne Johnson collaborative approach across all relevant agencies. “It’s clear many develop addictions through substances they use in order to cope with their situation, but if healthcare professionals had the confidence to ask about potential abuse at assessment, lives could be saved.” Women who experience domestic violence are 15 times more likely to use alcohol and nine times more likely to turn to drugs, than women with no history of abuse. Paula Harding, of Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, said: “It is alarming how many child deaths occur in homes where there are mental health issues, substance abuse or domestic violence. “These guidelines will give health professionals faced with such cases the confidence to ask the appropriate questions, so they can be referred on for treatment – and refuge. “As well as helping women, including many mothers, I do think this work could also help reduce the number of child deaths in our region.” The Good Practice Guidelines document was drawn up in partnership with Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, Safer Birmingham Partnership, Birmingham Domestic Violence Forum and Birmingham Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

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Providing a future away from addiction

Overcoming addiction can seem like a mammoth task, even asking for help can seem impossible to those battling drink or drug problems. As part of Mental Health Action Week (April 4-11) we are encouraging people with drink and drug problems not to be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. Damion Begley, who manages the Trust’s substance misuse service, said: “Taking the first step to ask for help can be hard, but our trained staff will support you all the way. “We pride ourselves on being able to offer rapid access to quality treatment, to help people address their own issues with drink or drugs.” Service user Mark works with staff at The Bridge, one of the Trust’s treatment centres in Solihull. After seeking help for his own addiction, he now wants to help others. As a boy he spent time hanging around with his brother and friends smoking cannabis, but his regular absence from school resulted in him being taken into care at 13. Mark said: “That’s when it started. That was a really horrible year for me – I was taken away from my parents, put into a care home, but I wouldn’t stay there so I was sent to boarding school in Cheltenham where I came into contact with all sorts. “By 15 I’d left school, was on glue and already been to prison twice, but I just didn’t care.” He continued to experiment with “soft” drugs until 1994, when his mother died – and he began using heroin and crack cocaine. “Her death was obviously a trigger, someone said using heroin would help me forget, take away the pain, and that’s what it did. I liked how it blotted everything out for me,” he said. “That was my low point but at the time I felt like I didn’t have a care in the world, so I

carried on but it wrecked my life – I lost my wife, my family, everything.” Five years later Mark was struck another emotional blow when his father died, while he was back in prison. “When I came out in 2002, I went to The Bridge where I started going through rehab, but I wasn’t ready for it then, so I wound up back in prison. It was only on release in 2006 that I felt I could really commit to getting clean. “Everyone here is so helpful and friendly,

they got me onto the Solihull Users Group and into conferences where I met other service users who had had similar experiences. “What I really want to do now is to train to work with people from mental health problems, I’ve already had some mentoring with carers, I want to put something back now after all the help I’ve had. “No-one is going to carry you on this journey but they will work with you, help you to recover. Without this place I know I’d still

Eight ways to improve your mental wellbeing

TALKING

TO FAMILY, FRIENDS OR COLLEAGUES CAN HELP EASE WORRIES OR LIFT A LOW MOOD. THESE ARE PEOPLE YOU KNOW WELL AND SO WILL LISTEN IF YOU WANT TO SHARE ANY PROBLEMS OR WORRIES, AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU TACKLE THEM.

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WORK IS AN IMPORTANT COPING MECHANISM, AS IT CAN GIVE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES A SENSE OF PURPOSE AND BEING VALUED. STRUCTURED MEETINGS, TAKING DESIGNATED MEAL AND SCREEN BREAKS, AND PRIORITISING TASKS CAN HELP YOU TO WORK SMART, NOT LONG.

REGULAR EXERCISE CAN BOOST SELFESTEEM AS WELL AS HELP YOU TO KEEP FIT. WHETHER IT’S DANCING, FOOTBALL, PLAYING IN THE PARK OR A BRISK WALK, REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY CAN ALSO AID RELAXATION, REDUCE ANXIETY, AID CONCENTRATION AND IMPROVE SLEEP.

DIET IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. EATING AT LEAST THREE BALANCED MEALS A DAY, INCLUDING FIVE PORTIONS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, CAN BOOST MENTAL ALERTNESS. ALSO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND TRY TO REDUCE SUGAR, FAT AND CAFFEINE LEVELS.

be on drugs, but I’m not – and for that I’m very grateful.” Our Trust’s drug and alcohol treatment services are free, confidential and provide both medical and non-medical treatments, such as talking therapies.

•Mark’s name has been changed to protect his identity. Trust Talk would like to thank him for sharing his story.

Mental Health Action Week to tackle loneliness

While one may be the loneliest number, with record numbers of people now living alone in England, those with seemingly busy lives can be overwhelmed by loneliness too. The Mental Health Foundation, which uses practical projects and research to help people prevent, survive and recover from mental health problems, will publish its report on loneliness on April 6. Mental Health Action Week (April 4-11) is an annual event which aims to raise awareness of how different aspects of our lives an affect our mental wellbeing. Loneliness is one of society’s greatest dreads. Most people have felt it at some point in their lives, however it is a subject rarely discussed in public. With the stresses of modern living coupled with societal and media pressures to experience ‘togetherness’ – through loving relationships with friends, relatives and

partners – it seems loneliness is one of the last taboos. A rising divorce rate and changes in working practices, such as remote working or relocating to take up new opportunities, have caused people of all ages to suffer pangs of loneliness Previously single-occupancy households were associated with older adults, whose wife or husband had died, but that is no longer the case as people of all ages now live alone, either through choice or circumstance. Single parents, new students, lone carers and those with mental health illness are just as vulnerable to loneliness as the elderly. Volunteering with organisations such as WRVS can help people to develop new social networks, while talking to your GP or a counsellor may also help. •To find out more about the MHF Loneliness Report, go to www.mentalhealth.org

A sign writing service, run by our Trust, is one of the occupational therapy options open to service users looking to develop new skills as part of their recovery. Express Signs, based at Vulcan House in Solihull, offers volunteers the chance to work in a small team producing badges, banners and signs for a variety of clients, including BSMHFT. Not only is it a stepping stone for those looking for a job – providing valuable work experience – this venture enables service users to build their confidence and establish a working routine.

The small team, of up to 12 volunteers, is supported and supervised by Daniel Done, a technical instructor. Daniel said: “As part of our recovery and wellbeing programme, the work service users do here really helps to boost their confidence and add structure to their day. “Most, if not all, those who come here hope to enter voluntary or paid work as a result of the experience and skills they develop with us.” •For more information about Express Signs call Daniel on 0121 709 0749.

Express Signs shows service users way to work

Photo posed by model. Courtesy: iStockphoto.com

written and illustrated by Selina Langi

TAKING

A BREAK FROM THE DAILY ROUTINE – EITHER AT WORK OR AT HOME – IS GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL WELLBEING. WHETHER IT’S A SHORT HOLIDAY OR MEETING A FRIEND FOR LUNCH, RELAXING CAN HELP RECHARGE YOUR BATTERIES. SOMETIMES THE WORLD CAN WAIT.

ACCEPTING WHO YOU ARE CAN BE LIBERATING. SOME PEOPLE ARE GOOD AT SPORTS, OTHERS AT PAINTING OR SOLVING PROBLEMS – BUT EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN UNIQUE SKILL OR TALENT. RECOGNISE WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT AND BE PROUD OF WHO YOU ARE.

HELPING OUT CAN BOOST PEOPLE’S IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE SELF-ESTEEM BY GIVING THEM A SENSE WITH THINGS AND FEEL IN NEED OF HELP, DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR IT. OF ACHIEVEMENT. VOLUNTEERING AND CARING FOR OTHERS CAN HELP YOU SEE OUR PATIENT ADVICE AND LIAISON THE WORLD FROM ANOTHER ANGLE, AND SERVICE ON 0800 953 0045 CAN PUT ANY PERSONAL PROBLEMS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH SUPPORT GROUPS AROUND BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL.

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Artist’s impression of the courtyard at the new Moseley Hall Hospital.

Moseley Hall Hospital: Update

An important milestone was reached in March in facilitating the move to the new development – naming the building and its suites. It was decided that the names should follow the same principles as those used in naming the Birmingham New Hospital Mental Health Project, which opened in May 2008. Various groups were engaged in the process and who put forward names for a shortlist, from which the final names were chosen.

The following names have now been agreed. The new building will be called the Juniper Centre and the inpatient wards will be named as follows: Ward 1 (Dementia Unit-Female) The Rosemary Suite Ward 2 (Dementia Unit –Male) The Sage Suite

Ward 3 ( Functional Unit—Mixed) The Bergamot Suite

Best research for best health

The Heart of England Hub of the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN) is funded by the research arm of the NHS: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It is hosted by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s Research and Development Unit, although we work with, and have staff based within, a number of NHS Trusts across the Midlands. The Hub’s role is to assist in achieving the NHS Operational Framework’s aim of doubling the number of people participating in clinical research. In order to do this the Hub co-ordinates and supports the delivery of large-scale portfolio research projects that will inform policy and practice, therefore ensuring up-to-date evidence based practice and improving patient care. It provides hands-on support to clinical teams and study teams to aid set-up of studies, gaining local research and development approval, identifying potentially suitable participants and on occasions, collecting research data. Portfolio research means the study team have been through a rigorous competitive funding process - the research

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will have been peer reviewed, it is viewed that the research will bring benefits to the NHS and its patients, and, will have had involvement of those who have experienced mental health services. All research supported by the Hub will have been through the NHS ethical review process. The Hub currently has 57 studies either in set-up, open to recruitment or in follow-up. One of these is the Viewpoint Survey, which aims to document the experiences of stigma and discrimination in mental health services across England. Since 2008, up to 1,000 service users are recruited across five mental health trusts to take part in this survey, which is being conducted annually until 2012. Our Trust is taking part in the 2010 wave, along with Lincolnshire Partnership, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Leeds Partnership and the Five Borough Partnership. From April a number of people from BSMHFT will be invited to take part in telephone interviews for this study which is part of the national anti-stigma campaign Time To Change. The results will help combat the stigma around mental health in the future.

Courtesy: Design Buro.

Therapy Suite: The Sandalwood Suite

Each suite will have a signature colour and logo in relation to its name, in line with the themes adopted at the Barberry and Oleaster Centres. A new artist’s impression of the courtyard at the Moseley Hall Hospital development shows how the site will look when it is completed later this year.

If you have any queries about the MHRN Heart of England Hub and want to get involved in this research please call 0121 678 4326 or email [email protected].

“Future” members sign up at Villa Park

Thousands of people looking for work at a recent Futures recruitment event held at Aston Villa’s ground. The two-day jobs fair, showcasing opportunities with employers across Birmingham and the West Midlands, attracted more than 3,200 people to the Holte Suite on February 25 and 26. Our Trust’s community engagement team also attended the event to highlight the benefits of working in mental health – and of becoming a member of BSMHFT. Over the two days, the team managed to sign up 219 people as new foundation trust members. •For more information on how to become a member, visit our Trust’s website www.bsmhft.nhs.uk.

Dignity Action Day celebrations

Dignity is one of the core values at the heart of the care our Trust provides to service users. National Dignity Action Day gave everyone an opportunity to explain what they do to up hold people’s rights to dignity – and in turn provided a memorable day for those receiving care. Events were staged at sites across the Trust with staff, service users, families and the public all invited to take part on February 25. Individuals are given choice, control, a sense of purpose in their daily lives and opportunities to take part in stimulating activities. As well as providing patients with an extra special day, it also raised awareness of the importance of dignity in care – and reminded everyone they have a role to play in preserving the dignity of those in their community. It is not the sole responsibility of health and social care workers. Staff at Nightingale House held a dignity open day where activities co-ordinator Betty Black showed the wide range of resources available for patients to use. Cathy Keogh, housekeeper at Nightingale, and her team were also on hand to explain why they take pride in ensuring the wards are always cleaned to the highest standards. Meanwhile staff at Ashcroft set up a dementia care mapping feedback session to map the quality of care. They also held a party to celebrate some service users’ life histories, followed by a debate on dignity and same-sex accommodation.

Poet Janet Qureshi

Positive power of poetry

Activities co-ordinator Betty Black and manager Kay Hargreaves in the activities suite at Nightingale House.

Elsewhere in the Trust, Dignity Action Day parties, pamper sessions and promotional events illustrated what our staff do to ensure care is centred on the person and what they want.

Schools get the mental health message

Pupils preparing for their exams, and the world beyond the school gates, are receiving special seminars from our Trust’s community engagement team. A programme of school visits across Birmingham and Solihull to promote basic mental health awareness, and the services available to support young people, has already reached hundreds of teenagers at 14 schools. Lakhvir Rellon, director of community engagement, has made a series of presentations on mental health and wellbeing to pupils, to give them an insight into mental health issues and challenge the stigma surrounding them. As well as promoting active discussions during sessions with Year 10, 11 and sixth form students, working within mental health and the NHS is also presented as a positive career option. During each session pupils also watch the U R A Star DVD which features rapper Witness.

Lakhvir, who visited Sutton Grammar School on March 4, said: “So far the feedback has been very encouraging and the discussions have been lively and positive. “I believe promoting positive mental health among young people lays a sound foundation for mental health and wellbeing into adulthood and older age.”

A stroke victim who wrote poems intended as a legacy to her loved ones has published her first anthology. Janet Qureshi, a member of the Positive Mental Health Group, suffered a serious stroke in 1993 and – not knowing how well she would recover – started writing poetry. The retired businesswoman, who lives in Kings Heath, wrote verse after verse to share her feelings with friend and family. Her first collection, entitled Aspects Of Life, was published as an e-book last November and a paperback edition is due to be printed later this year. “I was 47 when I had my stroke, which was out of the blue, and it was considered pretty serious at the time, so I wanted to leave something meaningful for those close to me,” said Janet. “When I first got the idea to try and publish them I had about 30 poems, but now there’s more than 50 in the book, which is 62 pages. “It began as a personal legacy and became part of my recovery, but I never expected it to be taken up like this. I just hope my book will help inspire people to be optimistic about mental health problems.” Janet was helped in her quest to become a published poet by friends at the University of Birmingham, who introduced her to Chipmunka Publishing, a social enterprise which gives a voice to writers with mental health illness. •For more information about Chipmunka Publishing or to download Janet’s e-book Aspects of Life, go to www.chipmunkapublishing.co.uk.

Lakhvir Rellon, director of community engagement, with sixth form students at Sutton Grammar School.

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Staff tributes to mental health innovator

Colleagues paid tribute to Chris Halek, our Trust’s former deputy director of nursing, at a special memorial service in Oxford. Chris, who left BSMHFT to become director of nursing at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust in 2007, had been battling cancer. She died peacefully on February 6, 2010. The 53-year-old - who had a passion for singing, gardening and walking - had cancer, such that last December she moved to the Katharine House Hospice, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, to receive care and treatment. A requiem mass was held at Blackfriars, in Oxford, on February 25. Widely regarded as an innovator in mental health nursing, as she helped shape nursing development units to support people with eating disorders. Martin Herriot, deputy director of nursing, said: “We did the same job when the Trust was still split into South Birmingham and North Birmingham trusts, so we worked very closely. “Chris had a very keen sense of nursing as a profession and took her responsibilities as a public servant very seriously. “As well as singing with the choir, she loved

Chris Halek enjoyed walking

walking and had been on walking holidays including to New Zealand. She was also known for the ever-changing colour of her hair, often differing shades of red. “Chris was very supportive, not just of her own staff but of her colleagues as well, a real pleasure to work with.” Mark Harvey, who leads on service user and staff development, added: “Chris was

very driven, she managed to get people to work outside of their comfort zone to achieve things. “When I had a relapse of MS I was considering taking early retirement, but she convinced me to stay and helped sort things out. She was a good friend who’s sorely missed.” In June 2007, Chris was appointed as director of nursing at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. Sandy Taylor, chief executive of that Trust, said: “Chris was an energetic, innovative and thoroughly dedicated NHS professional, who touched the lives of many of us, on a professional and a personal level. She will be greatly missed.” Tom Sandford, director of the Royal College of Nursing England, also paid tribute to Chris and her achievements. “Chris’s role in shaping nursing development units to support people with eating disorders remains one of the most cutting edge innovations in this area of mental health care. “She contributed generously to supporting colleagues across the mental health nurse director community and will be very much missed.”

Join Trust boss at Race for Life

Our chief executive Sue Turner is urging colleagues to join her at one of Cancer Research UK’s annual Race for Life events. Sue will join thousands of other women in Sutton Park on June 19 to run or walk 5k (3.1 miles) around the picturesque park. As well as raising money for an excellent cause, Sue wants staff to take part as an act of remembrance for the Trust’s former deputy director of nursing Chris Halek, who died on February 6. “Chris had a zest for life and enjoyed being outdoors, whether it was walking in New Zealand or gardening at home,” she said. “I’m hoping many of you will feel inspired to join me in taking part in the Race for Life in Sutton Park. “I can’t wait to get stuck in with friends and colleagues from the Trust, to raise money for a really good cause, Cancer Research UK.” Race entries, which cost £12.99 per person, must be made on line at www.raceforlife.org as soon as possible, as this popular series of events are often fully booked weeks beforehand. Anyone can take part whether they are an amateur athlete or a sociable stroller. For those unavailable on June 19, other Race for Life 5k events still open in our area are: May 13: Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston (7.30pm) June 19: Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield (3pm) June 20: Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield (11am) June 27: Solihull (11am).

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Lakhvir Rellon, director of community engagement, with Faheem Uddin, a service user governor (both seated) and her team on the set of Broken Silence at Brit Asia TV.

Trust talks to Brit Asia TV

Members of our Trust’s community engagement team took part in a televised debate on the taboo and stigma surrounding mental health issues last month. Lakhvir Rellon, director of community engagement appeared with her colleagues on the Broken Silence Show, broadcast on Asian music channel Brit Asia TV, on March 9. The programme focuses on different topics for debate within the Asian communities, and is broadcast on Sky

Digital channel 833 on Tuesdays, with a repeat on Sundays. As a popular music station, which shows popular Brit Asian videos, it enabled Lakhvir’s team – Sukhy Dhanda, community engagement worker; Ajaib Khan, community development officer for Rethink); Kully Kaur, primary care team manager; Jaz Kainth, BME community development worker; Satvir, a service user, and Faheem Uddin, service user governor – to get their anti-stigma message over to a wider, younger audience.

How to contact your governor

A central email and phone number have been set up to make it easier for staff, service users and members to contact their governors. Any queries or correspondence can be sent for the attention of the relevant governor to this new email address: [email protected]. Messages can also be left with our foundation trust membership office by calling 0121 301 1229.

Members’ gold card discounts

Medic Care Ltd in conjunction with our Trust will shortly be launching a new staff and member benefits scheme. This is a list of local businesses who offer a range of discounts, for unlimited use, over the next 12 months for all staff, members and their families. To benefit from these discounts, simply present a special gold card at time of purchase. These will be issued to staff and members shortly, and extra gold cards can be requested for family members by calling 0800 783 8594. Details of these discounts can be found at www.mediccarenhs.co.uk. For those without internet access an information booklet will also be available via the phoneline. More information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks so please check Team Talk staff briefings or the Medic Care website for further details. This scheme is produced without financial implication to the Trust, employees or foundation members.

Quiz keeps Simon on target

Staff and colleagues helped Simon Whitehorn raise more than £600 at a charity quiz held at Uffculme in March. Simon is aiming to raise at least £3,000 for Help for Heroes by taking part in the Big Battlefield Bike Ride from Cherbourg to Dunkirk in May. A total of 19 teams turned out for the charity quiz, with entry fees and raffle ticket sales raising £611.85 – taking the total raised so far to £3,030. Vicky Clarke, locum deputy director of nursing, and her team were winners on the night, with teams from IT and Adults of Working Age tying for second place.

Governor Spotlight:

Loris Tapper, carer governor

Why did you become a governor of BSMHFT? In 2008, the Trust launched a robust recruitment campaign which drew the attention of many people from different backgrounds, including myself. Around this time I was attending the Delivering Racial Equality conference in Birmingham where I met some of the Trust’s community engagement team, who encouraged me to consider becoming a governor. As a BME carer I felt I could make a valuable contribution that would help the Trust achieve it’s aims and objectives. Do you have any previous experience of the mental health sector? Two of my sons became unwell with mental health problems and, as a result, for many years now I’ve been actively involved in various mental health forums and conferences. Previously I chaired the Handsworth Community Centre for Mental Health and I also worked as a deputy manager of hostel in Birmingham for people who were mentally ill. I’m also involved in forums for people with learning disabilities and was recently appointed vice-chair of the Carers Partnership Board.

Many of these forums are now putting together newsletters to share these. Sometimes I feel I need to communicate more with them, maybe using the internet would help improve communication between the governors, both ways. What changes do you foresee now that we are a Foundation Trust? As our Trust enters the 21st Century it will go from strength to strength, there are still many difficulties to be addressed, mainly the disadvantages and discrimination faced by many members of our society. I am sure that includes many members of our Trust. Inequality of service delivery to BME carers and service users must be addressed as that will make a real difference. This is a multicultural society where people can be disadvantaged, whether it’s being unable to a language fluently or knowing where to access our services. I would also like to see the public informing more of the Trust’s decision, being able to comment more widely so developments can be delivered more officially.

How have these experiences helped you in your role as governor? As a member of the Assembly of Governors, I will endeavour to carry out my duties while observing the interests of the Trust in collaboration with the rest of my colleagues. My wealth of knowledge and experience will also benefit and contribute to the overall success of BSMHFT and the people whom it serves. Now that we are a Foundation Trust, how do you plan to communicate with your constituency? At the moment I go to the forums every month and share my concerns with them, as well as listen to the public’s own concerns. Name and contact details: Loris Tapper c/o Foundation Trust Office, B1 – Trust HQ, 50 Summer Hill Road, Ladywood, Birmingham, B1 3RB Tel: 0121 301 1229 Email: [email protected]

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Poetry Corner WINNER Life once again I never thought I could feel like this again It’s like life has once again sprung into me It’s a feeling of wonders Of mysteries and puzzles That I dare not solve. It’s like the soul I lost Has come back to me But it’s not love I tell thee. It’s a feeling of natures love Which I had lost without you But no need to regret now Because I learned to live without you. I wonder in my dreams In my thoughts, in my own world And look at everything With life inside me once again.

Dates for your diary RUNNER UP Untitled Don’t linger at their graves and weep, their spirits have flown. Thought there they’d sleep, They’re with the gentle mountain breeze, That blows through hills and dales and leas, and heath Springtime mists they gently lie, Winter snows and summer sky, Or long late shadows of the fall, Awaiting god’s triumphant call! Escaping then the shroud of night, Ascending a celestial light! So say a prayer now and then Keep faith and ye shall meet again Don’t linger at their graves and cry Their souls have flown, they did not die. Danny C. P. Meehan, Edgbaston.

Ayesha Akbar, Ward End.

How you can enter

Are you a budding poet? Want to see your work in print? Why not send it to Poetry Corner, where the best ones are published, with each poet receiving a £30 book token card. Poems are limited to 30 lines. The editor reserves the right to use abridged versions. Write to: Poetry Corner (Communications Dept), FREEPOST Plus RRXE GTKC-GRBZ, Foundation Trust Office, BSMHFT Headquarters, 50 Summer Hill Road, Birmingham, B1 3RB.

Anagrams

Below are ten 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

SAWDRA ELENCIOV TRAPPEICAONI INDICATOD GURNNIN ROVERGON PREMIEMSHB KOSMING STROLENEVU RYCHITA

Answers: Awards, violence, appreciation, addiction, running, governor, membership, smoking, volunteers, charity.

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Word Search Words to find: action

awareness campaign challenge dignity fraud

memorial poetry quiz

recovery

television

APRIL 14 Carers’ exercise class Tai Chi at the Carers Centre, Colmore Row, Birmingham city centre. 11am to 1pm. Tel: 0121 675 8170 19-25 Depression Awareness Week and Parkinson’s Awareness Week 21 Health Promotion Bus visits the Zinnia Centre, in Sparkbrook (am), and Mary Seacole centre, in Winson Green (pm). 24 Vaisaikhi celebrations with activities, stalls and entertainment at Handsworth Park, Handsworth. 11am to 5pm. For more details call 0121 301 1060.

MAY 1-2 Midland Arts Centre (mac) reopening weekend, in Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston. Going by bus? Us either 1, 35, 45 or 47 route. 6 Solihull Carers Group meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Lyndon Clinic, Hobs Meadow, Solihull, at 2pm. 12 International Nurses’ Day 27 Positive Mental Health Group meet on the last Thursday of every month at The Friends Institute, Moseley Road, Highgate. Bus routes 8 or 50. 29-31 Birmingham Gay Pride festival and parade in Hurst Street/Arcadian area with various entertainment and activities. JUNE 3 Imagine depression support group meet every Thursday and Monday at St Matthew’s Church, Great Barr. 1pm to 5pm. 4 Fit and Funky dance group meet every Friday at The Friends Institute, Moseley Road, Highgate. 10.30am to 12.30pm. For more details call 07772 572060.