OURVOICE
Autumn 2010
Chess - a mental workout at the Forget Me Not Centre
in Swindon. See ‘living positively’ on page 3 for details.
welcome
Welcome to our
autumn issue
Following last issue’s focus on Bristol and South
Gloucestershire, the spotlight this issue is on Swindon,
Wiltshire and Bath & North East Somerset with the Forget
Me Not Centre, primary care psychology, quick access clinics,
physiotherapy at Fountain Way and early intervention in
psychosis all featuring.
As usual our contents are based on your suggestions. It’s great
to hear from both staff and from readers in voluntary sector
organisations who value their partnerships with AWP teams.
A huge thanks also goes to those who have used our services
who have offered their perspectives for this issue. We are
planning the winter and spring issues and we look forward to
receiving your suggestions at [email protected]
Our cover features the Forget Me Not Centre in Swindon. The
staff there are truly inspiring – they are passionate and full of
hope and really do live their work. They are an embodiment
of empowering people to live fulfilling lives. See ‘living
positively’ on page 3 to find out more.
3
Living positively
The Forget Me Not Centre, Swindon
4
Consultant nurses:
expert advice on tap
4
Healthcare assistants:
a wealth of experience
and knowledge
5 Backing up experience
with learning
The certificate in community mental health
6 Complementing
our services
AWP and City of Bristol College team up
7 The stress busting bit
Fly fishing by S A Cain
7 Good for body and mind
Physiotherapy for mental health
8 Intervening early for
a bright future
Making a difference:
people who use our services
tell us what they think
Reducing the impact of psychosis
9 Partnering up for
quick access
“
Throughout the course at Swindon primary
care psychology service I have always felt heard
and understood. The staff are great and really
knowledgeable. They don’t stick to the text book
and are able to respond with experience to the
questions I’ve been wanting to ask. The staff
have always treated me with respect and are very
normal and real with us which really helps.
”
Thank you to everyone who is supporting
our journey to become a foundation trust.
As we went to print membership stood at
more than 13,500!
2 Enabling people to reach their potential.
contents
The success of Wiltshire’s quick access clinics
9 Greensteps
EARs keep an eye on the future
10 RIO goes live
Warminster older people’s
community team reports back
10 What do people do all day?
Paul Reade, clerical officer/porter
11 An honour to help
Liz Howells and the innovative
primary care psychology service
12 Snapshot
Wendy Wright, Lansdowne Unit
12 The achievers
cover
features
story
Living positively
The Forget Me Not Centre in Swindon – a
partnership between AWP and Swindon Borough
Council – provides a rare but valuable specialised
service for people with early onset memory
problems and dementia.
Lynda Hughes, manager at Forget Me Not, explained,
“We have worked with clients in their 30s but on
average they are late 50s to early 60s and many still
have mortgages and families to support. Having to give
up work, driving or their retirement plans has a huge
impact – we help them to adjust and cope.”
The centre runs carefully managed groups four days
a week. Lynda said, “People who have recently been
diagnosed can be very quiet and scared about what the
future holds. We make sure we have a good mix with
others who are positive and have made good progress
in learning how to cope. Members decide what our
activities will be. At the moment we have arts and crafts
led by arts psychotherapist Siobhan McElroy, cooking,
gardening and trips out on Tuesdays, a walking group
on Wednesdays, a sailing group on Thursdays, activities
led by occupational therapy technician Sarah Rolfe and
a pub lunch on Fridays and we are soon starting a life
story group. Everyone mucks in with shopping and
preparing lunch and we focus on what people can do,
not what they can’t, so group members adopt roles
without pressure of failure.
“We help people to live positively, take part in activities
that give meaning to their lives and regain confidence.
Many group members form long-lasting friendships. Our
three support workers – Sam Cullen, Jan O’Donnell and
Natasha Macdivitt – are truly multitalented. They are
fantastic at listening and really do give people hope.”
The Forget Me Not Centre – ‘a really wonderful atmosphere’
Sam, who has worked
at Forget Me Not for
eight years, described
what the centre means
for the team. “It’s hard
to describe how special
it is, there’s a really
wonderful atmosphere
here. We are with our
groups for the whole
day and we laugh a
lot. There is hardly
any sadness, but if
someone is upset we
Sam, Natasha and
Jan
have space to listen and
talk. Our activities are not regimented so
we can decide to stay in or go out depending on how
the group feels that day, and clients learn new things
and look ahead. Today we went sailing and someone
in the group, who recently had to give up work, said
it was great to be treated like a person, not an illness.
That’s what we do - for us it’s all about our clients, to
see them go home smiling.”
The centre’s links with the Victoria Centre and
organisations including Swindon Carers Centre
and Innovations in Dementia present clients with
opportunities to take part in recruitment, research,
education and conferences. Some have become very
involved in awareness and fundraising and the walking
group recently spent a day recording with Clare Balding
for Radio 4’s Ramblings programme. It is testimony
to the Forget Me Not team that clients have the
confidence to make such contributions to dementia awareness.
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 3
Consultant nurses:
expert advice on tap
nt
d, consulta
r
Mandy Ree
e prescribe
s
r
u
n
d
n
a
e
nurs
Mandy Reed, who contributed
to this issue’s piece on early
intervention in psychosis, also
told us about her role as a
consultant nurse.
Consultant nurses are required
to have in-depth knowledge and
extensive clinical experience and
we either have a masters degree or
are working towards completion
of a programme. There are a
number of key aspects to a nurse
consultant post which can include:
clinical practice, management,
practice development, research
and education. Each post is
tailored to meet the needs of the
particular service.
As consultant nurse for early
intervention in psychosis my time
is split between AWP and the
University of the West of
England where I am based for
two days a week as programme
lead for the psychosocial
interventions/Thorn course.
The rest of my time is spent in
the Trust and encompasses an
immense variety of work. I am
involved in service and policy
development and also have a key
role in unexpected death audits.
This can include taking forward
any issues that are highlighted
by the audit process, for example
Healthcare assistants: a wealth
of knowledge and experience
After speaking to health care assistant (HCA) Samuel Kelly for last
issue’s ‘what do people do all day?’ we decided to find out more
about the varied HCA role and the people who make it their vocation.
Samuel has extensive HCA experience. When we visited
him at the rehabilitation service at Lodge Causeway
he explained the role, saying, “I love the job. HCAs do
a lot of the traditional nursing: forming therapeutic
relationships, de-escalation, contributing to assessment
and care planning.”
HCA colleagues at Juniper adult ward told us more.
Natalie Davenport highlighted the wealth of knowledge
among this group of staff. She said, “HCAs bring a
valuable diversity of experience, qualifications and skills
to the service. I have a degree in psychology and there
are HCAs with backgrounds in social work and therapies,
whilst some have previously been registered nurses.
Although band 2 HCAs are not required to have any
qualifications at the outset, they all take a level 2 NVQ
in health and social care as well as detailed local training
and many then achieve their level 3 award.”
Explaining more about the day to day responsibilities,
Natalie said, “We are the largest staff group on the
wards and the most accessible for service users – we
are still able to spend most of our time in direct patient
4 Enabling people to reach their potential.
Natalie Dav
enport
care. We carry out most of the observations, in particular
for people who need a higher level of input or one-toone care and we do a lot of personal care. Because of
this we get to know service users well and we feed this
knowledge into care plans and risk assessments, which
we document under the supervision of a staff nurse. We
also take on specialist responsibilities such as facilitating
service user leave outside the ward and physical
observations, many HCAs are licensed phlebotomists,
and here at Juniper HCAs complete an overview of
patient wellbeing to inform ward rounds.”
Elaine Simpson-Burgess is both ward clerk and HCA at
Juniper. She added, “One of the most valuable parts of
the job is protected time for two hours each day which
is dedicated one-to-one time for service users. It gives
people who can leave the ward an opportunity to get
out and about, accompanied by an HCA. This could be
a walk to a café, the beach, the shops or a visit home
– it is valuable therapeutically but also gives HCAs an
opportunity to assess how service users are and how they
are coping out of the ward.”
nursing focus
reviewing and revising care pathways
and communication between our
services. Equally, if an independent
inquiry into the treatment and care
of a service user highlights a need for
change relating to nursing, I could be
one of the leads on developing new
practices and systems accordingly.
Consultant nurses make a big
contribution to learning and
development. As well as contributing
to and advising on in-house training
I support supervision, in particular
advising on working with
complex situations.
I am also a nurse prescriber within
the Bath & North East Somerset early
intervention in psychosis team. Since
the policy on nurse prescribing was
Last year Julie Thomas,
AWP’s director for people
and a former registered
general nurse, went ‘back
to the floor’ and did a shift
as an HCA at Avonmead at
Southmead Hospital. Julie told
us, “I enjoyed my HCA shift
immensely but it was hard
work. In the modern nursing
structure HCAs take on their
own key responsibilities and
are an absolutely essential
part of the ward team.”
Natalie agrees. She said,
“RMNs and HCAs are all crucial
to a strong nursing team. If I
were to take a nursing degree
I would definitely miss parts of
the HCA role that are very dear
to me, such as spending oneto-one time with service users
off the ward and spending
so much time in direct care
on the ward. I feel at ease
here, I’m comfortable in this
environment – working here
as an HCA definitely provides
food for the brain.”
ratified at the start of 2010 I have
been able to prescribe independently
and this is making a huge difference
to people getting the medication
they need at the time they need it.
Often, nurse prescribers have worked
in a supplementary capacity with the
service user and their psychiatrist.
As an independent prescriber I am
able to make a prescribing decision
with the service user without them
needing to see a psychiatrist first.
Nurse prescribers generally have
more flexibility and time than
their medical colleagues to go into
greater detail with service users,
as appropriate, about how the
medication works, the potential
benefits to them as individuals and
the possible side effects.
The practical aspects of the role
remain my main day to day focus
but the academic side is also very
interesting. I recently co-edited
a print and e-book, ‘Promoting
Recovery in Early Psychosis – a
practical manual’, for which I
co-wrote two chapters and I was
delighted that the Trust’s library
service selected it as July’s e-book
of the month.
I love the consultant nurse role
because it uses all my experience,
involves continual learning and is
challenging. It’s a cliché but no two
days are ever the same and that’s
exactly how I like it.
Backing up experience
with learning
Learning on the job is one of the
best forms of development but
it can be important to back this
up with structured study. For
unregistered staff working with
adults in community settings, the
new certificate in community mental
health is designed for this purpose.
Four members of AWP staff, Kelly
Townsend, Matt Jennings, David
Probert and Sheanella Simon,
achieved the certificate last year
at City of Bristol College. Kelly
Townsend, community mental
health worker with the South
Gloucestershire crisis resolution and
home treatment team, said “The
course was hard work but incredibly
valuable and we benefited from a
great programme of speakers.”
This year, the learning and
development department has
commissioned City of Bristol College
to provide the course specifically
for AWP staff. Topics include
mental wellbeing and mental
health problems, interventions and
Kelly Townsend
approaches, care planning and
risk assessment, communication
with service users and the
legal framework.
Learning and development specialist
Annmarie Llewellyn said, “One of the
really interesting things about the
course is the way the assignments are
structured – it’s all about talking to
people who have used services, and
their carers if appropriate, and asking
them about their experiences.”
Staff interested in the course can view
the training calendar on Ourspace or
contact Candy Andrew on
01380 731279 or at
[email protected]
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 5
healthy body, healthy mind
Complementing our
services
Students from City of Bristol College
and Callington Road staff
Earlier this year modern matron Annessa Rebair teamed up with Georgia
Daniels, course director for complementary therapy at City of Bristol College,
to develop a scheme to introduce the concept of complementary therapies as
an additional treatment option. We asked Annessa to tell us more.
There is a view that complementary therapies can play
an important part in the healing process and we wanted
to test this out. We decided to run a pilot for service
users at Callington Road and Southmead to experience
different therapies whilst allowing us to gauge the
potential benefit of including such therapies as a regular
part of care packages.
The pilot also gave students studying complementary
therapy at City of Bristol College opportunities to get
valuable vocational experience and strengthen their
practical skills.
The students provided weekly reflexology and Indian
head massage sessions on our acute wards at both sites
and they also visited the therapies departments to offer
the therapies to other service users.
The positive, therapeutic touch of complementary
therapies provides people with a supportive, caring
and compassionate space in which they can choose as
they wish to be quiet, to talk or to reflect and to enjoy
6 Enabling people to reach their potential.
human contact. This can be cathartic and, it is believed,
can ultimately aid the healing process. The very useful
feedback we had from service users supports this view.
A further aspect of our pilot was helping students
develop a real understanding of mental health issues –
for many it was the first time they had really thought
about mental health – and to broaden their experience
of working with people with diverse needs. The students
seemed impressed with our hospital environments and with the way in which we work with people and several told us it was their most enjoyable vocational experience.
For our service users, as well as allowing us to offer
them an interesting treatment choice on top of our
regular services, the sessions gave them an insight into
the kind of training on offer at City of Bristol College.
Perhaps some of them might even go on to train in
complementary therapies themselves in future.
healthy body, healthy mind
The stress busting bit
fly fishing by S A Cain
Sarah Cain, PA at The Coppice,
Callington Road, tells us
about her favourite stress
busting activity.
Fly fishing is a great pastime in
which you can truly switch off
from your work and everyday
Sarah and fishy friend
routines. I have been fishing
since I was very small and started fly fishing in my early
teenage years, picking up tips from my dad. I now belong
to Bristol Reservoirs Fly Fishing Association. Recently I’ve started entering fly fishing competitions at
Chew Valley Lake competing mainly against fishermen rather
than fisherwomen. When I’m fishing I can totally focus on
casting my line out and slowly enticing the fish to take my fly. It’s really relaxing and peaceful being on a boat out on the lake with swallows darting across the water.
Fly fishing completely absorbs my mind and can
be physically demanding too, especially during
competitions lasting seven hours or more, benefiting
both mental wellbeing and physical stamina.
When I get lucky and catch a rainbow or brown trout I get
a real buzz trying to land the fish without it getting away.
On Saturday 1 May I competed in the individual Lexus
European Competition at Chew Valley Lake and caught
seven rainbow trout. My biggest catch was three pounds
in weight which got me through to the grand final in
September along with seven other fishermen. I was
chuffed to bits, achieving a personal goal and showing
that us fisherwomen can compete with the best!
Good for body and mind
An active lifestyle can help us maintain good mental
health. But can exercise and therapies such as massage
and reflexology help with severe or long term mental
illness? According to Amanda*, a service user at
Fountain Way, the answer is a definite “yes”. She told
us what therapies have meant to her.
Anxiety heightens the senses so
everything has a bigger impact
mentally and physically, but exercise
areas at Fountain Way feel safe and
comforting and I have gained a lot from taking part in physiotherapy there.
In physiotherapy for mental health it
is important never to feel judged as to
your size and appearance, including
all kinds of eating disorders, scars
from injury or self harming, and body
image. During sessions I always wore
black because that is how I felt about
my life. Sometimes I couldn’t brush my
hair or change my clothes.
Physiotherapy meant much more
than being active. At times I couldn’t
speak and sharing exercise provided
*name has been changed
communication without the pressure
of words. Sometimes I had too many
words and exercise calmed me and
helped me focus. Each movement
is an answer for your body to listen
to, physically or mentally. For some
people a small task performed during
physio is a huge achievement that
affects how you feel and cope for the
rest of the day.
Physiotherapy and exercise have
taught me how to bond and
interact with people. I have teenage
daughters who I found it difficult to
communicate with and I felt a failure
as a mum, but now we go walking,
swimming or to the gym, the barriers
come down and we can chat. That
time has become very special and
rewarding – we feel uplifted, my
daughters open up to me and I feel
better about myself as a parent.
I can find everyday social situations
frightening. I have a two year old and
when her friends popped round to
play I felt scared and insecure. Now
we put on music and dance - this was
all we needed to bring us together
and I don’t have to explain anything,
just have fun.
The physiotherapy staff at Fountain
Way encourage people to take part in
whatever activities they can manage
with unconditioned care. They not
only help with exercise, they have
kind words when you are depressed,
hand you tissues and comfort you
when you are upset, and guide you
gently but firmly to achieve. They
make you laugh and think good
things, but most of all they make you
feel normal.
To read more about how relaxation
techniques, massage and reflexology
helped Amanda* as part of her
physiotherapy programme, visit
www.awp.nhs.uk/ourvoice
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 7
fulfilling lives
Intervening early
for a bright future
The word psychosis is associated with strange behaviour, agitation and
severe distress. For those who have experienced psychosis it can also
mean fear, social isolation and wasted potential.
However, the advent of early intervention in psychosis
services has been a major advance in the approach to
its treatment. We now have six closely networked early
intervention teams across the Trust.
Mandy Reed, who helped establish the service in
Bath & North East Somerset and is their independent
nurse prescriber, explained how the concept is making
a difference to the lives of people aged 14 to 35
experiencing a first episode of psychosis. “Our philosophy
is promoting hope and recovery and for most people we
work with, the future is bright. We aim to improve the
long-term prospects for those affected.
”By intervening
during the first
episode of psychosis
the future impact can
be greatly reduced”
”By intervening during the first episode of psychosis the
future impact can be greatly reduced. We can help the
person and their family come to terms with what has
happened and help them recognise early signs, develop
coping strategies and get appropriate support. Our open
referral system means anyone can refer to us. As well as GPs that could include the individual themselves or a parent, sibling, friend, colleague or teacher.”
While this offers the best chance of catching first
episodes early, at the moment most referrals still come
from primary care practitioners. Mandy hopes that there
will be more awareness and education opportunities
in future, for example teaching school pupils about
psychosis and recognising early signs such as becoming
muddled, confused and withdrawn.
8
Enabling people to reach their potential.
Assessment can take a long time, particularly if the
individual does not believe there is anything wrong.
Mandy said. “We typically work with each person for
three years, which research has shown to be the optimum
period for gathering evidence from friends, family and
the person themselves, assessing and providing effective
interventions.”
One significant intervention is medication. Mandy
explained, “Young people are often sensitive to side
effects of anti-psychotic medication, so they need very
low doses and frequent reviews to ensure the best
outcome. Having an independent nurse prescriber means
that the team can be immediately responsive with this.”
The service takes a holistic approach. Mandy said, “We
work closely with families as their ability to recognise and
act on early signs and provide a strong support network
are really important. We also consider vocational and
social aspects of a person’s life, using our strong links
with other teams, services and agencies to make sure they
have support with housing and training, education and
employment.”
Around a third of people the teams work with recover
completely. Others range from one or two further
episodes to life long support needs and are referred on
to community services as appropriate. For those people,
early intervention means they have been given the best
chance of leading their lives not in fear and isolation but,
instead, in hope.
partnership working
Partnering up for quick access
Wiltshire’s Quick Access Clinic, run by Specialist Drug and
Alcohol Services in partnership with Wiltshire Addiction
Support Project (WASP), allows people with substance
misuse problems easy access to the medicines they need.
volunteers have all overcome problems with addiction
and they are really positive role-models for people
attending the clinics, which can be very beneficial to
service users, especially during early stages of recovery.
Geoff Mascall is AWP’s non-medical prescriber who
operates the service with the support of volunteers from
WASP. Geoff explained how the service works.
“The Quick Access Clinic really suits people who struggle
with appointment-based systems and it allows people to
work towards abstinence at a pace that works for them.”
“We started the first clinic in Chippenham in 2008. We
now have two further clinics in Trowbridge and Salisbury
and people from all over Wiltshire are welcome to
attend. The weekly clinics work on a drop in basis and
mean that service users who need substitute prescribing
for their substance misuse problem can get it more easily
and in a more relaxed, less intimidating setting.
Andrew Davidson, user and carer co-ordinator
for Wiltshire, who oversees WASP, said, “This
has proved to be a very successful partnership,
improving communication, honesty and relationships
between service users and staff, and therefore outcomes
and treatment. For the service user volunteers involved
from WASP, all of whom are strong in their recovery and
all of whom report really enjoying the clinics, there are
many plusses. Growing self empowerment, self respect,
confidence and new skills are all part of the benefits. I
hope that this pioneering type approach will continue
and develop between WASP and AWP’s specialist services.
On reflection a real win-win situation.”
“People are more likely to stick with their treatment
programme if they know that they can drop in and
get their prescription changed quickly, as appropriate,
rather than waiting for an appointment and for a
doctor to send a new prescription out. The service really
helps people to become more stable and ready to work
towards abstinence.
“But the Quick Access Clinic is about more than just
prescribing. Before dealing with their prescription
I discuss service users’ substance misuse problems
with them to find out about the progress they are
making and the support they need. Having the WASP
volunteer available for service users to talk to is
absolutely invaluable – service users know they will
be understanding and non-judgemental. The WASP
Kristin Dominy, director of Specialist Drug and Alcohol
Services, explained the wider benefits. “Making the Quick
Access Clinic available to people who need prescriptions
speedily has relieved pressure for the rest of the service
and we have seen a cut in waiting times from referral
to start of treatment. Because of the support from
WASP, people using the clinics are each treated in a very
individual way, which is making a real difference to their
recovery.”
Greensteps
Lend us your EARs
We can all contribute to reducing the
Trust’s impact on the environment
and climate change by making small
changes to the way we go about
our work. But you can take more of
a leading role by signing up as an
environmental awareness rep (EAR)
and taking advantage of resources
and support on offer.
James Adams
Since becoming an EAR for
Woodland View, James Adams has
organised a packed-out screening
of the climate change film The Age
of Stupid and got Woodland View’s
recycling included in the main
Trust contract, rather than relying
on staff taking it to local recycling
centres – which has also saved
money. James has also supported the
buildings manager with green travel
developments including getting
some low emission pool cars based at
the site. James said, “When I read the
facts about how much of England’s
total greenhouse gas emission comes
from the NHS I was motivated to
get my building connected with
AWP’s sustainability team as soon as
possible! Support on site has been
great and our new recycling point is
almost full every week.”
Search ‘EAR’ on Ourspace to find out
who your local rep is or to become
one yourself.
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 9
features
RiO goes live
RiO went live across Older Peoples’ Services in mid-June,
completing the first phase of the project to introduce
electronic health and social care records to AWP.
Caroline Martin, a community psychiatric nurse, and Petra
Brice, a community care assistant, are members of the
Warminster community mental health team. We caught up
with them two weeks after the team went live with RiO to find
out how things were going.
Caroline said, “At a time when many members of the team
have holidays, RiO is really helpful for the duty person. We are
using it to record all contacts for a service user in a single place,
in sequence, so that care coordinators can have a clear view of
progress whilst they have been away.”
Petra added, “The diary on RiO is particularly useful, allowing
you to view the availability of colleagues. It’s also good to
know exactly where to find information.”
Petra (on left) and Caroline
put RiO through its paces
What do people
do all day?
The clerical officer/porter: Paul Reade,
Sandalwood Court
I look after the reception at Sandalwood Court – the
varied work, meeting different people and seeing
what is achieved by our teams are all rewarding.
It’s humbling to meet someone who is very ill when
they come in, then seeing them go home well.
The job includes greeting service users and visitors,
phone enquiries, managing meeting rooms and an array
of paperwork. Many enquiries are routine and quick, but
some are more complex: responding to distressed service
users, referring people to the right person or signposting
people to external organisations – in this respect I act
as a gatekeeper. I also encourage staff to have a good
work/life balance by sending them home when I lock up!
I draw on skills learned from past experience as a
healthcare assistant and a porter. I have a good rapport
with clients and occasionally de-escalation experience
has been useful. The way you talk with people is
important – you can break down barriers with what
you say and how you say it. It’s important for service
10 Enabling people to reach their potential.
It has taken some adjustment and hard work from the team
to work through the transition to RiO and early teething
problems, but they are already seeing the benefits of
electronic records and both Caroline and Petra agree that
the best thing about RiO is that it is much easier to use
than they had expected.
users to see friendly faces
other than clinicians –
my reception colleague
Aileen Stratford and
myself are two of those
faces. Sandalwood’s
resident crow, who
follows me around the
site, seems to agree.
Flexibility, adaptability
and confidence are
useful in my role. When
Paul with Sa
a television crew tried to
ndalwood’s
resident crow
film without permission the
situation needed careful but fast
handling. After consulting the Trust’s communications
team I used diplomacy to reach an agreeable conclusion.
As porter for the site I manage recycling, waste disposal
and oxygen bottle stock as well as general problem
solving. I also retrieve medical records, log them out and
in and file them.
Nothing stands still for long. As services develop, those
of us in support roles must also adapt to provide the
service needed. Meeting that challenge is part of what
makes my job so enjoyable.
features
“Taking part in a group
course normalises what
people are feeling or
experiencing, and they don’t become part of a case-load”
Annette Law
Liz Howells OBE
An honour to help
Liz Howells, head of primary care and health psychology,
was awarded an OBE for her contribution to mental health
services in this year’s birthday honours. Liz was delighted to
receive this honour but she is very clear that she considers
it recognition for everyone involved in the primary care
psychology service in Swindon and Wiltshire. The service
developed by Liz and her team was one of the first nationally
and is still unique in its approach. We took a look at what
makes it stand out.
Since Liz and her team first set up a pilot service in Swindon
in October 1993 it has gone from strength to strength and
now operates across the whole of Swindon and Wiltshire with
bases in Swindon, Devizes, Westbury and Salisbury and every
GP surgery in the area also has a practitioner from the team
based with them for at least one session per week.
Working to a philosophy of ‘least intervention first time’ and
focusing on prevention, the service offers guided self-help
including books, leaflets and on-line resources, group courses
on topics including stress, anxiety, depression, anger and
bereavement, and brief interventions such as a single session
of counselling.
Liz’s deputy Annette Law explained that, aside from this
comprehensive approach, there are several key things that
makes AWP’s service different from what is offered elsewhere.
She said, “The fact that we are opt-in rather than referralbased and there are no waiting lists makes us very accessible
and because assessment is minimal people can get help
straight away. Our quick turnaround makes us cost-effective
and we take some pressure off other services – GP practices
we cover typically make fewer referrals to secondary services
than in other areas.”
The courses are an important element of the service. Annette
explained, “Taking part in a group course normalises what
people are feeling or experiencing, and they don’t become
part of a case-load. The courses help people to help
themselves and one another.”
John Cima and Ashley Robson are previous participants
who now co-facilitate courses as volunteers. John said, “The
courses helped me get through a difficult time when I was
experiencing anxiety, panic attacks and depression. I realised
that I wasn’t alone in what I was experiencing, that there
were reasons why I was feeling and behaving that way and
that there was something I could do about it. The service
puts across mental health problems in a down to earth and
empathetic way that is easily understandable and removes
the stigma. As a result I am a much happier and more wellbalanced person today.”
Like John, Ashley first learned about the service from his GP.
“I was referred to the stress awareness course and then I selfreferred to anger management. Both were hugely beneficial,
offering me self-awareness and the ability to help myself.
The group environment was ideal because it reinforced that
I was not alone in feeling the way I did and the facilitators
spoke as if they truly understood
me. I felt so enriched that I wanted
to get involved; as a co-facilitator I
help conduct group exercises and
really feel like I am helping people
and having a positive impact. The
service can help so many people
and change lives but, as far as I am
aware, there’s nowhere else offering
a
quite the same service on the NHS.”
John Cim
The service continues to develop
and was awarded the Improving
Access to Psychological Therapies
(IAPT) contracts for Swindon and
Wiltshire. And though Liz is retiring
from her role leading the service
she is taking on a new challenge
looking at developing primary
care psychology services across
the Trust.
A shley Robso
n
Empowering people to live fulfilling lives. 11
The
achievers
Snapshot
Wendy Wright
Lead occupational therapist,
Lansdowne Unit
How have you made a difference?
I’ve always been a softy with animals. I’ve
nursed baby hedgehogs and mice; I’ve taken in a
tortoise, my neighbour’s mother’s cockatiels and
a colleague’s hamster and fish. Anything needing
a home seems to end up with me. I draw the line
at bigger than a dog (I don’t have the space) and
more than four legs (I’m terrified of spiders).
What do you do to relax?
Karate - I have just got my black belt.
What’s your favourite
local landmark?
The end of my road! After a day at work or at the
end of a holiday it means I’m nearly home.
What’s your favourite
local restaurant?
I’m happy to eat anywhere and try different food
as long as the company is relaxed and fun.
What made you interested
in learning disabilities and
mental health?
My dad worked at the former Stoke Park Hospital
and when I was little he used to take me to work
with him. When I left school I worked there for
a year and after I qualified as an occupational
therapist I returned.
What makes your job interesting?
The people I meet and the variety of different
things I do as part of my job.
Congratulations to the following colleagues.
NVQ level 3 in health and social care:
Jerrymie Angon, health care assistant, Amblescroft South
Martin Bray, health care assistant, Dune Ward
Allison Chanice, health care assistant, Charter House
Pauline Cottle, health care assistant, Amblescroft North
Richelle Gower, health care assistant, Charter House
Kelvin Hope, health care assistant, Hazel Unit
Andrew Lacey, health care assistant, Alder Unit
Diane Morgan, health care assistant, Juniper Ward
Joanne Smith, health care assistant, Amblescroft North
Elizabeth Williams, health care assistant, Charter House
NVQ level 2 in business and administration:
Linda Midgley, team administrator, Silbury Ward
NVQ level 3 in business and administration:
Sarah Cain, PA, The Coppice, Callington Road
Amy Davies, secretary, Green Lane
Eileen Day, health and social care administrator, Fountain Way
Sarah Mercer, research network administrator, RICE Centre
Jacqueline Shearing, ward clerk, Charter House
Helen Way, ward clerk, Charter House
Published September 2010
Editor: Lucy Robinson
AWP communications team
Email: [email protected]
Trust Headquarters
Jenner House, Langley Park Estate,
Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1GG
Telephone: 01249 468 000
Printed on FSC
approved paper
using vegetable inks
Story for the next issue? E-mail: [email protected] using subject header ‘story’.