partnership programme
Below are details of a programme the charity hopes to undertake with the Mental Health Service to review services and the part service users can play in shaping and evaluating services
PROGRAMME FOR PARTNERSHIP WORKING
Below are details of a very important piece of work which will be undertaken in partnership with the Mental Health Directorate to begin to develop a real investment for service users in the way in which services are evaluated and designed to meet their needs.
Introduction : The relationship between a user and provider is generally of a therapeutic natureand subsequently is often not viewed as ’equal’ one.In order for users skills, knowledge and experience to be recognized and valued it is necessary to create a structure whereby both users and providers can work together as equals, with a shared remit to identify how services can become more effective and responsive, and therefore mutually beneficial.
’Programme for Partnership Working’
Aims and Objectives:
- To identify, through a collaborative, solution focused approach, practical ways of improving the experience of service usage, and in so doing improve the experience of service delivery
- Enable users and providers to experience and value a ’non therapeutic’ working relationship.
- To produce a document that evaluates and makes recommendations regarding services, from both perspectives, that is jointly owned.
Structure of Programme:
- Identify, support and prepare 10 service users who would be willing and able to participate.
- Identify 10 service providers (drawn from the varying services within Health and Social Services to provide a multi-disciplinary approach), who are committed to and skilled in person centered working, and prepared to act as an ’agent of change’.
- The ’Programme’ would be delivered over a time scale of 12 months, with one Partnership Training day being held each month.Each partnership day would be specifically dedicated to one issue for discussion, evaluation, and formulation of recommendations.
Outcomes:
- Produce a collaborative report surmising discussions and recommendations for presentation/dissemination to all mental health stakeholders.
- Design and produce guidelines for service user involvement.
- Production of leaflets;"Involvement - How and Why".(One tailored for service providers, one tailored for service users)
Selection of Participants:
Service Users:
- An ’open invite’ will be given to anyone who is, or has (ideally in the last 5 years), received support for a mental health problem.
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Service Users, after attending a short induction and recruitment course, will be selected to either become one of the Programme participants, or to be a member of a ’feeder’ group.This group will meet at intervals with user participants to offer support and information, and receive updates on the progress of the Programme.
Service Providers:
Verification of Training:
Once approved, the Programme for Partnership Working, will be submitted to the Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, Birmingham University, for endorsement and verification.
DRAFT – for consulation
Programme of Training
Trainer:
Lorraine Lewis, Service User Involvement Co-ordinator, FOCUS.
DAY 1
- Introductions and Team Building.
- Ground Rules for partnership training
- Development of ’site map’ of services.
DAY 2
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Services: Role, function, accessibility, effectiveness, ’gaps’.
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’Utopia’: What would the ’perfect’ service look like, how do we achieve it? (This exercise will used as a reference tool for future training days)
DAY 3
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Hospital in-patient services: Purpose, effectiveness, life on the ward, support for discharge.
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Alternatives to hospital: Exploring alternatives; what’s available, what’s needed, what would an alternative service look like.
DAY 4
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Day services: What’s wanted and needed, and why?
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The interface - From mental health to mainstream. How, who, when and why?
DAY 5
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Care and Crisis Planning:
- Why have a care/crisis plan?
- What are the benefits?
- Multi-disciplinary working in crisis management.
- The model.
DAY 6
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User Centered Services and Practice:
- User empowerment.
- User involvement.
- How to begin, and sustain the process of joint working.
DAY 7
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Developing Guidelines for User Involvement:
DAY 8
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Review and Reflect:
- To invite a representative from the Centre of Excellence in Mental Health to spend the day reviewing the work completed to date.
- ’Compare and Contrast’ – learning lessons from the UK and International work.
DAYS 9 – 12
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Participants to collectively identify themes for discussion.
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Production of ’How to, and why" leaflets.
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Recommendations.
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The future:
- Service Users role in research, training, monitoring, service planning.
Lorraine Lewis July 07
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Reviewing in-patient provision; accessibility, effectiveness, discharge process.
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Review of day service provision.
- Access to community services.
- Alternatives to hospital admission.
- Crisis and Care Planning
- Self management and self advocacy.
- Designing user centered services.
- The production of jointly owned discussion document outlining recommendations for service development.1
important news about smoking
Can smoking affect mental health?
Smoking does not just affect physical health. Studies have shown that daily smokingcan make you more likely to experience further episodes of depression and anxiety.
Although smokers generally say they feel more relaxed and less stressed after a cigarette it is this temporary relief that is the problem.
The only time a smoker’s stress and mood levels are similar to that of a non smoker’s is just after smoking a cigarette. At any other time smoker’s stress levels are much higher, probably due to the effects of nicotine leaving the system. This creates a ’yo-yo’ effect on mood which can negatively affect long term mental health.
The only way to escape this vicious circle is to quit smoking and to allow your mood to stabilise. Studies show that smoker’s report that anxiety and stress levels fall significantly after quitting.
Can stopping smoking have a negative impact on mental health?
Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and when you stop smoking you may experience withdrawal symptoms including low mood, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, restlessness and sleep disturbance. Not everyone experiences such symptoms and they usually last only about 2 – 4 weeks.
If you experience mental health problems it is important to be aware of these possible withdrawal symptoms and to let your doctor or health professional know you are trying to quit so you can both monitor any changes in your mood or how you feel .It is important to remember the significant benefits of stopping smoking compared to the serious dangers of continuing to smoke. Smoking is not an effective way to keep your mental health stable.
Should I be concerned about stopping smoking if I am taking medication?
Smoking can speed up the metabolism of some drugs. If you are currently prescribed medication it is again advisable to discuss with your doctor your intention to stop smoking. In some cases he/she may alter the dosage of your medication.This is particularly important if you are prescribed the drug Clozaril (Clozapine).
If you are prescribed Clozaril (Clozapine) and plan to stop smoking
Clozapine is a medication that can be used for the treatment of Schizophrenia. If you are prescribed this drug it is essential that you discuss with your doctor or mental health nurse your intention to stop smoking or to cut down as smoking can have an effect on the amount of Clozapine you need to stay well.
Stopping smoking can sometimes increase the amount of Clozapine in your body which can lead to more side effects from your medication than usual.
If you stop smoking you may need less Clozapine to stay well.
So if you are thinking of stopping or cutting down it is important that you let your nurse or Doctor know. They will arrange for you to have a blood test to check your Clozapine levels and to continue to monitor your treatment while you are cutting down or giving up to make sure you have the right dose. It is just as important that you tell your nurse or Doctor if you start smoking again as this can also affect your dose.
For free confidential help to stop smoking contact Help2Quit on 0800 735 1155
Or visit the website at www.health.gov.je