Learning Disabilities
This is what’s been happening in Southwell this September
Stuart and Janice successfully completed their lifeguard qualification this month. This means we now have 6 qualified staff alone in Southwell which means more patient sessions. Since the swimming pool has reopened it has proved to be popular and important to the seg patients especially.
Four members of the Southwell team are currently working towards their Level 2 award in education and training, and over 50% of Southwell staff have now completed their level 2 qualification in food hygiene.
Due to the success last time Percy the PAT dog has been cleared to come back into the hospital which has already got patients excited.
Big things happening in Southwell gardens, Jimmy and Norm, our horticulture experts, have been out to the Feel-Good Gardens in Clipstone to do some research on sensory gardens with the intention of doing something similar in Southwell gardens
Patients have already started painting the raised beds, but we are really excited with the ideas being put forward as to what we are going to do. Watch this space
Quality Improvement
At Rampton we now have Quality Matrons and I asked if they could send me any updates on QI Project, they are doing with our Patients and so to start this process here is one of our Matrons and a couple of projects ongoing
Quality Improvement Project around “Creating a Caring Culture: Values Clarification – Creating a Shared Purpose”, getting staff and patients to explore the importance of creating a shared vision and purpose, looking at different methods and approaches for sharing values and beliefs, using these to create a shared vision and purpose.
The purpose of doing this activity is to start developing shared values and beliefs about person-centred care. If as a Team we can develop and agree to a set of shared values and beliefs, we can become clearer about what we do and what we might want to do regarding our care and service (Dewing, McCormack and Titchen 2014). By encouraging staff and patients to take part in the exercise all person’s views are valued (Manly 2000).
The idea around doing it as a Quality Improvement Project was so I could use a systematic approach in planning the project, giving the project structure, and to engage with the wider organisation. Quality Improvement is around empowering frontline nursing teams to understand quality issues and develop solutions, working with patients (Ross and Naylor 2017) and involves a shift in the workplace culture (NHS Improvement 2016), which is what I am trying to achieve.
Group sessions have been planned with the Nursing Team and patients – with support from Patient Involvement and Advocacy, working in a group, using flip charts and sticky notes.
Once staff and patients have completed their values and beliefs, the Nursing Team and patients will be asked to capture key words or phrases of their responses on a sticky note and sharing them, with each other, theming the contributions, looking at areas of agreement and common ground. The importance of this is to enable success, as it can focus the Nursing Team and patients on what they are trying to achieve, it can bring people together, enhance communication, making individuals feel that they are being listened to which can create change (Kuziemsky and Varpio 2010) and is an important part of collaborative care delivery as it ensures everyone comes together.
Following on from this, the plan is to ask the Nursing Team and patients to use the themes and descriptors to create a shared purpose statement, providing a focus and energy for any development work.
An action plan will then be developed through shared decision making by doing an “Claims, Concerns and Issues” Exercise. Guba and Lincoln (1990) state that this is a useful way in which you can gain views of all the people involved and to identify actions needed to achieve their “Shared Purpose”.
Changing Our Lives Project: Exploring the impact, scope and challenges of learning disability nurses in secure settings
It’s a project that has been commissioned by NHSE/I and HEE which will explore the impact and scope of learning disability nurses as well as some of the challenges within secure settings. The project was borne out a desire to highlight best practice within secure settings as often publicity and attention focuses on community nursing or liaison roles within acute hospitals.
So far, we have done the following:
- Spoke to learning disability nurses around what staff think their role is, discussions around how they work to the NHSI Learning Disability Standards and any barriers that arise that are particular to secure settings.
- At present we are planning for patients who might want to talk to us about the impact of the nursing role on their experience in hospital, and we are currently putting together some accessible information and consent for the project. I have suggested that we do this work at one of the LD PACE Meetings
Marie Smith (she/her)
Quality Matron
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead
Learning Disabilities
PACE Feedback Patient came together in their Involvement meeting to review the PACE feedback collected between July Sept. Here are some of the patients comments from the survey what could be better and what we did well
What could we do better?
Staff
- Staff shortage has an immense effect on my care and treatment. More off ward activity. Board Games, outdoer activity e.g., cricket, swimming. (Aintree Ward)
- Short staff. Poor choice – always some. (Aintree Ward)
- Arguing with staff. Time scales. (Aintree Ward)
- Sometimes staff don’t understand how I feel. Staffing levels are poor. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Short staffing is a problem. Different menu choices. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Staffing is low. Manner of conversation from staff. (Kempton Ward)
- Food is horrible. Lack of staff. (Kempton Ward)
- Short staff & time frame. Some regular staff aren’t bothered. (Newmarket Ward)
- Short staffed. Nothing to do or activities nonexistent. (Newmarket Ward)
- Food in general & portion size.
Staffing – low. Southwell session cancelled due to staffing. (Newmarket Ward) - Staffing (lack of) for activities. No continuity for going off ward. (Newmarket Ward)
Care received
- Being looked after, want to be independent. (Aintree Ward)
- More activities – bike riding, crafts, swimming. More staffing needed sometimes. (Aintree Ward)
- More activities – bike riding, crafts, swimming. More staffing needed sometimes. (Aintree Ward)
- Staffing & COVID. NO visits from family. Lack of common sense. Knowledge of conditions, continuity. Being busy would like more support from others & supporting. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Don’t get to come off much as I need a staff arm’s length. (Cheltenham Ward)
- confusing sessions and groups. (Newmarket Ward)
- More activities. Lack of day care due to staffing wards. Food – not good. (Newmarket Ward)
Environment/ facilities
- Food horrible. Staffing not good at all. (Aintree Ward)
- Food – choice. Low staffing (Cheltenham Ward)
- Don’t like being. Food is rubbish. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Food is sometimes cold on the trolley, there could be more options. Sometimes the phone and call button doesn’t work, it keeps cutting off. (Kempton Ward)
- The food is hit and miss, not always good. (Newmarket Ward)
Communication
- Staff not listening to me. Staying on ward all time. (Cheltenham Ward)
- I want more sessions. Staffing levels. I want more film nights. The ward phone doesn’t always connect. We haven’t got a computer or table on ward, hasn’t been replaced for purple visits and shopping. (Newmarket Ward)
Miscellaneous
- Lost clothes? (Newmarket Ward)
What did we do well?
Care received
- Treatment and care. (Aintree Ward)
- You get looked after. Activities: – at Southwell. (Aintree Ward)
- Support me. Advice to take meds. Use of machine. Trust & respect. (Aintree Ward)
- Family visits. Talking to staff. Food is. Like going to the shop. (Aintree Ward)
- Southwell – film, football. Fresh air – garden. Staff supports. Library – good choice Rec Hall – mixing with mental health. (Aintree Ward)
- Arts & crafts. Food OK sometimes. Shop is good. (Aintree Ward)
- Arts & crafts. Food OK sometimes. Shop is good. (Aintree Ward)
- Shops good. Like library. Likes art. Outdoor sports. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Going outside. Cricket, bikes & swimming. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Overall, I am enjoying my time here. Family visits and phone calls. I enjoy DJ, computers & music. (Kempton Ward)
- Enjoy getting off the ward. Food OK. Southwell staff are good. (Kempton Ward)
- Southwell activities, especially music, arts & bikes. Pop & pool. (Kempton Ward)
- Cycling is good. I am able to speak with my family. The ward staff try to do activity with us. I like painting and model making. I hope to join the arts and craft sessions. (Newmarket Ward)
- Southwell activities & main areas. Like it quiet. Library, medical Centre. (Newmarket Ward)
- Staff support on treatment pathway. If nothing off ward, facilitated by ward staff on the ward. (Newmarket Ward)
- Film nights. Food is good. Fun days at Southwell. (Newmarket Ward)
- Fun days. (Newmarket Ward)
- Southwell sessions.
Family visits. Drama good. (Newmarket Ward) - Woodwork, arts & crafts. Enjoy library & the shop. (Newmarket Ward)
Staff
- Making friends. The staff are amazing, the way staff help to calm me down.
I like the layout of my bedroom. (Cheltenham Ward) - The staff are friendly with new members & old. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Shops good. Ward staff are good. Southwelll is good. Football, films. (Cheltenham Ward)
- Staff are supportive.
Communication with mum, visits, and phone calls. (Newmarket Ward)
Environment/ facilities
- Making friends. Gym, bikes, garden, church, football, arts – Southwell activities. Ad hoc works better – as have choice. (Cheltenham Ward)
Communication
Phone calls. Purple visits. (Cheltenham Ward)
Access
Planned session. Library. Shop. (Newmarket Ward)
Personality Disorder
Congratulations to the patients in the Personality Carestream at Rampton Hospital for their outstanding achievements in this year’s Koestler Awards
This year they have received two outstanding debut awards, two commended awards and a silver award.
Well done, Brecon who received a silver award for their Covid themed murals ‘Stay at home, save lives.’ As a group the patients took inspiration from the Bayeux Tapestry.
As with the original tapestries these pieces of artwork provide information about major events. This time about what has happened over the past few years as a result of the pandemic. These include the regular updates from the prime minister, the queen addressing the nation, and the comet that could be seen very early on in the pandemic. The importance of social distancing is featured along with trees which aim to illustrate one of the few activities they were able to access for a while, this being fresh air. The roll out of the first vaccination is also featured along with messages of thanks to the NHS both in words and in the form of a rainbow.
King of the Ice and My Story are two pieces of work that received Outstanding Debut Awards. These were achieved by individuals on Quantock and Malvern ward.
Hi, my name is Adeline
I am a registered mental health nurse; I have been nursing since 1984. I have nursed in various settings, adult mental health, community, child and adolescent, offender health (prison nursing) and now high secure at Rampton.
I am a quality matron here at Rampton an di support the admission wards in both Personality Disorder services (Cheviot) and Mental Health (Bonnard & Blake).
I am also leading on patient safety on behalf of the Quality Matron group, and this includes, seclusion, long term segregations and restrictive practices.
I see my core role as support
- Service improvements
- Patient and staff wellbeing
- Patient experience
Regards
Adeline Hunt
Quality Matron – MH/PD
Rampton Hospital,
The Create & Resonate project was a collaboration between Occupational Therapy and Music Therapy. Our Occupational Therapy aims were to focus on service users creating and performing original digital music to develop skills using digital equipment; opportunities for creativity and groupwork skills. Music therapy has brought a focus on the positive effects of music on wellbeing and processing trauma.
The soundtrack for this video features music from Create & Resonate artists. It was created using the Roland MC707 – drum machine, looper, synthesizer – GROOVE BOX
The group has now performed two live concerts in the Recreational Hall at Rampton Hospital which were very well received. They included visual materials selected by service users to enhance their performances and develop their musical identities.
The group refined their music with support from staff and two external artists: REZZONATOR and SHELTER CALM.
The project has recently taken a step forward with permission to develop a Digital Creative Hub with a music studio, animation, and filmmaking equipment / software.
It is hoped that service users will develop their skills further in this area producing individual projects but also generating content for other services. Some ideas have already been suggested, for example, a film is in the pipeline from the Hearing Voices group in the Recovery College sharing experiences of hearing voices.
The Create & Resonate project took the award for the Health & Wellbeing category at the National Service User Awards 2022 (NSUA). We would like to thank all the service users, staff and external artists who worked hard on this project and have made it a success.
Women’s Service
- From January 2023 we are stating the furniture restoration project up again with Nick, Kath, Mel and Gayle. We are staring with Topaz patients then rolling out to rest of WS.
- We restarted the HOPE group last Wednesday with Bronwen the Chaplin. Running for 5 sessions Wednesday evening.
- Had a fantastic farewell do for one of our WS patients last week after being here for 26 years. Patients loved it. Dancing and singing with staff make it somewhat normal was one feedback.
Mental Health
Update on deaf awareness week events
The patients on Grampian ward worked together to plan a series of events for their directorate in honour of Deaf Awareness Week. This project won a National Service User Award in the category of Breaking Down Barriers. The patients met on a weekly basis to discuss their ideas and plan the events, which included:
- a “voices off” football tournament where hearing staff and patients got the opportunity to experience football without sound
- a fete-style event where Grampian patients hosted stalls with various games and challenges to promote Deaf awareness such as a lipreading challenge, a guess the sign game and teaching people how to fingerspell their name. There was also a Hollywood-style Walk of Fame featuring notable Deaf people throughout history.
- A film afternoon showing Children of a Lesser God, starring Marlee Matlin, the first Deaf person ever to win an Oscar. This film was an opportunity for people to gain insight into life as a Deaf person.
- A Deaf Awareness presentation written in conjunction with the Recovery College, where patients had the opportunity to share personal stories, barriers and how to overcome them, which will be delivered to both hearing peers and staff within the directorate.
Following these events, the patients involved said: “Since hosting our Deaf Awareness events, we feel that there has been some improvement in people’s awareness of our challenges but feel we still experience a lot of communication breakdowns, so there is still a long way to go to improve our communication with hearing staff and patients outside of our ward. We think it is important to continue to work on promoting Deaf awareness to make sure people don’t forget our message, and to capture new staff and patients who enter the hospital in future. It is our dream to be able to attend workshops within the hospital and experience smooth communication with our hearing peers. To achieve this, we need to continue working with hearing staff and patients to teach them basic Deaf-aware communication such as basic BSL signs relevant to the area we are working in, such as signs related to gardening and animal care in our horticulture sessions, and the use of visual communication methods such as pictures and live demonstrations. This is something that we hope to improve with our future Deaf awareness events.”