Better Together e-news Winter 2018

Welcome from the Chair, Paul Devlin

As I’m writing these words to introduce another issue of Better Together we are in the midst of preparations for the festive season.

The last couple of months have been a busy time for the Trust with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspecting our services in October followed by a well-led review of our leadership and how we run the Trust. We’d like to thank the many service users, carers and governors who took their time to meet with the inspectors and feedback about the care and support they receive.

The inspectors said that they observed a culture of openness, positive practice and continuous quality improvement. All staff said that they were supported, respected and proud to work for the Trust.

The CQC mentioned our commitment to equality and diversity and commented about our approach to improving quality and the fact that staff felt empowered to make local changes without the need to ask for permission. They have also said that there is evidence of leadership being invested in throughout the organisation.

We expect the publication of the report to take place early next year, but I am pleased that so much of what I know the Trust does well was seen by the inspectors.

I’d also like to update you about forthcoming changes to our Board of Directors.

Dr John Brewin, Chief Executive is leaving the Trust and moving to Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust following his appointment as their new chief executive. While I congratulate John on his new role I should like to put on record my personal sadness that John is leaving the Trust. Throughout his time at LPFT, John has demonstrated passion and drive to continue to improve services for our service users, their carers and staff across the organisation, and I know he will be missed.

Plans are already in place to take the Trust through the next few months before a new chief executive is appointed with Anne-Maria Newham MBE, Director of Nursing, AHPs and Quality taking on the role of Chief Executive in the interim. Meanwhile our recruitment to the substantive chief executive post is underway, and I have already had a number of phone calls with interested prospective candidates.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading this issue of our member’s magazine. It’s packed full of interesting content including stories from people who fundraised for the Trust and donated money to our Charitable Funds. These generous donations help improve the environment for our patients and make them more comfortable during their stay. You can also read reflections from our governors – the new ones who have just joined the council and those who have sadly reached the end of their terms.

2018 has been a bit of a rollercoaster year for much of the NHS and 2019 is likely to continue in this vein. But at LPFT I am proud to say we are thriving. We have continued to improve what is available for the people of Lincolnshire who need our services.

I wish you all the best for the festive season and look forward to another great year for LPFT.

Best wishes

Paul Devlin, Chair

Helping young people to keep minds healthy

Ex-service users help improve health services

Former patient raises over £600 to give back to Trust

Zoe Keeton was treated by LPFT in 2016 when she experienced a period of mental ill health, including anxiety, ruminating thoughts, agoraphobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Zoe was admitted to the Peter Hodgkinson Centre in Lincoln, on Charlesworth Ward for people who are experiencing a severe, short term episode of mental illness.

Zoe wanted to give back to the Trust and raise awareness of mental health recovery. She began fundraising in July 2018; selling items on social media, going to car boot sales and donating games, slippers and toiletries to the ward.

Doreen Johnson, Associate Practitioner for Lincoln North Community Mental Health Team supported Zoe with her mental health. Doreen said:

“Zoe has made great progress and positive changes in her life. She is proof that if you’ve suffered a severe enduring mental illness, with the right support from family and professionals, you can make changes to your life and inspire others to see that there is a future.”

Zoe volunteered at the Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Suite and more recently secured a permanent position with the Trust as a Clinical Apprentice.

Zoe said:

“Once I started on the road to recovery, I realised how much the Trust had helped me to have a good quality of life again, living with my illnesses.

“I raised money so I could contribute to giving patients a gift of comfort during their stay. I will be forever grateful to everyone who has helped me. They have touched my life – the support and encouragement is priceless.”

Welcomes and farewells at Council of Governors

We value the input from our Governors who represent the people of Lincolnshire and help us shape how we provide services.

Following elections to our Council of Governors (CoG) earlier this year we had a number of new faces joining. Alan Gurbutt, the new governor representing East Lindsay shares why he decided to join CoG while Pat Massie and Lawrence Abrams who reached the end of their term share their reflections on being a governor and what it meant to them.

Lawrence Abrams said:

“Having worked in mental health and learning disability services, I wanted to give something back.

“I’ve had many highlights; however I really enjoyed being the Chair of the Standards Committee.  Ensuring all governors were upholding key standards, for example ensuring integrity and honesty.

"I would very much recommend being a governor.  I worked with a great group of diverse people which allowed us to effectively challenge the directors and to champion the Trust’s services.

"I’d like to say thank you to the governors’ support team as they were amazing.”

Pat Massie, who has also left said:

“From a carer’s perspective, it’s been very interesting.  There has traditionally been a gap in mental health services, which many carers find difficult.

"Once discharged from Community Mental Health Teams, there may be very little help. Patients might be controlled on medication, but never return to how they were.  Therefore, carers’ support is necessary, particularly with long-term conditions.  We need mental health carers groups, where people understand the problems.”

New governors include Linda Lowndes (Public, North Kesteven), Vanessa Browning (Public, South Holland), Debbie Abrams (Public, South Kesteven), Stephen King (Public, West Lindsey) and Dr Leela Monti (Adult inpatient services).

Alan Gurbutt (Public, East Lindsey) one of the new governors said:

“The NHS has served my family well and it is time to give something back.

"My values lie in supporting people of all age groups in coastal and rural communities to access mental health and learning disability services.

"I want to help end mental health stigma and raise awareness of the challenges people face in remote towns and villages.”

LPFT has said goodbye to three governors who’ve fulfilled their maximum term, Lawrence Abrams, (Public South Kesteven), Pat Massie, (General Care) and Michelle Wiggins, (Public City of Lincoln) and we thank them for their support over the years.

Charitable Funds - helping us to do more for service users

Fundraising through the Trust’s charity, Charitable Funds enhances services and facilities that would not otherwise be funded by the NHS.

The Fens garden project

'Green thumbed' staff and patients at the Fens, an all-male mental health rehabilitation unit in Lincoln, have been planting and cooking produce from their therapeutic garden project.

The team used Charitable Funds money to purchase equipment, plants and seeds to improve their outside space. The patients dug flower beds, planted flowers, vegetables and seeds; providing good physical activity and therapy.

A patient maintaining the garden said:

“I have really enjoyed the garden project, I found the time therapeutic. Growing things from seed to finished item has been fulfilling.”

Philip Jackson, Chair of Charitable Funds said:

“This is a fantastic use of Charitable Funds money and exactly the kind of thing we hope our staff and patients would want to fundraise for.”

Introducing Jacko’s Bar, the Manthorpe Arms

In September the Manthorpe Centre, an older adult dementia unit at Grantham District Hospital, opened a new patient 'pub'.

Sandra O'Sullivan, Medical HR Advisor, and her husband Kieran donated some wedding money to the centre via Charitable Funds, in memory of her father 'Jacko' who had dementia.

The 'pub' gives patients an activity and relaxation room. Jacko's Bar, The Manthorpe Arms contains a bar, television and darts board, and their very own pub plaque.

Sandra said:

"My dad’s name was Michael Joseph Jackson. Dad served in the British Army, his nickname was Jacko.
He became ill with dementia at about 56 years old.
Kieran and I are very pleased that the pub is known as ‘Jacko’s Pub’ it certainly has a nice ring to it.
My dad would have been ecstatic to have a place named after him."

Celebrating our Heroes

As a Trust we are committed to recognising our extraordinary staff. Our LPFT Heroes initiative provides an opportunity to champion individuals and teams nominated by their colleagues and patients following a job well done. Click here to view our list of LPFT Heroes.

Q1 April-June 2018

Hayley Slater

Hayley is an excellent role model and is greatly respected by her colleagues. The Lincoln Crisis team has been described as being highly motivated and thriving under Hayley's positive leadership.

 Vanessa Martin

Vanessa supports the oversite and work in relation to the Trust-wide CQUINs (Commissioning for Quality and Innovation). She is always ready to help, is prompt in her support and advice, and has been described as an 'asset to the Trust'.

 Bed Management Team

The Bed Management Team members are all hard-working and dedicated to their roles. The team has made a positive impact on Trust services, with a large reduction in the number of LPFT patients being placed outside Lincolnshire.

Q2 July-September 2018

Sophie Broady

Sophie shows continuous hard work and dedication to the Lincoln South Community Mental Health Team (CMHT).  She is a passionate nurse, and is described by colleagues as always giving 110% in all that she does, ‘words cannot do her justice’.

 Edmund Uweh

Edmund always goes above and beyond to support the ward with safe staffing during busy periods. Edmund consistently demonstrates the Trust’s core values; particularly integrity, pride and compassion. He regularly exhibits sound clinical practice and is a role model to both staff and students.

 Recruitment Team

The Recruitment Team has worked exceptionally hard to engage the newly qualified nurses in the recruitment process, to ensure that all of them had completed their induction by the start of September. This is just one example of how the team goes above and beyond to ensure the recruitment process is as quick and easy as possible.

Experts by experience

Former service users have been recruited as experts by experience, to help raise awareness and understanding of learning disabilities.The experts by experience show how simple changes can make a big difference to people with learning disabilities who need to access local health services.

Over 30 service users applied for the new roles and six local people were appointed in May 2018.

These people tell the Trust what we are doing well and what can be improved. They also help train staff and challenge people’s perceptions of learning disabilities by sharing their stories and speaking honestly about the Trust’s services.

The experts by experience train other health professionals and support and encourage people with a learning disability to get involved in improving Lincolnshire health services. They held a number of stands with other health professionals from the Trust’s learning disability service in local hospitals and supermarkets raising awareness of learning disabilities, the specialist health services available and the importance of regular health checks.

Nadeen, an expert by experience said:

“I’m really pleased I’ve got this job, it’s really made me feel like I’m worth something and that someone understands and supports me.”

Fionn Morven, Learning Disabilities Service Manager said:

“It’s really important to continue to challenge people’s perceptions of learning disabilities and transform the care available.

"Through simple adjustments to recruitment processes we’ve supported six new colleagues to not only to help us challenge perceptions of learning disabilities with our new training, but also offer a meaningful occupation that gives them a real sense of purpose and belonging.”