You Are Invited to West Cornwall Forum 7th July Penzance

[RayJ]

INTERESTED?

In Emotional & Mental Health?

Open Forum For West Cornwall

( ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND, TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD BETTER SERVICES)

On: Thursday 7th July 2011
Time: 1:00pm until 3:00pm
At: Richmond House, Tolver Road, Penzance



Guest speaker: Liz Datson acting manager of the
West Cornwall Home Treatment Team
Also Phil Belcher manager of
East Cornwall Home Treatment Team

In Crisis?…. Need Help?….. Support?…..Who’s Who?.... When?.... Where ?…
Referral?… Out Of hours?…. Information?….Phone Numbers?

Your Questions and hopefully the answers!
Light Refreshments Drinks etc.
Transport costs paid (Truro and West Cornwall Service Users only),
Need a Lift? Car drivers can be provided.
For further details or to book transport, please ring Jane on 01872-243532


Mental Health Forums are run by the Service Users Representative Group (SURG) and hosted by
Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC) via The Mental Health Project.



THE VOICE OF SERVICE USERS IN CORNWALL

www.suncornwall.com

[RayJ]

INTERESTED?

In Emotional & Mental Health?

Open Forum For West Cornwall

( ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND, TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD BETTER SERVICES)

On: Thursday 7th July 2011
Time: 1:00pm until 3:00pm
At: Richmond House, Tolver Road, Penzance


THE VOICE OF SERVICE USERS IN CORNWALL

www.suncornwall.com

Just a reminder...... if you know anyone who may be interested.... please inform them..... We need to let management know that we do want local Forums....... Thank you xx

[RayJ]

West Forum Meeting
7/7/2011
Richmond House
Penzance


Speakers Out of Hours Service Liz Datson West Cornwall Manger
Phil Belcher East Cornwall Manager
Chairperson Ray Hancock (West Cornwall Forums, Service user co-ordinator)

Ray introduced Liz & Phil & gave a history of the forums.

Liz gave the background to the Out Of Hours which started of as a support service but has grown into a much wider service with statutory obligations.

They have 24 part & full time staff.

From 5-8:30pm a Support Time Recovery worker responds. From 8.30 an Approved Mental Health Practice (AMHP) & Community Psychiatric Nurse’s (CPNs) work.

With the introduction of RIO (RiO is an electronic patient record system that is supplied to mental health trusts and community service organisations. Trusts can buy directly from CSE Healthcare or via its partner BT Global Services which is the local service provider to London under the National Programme for IT). There should be 99% access to notes, care plans & wrap (Wellness Recovery Action Plans) plans. If these are up to date the response should be appropriate & helpful.


Feedback from users present

Generally there were very negative experiences of the OOH response.
Examples as follows.

Users ringing & not receiving a helpful, appropriate reply.

Care coordinators leaving & not being replaced. ( Day Services, Home Treatmeant Team )

Care plans not being drawn up, some not being maintained, other service user not included in drawing up the plan.

Users being told they could not receive treatment/support because of their diagnosis. This was especially high from the diagnoses of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). A serious condition which produces the largest number of suicides.

No change or progress had been made in 20 years regarding the out of hours / crisis support. Nightlink was set up as a talk network for service users and carers alike, so people didn’t feel isolated. This was NEVER meant to be a crisis helpline.

At a time of crisis people were often left feeling more acutely unwell than prior to ringing. Telling people to have a cup of tea, go for a walk or have a bath, is not the best support for a person in crisis or trying to prevent a crisis. It is the same standard of understanding as telling someone to pull themselves together.

It was believed that service users could contribute to staff training, that basic skills such as empathy were not being taught.

Suggestions were more training in ASSIST.

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is intended as 'suicide first-aid' training. ASIST aims to enable helpers (anyone in a position of trust) to become more willing, ready and able to recognise and intervene effectively to help persons at risk of suicide.

Awareness of other support links eg:

Saneline, ( o845-767-8000) We are open every day of the year from 6pm to 11pm

Nightlink, is available on Freephone 0808 8000306 from 5pm to midnight every night. ( Cornwall only)

Samaritans (08457 90 90 90 ) Local Truro 01872 277 277

Practical issues to be considered, such as how to access, the police , GPs.
A policy/information pack is available, though Liz and Phil hope SURG would help to re-design to make it service user friendly.

Many were not aware that people with a psychiatric diagnosis are eligible to a physical check up once a year which could eliminate other illnesses affecting their mental state.


Ray closed with thanks to all.
Next West Forum October 13th Falmouth ( venue likely to be Methodist Church on The Moor, watch for further announcements)

www.suncornwall.com