Solihull Together Awards: We take a closer look at Collaborative Working Project shortlist - The Solihull Observer

Solihull Together Awards: We take a closer look at Collaborative Working Project shortlist

Solihull Editorial 14th Mar, 2018 Updated: 19th Mar, 2018   0

SINCE revealing the Solihull Together 2018 Awards finalists a fortnight ago, we have been taking a look at some of the category finalists in more detail.

This week we are focussing on the Collaborative Working Project.

This category celebrates innovative work by a partnership or project involving two or more groups that support vulnerable and frail adults.

MENTAL HEALTH ENHANCED ASSESSMENT TEAM, BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL MENTAL HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST




CARING for those with mental health issues and working out a support plan is all in a day’s work for The Mental Health Enhanced Assessment Team and the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMFHT).

Based at Chelmsley Wood Primary Health Care Centre, the assessment team work with people with physical health problems which are having an impact on their mental health.


Recognising that many people with a long term condition may find it hard to get to their clinic, the team will visit someone at home to assess them and develop a support plan.

This can include help with relaxation and how to manage anxiety.

The team work alongside a number of other services including district nurses, the Alzheimer’s Society, social care and community services.

Suzanne Buffery, the clinical team lead, said: “We make it a priority to get to know the person beyond their physical difficulties, to give the individual a sense of hopefulness and control in their lives.”

SOLIHULL ENHANCED PERSONALITY DISORDER PATHWAY AND AVIARY HOUSE SUPPORTED LIVING

HELP IS at hand across the borough for those with personality disorders and complex problems thanks to a new project that was launched last summer by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT).

The pathway provides support for individuals as well as working with family members and the various services that support them.

Communication and transitions between services can be very challenging so working together is essential.

Aviary House is one of these services, providing supported accommodation for people diagnosed with a personality disorder. Staff at Aviary House have benefitted from regular sessions provided by the pathway team. These have helped develop the staff’s understanding and confidence, meaning that residents receive compassionate and consistent care.

Fay Cook, Principal Clinical Psychologist at BSMHFT said: “We are excited about how this partnership is developing and are already extending it to other providers. We believe service users will greatly benefit from the collaboration.”

SOLIHULL FALL PROJECT GROUP

EXPERTS from across the borough have joined forces in a bid to support frail older Silhillians.

Solihull Council, Solihull Community Housing, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, a GP and Age UK Solihull, is working together to make sure that people who have had a fall, or are at risk of falls, are receiving the support they need.

The group, led by Carol Andrew from Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group, offer balance and exercise classes available in the community, information for residents, training for health and care staff and a new community falls service that will visit people at home.

Carol said: “Everyone is totally committed to this work and helping to drive it forward. We want to see a reduction in falls, but just as importantly, an increase in people’s confidence to prevent falls and maintain their independence.”

SOLIHULL MINOR INJURY UNIT STAFF AND BADGER MEDICAL STAFF

STAFF at Solihull Minor Injury Unit and Badger Medical have been working together for the last 17 months to provide the best care and treatment possible to patients needing urgent care in the borough.

The two groups of staff came together in October 2016 when the Urgent Primary Care Service opened in the Minor Injury Unit at Solihull Hospital. Their services are for anyone with an urgent minor injury or urgent minor ailment.

Sarah Moulton, Deputy Head of Operations – Emergency Medicine at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust and Fay Wilson, Medical Director at Badger Group said: “Patients may need expertise from one or both areas, so it’s crucial that staff safely and clearly manage patients across their boundaries.

“These two teams have worked very well together to provide safe and good services and always put the needs of patients first.

“The strength of their commitment to patient care and to collaborate effectively has been clear since the start.”

ST BERNARD’S RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME AND TENDER YEARS DAY NURSERY

LOTS OF noise and running around is a weekly occurrence at St Bernard’s residential care home as pre-school children head over to do crafts and find out about hobbies.

A group of five children from Tender Years Day Nursery and five residents at the St Bernards Road care home get together for an hour-long activities.

Early sessions have focused on the children and adults getting to know each other and building relationships.

One of the adults shared models of Rosie and Jim to enable him to talk about his love of canal boats. Another made pom poms for the children resulting in an impromptu game of catch.

Maxine Burrows from Solihull Council, who helped set up the project, said: “We’ve seen an increase in the adults’ morale and motivation and the children have grown in confidence.

“Both the care home and the nursery talk about a glow, a sense of wellbeing and happiness these sessions bring.

“These aren’t easy things to measure, but we think they are the most significant. The project is such a lot of fun and it makes us all feel good.”

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