As part of Dementia Action Week, we’re sharing a story about Zofia* (86) and daughter Monika* (55). Zofia has suffered from dementia for over 10 years and her declining ill health has meant that Monika has had to give up work to care for her mum. Monika says without the valuable care and support from the Trust’s Bassetlaw Community Mental Health Team (Mental Health Services for Older People) she would not have been able to cope.
For Autism Acceptance Week, we’re sharing a story from Tom Hewitt, 32, who works at the Trust as an IT Service Desk Analyst. Tom was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (now known as autism) at the age of 18 and talks about his experiences growing up, being classed as ‘the weird kid’ at school, his struggles with social interactions and how he found it hard to fit in. He also suffers from Generalised Anxiety Disorder, (GAD), a long-term condition which causes a person to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.
Tom is really proud to work for Nottinghamshire Healthcare and says since day one, the Trust has welcomed and accepted him into the organisation, and for the first time in a long time, he feels proud to say that he works not for, but with a company that looks after and respects its employees like him.
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| Thomas (Tom) Hewitt, IT Service Desk Analyst |
World Autism Acceptance Week takes place from 27 March to 2 April. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. There are approximately 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK.
Dave Pooley is Neurodevelopmental Transitions Lead for the
Adult Mental Health Service at Nottinghamshire Healthcare. The service is just 6 months old however it has
received just over 100 referrals to meet the mental health needs of adults with neurodevelopmental conditions
within Adult Mental Health (AMH) services who are transitioning.
Dave shares his reflections of autism and how it affected
him growing up.
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Low mood can strike at any time of year, but many of us find the winter months – and January in particular – more difficult.
A combination of post-Christmas blues, cold, dark weather
and the tightening of purse strings may be some of the reasons why January can
feel like a long and difficult month to get through.
With the past few years being a challenging time for us all, the need for us all to look after our mental health and support each other, is all the more important. So, what can you do if you need a mood boost?
For World Mental Health Day, Monday 10 October 2022, we’re talking about mental health and how important it is to look after this, to talk about things and to get help if you are struggling.
Andrew works at Nottinghamshire Healthcare as Senior Peer Support Worker at Arnold Lodge. Before joining the NHS, he worked as a management consultant specialising in grant funding and IT management. Andrew shares his story about his personal experience of mental health difficulties, his recovery journey, and his role as a Senior Peer Support Worker.
For National Hate Crime Awareness Week, Nottinghamshire Healthcare will be promoting its 'No Excuse For Abuse' hate incidents/crimes campaign. As a Trust we take hate incidents and hate crimes very seriously. Any form of abuse, harassment or violence is not acceptable, and we need to do everything we can to address it when it happens. We are committed to ensuring that all our staff feel supported if they experience a hate incident or hate crime or feel able to report it if they see it happening.
We want
to be really clear: We will not tolerate any form of abuse, harassment or
violence against staff, visitors, carers and those who use or services, whether
verbal, threatening or physical.
Remarks
or behaviour based on someone’s gender, mental health, race, religion or
belief, sexual orientation, age, disability or gender identity will not be
tolerated.
As part of the
awareness week, we’re sharing Robert’s story who experienced racial discrimination
and micro-aggressions in the 1990s which had a profound impact on him at the
time.
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| Robert Mooken Trust Head of Quality Surveillance |
Nottinghamshire Healthcare has
been a long supporter of the Armed Forces community and recognise the valuable
contribution, wealth of experience and skills that Armed Forces personnel and
their families bring to the organisation and that this contributes to the
delivery of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led patient care.
Last year, the Trust re-signed
the Armed Forces Covenant showing its commitment to ensure staff who serve or
have served, and their families, are treated fairly. We also work in
partnership with NHS Step into Health programme, which supports servicemen and
women to access career opportunities working in the NHS. Armed Forces and their
families include: Service leavers, Reservists, Veterans, Cadet Forces Adult
volunteers and spouses, partners and families of those serving. Read more about
how we support our Armed Forces community.
Hear from Gavin Oxby, whose
dream growing up was to become a solder. He is extremely proud throughout his
career to represent the British Army all over the world. Now a Registered Nursing Associate at the Trust,
he shares his story about his life in the Army and the NHS.
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| Gavin Oxby, Registered Nursing Associate and Veteran |
