Psychological Professions Week: Dr Posy Knight shares what drives her in her psychological profession.

For Psychological Professions Week (13 to 17 November), we’re sharing a blog from Dr Posy Knight, Clinical Psychologist who works in our Nottingham Community Stroke team. Posy shares why she enjoys her roles in a psychological profession, what makes it special and what drives her especially after returning to work after having an organ transplant. Questions she hasn't given much thought about in years. Read her reflections below.

Dr Posy Knight

Why occupational therapy matters?

Occupational therapy is about being able to do the things you want to do and have to do. This might be overcoming challenges going to work, at school, sports or managing every day tasks.

We’re sharing Molly’s story for Occupational Therapy Week (6 to 12 November 2023). Molly, 47, was diagnosed with Bi-Polar Affective Disorder, Chronic Epigastric Pain (pain below the ribs), Chronic Fatique and Migraine and suffers with low mood and appetite, poor memory, concentration and sleep. Molly also has suicidal thoughts but no intent.

Molly is supported by Janet Abana, Occupational Therapy Assistant in our City Central Local Mental Health Team. Molly is seeing positive results, improved structure/routine and building her confidence thanks to the care and support of our occupational therapy team.

Our NHS Stories: A lifetime in nursing in the NHS

 As we mark 75 years of the NHS, we’re looking back on the history and achievements of the national health service and the opportunities that lie ahead to shape the next 75 years. The NHS has been a constant presence throughout all our lives and at the heart of everything is its staff and volunteers. We’re sharing a story from Tina, Professional Lead in the Newark and Sherwood Healthy Family Team who has clocked up 50 years’ service in the NHS.

Tina is in final years of her career and chose to work beyond usual retirement time. She says she loves her job working in the community and says she feels a very lucky and honoured person to have been able to work closely with patients and now her staff team – a team of brilliant and positive, caring people, who give their all to work to make a difference to families and children. Tina says, “I will be sad to leave it all behind, but time never stands still.”

Tina Durrani, Professional Service Lead

Windrush Day: "“I believe that Windrush has shaped my identity as I’m now following in the footsteps of my ancestors who have in the past helped to build the workforce in the UK and today."

Tomorrow (Thursday 22 June) is national Windrush Day, marking 75 years since the ship MV Empire Windrush docked at the Port of Tilbury, near London.

We are proud to have a rich and diverse workforce at Nottinghamshire Healthcare and recognise the vital contributions and achievements that the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to the health and social care system, and in particular the NHS.  

One of our international nurses, Pearlina Robinson-Mayers, a staff nurse in Adult Mental Health Services, shares her reflections on the Windrush generation, why she left the Caribbean to work at Nottinghamshire Healthcare and what inspires her.

Pearlina decided to come to the UK to work in the NHS as she was looking for a change and wanted to do something new and exciting with her life. She believes her Caribbean background and culture have been a strong foundation to the care she provides to her patients and is looking forward to further developing her skills at the Trust.

“I’ve had several colleagues who have migrated to the UK and they expressed that the NHS was a good place to work. So, I decided to give it a try, as it’s a place that will allow me to develop my skills and grow professionally.

“In the Caribbean, there are certain traits that are engrained into an individual through socialisation regarding our culture and norms. These include things like being punctual, efficient, organised and dedicated to whatever task you may be assigned. I’ve learnt to harness these qualities and incorporate them into my work life to ensure optimal care is always rendered to all whom I am in contact with. 

“As a nurse trained in the Caribbean, I was taught to function in all spheres of the nursing profession, hence I have garnered a wealth of knowledge which I can now use to ensure the best care is given to all patients in my care in the UK. I am also able to impart my knowledge to my team so we can function at optimal levels.”

On Windrush… 

“I’m delighted to follow in the footsteps of the Windrush generation and to be able to utilise my skills in the UK’s healthcare sector to help ensure that best practice and care is available for all. 

“I believe that Windrush has shaped my identity as I’m now following in the footsteps of my ancestors who have in the past helped to build the workforce in the UK and today. I’m doing the very same moving into the role of Staff Nurse with the NHS. 

“If I’m honest, I hadn’t really given much thought to Windrush until I was invited to tell my story. However, as I reflected on Windrush, I believe that it depicts the resilience of Caribbean people who are willing to leave the shores of our birth countries to live in foreign lands and lend support in building workforces wherever our skills can be utilised.

“I am proud to be of the Windrush generation who can help make differences in the lives of others.” 

For more information about Windrush Day visit: https://windrushfoundation.com/ 

Carers Week: Using lived experience as a Carer Peer Support worker to make a difference to carers and their families

It's Carers Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much needed support.  

Scott Pomberth is a Carer Peer Support Worker and Carer Link in the City Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team (CRHT). He has been in this role for the past year and shares why he loves his job supporting carers and families.

Carer Peer support workers are people who dedicated to supporting the unpaid Carers of the patients who are using our services.   

Scott Pomberth

Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June): Celebrating our incredible volunteers at Nottinghamshire Healthcare

It’s Volunteers’ Week, 1 – 7 June, and we’re celebrating and recognising the fantastic work of our volunteers.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has over 150 registered volunteers who give hundreds of hours of their time every week supporting our colleagues, patients and their families. Our volunteers bring skills, knowledge and a desire to make a difference to our services and the lives of the people we care for.

We spoke to Lucy Paine, who has been a volunteer at the Trust for 2 years. She began volunteering as she wanted to give back to the service that has supported her throughout the good and bad times in her life.

Lucy’s volunteering story:

Mental Health Awareness Week: Processing my experiences and triggers helped me to continue to work

For Mental Health Awareness Week, were sharing a story about Gemma, 39, who works as a Forensic Scientist examining evidence for the Criminal Justice System. Gemma has had many things happen in her life which have become very overwhelming for her, and she has found these very difficult to deal with alone, both physically and psychologically. She has been supported by Nottinghamshire Healthcare's Primary Care Psychological Medicine (PCPM) service and she says it has given her more confidence and is helping her to understand and process her triggers.

 

Gemma shares her story:

Dementia Action Week: “I had a mum, a friend and now I have a child”

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. 

Autism Acceptance Week: “I was always classed as the ‘weird kid’ who nobody wanted to talk to”

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. 

Thomas (Tom) Hewitt, IT Service Desk Analyst

“You don’t look autistic”

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.

Reducing stress and improving our own mental well-being

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?