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| Dr Posy Knight |
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.
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.”
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| Tina Durrani, Professional Service Lead |
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.
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“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/
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.
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| Scott Pomberth |
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:
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:
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 |
For National Apprenticeship Week (7 to 13 February 2022), were celebrating all that is great about apprenticeships and shining a light on our inspiring apprentices in Nottinghamshire Healthcare.
An
apprenticeship combines on the job practical work experience, whilst studying,
allowing you to gain experience and achieve a recognised qualification and
earning an income.
Bashar
Heesambee (Bash), Sports Instructor, at The Wells Road Centre in Nottingham,
takes a look back on his apprenticeship journey.
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| Bashar Heesambee, Sports Instructor |
With around one
in six children affected by mental health problems, supporting
children and young people to be mentally healthy has never been more important.
Children’s
Mental Health Week is 7 to 13 February. The theme is about growing together and
using challenges and setbacks to help us grow.
As part of raising awareness for the week, we spoke to Chelsea, who at the age of 14 experienced anxiety, low mood and self-harm. With the support of the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), she has turned her life around, from being someone who wouldn’t interact with anyone to a confident young person who volunteers, presents and has even been on the radio helping to raise awareness of mental health and the stigma that still surrounds it.
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| Chelsea |
For National Hate Crime Awareness Week,
Nottinghamshire Healthcare will be launching its 'No Excuse For Abuse' hate
incidents/crimes campaign, sending out a clear message to those who abuse its
staff, visitors, carers and service users that there is no place for hate in
our organisation.
Hate incidents are significantly underreported
across society and it is no different for the Trust. Staff have reported,
through the Trust’s BME Staff Network and NHS National Staff Survey (2020),
that the most common form of hate incident is racism and is one of the many
reasons why we are addressing this important issue. The impact this has on our
staff and those who use our services is often profound.
We're sharing a story from Natasha Bowen, who
experienced a hate incident at the Trust. She talks about how she felt too
afraid to speak up as a new member of staff but felt empowered, valued and
protected after her manager challenged the person.
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| Natasha Bowen, Access to Information Support Officer |
Our very first nursing associate has shown her dedication
and commitment and now has her first job as a registered nurse.
Nursing associates were a new role in the Trust which began in 2017. They work with healthcare support workers and registered nurses to deliver care for patients and the public. It is also a stepping stone to becoming a registered nurse.
Leah Quick was our first nursing associate in the Trust and share’s her amazing journey of the challenges she overcame to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.
