St Andrew's Healthcare

We know that good care starts with good staff; that's why we continue to invest in our award-winning ASPIRE programme which offers our Healthcare Assistants pastoral and financial support while they complete a two-year nursing degree. Today is very special, as it's our October 2021 cohort's last day at the University of Northampton! They made it, and in a matter of weeks they'll be back on our wards as qualified nurses. Abigail Weston, one of our amazing students, is about to start working on Willow ward. She said: "I have found studying challenging at times but so rewarding and inspiring. It has been great to be part of the ASPIRE programme, and I have been supported and encouraged throughout my studies. It has felt like a lovely community, everyone has helped each other throughout this course and we are now excited for our next journey as qualified nurses at St Andrew's!" Well done to Abby, Karolina Dobrzynska, Nicole Usher, Paul Wainright, Isaac Nyarko, Samantha Robinson, Kieran Coulson, Patricia Agboka, and thank you to Emma Swain, Ged Rogers and all the team! #WeAreSTAH

One of the highlights of today's East Midlands Alliance Showcase has been hearing from Dr Jacqui Dyer MBE, Mental Health Equalities Advisor. Jacqui is the National Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) lead for NHS England. The PCREF is vital; it is NHS England's first ever anti-racism framework, and all NHS mental health trusts and mental health service providers are working on embedding the framework in order to reduce racial inequalities within their services. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insights, Jacqui! #WeAreSTAH With: Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT NHS), Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

We're proud to be part of the East Midlands Alliance, and honoured to be hosting this year's Annual Showcase at our Northampton hospital! The East Midlands Alliance brings together Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT NHS), Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who are working in partnership to enable the best mental health, learning disability and autism care and support for the people of the East Midlands. Today's showcase is bringing healthcare professionals together to discuss the future of mental health care and its challenges and opportunities. The special event will also feature presentations on the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework, the mental health local programme and the future plans of regional collaboratives. Thank you to everyone involved. #WeAreSTAH #WorkingTogether #EastMidlands With: Vivienne McVey, Dr Sanjith Kamath, Andy Bell, Husnara Màlik, Mark Powell, Angela Hillery, Sarah Connery, Ifti Majid, IMPACT East Midlands Provider Collaborative, Midlands Op COURAGE Partnership

Thank you to everyone who turned out to support or enjoy our FestiVol event at Workbridge (part of St Andrew's Healthcare). The sun was shining, vibes were high and the atmosphere was great. Charities, craft stalls, samba band, carnival dancers, african drummers, circus skills, meditation, live music, good food and lovely people all came together to make this annual community event our biggest and best one yet. FestiVol is about celebrating volunteering and giving members of the public the opportunity to find out how and where they can volunteer. I am so grateful to my amazing Voluntary Services staff and volunteer team and to everyone who worked tirelessly in the back ground to make it all happen. Well done everyone and see you at the same time next year!

Do you know that at our Northampton hospital, the people in our care have their very own social club? 80 (yes, 80!) patients recently partied in style at our Patient Recreation Club (PRC)'s end of summer party, which included a live DJ set, games galore, popcorn, a dance floor and a fantastic BBQ! The celebration also coincided with the third anniversary of PRC being back open, following its closure during the pandemic.   The club simply would not happen without the unwavering support of Ken Ainsworth and his team of magnificent #volunteers. It was truly heart-warming to see so many patients having a boogie, throwing shapes on the dancefloor and catching up with friends. Thank you to everyone involved! #WeAreSTAH

FestiVol - only two sleeps to go! Our Voluntary Services team are busy getting ready to bring Carnival to Workbridge! FestiVol is our annual festival, which aims to showcase the benefits of volunteering for many of Northamptonshire’s charities, by bringing them all together in one place. This year’s event has a carnival theme, and visitors can expect a day full of music, street food, craft stalls, shopping and community spirit, alongside the chance to find out about local charities and volunteering opportunities. As if that wasn't enough excitement already, there's also raffle prizes to be won, including a gorgeous star prize from Michael Jones Jeweller, worth over £200! Everyone is invited! More info on our website. #FestiVol #Volunteer #WeAreStah Thanks to Camilla Moshoeshoe, Dawn Wright, Sarah Lewin-Rose, Annie Ellard and all of our brilliant volunteers.

Great to see mental health at the top of the agenda for today's Prime Minister's Questions. The crisis in our mental health hospitals has been going on for far too long. It's time to #RaiseTheStandard The Mental Health Act reforms are an opportunity for the government to: ✊🏾 Tackle racial injustices 📜 Strengthen people's rights 💖 Give people access to the care they need Let's make a historic step forward for mental health.

Patients at our Birmingham hospital have recently taken part in a round of job interviews, helping our staff to put prospective Healthcare Assistants through their paces. Jane Bostock, General Manager explained: "It is really important that the people in our care feel empowered when it comes to decision making, and it is great for them to have a say in the staff who support them day-to-day. "Our team of Technical Instructors supported four patients to write their own questions, many of which were really challenging and insightful. One asked: ‘How do you feel about working with someone if you know what their background is; does that make a difference to how you treat them?’. The patients really made the candidates think during their interviews, and thankfully many of them rose to the challenge." The panel interview also gave the candidates the opportunity to meet some of the patients that they may be working with, helping them to really understand what it is like to work for a complex mental health charity. The patients all found this to be a really positive experience. One individual, said: "I felt privileged to be asked, I felt that it is important to do these interviews because it is an important process that will benefit patients when staff are employed." We are committed to ensuring that patients and their carers are at the centre of everything we do. Dr Inga Stewart, who chairs our Co-production Network, explained "Working together really does benefit everyone. "We are passionate about ensuring St Andrew's has a culture where everyone who uses our services - patients, service users, carers, volunteers and learners - are all fully involved in shaping the care that we provide. This recruitment project is a great example of co-production, that is having a real impact." Great stuff! #WeAreSTAH #Coproduction #workingtogether

Meet Marina, who leads our flourishing Workbridge garden centre. She absolutely loves her job, and it is all down to our volunteering festival, #FestiVol, which takes place this year on Saturday 7 September. A chance visit to FestiVol in 2022 changed Marina's life for the better. Bored of retirement, she came along to the event and it has led to a whole new lease of life for her.   Marina said: "One of my friends had been working at St Andrew's for a number of years and I explained how bored I was at home. Cupboards clean, washing done, I was bored, so she suggested I do some volunteering. I came along to FestiVol and the rest is history.”   FestiVol is an annual festival, held at Workbridge which is the commercial and educational arm of St Andrew’s. The aim of the event is to showcase the benefits of volunteering across many of Northamptonshire’s charities, bringing them all together in one place.   This year’s event has a carnival theme, filled with music, street food, craft stalls, shopping and community spirit, alongside the chance to find out about local charities and volunteering opportunities.   Marina added: “I am so glad I attended FestiVol as it kicked started my volunteering at St Andrew’s and Workbridge. It changed my life and I got to meet so many new people. But, I never thought that volunteering would lead me to a whole new career path, which included a paid position. I feel very fortunate that I now get to go to work and do a role which is meaningful to me and many others.”   Whether you're a music lover, a foodie, looking to find out about volunteering or just looking for a good time, there's something at FestiVol for everyone. Free parking and free entry. For more information, visit our website. #WeAreSTAH

For the first time, anyone in mental health crisis can now call 111 and receive support from trained mental health professionals. The 24/7 service is available for people of all ages, including children, and will provide vital help through a single phone line where staff can guide callers with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternatives services. https://lnkd.in/eHNwqYks