St Andrew's Healthcare

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

Liam is 27 years old, and he loves animals, movies, sci-fi, and being outdoors. He lives with Huntington's Disease, and since being in the care of our specialist brain injury unit, he has embraced all of the therapy and activities on offer. One of Liam's favourite things is being creative in our Arts studio. He has tried his hand with many mediums, including leaf rubbing, marbling, t-shirt design, paper craft, painting and felting. Today he has been supported to make a paper chain snake - complete with googly eyes and a forked tongue - from paper strips he marbled in a previous art session. Alison Williams, Visual Arts Technical Instructor, has been working with Liam for nearly two years. She explained: "Liam's really creative! He often comes to our sessions with ideas, which we work together to bring to life." Alison works within our team of Occupational Therapists (OT). Our OT's see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations; they look at relationships between the activities individuals do every day – occupations – alongside the challenges people face and their environment. "We work closely with Liam to support him to do what he wants to do, working with his limitations so he achieves something every week he can be proud of,” said Alison. The sessions are always fun and interactive, as Liam explained: “I really enjoy my art sessions. My art makes me happy and makes me feel relaxed. I quite like getting messy, too!" Liam uses a wheelchair, and he is supported by two members of staff during his weekly sessions. Dan Heap, Technical Instructor, is one of Liam’s supporters. He explained: "Liam is always so motivated to come to these sessions and have that valuable 1:1 time doing something that he loves. He is always so focused and despite some of the physical challenges he may face, this doesn't stop him from making some awesome-detailed pieces of work." Liam's next project is a Transformers movie collage for his bedroom door, and he's helped Alison to make a list of characters - both Autobots and Decepticons - that he would like to include in his piece. Thank you for sharing your artwork with us, Liam! #WeAreSTAH #HuntingtonsDisease Huntington's Disease Association

We have launched a new programme to support Ward Managers to hone their leadership and management capabilities while ensuring they stay at the leading edge of clinical practice. The exciting initiative - which follows on from the recent launch of our Healthcare Assistant Development programme, is another example of how we are focussing on investing in our staff and nurturing talent at all levels. The Ward Managers' Development programme consists of eight modules, focussing on subjects such as compassionate leadership, team dynamics, personal resilience, team culture, business and commerciality, and leading for quality care. It has been co-produced where possible, with patients involved in shaping various modules to ensure it fully represents the areas they find most important. Congratulations to cohort #1, pictured, who are all about to embark upon their second learning session! More info on our website. #WeAreSTAH With: Nigel Woodcock, Sarah Ward-Greef, Katharine Haynes Assoc. CIPD, Lauren Beard, sue chipchase, Tatee Williams, Amos Njugunah, Lisa Robinson, Lydia Mashonganyika, Stephen Walshe, Jamiela Ahmed, Veecash Jeeawock and Eloise Anderson.

Congratulations to one intrepid young person in our care, who recently reached the summit of Mount Snowdon with support from her care team.   This is not the first strenuous hike the young person has accomplished; earlier this year they tackled Chrome Hill in the Peak District as part of their The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.   Ian Bradley, Teacher within our St Andrew’s College, explained: “This is a phenomenal achievement by a young person in our care, and really demonstrates that even while being treated at St Andrew’s, patients still have plenty of opportunities to undertake meaningful activities. Despite a very mixed bag of weather, the group climbed Snowdon with smiles on their faces. Well done all!” Brilliant, what an accomplishment! #WeAreSTAH #DoE #Snowdon With: Helen Lambert

It's Summer Party day at our Birmingham hospital, and staff and people in our care are enjoying the sunshine, games and food. Thank you to everyone involved! #WeAreSTAH With: Victoria H., Jane Bostock, Alina Maczka, Cheryl Nyabezi, Victoria Mitchell, Bobbie Kelly, Paula Goodwin, Vaughan Taylor, Princess Nettleford and Benny the dog.

It is #ALevelResultsDay, and you or a loved one may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, disappointed or confused. When stress becomes too much to manage, it can affect our mental health. Stress can also make existing mental health problems feel harder to cope with. If you are worried about grades, please remember to spend some time today looking after yourself and rewarding yourself for how hard you have worked, regardless of your results. Remember that you are so much more than a grade on a piece of paper, and there are so many options for your future! We have a few tips which may help - but if you feel overwhelmed, the wonderful volunteers at Samaritans are always there to listen. You can call them on 116 123. #WeAreSTAH