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Mental Welfare Commission Eating disorder surveys

The Mental Welfare Commission is currently reviewing the care and treatment of people with eating disorders in Scotland.

In recent months they carried out a series of visits to wards and community services to look at the care and treatment of people with an eating disorder, and met with patients and families/carers.

They are now keen to hear from people they did not get to meet on these visits, including GPs, psychiatrists, dietitians, those providing psychological therapies, and individuals and families.
Take part at https://www.mwcscot.org.uk/…/eating-disorder-surveys-we-wan…

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Big Bike Festival!

21 March 2020, Ross High School Car Park, Tranent
From 10am-12 noon

Cycling – the ultimate low impact exercise. Builds strength and stamina, promotes good mental health and keeps the weight down. Cycling is the best feel-good exercise! Get ready to get back on your wheels this month at the Big Bike Festival!

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Involving carers in discharge planning

Health and Social Care Scotland has introduced a practical guide for health and social care practitioners involved in discharge planning from hospital

It says that carers should be treated as equal partners in the care of those they care for. They can play a significant role in helping people with health and social care needs return home after a hospital admission. They know the people that they care for better than anyone else and can provide information about the person’s needs and circumstances beyond medical conditions or physical needs. This means discharge planning can be more comprehensive and may reduce the likelihood of the person being readmitted to hospital.

If care is planned without the input of the carer, an opportunity has been lost. Therefore, engagement and co-operation with carers is an essential part of good patient care. If you would like to ready the full document, you can find it here – https://www.edubuzz.org/almac/2020/02/18/involving-carers-in-discharge-planning/

You might also find this video interesting – https://vimeo.com/362951019

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Gender Based Violence and Learning Disability Workshop

20th February 2020
14.00- 16:30
Esk Room 2
Brunton Hall
Musselburgh

Image from the national Sexual Harm campaign

This workshop is to raise awareness of the Intersection between Gender Based Violence and adults aged 16yrs+ with Learning Disabilities. EMPPO are holding this workshop in support of Adult Support and Protection Day and 1 Billion Rising to end Violence Against Women and Girls. The workshop will include a number of presentations from specialists in this field, including Kevin Campbell, Senior Health Improvement Officer, NHS Scotland who will speak to the forthcoming Gender Based Violence and Learning Disability Guidance for practitioners.

Booking a place

To book a place, please e-mail emppo@eastlothian.gov.uk with the information below

  • Training course (name & date)
  • Participant’s full name
  • Job Title
  • Service/Team
  • Organisation/Agency Name
  • Email address
  • Line Manager full name & e-mail address
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Crookston and the Abbey get fantastic Care Inspectorate reports

I don’t know if you saw the article in the Courier this week about The Abbey’s glowing Care Inspectorate Report – https://www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/18220292.care-home-staff-praised-helping-residents-vote-election/

You might also be interested in a press release we issued this week about Crookston’s equally glowing report this week – I have cut and pasted it in for you below. Before you read on, I just want to add my own thanks to staff at all three of our Care Homes for the fantastic work you do.

Here goes …

Crookston Care Home gets ‘Very Goods’ from the Care Inspectorate

The Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced inspection of Crookston Care Home in December 2019 to check how well Crookston supports people’s wellbeing and plans their care and support. The answer is very well indeed.

Inspectors reported that people were happy with their care and support. Relatives told them that the home keeps them well informed about their loved one and staff were always kind towards them when they visited.

‘No matter what time of day or night we visit, we always find staff being attentive to our relative,’ said one family.

Residents have a say in decisions about the care and support which affect them, including end of life. They also choose where and how to spend their time and participate in a range of activities. During the inspection, several female residents went to Crookston’s own hair salon, which turned into a real social event for the women involved. The inspectors noted that staff in different units engaged in small-group activities with residents.

Mealtimes were very calm and relaxed and residents enjoyed their meals. Staff sat with residents at mealtimes, making meals more of a social experience. The inspectors commented that meals were of a good quality and people spoke highly of them.

They found that care plans were regularly reviewed and updated, and involved input from relevant professionals, and that as well as considering best practice, care plans make clear resident’s preferences and wishes. They were able to see residents’ health improving as a result of the support that they received. They also commented on a section within care plans relating to physical activity which they thought was useful for identifying how individuals could stay as physically active as possible.

East Lothian Integration Joint Board Chair Fiona O’Donnell says:

‘I am visiting Crookston soon to thank the team in person and I can say that Pauline and her team really deserve their “Very Good” rating. They look after the people who use the home with great affection and respect and are very supportive of relatives too.

‘They are also very innovative, pioneering work with Rempods in East Lothian – people might have seen these reminiscence rooms for people living with dementia when they received backing on Dragon’s Den. Crookston was also part of an award-winning intergenerational project last year with Sanderson’s Wynd Primary.

‘They are a fantastic team and they do very good work. All I can say is congratulations, thank you and keep on doing what you are doing – it’s great.’

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Interim management arrangements for East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership

General Managers

The title Group Service Manager has been replaced by General Manager. This is in line with other HSCPs and describes more accurately the role of the senior managers responsible for our services.

Myself and Iain Gorman Head of Operations (Deputy to Chief Officer) and the General Managers have discussed and agreed the following for an initial period of six months.

Chief Officer Alison Macdonald will continue to line manage:

  • General Manager Acute and Ongoing Care – Lorraine Cowan
  • General Manager Rehabilitation – Lesley Berry
  • Interim General Manager Strategic Integration – Paul Currie
  • Interim General Manager – Planning and Performance/COVID Budget Holder – Laura Kerr

Head of Operations Iain Gorman will line manage:

  • General Manager Adult Social Work – Rona Laskowski
  • General Manager Statutory Services – Trish Carlyle
  • General Manager Adult Community Services/Mental Health and Learning Disabilities – Gillian Neil
  • General Manager Planning and Performance – Laura Kerr
  • General Manager Strategic Integration – Paul Currie

Professional Leads

The professional leads – Chief Nurse, Chief Social Work Officer, Clinical Director and lead AHP – will continue to report directly to the Chief Officer in line with the agreements in the Scheme of Integration

Reporting arrangements to General Managers

There will be no changes to current reporting arrangements for HSCP teams who report to the relevant General Manager.

Social Work Pathway

There is an out standing commitment to reviewing the social work path way and we are committed to progressing this work, reporting to Core Management Team (CMT) and the Strategic Planning Group for information.

The review of the social work pathway will need to be completed by early June

Revising the management structure
A revised management structure is being considered to accommodate these new ways of working; this is yet be finalised. This has led us to make a choice to have interim arrangements in place to ensure that when we, with you, have worked through any new arrangements the management structure can adapt to accommodate.

A number of options need to be considered in relation to the work around Adult Protection, Community Justice, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities.

Trish will continue in the post General Manager – Statutory Services:

  • Justice social work services
  • Community Justice
  • Carers though this will transition into the social work area at a later date anticipated following the procurement arrangements for carer services
  • SDS to be mapped into the customer journey with Rod continuing to have an operational lead
  • SW lead developing SW Governance arrangements

Rona will assume the post General Manager – Adult Social Work:

  • Assessment and Review
  • Social Work Journey
  • Care Home Team
  • Duty Team
  • SDS

In the interim there will need to be shared management put in place for some elements but we will keep you updated as things change.

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The NHS Scotland Management Training Scheme

Would you like to make a difference?

Would you like to be part of something bigger?

The NHS Scotland Management Training Scheme puts trainees on the road to developing the skills and confidence to lead the NHS in Scotland through its transformation into an ever more efficient, successful and professional service.

Could it be a new move for you, or someone you know? Apply now!

  • And ignore the myths – we’ve heard a few!
  • “I need to be a recent graduate” Not true! There is no graduation time limit.
  • “I need to be a young graduate” Not true! There is no applicant age limit.
  • “I need to have a medical qualification” Not true! You need a 2:2 in any subject.
  • “I can only apply once” Not true! Some of our trainees made several attempts before they were successful; we salute their grit and determination.

So…what’s stopping you?

You need at least a 2:2 (in any subject), and the passion, energy, commitment and confidence to lead in the NHS in Scotland. This year, there are six posts: four in General Management and two in Finance Management.

General Management Trainees

You’ll work across a range of Health and Care services in your host Board and across Scotland, as well as gaining an introduction to the role of general managers across the service. You’ll work in a real management post giving you an opportunity to build your knowledge and skills in this complex environment. You’ll get the chance to work and learn alongside some of NHS Scotland’s top leaders and clinicians. You’ll also gain a fully funded masters level qualification.

Apply now!

Finance Trainees

You’ll experience a range of Health and Care services in your host Board and across Scotland, as well as gaining an introduction to the role of financial managers across the service. You’ll work in a real financial management post giving you an opportunity to build your knowledge and skills in this complex financial environment. You’ll get the chance to work and learn alongside some of NHS Scotland’s top leaders and clinicians. You’ll also gain a fully funded CIPFA qualification.

Apply now!

Still not sure? Have a listen to one of our 2019 trainees, Rachel Tardito, talking about why she selected the Scheme.

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The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland wants to hear from you!

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has today launched a stakeholder survey seeking feedback on our roles and our work. The aim of the survey is to gather the views of people who have been in touch with the Commission, either on a personal or professional basis.  We are looking to find out how well each of our roles and responsibilities is understood, and to hear about how well you think we are doing.

This survey is being conducted by Wellside Research Ltd., an independent research company based in Scotland. All responses are anonymous and will be treated as confidential. Wellside Research will not share individual responses with the Mental Welfare Commission. The survey will take around 15-20 minutes to complete and is available here. 

The survey also contains information about a stakeholder event we are holding on 10 March so that we can get more detailed views about people’s experiences of the Commission. The event has limited places, so if you would be interested in taking part, please contact Elaine Wilson-Smith from Wellside Research, by phone on 0131 677 5522 or by email at elaine@wellsideresearch.co.uk

Please contact Elaine if you have any questions on the survey itself, too. We invite anyone who has been in contact with us, whether on a regular basis or as a one-off contact, to take part and give us their views. And please do circulate it amongst your networks.

The survey closes at 5pm on 25 February 2020.

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A Message to all NHS Lothian Staff from Tim Davison, Chief Executive

Dear Colleagues

I want to let you know that later today I will be announcing my intention to retire in the summer after a career in the NHS that has spanned 37 years, 26 of those at Chief Executive level.

It has been a huge privilege to have played my part in the leadership of one of Scotland’s best loved public services and to complete my career with 8 years at the helm of the NHS Board serving Scotland’s capital city and the surrounding Lothians. I am looking forward now to having time to pursue my many outside interests and to handing the baton of responsibility over to my successor to take NHS Lothian forward into the new decade.

I would like to thank my board, my leadership team and everyone in NHS Lothian for your  unfailing support in what many recognise is a pretty demanding and often unforgiving role. I wish you all future success and happiness’.

With very best wishes,

Tim Davison