Member Article

Mental Health Concern's Moving Forward Newcastle shortlisted for National Award

Newcastle Mental Health Service receives national recognition

Mental Health Concern’s community service ‘Moving Forward Newcastle’ has been recognised nationally as a leader in its field.

Moving Forward Newcastle has been shortlisted in the ‘Innovation in Mental Health’ category at the ‘positive practice in mental health awards’ amongst competition from many large NHS trusts around the country.

Mental Health Concern is a not for profit organisation providing a range of services on behalf of the NHS throughout Tyne and Wear including; dementia care, Community Challenging Behaviours team, Carer Support Service, Supported Housing, Rehabilitation and Recovery, EIP (Early intervention in psychosis) as well as its Moving Forward services in Tyne and Wear.

Moving Forward Newcastle has been shortlisted due to its innovative approach to mental health and the work it continues to does with community groups throughout the city. Moving Forward works within the community to link those who may feel isolated through their condition to find ways of building social networks and getting involved in activities.

Julia Perry, speciality co-ordinator for Moving Forward comments, ‘it’s fantastic to have been recognised nationally. The model has developed so much over the past few years. We are constantly learning from the experience of people who use the service and adapting to those needs and aspirations. The flexibility we are able to provide is different to that of many similar organisations and we are proud of that. We provide a wide range of support to many people across the city, assisting them to re-integrate into society and grow in confidence’.

Many of Moving Forward’s service users are currently seeking employment and the service gives support around basic IT and CV workshops in our own Work Club as well as helping people to access other employment support in the area.

Rosie Williamson a service user and Moving Forward Newcastle commented ‘I’ve done so much through Moving Forward. It can be a bit scary to make the first contact but all of the link workers are so helpful that you immediately feel at ease and you can discuss your interests with them. I got support to find out about activities and to enrol in courses at college. I decided to do courses in acting and mental health awareness. These really gave me confidence and I’ve never had much confidence in myself before. I was offered the opportunity to take part in a project with Newcastle University producing a DVD about shared decision making. I could never have done something like this before and I’m so pleased to have the opportunity to use my recovery to encourage others.’

Each service user at Moving Forward has a link worker who they can contact with any concerns throughout their time within the service.

Julia continues ‘it isn’t the activities that we’ve introduced a person to that is the most thrilling aspect of the model - it is what they go on to do as a result of that change in expectation and self-belief. Some examples of what we’ve seen are: making a friend and deciding to go on holiday together; enjoying a course at college so much, that without support from anyone else a member goes on to sign up for the next level; a group of women who did a confidence course together deciding they want to keep in touch and organising themselves to join aquafit together. Stories like that really make it worthwhile.’

Scott Vigurs, director of services at Mental Health Concern commented ‘Moving Forward is a great success story for us. The service model we have developed is unique in that many of the groups that have been created by service users now stand alone with little or no involvement from us. Working in this way really allows our service users to do what they want to do and take part in activities that they want so it’s fantastic that we are able to help people find things to achieve but also a lasting network of people who care.’

The awards ceremony takes place on the 23rd October at Sheffield United FC and Moving Forward face competition from Warwickshire and Coventry NHS trust – who developed an app to reach those who may not interact with mental health services face to face and The Practitioner Health Programme London, a practitioner to practitioner guide to mental health and wellbeing.

ENDS

For further info contact Louise Kitchingham, communications officer, Concern Group.

0191 217 0377 louise.kitchingham@concerngroup.org.

Mental Health Concern (MHC) part of Concern Group

Mental Health Concern is a charity that provides a broad range of NHS and Local Authority commissioned mental health services. We aim to help people with mental health problems live meaningful and valued lives, enabling them to maintain improved health and wellbeing in the community. Nationally, as Insight Healthcare we provide a range of primary care mental health services and employee wellbeing programmes.

Concern group services include

24 hour specialist nurse-led rehabilitation and recovery Accommodation with support - including Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP). 24 hour specialist Dementia care and respite Community challenging behaviour support Mental health carer support Moving Forward services – community based link working and activity focussed services Psychological Therapies Employee Wellbeing Programmes

All our services work to a strong values base and are focussed on ‘improving the mental health and wellbeing of the people we serve’

Concern Group specialist services are focused in the North East where we employ over 250 staff across more than 15 service areas. As Insight Healthcare we provide 13 services nationally across 38 CCG areas and employ 230 staff.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Louise Kitchingham .