kirklees annual report
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7/27/2019 Kirklees Annual Report
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TouchstoneKirklees Mental Health Advocacy Service
Annual Report 2012-2013
EQUAL, HONEST AND COLLABORATIVE WORKING
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Introduction
Touchstone began delivering the Advocacy Service in April 2011. A summary of our
previous work can be found in theAnnual Reportfor 2011/12.
This year, our aim was to strengthen our model of collaboration and co-production,and to demonstrate the quality of what we do, by building on the successes of the
previous year.
You will find in this report the themes of volunteering, mutual learning and support, as
well as a commitment to proving the wider benefits of an approach which encourages
citizens to speak up for themselves, to assertively demand their rights, and to support
others around them. Our Social Return on Investment exercise was a way of trying to
work out the wider benefits of what we do, and attempting to put a price-tag on it.
Although we may not all be professionalised advocates we take the quality of our
work very seriously indeed.
We regularly look at the impact our services have on excluded or marginalised groups
(e.g. Black and minority ethnic; lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people) or people who
are under-represented in our service, in order to see how we can make things fairer.
We undertook an internal Quality Audit, which was led by people who use
Touchstones Services. A group of service users came to inspect the service and
demanded we produce evidence that what we do is safe, fair and collaborative, and
that we learn from our mistakes and make keep accurate records of what we do. They
were very pleased with what they found.
Perhaps our greatest challenge this year has been meeting ever increasing demand for
what we do. Most people approach our service because they have a pressing need to
sort something out to leave hospital, to get their housing sorted or to change the
way in which they are supported. However, too much emphasis on helping people 1:1
might mean we give less time to developing and growing our group support work, and
the development of Peer Advocacy.
As you would expect from a service built on the principles of co-production our
solution emerged from discussions with the people who benefit from our service, andthe peer advocates (see page 3 for more details). We were pleased to find such a
sensible
We hope you enjoy the story of our service over the last year, as much as we have
enjoyed working to make Kirklees a warmer, friendlier and more supportive place for
everyone.
http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/kirklees-advocacy-service-annual-report-201112/ -
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General Developments
Our model of co-productive Advocacy is very different from some other, more
traditional models of advocacy where someone seeks help from a professional
advocate, who speaks on their behalf, in their best interest.
Touchstones way of doing Advocacy delivers a more deeply collaborate experience.
We still provide traditional 1:1 advocacy, but we also spend a lot of time trying to help
people to find their own voice to advocate for themselves by encouraging them to
share their experiences and to support other people with advocacy needs.
We think our model promotes collaborative, equal, honest, reciprocal trusting
relationship between the service users, their families, friends, peers, and neighbours
paid workers, professionals and service providers.
The service guided by principles of co-production is cautiously developing co-
production in all aspects of service delivery and design by:
Recognising people as assets
Building on peoples existing capabilities
Promoting mutuality and reciprocity
Developing peer support networks
Breaking barriers between professionals and recipients
Facilitating rather than delivering the service
Our self-advocacy and group advocacy sessions meet once a week at our offices in
Dewsbury, and at Folly Hall in Huddersfield. These groups combine social activities
with learning new skills, or hearing and learning from the experiences of others.
We currently support a team of eight peer advocates who help us to deliver more than
58 hours of peer support each week. The peer advocates provide one to one peer
support, and support and facilitate group work. Touchstones volunteer co-ordinator
provides additional support to these peer advocates offering ongoing training and
support with new skillslike working with people who dont speak English, or helping
to manage risks.
Early in 2012 we found that we were facing capacity issues. The service was designed
to support a maximum of about 100 people, and we were getting very close to this
number. Many of these people were no longer in need of day-to-day advocacy
support, but were still fearful of being discharged of losing the support they found in
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the peer advocacy groups, and in the ability to pick up a phone and speak with an
advocate without having to re-refer themselves.
After discussions with individuals, groups, peer advocates and others, we agreed that
each person we support would have their case reviewed every 3 months. When people
had achieved their agreed outcomes, we would close their file if they wished it to beclosed. However, for those people who did not wish for their cases to be closed we
decided we would refer to
Active members: those who continue to play an active part in peer/group
advocacy networks, and
Members: people who after receiving advocacy support dot not want to give
back to the service but would call the service as and when they require advocacy
support.
We are pleased to have found a way of describing the status of people who sometimeswant a little advocacy support and which allows them to keep a link to our service,
without this affecting our ability to receive and act on new referrals.
Other achievements of 2012 -2013:
We increased the numbers of referrals from Care Management Mental Health
teams
We increased the numbers of women peer advocates
We were successfully underwent a Quality Audit Inspection, led by Touchstone
Service Users to ensure we are as good as we say we are
We carried out aSocial Return on Investment auditwith the assistance of people
who benefit from our services, referrers and commissioners. We worked out
that for every 1spent on the Advocacy service, we generated a return of 3
We completed an Equality Impact Assessment
Appointed a paid female advocate and recruited more relief worker advocates.
We expanded the capacity of the services and worked with more than 138
people.
http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/http://www.touchstonesupport.org.uk/2013/02/feeling-uplifted-a-report-into-the-social-return-on-investment-of-kirklees-advocacy-service/ -
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Barriers and Challenges
Some of our ongoing challenges include
a) Breaking barriers between professionals and recipientsSome people still expect mental health services to tell them what to do, and that their
involvement is nothing more than ongoing consent. Similarly, some people who work
in mental health services still seem to find it easier to present people with plans of
care, drawing on their own knowledge and understanding of a persons best interest -
rather than helping people to work things out for themselves. This day-to-day
imbalance of power between Professionals and Patients, however well intentioned,
remains an enormous barrier to people taking control of their own lives.
b) Demand for one to one advocacyMost of our referrals come from people who need one to one advocacy support with
support speaking up for themselves in meetings with Professionals e.g. ward rounds ,
discharge meetings , managers meetings , tribunals, CPAs etc. As we have explored
above this has sometimes put pressure on our small staff team, and impaired their
ability to develop the capacity of peer/group advocacy networks.
c) Geographical distribution of KirkleesThe vast expanse of Kirklees means that the one advocate and relief advocate workers
have to travel long distances to reach out to people needing advocacy. This sometimes
makes it difficult to see people face to face as soon as they would like. It also makes
their participation in peer networks difficult if they do not have access to transport.
d) Equal provision and access of the advocacy servicePeople from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities often find getting what
they need from mental health services difficult. This can be for lots of reasons such as
language barriers or services who find it difficult to responding positively to cultural
differences. We are very pleased at the number of people from BME backgrounds who
have received our support - about 30% of all the people we have helped.
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Outcomes
Social Networks
The service has strengthened peer support, group advocacy and peer networks.Service users set up peer advocacy groups to explore areas of particular interest
(experience of being on Ward, effective discharge, CPA meetings, managing
safety) group advocacy sessions. In these peer advocacy networks, people are
free to set their own agendas, and where they are encouraged to to build and
sustain relationships new and old and to support one another through
shared experiences, expertise and time.
Average Improvement: 14%. People experiencing severe mental health
problems can sometimes find themselves isolated people from friends and
family - through hospital admission or other circumstances. Our groups helppeople to make rewarding relationships, help others and expand their social
networks.
I can not imagine where I would be without the peer support I receive from myfriends and two neighbours. They are always there for me as I am for them. We do
things together e.g. go shopping, play bingo, volunteer at a local shop and
accompany one another to GP appointments and medical reviews. At old age we can
continue to live our lived experiences if we can access Self Directed Support (SDS) to
fund those activities we enjoy most to remain active and reduce hospital admissions
Supporting each other
through peer advocacy,
sharing our knowledge,
experiences, skills and time.Ours is an equal, honest,
reciprocal relationship that
keeps us going
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Housing
The service provides advocacy support to people struggling to maintain their
tenancy due to many factors the consequences of mental health difficulties;
substance and alcohol abuse; problems with money /bills or harassment;
bullying and discrimination. We have provided advocacy support in meetings
with housing services, landlords, neighbours, the police and employers. We have
also provided advocacy support to enable people to move from residential
supported housing to independent living. We try to ensure people have a say in
what they want and how they wish to live their lives - and ensuring that due
process if followed, and that people are not pressured to live in places they do
not want.
Average Improvement: 10%: The service continues to successfully support
people speak for themselves moving from residential homes to independent
living, and those who lost their tenancies, suffered antisocial behaviour from
neighbours, lost employment or had benefits and financial difficulties due to
mental health difficulties.
We are a happy couple who were supported by the advocacy service
work through our housing, financial and harassment problems. We are
paying back to the service attending peer /group advocacy sessions
supporting other people sharing our life experiences as peers who are
supporting each other. We successfully completed the Recruitment
Selection & Interview training, and now take part in recruiting the best
workers for the organisation. The advocacy service is our service which is
service user run with support from paid workers
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Physical Health
The service provides advocacy support to people whose physical health affects
their mental health and wellbeing. We support people to lead healthier life
styles e.g. Stop smoking, drinking, drug abuse, conscious of healthy eating by
providing them with information, and encouragement and helping them link to
services where necessary.
.
TheAdvocacy service provides me with Advocacy support in Professionals
meetings about my medication, treatment, support and care. They also help in
Managers meetings, Ward rounds, and Discharge meetings. But what worksor me takin art in h sical activities and rou s
Average
improvement 9%.
People are
becoming aware
of the relationship
between their
physical health
and mental healthand the need to
take part in
physical activities
to keep the mind
occupied.
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Education & Training and Social skills
Through peer and group advocacy groups, people encourage and support each
other to return to education and training, volunteering and attend mainstream
educational training for basic living skills e.g. computer, art, craft at Pathways.
Average Improvement: 39%: Although there is a significant improvement in this
area, some people are scared of going to formal educational settings to meet
new people. We help people voice their concerns, and help them overcome
their difficulties.
What works for you in your
journey to recovery does not work
necessarily for me. For some
people Yoga and filming and
spirituality are their best therapy
but for me art makes me become
creative keeping my mind
occupied. Its not only about
medication: explore the best
intervention for you
What is stopping you? Go join
an art group close to where you
live and develop your talent,
build confidence and make
friends discovering the beautyof art and how good it is for
your mental health and
wellbeing.
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Self & Peer Advocacy
Our peer/group advocacy helps people to learn from each other. We facilitate
sessions where people can reflect on their own experiences by helping others to
gain the skills to advocate for themselves and others. Our peer advocacy groups
meet weekly at Folly Hall in Huddersfield and at our offices in Dewsbury.
Average Improvement: 41%: There is a great improvement in this domain. We
encourage a culture of giving and getting where as well as receiving advocacy
support, people are encouraged to see the value in what they have to offer other
people. From the group meetings, people often form friendships and provide
informal support to one another. Six people who have used our advocacy service
have gone on to completed the Touchstone Volunteering Training programme, and
now provide support to other people as peer advocates and advocacy group
facilitators. Our peer advocacy volunteers and interpreters training has been so
successful that we are now delivering it in Dewsbury.
I received advocacy support on my discharge and tribunal meetings, [I]went on
to train as an advocacy volunteer with the Touchstone Volunteering Project. I am
now providing advocacy support to other service users and help out as an
advocacy facilitator
There is a lot to give share and learn. I received advocacy support on my
discharge from hospital and tribunal meetings, [I] went on to train as an
advocacy volunteer with the Touchstone Volunteering Project. I am now
providing peer advocacy support to other service users and help out as
an advocacy facilitator. I am looking forward to become a relief
advocacy worker and hopefully progress to gain paid employment
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Confidence
Many of the people we work with only want advocacy support to help them with
their discharge from hospital, or in professionals meetings. On discharge, many
do not wish to attend peer/group advocacy activities. Although we respect their
viewswe think theres a lot that they might get out of being with others, and
building confidence from their shared experiences and problem solving. Many ofthe people who do find ways to support others through peer/group advocacy
report being better able to control their own thoughts, anger, fears, frustrations
and anxieties.
Average Improvement: 29%: The service supports people by referring them to
other services for anger management and confidence building sessions with
other service providers like Support 2 Recovery.
Speaking Up for Myself
One of our primary goals is to support and encourages people to speak up for
themselves - by telling other people what they want, making their voices and
choices heard, working out what they want and how to organise themselves
better. People learn different ways of speaking up for themselves e.g. planning
what they want to say, using pictures, and writing out their concerns.
Average Improvement 14%: Outside the hospital and in everyday life situations
people speak out for themselves, but many still have problems in formal settings
when surrounded by professionals.
I received advocacy support on my discharge and tribunal meetings, [I] went on
to train as an advocacy volunteer with the Touchstone Volunteering Project. I am
now providing advocacy support to other service users and help out as an
advocacy facilitator
While I have the confidence to speak for myself and others I find it
difficult to speak out for myself in meetings where there are too many
professionals who use medical jargon and tend to decide things for me.
When I fall ill again/relapse I lose all the gained confidence
I can speak up for myself as an individual and as part of a group todefend my rights as long as other people are prepared to listen.
Unfortunately when I do so I get sectioned by professionals who argue
that I will be ex ressin delusionar thou hts
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Emotional/Mental Wellbeing
The service helps people to be in control of their care and support, and ensures
that they are listened to and involved in decision making on all matters.
Understanding their rights and building confidence enables people to exercise
greater control over their mental health difficulties and to trust in what works
for them.
Average Improvement: 18%. support service
I need help.
Community Participation
The services continue to support and encourage people to be involved in taking
part in things taking place in their communities so that they meet and help each
other feeling valued and appreciated for their contributions.
Average Improvement: 56%: There is a significant improvement. Due to mental
health difficulties some people find it a daunting task to be involved in
mainstream activities taking place in the community.I am as busy as a bee taking part in a number of activities in my local area
ranging from volunteering looking after another service user, doing my cleaning
job, going to see a psychological therapist, going to Pathways and attending
events in the community. I am well connected and feel occupied and valued which
keeps me going able to cope with my panic attacks and anxiety.
I am now stable, managing my mental health and wellbeing making
positive choices about my mental health and wellbeing. I know where
support services are if I need help.
With advocacy support I now have structure in my week: I volunteer at
the fire station, I attend supporting services, the Dewsbury peer/group
advocacy sessions, the Keep the parks clean project in Wakefield and
actively take part in Touchstone organisational activities I completed the
one day Selection Interviewing & training course. All this has helped me
fight my panic attacks and regain my confidence
Taking part in activities in
my local community makes
me feel valued and
belonging which supports
my mental health and
wellbeing.
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Support Services
The service continues to promote co-productive working between service users,
their friends and families, professionals, agencies and services providers in an
open honest and reciprocal way, a collaboration of equals.
Average Improvement: 21%: Advocacy has enabled people to achieve greater
dialogue and collaborative arrangements with statutory and voluntary services.
Table of Changes, by Advocacy Star domains 2012/13
Social
Networks
Housing Physical
Health
Education
&
Training
Self &
Peer
Advocacy
Confidence Speaking
Up For
Myself
Emotional/
Mental
Wellbeing
Community
Participation
Suppo
Servic
Average 1st
Review-8.3 -5.6 +0.0 +13.3 +1.6 +12.3 +6.0 -1.8 +15.9 +4.4
Average 2nd
eview+11.8 +9.0 +4.7 -1.4 +11.3 +4.4 +2.9 +11.1 +7.4 +12.
Average 3rd
eview+0.6 +0.4 +2.0 +2.2 +0.6 -0.6 -0.4 -3.5 +0.7 -0.2
Averagecurrent
+1.4 -3.8 -3.0 +1.4 +2.7 -4.5 -2.9 +1.5 -1.5 -8.6
Average
change+1.4 +0.1 +0.9 +3.9 +4.1 +2.9 +1.1 +1.8 +5.6 +2.1
%
mprovement14% 10% 9% 39% 41% 29% 14% 18% 56% 21%
I feel empowered, involved in decision making as an equal partner in
services in my treatment, support and care getting the kind of support I
want although some professionals want to decide things for me.With
advocacy support I was listened to and my views were sort as I went
through ECT treatment.
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Annual Statistics
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Finance
The total value of this contract is 51,295 and comes from both NHS Kirklees and
Kirklees Council. This is how we have spent this money. All the figures are in s.
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Vision and targets for 2012-2013
In the next year we will
Remodel the Touchstone Kirklees Advocacy service to increase overall service
activity by 20%.
Ensure the service is dementia friendly and provide advocacy opportunities
for people living in their own homes experiencing mental health problems
related to dementia.
Increase access to Self Directed Support/ Peer led Self Directed Support.
Promote paid employment opportunities to the people we work with,
progressing from being beneficiaries of the service to peer advocacy volunteers
and interpreters, to become relief workers and paid staff members.
Increase the number of self-advocacy and peer advocacy groups in a wider
variety of locations eg Batley, Mirfield.
Work co-productively with service users and stakeholders to refine the Kirklees
Advocacy risk assessment tool.
Ensure a third of the people we work with are from BME groups.
Provide a greater array of training and development sessions for advocacy group
members, tied to Touchstones wider programme of volunteering opportunities.
Make particular efforts to address and boost peoples self-confidence issues.
Establish peer/group advocacy for informal patients on ward at Priestly Unit
ward 18, Ashdale ward 3, and Wakefield hospital.
Seek a better match between volunteers and the wider demographics of Kirklees to ensure more equal representation.
For more information or to find out more, contact us at
Touchstone Kirklees Advocacy Service
Dewsbury Business Centre
1st Floor Office, 13 Wellington Road
Dewsbury
WF13 1HFPhone: 01484 490 130
Email:advocacy@touchstonesupport.org.uk
Website: www.touchstonesupport.org.uk
mailto:advocacy@touchstonesupport.org.ukmailto:advocacy@touchstonesupport.org.ukmailto:advocacy@touchstonesupport.org.ukmailto:advocacy@touchstonesupport.org.uk
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