News


Workstreams’ wide-ranging remit outlined


The Design in Mental Health Network (DIMHN) has recently made a few changes to its workstreams.


The Marketing and Editorial workstream is led by Clive Stone, with support from Cath Lake, while Stakeholder Engagement is Cath Lake’s responsibility, assisted by Russell Hogarth, Alex Caruso, and Tony Crumpton. Testing and Innovation is the remit of Philip Ross, backed by Jeff Bartle and Alex Caruso, Research and Education is Paula Reavey’s area of expertise, with Jeff Bartle assisting, while liaison with NAPICU is undertaken by the Network’s chair, Jenny Gill. The DIMHN conference workstream is led by Jeff Bartle, with support from Jenny Gill, while International work is headed by Alex Caruso, assisted by Tony Crumpton and Philip Ross. The DIMHN said: “There are always projects


underway, many involving considerable effort, and all involved are to be congratulated


Tony Crumpton. Paula Reavey.


for their commitment. Paula Reavey, leader of the Research workstream, last year completed an extended literature review, and produced a brochure for the DIMH conference, ‘Design with People in Mind’, which provides a high-level snapshot of findings relevant to designers and practitioners, and highlights emerging research and staff/service-user experience. She has also secured the help of a DIMHN-experienced


Church being transformed to ‘drop-in’ facility


International design and technology practice, IBI Group, is collaborating with Hugh Baird College and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust to design a ‘pioneering’ Health, Engagement, and Training Hub that will promote positive health and wellbeing in Bootle, Liverpool. Hugh Baird College, a further education


provider which runs a pastoral care system, has set up a partnership with mental health Trust, Mersey Care, to transform the site of a former church into a training academy and mental health ‘drop-in centre’, funded by a £3.9 m grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. IBI Group Mental Health lead, Wendy de Silva, said: “The public sector is recognising the need to combine resources and design places that truly integrate health and social care. At IBI we have experienced this convergence, but projects like these, anchored by educational need, are rare. We are proud to be working with two long-term clients to help them design


in wellbeing at the heart of their local community.” The refurbished church will include a new mezzanine and café area, a base for levels 1-6 Health and Social Care training in partnership with Mersey Care, and simulation wards for trainee paramedics. Adjacent, a new ‘Life Rooms’ area – built on the footprint of the former presbytery – will house facilities to support Mersey Care in delivering a programme of ‘life skill’ courses, including a mental health Recovery College, meeting spaces for community groups, space for arts and cultural activities, and an employment/enterprise hub.


researcher to assist with producing her 2018 deliverable – a sound-related brochure. “Philip Ross has been liaising with the BRE on developing independent and repeatable test formats for products used in mental healthcare environments. The results of a consultation involving manufacturers, the NHS, and private providers, are expected soon, while the Marketing workstream’s sterling efforts have resulted in a revamped and more accessible website. “We are expecting updates soon on the


most recent initiatives of the International and Continuing Professional Development workstreams, while Jenny Gill has been working on a joint venture with NAPICU. Last year, after 12 months’ collaboration, the NAPICU workstream distilled experience, research, and knowledge of best practice, into a single PICU Design Guidance document.”


Discharged with too little support


Research released last month by mental health charity, Mind, reveals serious problems with the planning around discharging people from mental health hospitals.


The survey of over 1,000 people who had


been in hospital in mental health crisis, found: l One in three (38%) felt they were discharged from hospital sooner than they should have been.


l One in five (21%) received no notice that they were going home. One in three people (33%) in hospital for over a month were given under 48 hours’ notice that they were being discharged, or no notice at all.


l Two out of five (37%) said there was no plan for further care and support, contrary to guidelines.


l Less than half (44%) said managing their mental health or self-care was considered in plans for leaving hospital.


l Only half (51%) said their accommodation needs were considered in any plans, and under a third (29%) that money and benefits were considered.


Preferred bidder chosen for estate modernisation programme


South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) has selected a preferred bidder to work alongside it to progress its Estate Modernisation Programme (EMP).


It says the announcement ‘marks a significant milestone’ in the development of the EMP, and enables the proposals to be finalised for submission of a full business case to Government. The programme will deliver two new hospitals at the Trust’s Springfield and Tolworth sites, and additional housing in a parkland setting.


6 THE NETWORK JANUARY 2018


The Trust will be working with Springfield and Tolworth Estate Partnership (STEP), a 50/50 partnership with Kajima Partnerships and Sir Robert McAlpine Capital Ventures, on the ‘multi-million pound development’. It said: “The Estate Modernisation Programme marks the biggest opportunity in our generation to transform the way we deliver future mental health services in south-west London.” Once formally approved, the plans will


bring forward benefits including: l Two new campuses ‘with first-class inpatient facilities’.


l A 32-acre public park. l Extensive community healthcare services


– ‘treating people closer to their families and homes’.


l New homes. l A ‘state-of-the-art’ new school. l Over £5 million for new transport facilities – boosting transport links for local residents.


Trust CEO, David Bradley, said: “We are pleased, after a robust procurement process, to have selected STEP to work alongside us to develop the more detailed plans.”


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