Last month, more than 100 staff across our programme met together, some for the first time, at a specially designed CMHT workshop. Core team members, Voluntary Care sector colleagues, local partners and Experts by Experience (EbE) representatives, came together at the Connaught Rooms, Central London, for a day packed with energetic, interactive sessions, guest speakers and table top showcases.
This event first for the programme, allowed staff across the Partnership, to meet and discuss in an honest, open forum current progress and key stages of development within their areas or boroughs. Main aims of the day included:
Natalie Fox, programme Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) and Partnership Deputy CEO, opened the event via video link to help set the tone of the day. She welcomed all in attendance and highlighted some important factors; she said: “We have come so far since the start of this three-year programme in 2021. I know that it has not always been plain sailing or easy, but you are all to be congratulated for the fantastic way you have overcome hurdles and come together to ensure projects and new initiatives are implemented across the Partnership.
“This work will continue at pace to transform and embed how we operate to ensure that users recover sooner and stay well for longer with accessible services when they need them and where they need them, close to where they live.”
“Today is the first time we have had an opportunity to come together, under our Community Mental Health Transformation programme, and discuss how we can better work together as new pathways and ways of working grow and develop or evolve in the changing healthcare landscape.”
Ian Prenelle, Consultant Psychiatrist and programme Clinical Director led the proceedings with a presentation on what’s been achieved so far, how the teams are working together and future aspirations.
Key facilitators from across all Borough teams helped to drive specific sessions including hearing directly from Expert by Experience representatives and a spectacular poster showcase session. Attendees were able to move around the room to view and discuss with Core Team project leads, their poster presentation and find out first hand, about each initiative. Some examples from the day included:
Click here to view all the showcase presentations.
Feedback on the day was really positive, with many stating how important it was to take part in this type of event, with the chance to share similar experiences, helping to drive further developments and improvements.
Sade Olutola, Clinical Project Lead for Enfield, had this to say: “Today has been amazing, it’s actually been really good to be able to meet with colleagues from the other four boroughs. It was so helpful to be able to compare notes and very reassuring to know where there’s difficulty in some of our areas, it’s the same for other colleagues in the programme. It’s been most important to share ideas around those challenges. I’ve exchanged numbers with colleagues I have met for the first time and am already in talks in how we can collaborate better.
“I particularly enjoyed the poster showcase session this afternoon; Step and Thrive in Enfield, ARRs service in Barnet; and have taken contact details for a Camden service lead am looking forward to working with. The networking opportunity has been invaluable in order for us to take away from today and further shape mental health improvements within our community transformation programme.”