check out Staffs County Council website to find out, & have your say, about local health & social care services.
Okay, okay... I'm with you when it comes to 'consultation fatigue', there always seems to be planty of asking but not so much when it comes to the doing from the 'powers that be'. However, it's always good to try to give honest, useful feedback when folk ask for it!
Have a look, & have your say. You have until 16th Jauary 2012 to respond: email or fill in the online survey; I imagine the Service User Locality meetings will be pulling together the views of folk; alternatively pop into one of our drop-in venues, ask a volunteer/staff member, or Andy at Cannock's Advice Shop & we can supply a paper copy for you to fill in & send.
02 December 2011
28 November 2011
Mid Staffs Mind Christmas Party
11am - 2pm on Friday 16th December 2011
cabaret by the fabulous WalNuts...
Arthur Findlay Centre, Stafford, ST16 2RS
All service users, carers, volunteers, staff & members most welcome...
but it would be rude not to let us know you were coming!
cabaret by the fabulous WalNuts...
Arthur Findlay Centre, Stafford, ST16 2RS
All service users, carers, volunteers, staff & members most welcome...
but it would be rude not to let us know you were coming!
27 November 2011
Mid Staffs Mind relaunch website
You really should have a look at the organisation's website... the bugs have been ironed out of the system, the general information reflects current activity, & the development news is up-to-date & interesting... looks kinda nice too!
We are entering a period of practical service development, whereby new activities & opportunities will be coming on line quite frequently - the Mid Staffs Mind website is a great way of keeping in touch with all of that.
We would be very grateful for any comments or ideas you may have regarding the website or other promotional material / events.
Thanks
We are entering a period of practical service development, whereby new activities & opportunities will be coming on line quite frequently - the Mid Staffs Mind website is a great way of keeping in touch with all of that.
We would be very grateful for any comments or ideas you may have regarding the website or other promotional material / events.
Thanks
04 November 2011
Peer Support at Mid Staffs Mind
What is Peer Support?
“Peer support is not like clinical support. In peer support we understand each other because we've been there, shared similar experiences.”
Peer Support allows people to give & receive care & help based on mutual respect, commonality, shared responsibility, & agreement as to what really helps; it does not rest on diagnosis or the medical model. It is about true empathy with another human, & the shared experience of mental & emotional pain.
The ‘Peer’ is someone with current or previous experience of mental health problems – in other contexts, it might be a person who has been through the redundancy ‘grinder’, or someone with a specific physical illness such as diabetes or epilepsy. ‘Peer Support Volunteers’ support folk with similar experience, socially, emotionally, & practically e.g. listening non-judgmentally, empathising, &/or providing information, running groups / activities etc.
“Peers don't see each other as patients... as peers we can remind ourselves we are people first. Because we have all been there we can help each other change our patterns and get out of ruts that we may be stuck in.”
Don't we already 'do' Peer Support?
We most certainly do! Informal Peer Support has always been a central element of Mid Staffs Mind activities, with friends being a 'listening ear’, giving feedback, suggestions etc. Sometimes just a cup of tea & 10 minutes does it! More formal Peer Support has been evident for a long time with service user volunteers organising groups like Music & Badminton.
“It is reassuring to meet others who are experiencing just the same kinds of feelings; to know you are not the only one.”
What is different about this 'new' Peer Support?
Many folk who use Mid Staffs Mind want to get involved in the planning, running, & development of activities & services. We want to ensure Peer Support Volunteers are fully trained, properly supported, & recognised for their crucial role. We aspire to offer something unique to those who knock on our door - open acceptance, honest concern, & real care... we believe this is worth fighting to keep, & with funding tight all over, the Peer Support Volunteer is one new way to do this.
“It is encouraging to hear about self-help tips that have worked for other people and to have the support of the group to try them out for yourself.”
What does it mean for Mid Staffs Mind Service Users?
All who use Mid Staffs Mind will be encouraged to contribute as much as they can to activities & services. During Peer Support sessions folk are expected to take responsibility for themselves as ‘peers’, ie. equals, using &/or contributing to the service, rather than being treated as ‘patients’ to be looked after. Such mutual support will enable us to keep our open access drop-ins available.
“When everyone is in the same boat it is easier to feel trusting, accepted and understood; the support is relaxed and mutual.”
What does it mean for Mid Staffs Mind Staff?
This enables our small band of paid support staff to interact with folk in a more individual & focused way, including more ‘person-centred planning’ helping individuals to identify & work towards personal goals. It allows staff to get out-&-about, building new partnerships & bridges to training, education, employment, & community groups, as well as generating new funding & projects 'within' the organisation.
“It can be easier to socialise in a supportive environment and being part of the peer network means there can be people within reach you can easily contact.”
What makes a Peer Support Volunteer?
Peer Support Volunteers will have ongoing or previous personal experience of mental health problems. Those without such experience are still very much encouraged to apply to be a Mid Staffs Mind volunteer – it certainly does take all sorts! The Peer Supporter running open access drop-ins will enjoy working with people, be approachable, a good listener, & thoughtful, capable of firmness when needed – a sense of humour would be a great asset. We like to hear from folk who would like to contribute to Peer Support sessions in other ways - we want to involve everyone, as much as possible, & support everyone in reaching their full potential.
“It means sharing our vulnerabilities and our strengths and finding value in each others help.”
Why be a Mid Staffs Mind Peer Support Volunteer?
Peer Support Volunteers get involved for all kinds of reasons: the work is challenging & rewarding: supporting folk under stress, passing on practical coping strategies, helping with difficult behaviour, motivating people to overcome anxiety or social inhibition. Support is mutual as it helps everyone involved think through what are often shared difficulties, with others in a similar situation. Peer-led activities are often popular as they are provided by & for people with experience of using services. It provides a chance for those who use Mid Staffs Mind to set up activities of particular interest to them.
Ongoing support, training, supervision, & recognition is provided for Peer Support Volunteers to enable folk get the most from the experience - whether on the road to employment, with CV, references etc., or as an end in itself e.g. in building personal confidence & esteem, &/or help better manage one's own mental health concerns.
“There is the opportunity to give as well as receive support which can help you to feel better about yourself.”
To find our more contact:
Leanne, Operational Lead, Mid Staffs Mind
tel: (01543) 462907 email: leanne.midstaffsmind@gmail.com
“Peer support is not like clinical support. In peer support we understand each other because we've been there, shared similar experiences.”
Peer Support allows people to give & receive care & help based on mutual respect, commonality, shared responsibility, & agreement as to what really helps; it does not rest on diagnosis or the medical model. It is about true empathy with another human, & the shared experience of mental & emotional pain.
The ‘Peer’ is someone with current or previous experience of mental health problems – in other contexts, it might be a person who has been through the redundancy ‘grinder’, or someone with a specific physical illness such as diabetes or epilepsy. ‘Peer Support Volunteers’ support folk with similar experience, socially, emotionally, & practically e.g. listening non-judgmentally, empathising, &/or providing information, running groups / activities etc.
“Peers don't see each other as patients... as peers we can remind ourselves we are people first. Because we have all been there we can help each other change our patterns and get out of ruts that we may be stuck in.”
Don't we already 'do' Peer Support?
We most certainly do! Informal Peer Support has always been a central element of Mid Staffs Mind activities, with friends being a 'listening ear’, giving feedback, suggestions etc. Sometimes just a cup of tea & 10 minutes does it! More formal Peer Support has been evident for a long time with service user volunteers organising groups like Music & Badminton.
“It is reassuring to meet others who are experiencing just the same kinds of feelings; to know you are not the only one.”
What is different about this 'new' Peer Support?
Many folk who use Mid Staffs Mind want to get involved in the planning, running, & development of activities & services. We want to ensure Peer Support Volunteers are fully trained, properly supported, & recognised for their crucial role. We aspire to offer something unique to those who knock on our door - open acceptance, honest concern, & real care... we believe this is worth fighting to keep, & with funding tight all over, the Peer Support Volunteer is one new way to do this.
“It is encouraging to hear about self-help tips that have worked for other people and to have the support of the group to try them out for yourself.”
What does it mean for Mid Staffs Mind Service Users?
All who use Mid Staffs Mind will be encouraged to contribute as much as they can to activities & services. During Peer Support sessions folk are expected to take responsibility for themselves as ‘peers’, ie. equals, using &/or contributing to the service, rather than being treated as ‘patients’ to be looked after. Such mutual support will enable us to keep our open access drop-ins available.
“When everyone is in the same boat it is easier to feel trusting, accepted and understood; the support is relaxed and mutual.”
What does it mean for Mid Staffs Mind Staff?
This enables our small band of paid support staff to interact with folk in a more individual & focused way, including more ‘person-centred planning’ helping individuals to identify & work towards personal goals. It allows staff to get out-&-about, building new partnerships & bridges to training, education, employment, & community groups, as well as generating new funding & projects 'within' the organisation.
“It can be easier to socialise in a supportive environment and being part of the peer network means there can be people within reach you can easily contact.”
What makes a Peer Support Volunteer?
Peer Support Volunteers will have ongoing or previous personal experience of mental health problems. Those without such experience are still very much encouraged to apply to be a Mid Staffs Mind volunteer – it certainly does take all sorts! The Peer Supporter running open access drop-ins will enjoy working with people, be approachable, a good listener, & thoughtful, capable of firmness when needed – a sense of humour would be a great asset. We like to hear from folk who would like to contribute to Peer Support sessions in other ways - we want to involve everyone, as much as possible, & support everyone in reaching their full potential.
“It means sharing our vulnerabilities and our strengths and finding value in each others help.”
Why be a Mid Staffs Mind Peer Support Volunteer?
Peer Support Volunteers get involved for all kinds of reasons: the work is challenging & rewarding: supporting folk under stress, passing on practical coping strategies, helping with difficult behaviour, motivating people to overcome anxiety or social inhibition. Support is mutual as it helps everyone involved think through what are often shared difficulties, with others in a similar situation. Peer-led activities are often popular as they are provided by & for people with experience of using services. It provides a chance for those who use Mid Staffs Mind to set up activities of particular interest to them.
Ongoing support, training, supervision, & recognition is provided for Peer Support Volunteers to enable folk get the most from the experience - whether on the road to employment, with CV, references etc., or as an end in itself e.g. in building personal confidence & esteem, &/or help better manage one's own mental health concerns.
“There is the opportunity to give as well as receive support which can help you to feel better about yourself.”
To find our more contact:
Leanne, Operational Lead, Mid Staffs Mind
tel: (01543) 462907 email: leanne.midstaffsmind@gmail.com
A bee in my bonnet
The Ritz of wildlife hotels
31 October 2011
Unhappy Birthday Schizophrenia
100 years since the term 'schizophrenia' was first coined, & those affected by the illness continue to get a raw deal in most areas of their lives.
What would life have been for you if you were diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1911?
Viewed with fear and suspicion; treated by trial and error; your rights and views ignored.
Sounds grim, but sadly folk living with schizophrenia often experience similar today. Schizophrenia can be a devastating illness, affecting the lives & prospects of hundreds of thousands of families across the UK.
If you, like we at Mid Staffs Mind, believe people impacted by this distressing, debilitating, isolating illness deserve a better deal, please send Rethink's e-card to David Cameron urging him to support their five birthday wishes for schizophrenia & help ensure the next 100 years are nothing like the last...
Dear David Cameron
It's 100 years since the term schizophrenia was first coined but people who have it are still getting a raw deal. I am supporting these five birthday wishes from Rethink Mental Illness. I think you should too.
I wish, in the next ten years, people with schizophrenia...
1. Will not be dying, on average, 20 years younger than everyone else.
2. Will have the same access to treatment as people with physical illnesses.
3. Will not face stigma & discrimination just because they are ill.
4. Will not be silenced and sidelined, but they & their families will have their voice heard.
5. Will be treated with compassion not suspicion.
Go to: www.facebook.com/RethinkCharity
What would life have been for you if you were diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1911?
Viewed with fear and suspicion; treated by trial and error; your rights and views ignored.
Sounds grim, but sadly folk living with schizophrenia often experience similar today. Schizophrenia can be a devastating illness, affecting the lives & prospects of hundreds of thousands of families across the UK.
If you, like we at Mid Staffs Mind, believe people impacted by this distressing, debilitating, isolating illness deserve a better deal, please send Rethink's e-card to David Cameron urging him to support their five birthday wishes for schizophrenia & help ensure the next 100 years are nothing like the last...
Dear David Cameron
It's 100 years since the term schizophrenia was first coined but people who have it are still getting a raw deal. I am supporting these five birthday wishes from Rethink Mental Illness. I think you should too.
I wish, in the next ten years, people with schizophrenia...
1. Will not be dying, on average, 20 years younger than everyone else.
2. Will have the same access to treatment as people with physical illnesses.
3. Will not face stigma & discrimination just because they are ill.
4. Will not be silenced and sidelined, but they & their families will have their voice heard.
5. Will be treated with compassion not suspicion.
Go to: www.facebook.com/RethinkCharity
Hi! We're back... with an update...
Hello there, it’s been a long, long time since we had a little chinwag, but during that time the guys at the coalface here at Mid Staffs Mind have been doing a whole bunch of stuff…
There was our first Mid Staffs Mind Annual Review 2011 in late July: folk from across the organisation, representing localities, clubs & groups, service users, staff, volunteers, & Trustees got together to take a look at where we’d come from, & where we hoped to go! It proved a great opportunity to reflect on activities we had to let go, those we committed to hold on to, & potential social, health, & lifeskill developments we might offer to future users of our service. Some great ideas for activities & partnerships were generated, & we began to explore changes needed to enable the primacy of volunteers & peer supporters in facilitating MSM work.
A few of the guys got together & took off across Cannock Chase on their bikes – this was to get Mid Staffs Mind Mountain Bike Club off the drawing board. We’ve had a few rides over the Chase, & a couple of road rides, but haven’t got into a regular pattern yet – at least in part ‘cos of wimping out as the colder, damper weather’s threatened! But I think we’ll persevere, even if it’s only once a month to keep a couple of roughie-toughies ticking over through the winter months. Further examples of ideas generated are a Coffee Club likely to be joint activity with Cannock library, & a Supper Club (nice way to package domestic skills development, eh?)
Our inaugural Mid Staffs Mind Volunteer Day 2011 in late August was a grand day. We got together with most of our volunteers, gave’em a great big cheer & pat on the back for all the wonderful work they do, then remorselessly picked their brains for feedback in respect of Mid Staffs Mind’s general effectiveness (& ineffectivenesses!), changes or additions to our systems / services , & things they need individually & collectively to be effective volunteer staff members. We did give'em a nice lunch in exchange for their efforts! Thank you to all who took part, the data provided on the day was most informative & will be of real practical value.
Our Annual General Meeting 2010-11on 8th September was quite the milestone, providing a point at which we could say a formal goodbye to our past – applauding Mid Staffs Mind’s history & achievements; taking lessons from previous mistakes & difficult days – while ushering in new aspirations, structures, & strategies. It’s a tough process; some folk who supported this organisation through thick & thin for many years are striving to accept the altered practices in governance & workstream demanded by our constrained funding – some may not complete the journey, & that is a great sadness, but significant change is inevitable, may be embraced, & can be managed.
In September, we took part in a couple of Job Fayres in Cannock & Rugeley hosted by Cannock MP Aidan Burley. Underpinning our presence is volunteering as a great way for people to get their CV going or broadening their experience, especially in employment-challenged areas like ours. Structure, social contact, productivity, personal confidence, learning – what’s there not to like about the upside of volunteering?
Monday 10th October was World Mental Health Day & this year we finally managed to get some awareness-raising events off the ground: Mid Staffs Mind in Wombourne partnered with Wombourne library & held a ‘Coffee & Information’ morning; there was ‘Tea, Cake & Chat’ at Mid Staffs Mind in Cannock. We met a few folk, downed a few calories, raised a few shillings, & appreciated the need to get very much better organised in future opportunities to invite our communities, promote our presence & service, & fundraise.
Mid Staffs Mind in Stafford were rather rapidly bounced out of the Chartley Centre at the back end of September. There was an element of rumour & rudeness attached to the process, & our Stafford service users were caused significant worry. Things were looking kind of bleak for a while there, until somebody in the upper echelons of South Staffs & Shropshire Foundation Trust stepped in & reiterated their ongoing support in a most practical fashion by enabling us to move to the Arthur Findlay Centre, where we now base a peer-supported drop-in (Monday 10am – 1pm) & our Women’s Group (Thursday 1.30 – 4.30pm). We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local mental health Trust & individual officers for all the support they have given us over many years.
Mid Staffs Mind Out of Hours Service in Stafford has relocated to Quest at the weekend. The Cannock Out of Hours Service continues to run at our Manor Avenue centre.
Mid Staffs Mind has commenced joint-working in Stafford with Richmond Fellowship, running a peer-supported safe space / drop-in, Tuesday 10am – 1pm, at St John’s House, Weston Road. Here's hoping this is but the first of many joint enterprises with this colleague organisation.
Mid Staffs Mind in Wombourne have moved from the United Reform Church – to whom we would like to give our heartfelt thanks for their welcome & ongoing support - & now host a peer-supported group 1 – 4pm Wednesdays, in the community room at Wombourne Fire Station.
Mid Staffs Mind Work Clubs, supported by funding from JobCentre Plus, were inaugurated at Cannock Work Club on Wednesday 12th October. Stafford Work Club launched on Monday 24th October; a Wombourne Work Club is to follow, possibly in November. The Work Clubs will initially run Monday 10am – 12.30pm based alternately at Stafford (Arthur Findlay Centre) & Cannock (Mid Staffs Mind, Manor Avenue).
Thursday October 13th saw the Mid Staffs Mind Development Day 2011 co-facilitated by Eleanor Chumley-Roberts, who has been working with us as part of the Staffordshire Community Works mentorship scheme. This was a fantastic event, with representatives from across our localities, groups & activities – plenty of ‘new’ faces, not just us usual suspects oft seen lurking about Mid Staffs Mind meetings – coming together to consider our shared values & mission, internal / external communication, generating activities, fundraising, promotion etc. In short, bringing the ‘family’ of Mid Staffs Mind together to reflect, respond, & help reorientate the organisation. Hard work, good fun, honesty, ideas, commitment, clean mugs & pumpy-pumpy-squirty-things for hot drinks… what more could we have hoped for? Thanks to everyone who gave up a day to support this important forum. We will be doing similar again – why wouldn’t we use the resource & support offered by folk we already know, who already know us?
See... I told you we’d been busy!
There was our first Mid Staffs Mind Annual Review 2011 in late July: folk from across the organisation, representing localities, clubs & groups, service users, staff, volunteers, & Trustees got together to take a look at where we’d come from, & where we hoped to go! It proved a great opportunity to reflect on activities we had to let go, those we committed to hold on to, & potential social, health, & lifeskill developments we might offer to future users of our service. Some great ideas for activities & partnerships were generated, & we began to explore changes needed to enable the primacy of volunteers & peer supporters in facilitating MSM work.
A few of the guys got together & took off across Cannock Chase on their bikes – this was to get Mid Staffs Mind Mountain Bike Club off the drawing board. We’ve had a few rides over the Chase, & a couple of road rides, but haven’t got into a regular pattern yet – at least in part ‘cos of wimping out as the colder, damper weather’s threatened! But I think we’ll persevere, even if it’s only once a month to keep a couple of roughie-toughies ticking over through the winter months. Further examples of ideas generated are a Coffee Club likely to be joint activity with Cannock library, & a Supper Club (nice way to package domestic skills development, eh?)
Our inaugural Mid Staffs Mind Volunteer Day 2011 in late August was a grand day. We got together with most of our volunteers, gave’em a great big cheer & pat on the back for all the wonderful work they do, then remorselessly picked their brains for feedback in respect of Mid Staffs Mind’s general effectiveness (& ineffectivenesses!), changes or additions to our systems / services , & things they need individually & collectively to be effective volunteer staff members. We did give'em a nice lunch in exchange for their efforts! Thank you to all who took part, the data provided on the day was most informative & will be of real practical value.
Our Annual General Meeting 2010-11on 8th September was quite the milestone, providing a point at which we could say a formal goodbye to our past – applauding Mid Staffs Mind’s history & achievements; taking lessons from previous mistakes & difficult days – while ushering in new aspirations, structures, & strategies. It’s a tough process; some folk who supported this organisation through thick & thin for many years are striving to accept the altered practices in governance & workstream demanded by our constrained funding – some may not complete the journey, & that is a great sadness, but significant change is inevitable, may be embraced, & can be managed.
In September, we took part in a couple of Job Fayres in Cannock & Rugeley hosted by Cannock MP Aidan Burley. Underpinning our presence is volunteering as a great way for people to get their CV going or broadening their experience, especially in employment-challenged areas like ours. Structure, social contact, productivity, personal confidence, learning – what’s there not to like about the upside of volunteering?
Monday 10th October was World Mental Health Day & this year we finally managed to get some awareness-raising events off the ground: Mid Staffs Mind in Wombourne partnered with Wombourne library & held a ‘Coffee & Information’ morning; there was ‘Tea, Cake & Chat’ at Mid Staffs Mind in Cannock. We met a few folk, downed a few calories, raised a few shillings, & appreciated the need to get very much better organised in future opportunities to invite our communities, promote our presence & service, & fundraise.
Mid Staffs Mind in Stafford were rather rapidly bounced out of the Chartley Centre at the back end of September. There was an element of rumour & rudeness attached to the process, & our Stafford service users were caused significant worry. Things were looking kind of bleak for a while there, until somebody in the upper echelons of South Staffs & Shropshire Foundation Trust stepped in & reiterated their ongoing support in a most practical fashion by enabling us to move to the Arthur Findlay Centre, where we now base a peer-supported drop-in (Monday 10am – 1pm) & our Women’s Group (Thursday 1.30 – 4.30pm). We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local mental health Trust & individual officers for all the support they have given us over many years.
Mid Staffs Mind Out of Hours Service in Stafford has relocated to Quest at the weekend. The Cannock Out of Hours Service continues to run at our Manor Avenue centre.
Mid Staffs Mind has commenced joint-working in Stafford with Richmond Fellowship, running a peer-supported safe space / drop-in, Tuesday 10am – 1pm, at St John’s House, Weston Road. Here's hoping this is but the first of many joint enterprises with this colleague organisation.
Mid Staffs Mind in Wombourne have moved from the United Reform Church – to whom we would like to give our heartfelt thanks for their welcome & ongoing support - & now host a peer-supported group 1 – 4pm Wednesdays, in the community room at Wombourne Fire Station.
Mid Staffs Mind Work Clubs, supported by funding from JobCentre Plus, were inaugurated at Cannock Work Club on Wednesday 12th October. Stafford Work Club launched on Monday 24th October; a Wombourne Work Club is to follow, possibly in November. The Work Clubs will initially run Monday 10am – 12.30pm based alternately at Stafford (Arthur Findlay Centre) & Cannock (Mid Staffs Mind, Manor Avenue).
Thursday October 13th saw the Mid Staffs Mind Development Day 2011 co-facilitated by Eleanor Chumley-Roberts, who has been working with us as part of the Staffordshire Community Works mentorship scheme. This was a fantastic event, with representatives from across our localities, groups & activities – plenty of ‘new’ faces, not just us usual suspects oft seen lurking about Mid Staffs Mind meetings – coming together to consider our shared values & mission, internal / external communication, generating activities, fundraising, promotion etc. In short, bringing the ‘family’ of Mid Staffs Mind together to reflect, respond, & help reorientate the organisation. Hard work, good fun, honesty, ideas, commitment, clean mugs & pumpy-pumpy-squirty-things for hot drinks… what more could we have hoped for? Thanks to everyone who gave up a day to support this important forum. We will be doing similar again – why wouldn’t we use the resource & support offered by folk we already know, who already know us?
See... I told you we’d been busy!
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