JUNE 2020 - RDASH LEADING THE WAY WITH CARE - ROTHERHAM DONCASTER AND SOUTH HUMBER NHS ...
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June 2020 RDaSH leading the way with care
Welcome...
from the Chief Executive
Welcome to the first edition Colleagues have risen to the challenge
fantastically and worked flexibly, many from
of Trust Matters since the home or in different teams, with some
Coronavirus pandemic started volunteering to work at The Harrogate
Nightingale Hospital. We’ve also introduced
in March this year. new technologies at such speed to ensure our
patients stayed safe and continued to receive
I hope you are all keeping safe and well. Even great care. We have also worked more closely
though the lockdown restrictions are easing, I with all our partner agencies to provide a
want to thank you all for continuing to follow coordinated approach to the pandemic.
Government guidelines to prevent a further
spread of the virus. We shouldn’t become As the NHS marks its 72nd Birthday on July
complacent because we think the risk of the 5, we want to use this anniversary as an
virus has reduced, we all need to stay alert to opportunity to say thank you back to all those
Kathryn Singh who have supported us during these difficult
protect our loved ones and communities.
Chief Executive times. We also want to say thank you to
It’s fair to say that 2020 has been the most the many people and companies who have
If you’ve a story challenging year that we have ever known. donated items to our colleagues and patients.
to tell let our But this unprecedented challenge would have
Communications Team been made all but impossible without the We have achieved so much in the last few
know. Email rdash. help and support of countless individuals and months and I hope you enjoy reading this
rdashcommunications@ organisations across our communities. edition.
nhs.net
or ring them on Our staff, volunteers, carers and the public Please stay safe.
01302 796204. too have all pulled together with one aim of
Don’t forget you can protecting the NHS, controlling this terrible
Kind regards.
also follow us on social virus and saving lives. We have all felt the
media: impact of this terrible virus.
@Rdash_nhs
Kathryn .
Rdash nhs
@rdashnhs
Youtube
rdashcommunications
Cover image courtesy
of Mark Kelsall.
Check out Mark’s
NHS Heroes on
@marksart1965
2
News matters
Changes to Executive Management Team
Over the past months we’ve had some new appointments and changes to our Executive Team.
Firstly, Tracey Wrench, our Executive Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals, was
appointed to the role of Deputy Chief Executive (this took effect from 1 April 2020).
Following national recruitment campaigns we held interviews back in March for the posts of Chief
Operating Officer and Executive Director for People and Organisational Development. As a result
we’ve successfully appointed two excellent candidates Michelle Veitch and Nicola Hartley respectively.
Michelle joined us from Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and took up her post on June 22. Nicola will join us from
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust starting on 1 August. Both bring with them a broad array of knowledge
and experience that will benefit RDaSH during what is expected to be a difficult period of recovery from the Coronavirus
pandemic.
We’ve also established a role to support the organisation’s approach to recovery and reset. While we recognise that we are
still very much responding to the COVID-19 situation in the Trust we are also starting to plan for the future.
Sarah Bowman has taken up the role of Director for Recovery and lead for us on this business critical function.
Jo McDonough has taken up the position of Interim Director of Strategy.
Tracey Wrench Michelle Veitch Nicola Hartley Sarah Bowman Jo McDonough
RDaSH
says:
Many companies have made fabulous donations to us for our staff. We want to say a HUGE thank you!
You can find a list on our website at www.rdash.nhs.uk Just search Thank you.
3
News matters
The use of face coverings when coming to hospital at RDaSH
In line with recent recommendations from the World Health Organisation, we have introduced new
measures at RDASH to keep visitors, patients, and staff safe.
From Monday, 15 June 2020 you will need to wear a face covering when you come to hospital as a visitor or outpatient.
What does this mean for me?
We can all play a role in reducing the spread of coronavirus and keeping our hospitals safe. If you are coming to hospital as
a visitor or for planned outpatient care, it is important that you wear a face covering at all times. This is for your
safety and the safety of other patients and staff.
Face coverings can be cloth and/or homemade, and advice on how to wear and make one can be found on the government
website. Face coverings worn as part of religious beliefs or cultural practice are also acceptable, providing they are not loose
and cover the mouth and nose.
We are asking that you plan in advance and bring a face covering with you whenever possible, but if you do not have one
available when you come to hospital, please see a member of staff on arrival and we will provide you with one.
If you are using your own face covering please take it home with you.
If you do not have a face covering a face covering or mask will be provided by the hospital on arrival.
These will be available through reception staff during the hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Out of hours, a member of the ward staff will greet you and provide you with face mask.
You will be asked by the staff member to dispose of the face mask as
you exit the building in the waste bin provided.
If you are currently shielding and have been provided with a surgical
face mask for your appointments, please continue to use this.
If you have not been provided with a surgical face mask,
you should wear a face covering.
For some people, wearing a face covering may
be difficult due to physical or mental health
conditions. In these instances, other
measures will be considered on a case
by case basis, for example timed
appointments and being seen
immediately on arrival.
If you are a deaf or hearing impaired, our staff
have a range of communication options to ensure that they
can communicate effectively with you. This might include the
use of clear masks where possible, as well as visual aids such as
writing things down, speech to text apps and sign language.
All visitors will be expected to comply with existing social distancing
and hand hygiene measures in addition to the face coverings while
in the hospital setting.
4
News matters
NHS 72nd Anniversary – July 5
On July 5, it will be 72 years since the NHS began.
During the last few months, the NHS has been through the greatest
test in its lifetime. We will continue to deal with the many challenges
brought about the coronavirus pandemic for the foreseeable future.
We have experienced many difficult times during these months.
This year, as we remember all those we have lost, the way we
mark our anniversary will have a different feel to years gone by.
Every week of the pandemic, we’ve seen our communities show
their love and appreciation for the NHS and carers. Many who
have done their bit during the difficult weeks of lockdown.
We want to use our 72nd Anniversary as an opportunity to say
thank you to all the people and organisations that have supported
us during these difficult times.
We will be making a short film of our staff expressing our thanks in a ‘Clap Back’ which will be shown on our social media on
Sunday July 5 at midday.
If you are on social media please use #ThankYouTogether in your posts.
‘Talking’ therapy support
IAPT
A number of our teams provide a range of ‘talking’
therapy support to help people to manage their
CALL US WE ARE STILL HERE!
common mental health issues. We have Talking Shops
in Doncaster and Scunthorpe and an Improving Access
to Psychological Therapies team in Rotherham.
During the Covid-19 pandemic the Talking Shop/IAPT
services have adapted the way they work. As well as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
offering telephone and video calls the teams have
recently launched an online support programme
FREE mental health support
called Mind District. This programme provides self-help
strategies, skills and techniques to manage common mental health conditions.
The teams offer free counselling and cognitive behaviour therapies to help people to cope
with and manage a range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, low
mood, low self-esteem, posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Talking therapies are available free to residents aged 18 years and over. Local people can self
refer into the service simply call:
Doncaster: 01302 565556 I North Lincolnshire:01742 867297 I Rotherham: 01709 447755.
5
News matters
Thank you to community and business donations
We want to say a big thank you to all the businesses for
their kind gifts and donations to support the health and
wellbeing of our staff during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Here are some of the items received.
6
News matters
Thank
you
7
News matters
Danny Rose says thank you to home town NHS staff
International footballer Danny Rose has generously given a cash donation to boost
the spirits of staff working at RDaSH, where two close members of his family work.
The Doncaster-born Premier League defender, with 29 England caps under his belt, has given
£10,000 to us to support staff working through the Coronavirus outbreak.
Step-mum Christina Harrison is Director of Children’s Services and step-sister Connie Harrison-Haley,
a community nursing assistant. Danny, 29, left Doncaster suburb Wheatley 13 years ago to join
Tottenham Hotspur where he’s still under contract but currently on loan to Newcastle, though his
thoughts are never far from where he grew up.
Christina said: “Although he went to live in London as a teenager, his mum and dad and many friends and family are here. He very
much sees Doncaster as his home town, visiting whenever he can. “He knows how challenging it is for NHS staff working through
the pandemic and just wanted to say thank you for their dedication and commitment.”
RDaSH Chief Executive Kathryn Singh, said: “We are overwhelmed by such generosity and I would like to thank Danny on behalf
of everyone who works at our Trust for his thoughtfulness at this challenging time, it’s much appreciated. We will make sure the
money is used for the benefit of colleagues across our organisation.”
RDaSH Mystery Amazon
WISH Wish list donator
LIST
Thank you to our mystery donator who has sent
boxes full of items from our Amazon Wish list for our
fab staff and patients.
We'd love you to get in touch so we can thank you!
Do you want to donate to us? If so visit
https://amzn.eu/b7K3CaC
Thank you
Many companies have made fabulous donations
to us for our staff. We want to say a HUGE
thank you! You can find a list on our website at
www.rdash.nhs.uk just search Thank you.
8
News matters
Just an instant message away
Children and young people now have
access to confidential online advice
thanks to easily downloaded free
eClinic apps.
The RDaSH eClinic (11-19) is an instant
messaging app where registered users aged
11 to 19 years can schedule a confidential
online appointment with their school nurse
where they can have a ‘live’ chat about any
health issues they are experiencing.
In Rotherham, our Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Service (CAMHS) team is just
a message away on the RDaSH eClinic for
registered users aged 11 to 18 to schedule
an appointment with one of our CAMHS
workers through a ‘live’ chat about any
mental health issue.
Doncaster’s Project 3 health and wellbeing
service is also using the app to connect with
young people about sexual health, alcohol,
drugs issues and help support stop smoking
six days a week on a ‘live’ chat between
10am and 6pm.
The eClinic app can be downloaded to any
Apple or Android device using the App Store
or Google Play Store.
9
News matters
Thank you for fantastic face coverings
A massive thank you to all of you who dusted off your sewing machines and made loads of re-usable face coverings
for our staff and volunteers to wear when they are out and about when not at work.
The response has been overwhelming and we are truly grateful to everyone.
Above: Jean Answer with a face covering. Right/below some of the fantastic hand made gifts received.
10News matters
Mum’s advice still ringing in Ian’s ears – and
helping today’s health workers
Health workers in South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire are
finding facemasks kinder on their ears, thanks to the sewing
skills of a former colleague, prompted by some military-style
advice from his mum decades ago.
Ian Graham is making fabric ear protectors that fit like an elasticated headband,
but have a large button on each side to fasten the facemask onto.
“I know from personal experience that when worn for a long time during
a shift the elastic loops on the mask rub on the ears, causing chafing and
in some cases bleeding. It’s not only painful but could be an infection risk”,
said Ian, 65, a mental health nurse for over 30 years until he had to retire
on ill health grounds in 2004.
Ian, a qualified archery and target sport coach, is currently virus ‘shielding’
at his home in North Lincolnshire, where he lives with daughter Dr Judith
Graham, a qualified nurse and currently Interim Director for People and Home made: Ian, above, with a couple of the
Organisational Development at our Trust. headband ear protectors. Below, nurse showing
how the facemask fits on to the headbands.
He said: “Jude spotted the design on the internet and suggested that I
start making some as I can’t leave the house at the moment. I learned to
sew a long time ago, my dad spent 40 years in the RAF and as a military
family we were on the move every two or three years. My mum’s advice
was always ‘don’t leave home without any domestic skills’ – and I didn’t.
“Jude helps me when she can and we’ve hand stitched dozens so far,
having been able to source the materials we need by post via the internet.
The idea of the big button on each side is that the wearer can easily loop
the mask over them while wearing gloves. It’s a simple design but one
that makes wearing a facemask through a shift much more comfortable.
The finished protectors are in use in various areas of RDaSH and a nursing
home close to where we live.
“I guess they are providing protection today because of some helpful
advice from mum that’s still ringing in my ears from a long time ago”,
laughed Ian.
11News matters
Children’s
service social
media
Our Children’s Services have been doing
a range of social media to connect with
children, young people and families.
Here are some of their stats:
AMH
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S
cast
on followers of Facebook
er
D
Doncaster CAMHS
ng
Hea
lt reached over people
h Visi
ti
209
young people
registered with increase in parent instant
messaging since the start
of the pandemic.
may launched Facebook
2020 252 page likes Lincolns
th
hi
r
No
re
Rotherham CAMHS followers of Facebook
ng
Hea
may launched Instagram lt
h Visi
ti
2020 109 followers increase in parent
instant messaging since
the start of the pandemic.
cast
on
er
D
Sch
ng
o Lincolns
th
si
ol N ur
hi
r
No
re
1,178 followers of Facebook
Sch
ng
followers of Facebook
o
si
ol N ur
reached
76k people reached
54k people
young people
registered with
12News matters
Cute knitted
bears on display
at the Glade
Ward
We love these cute little bears which
were kindly knitted by a friend of one
of our staff in appreciation to the NHS
and the staff on the ward.
The bears are proudly on display in Glade
Ward due to infection, prevention control
measures.
We want to say a massive “thank you” to the
friend of Staff Nurse Rebecca Shakespeare
for making and donating the bears for
patients and staff to enjoy.
Pictured with the display cabinet is Staff
Nurse Rebecca Shakespeare.
Using Messenger to connect with families
Parents and young people in North Lincolnshire simply search for the facebook pages and
now have a new way to contact our health visitors use the message button to get in touch.
and school nurses thanks to a new social media The team is able to offer health and
function. wellbeing advice to parents via the Messenger.
The 0-19 Health and Wellbeing Service has introduced Parents can message anytime of the day or night and will be
Messenger to its health visitors’ and school nurses’ Facebook answered during normal working hours Monday to Friday
pages. The new function gives parents and young people 9am-5pm. Alternatively parents can also contact the team by
easier access to health information, advice and support. ringing 0800 019 9951.
Rebecca Pease, our North Lincolnshire Service Manager Telephone support for Doncaster children, young people and
0-19 (SEND) Health and Wellbeing Service, said: “We are families.
always looking at ways to make best use of the technologies
available to keep in touch with local families. The coronavirus Doncaster’s mental health service for children and young people
pandemic has made this even more important for our service service has suspended its normal Monday drop-in session at East
to be able to respond quickly. By adding the Messenger Laith Gate House, in the town centre, and replaced it with 10
function means that parents can ask us questions and seek hours of telephone contact eachweek instead.
advice in a way that better suits their needs.”
The new service operates from 10am to 3pm every Tuesday
Parents and families who have pre-school and school age and Thursday by ringing 01302 796191.
children are being encouraged to keep in touch with their
Health Visitor or School Nurses on social media. They can
13News matters
Recovery and resetting
our services
Our Trust is now moving through the recovery stage of
the pandemic. There have been many recovery focussed
discussions across the Trust to take stock of the impact of
changes made as part of the pandemic, positive learning
and things we would like to lock in and amplify and to
identifying the ways of working we do not want to go
back to, all to inform what our services will look like
moving into the future within the ‘new normal’.
We are clear that our pandemic response is not over, and
our priority remains on ensuring the safety and quality of
care provided to our patients, and the health and wellbeing
of our staff. Our aim is to progress recovery planning and
action this, discussing with staff teams the opportunities this
provides for the next stage in our journey.
To highlight a few areas in our recovery journey:
• We have had feedback provided from our staff and people
using our services which is taken into consideration to help
define and drive the service changes moving forwards.
Digital is a key area included within much of the feedback
received, recognising positively the place for this in clinical
care and wider support services. We are as a Trust very
supportive of the ongoing digital offer and are exploring
how this is locked in and built upon. Please get in touch if
you have any feedback or views to be considered within
any part of our recovery journey sarah.bowman3@nhs.net
or via the survey below.
• We are on with developing a showcase video to shine a
light on some of the examples of local innovations and
• Following robust consideration, we have already started
new ways of working staff across services have introduced
to return some service provision. We have reopened the
that have enabled a positive shift in the way services are
Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Talking
delivered and enabled us to make progress against the
Shop in North Lincolnshire for walk-in referrals, with
ambitions set out within the Trust’s Strategic Plan 2019-
treatment pathways continuing to be delivered digitally;
24. If you have received care in a different way that you
reinstated some face to face interaction across 0-5 Health
want to shout up about, please get in touch with Louisa
Visiting Services in Doncaster and North Lincolnshire,
Redhead louisa.redhead@nhs.net. We are keen to get staff
vaccination and immunisation services, school nursing,
and those using our services involved.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
and sexual health services to meet specific needs of these
To take part please visit:
children and young people where digital support alone
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/P2GJFTJ
cannot fulfil this; supported innovative testing of a digital
clinic space in Older People’s Services in North Lincolnshire
Also if any public, patients or carers would like to get
to support those who may not have the technology to
involved with our public and patient engagement – we’d love
access digital support; stepped down additional inpatient
to hear from you! Email our Improvement and Culture Team
capacity where demand has supported this and reopened
rdash.improvement@nhs.net
a community drug and alcohol hub in Doncaster.
14News matters
We welcome our new Aspirant student nurses
We’ve welcomed 25 student nurses is why I chose mental health nursing and Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City
to our workforce in response to the proud to make a difference at this key Region, said: “This is incredibly important
time.” work. I’m personally very grateful to these
Covid-19 pandemic. inspirational young men and women, and
Dr Judith Graham, our Interim Director of want to thank them for their service. “I
The third year students, pictured above,
People and Organisational Development, hold the nursing profession in the highest
who were in their last six months of
said: “Having these aspirant nurses on the regard. In becoming mental health nurses,
training and will be known as aspirant
wards across the Trust will certainly make these students are adding a massive value
nurses, have come from universities across
a huge difference to us and our patients. I to our society, both in the immediate term
the region including Leeds, Hull, Lincoln
am proud that they have chosen to join us working on the front line of Coronavirus,
and Sheffield.
in these challenging times. I am also very and throughout the rest of their careers.
proud of our Practice Placement Team for “I know I speak for all of South Yorkshire
They answered the national call
their exceptional package of support to when I say we are proud of them.”
following a move by Health Education
the students.”
England to allow them to opt-in for an
extended placement with their preferred
trust, working as employees while still
completing their university assignments.
Helen Wood, an aspirant nurse from The
University of Hull, said: “I am looking
forward to doing my bit to support the
NHS at this critical time and pleased to be
working with RDaSH.”
Another Aspirant Student Nurse Katie
Bennett from the University of Lincoln,
said: “I am very proud to become an
aspirant nurse at RDaSH.”
Tia Davies, studying at Sheffield Hallam
University, said: “It’s important to
remember the impact that the pandemic Also welcoming student nurses to the Trust.
is having on people’s mental health. This
15News matters
Painting NHS heroes challenge
A Rotherham man ‘shielding’ from the outside world
for health reasons is capturing, from the safety of his
own home, striking images in oils of NHS front-liners
fighting the war against Coronavirus.
Mark Kelsall, from Maltby, is finding there’s not enough hours
in the day as he brings his artwork to life on canvas, working
from ‘selfies’ sent to him by NHS staff.
Mark, 55, an amateur painter since his teenage years, said: “I
was inspired by artist Tom Croft’s national campaign, Portraits
for Heroes, and decided to get involved. My niece Natalie Lowe
works at Doncaster’s Tickhill Road Hospital and after she put
the word around I’ve been sent some photos electronically.
“I’ve finished around 22 over a four week period with more in
progress. All painted free of charge for the NHS staff.
“Fortunately, I prepared for the pandemic and bought a
number of 10”x 8” blank canvases and these have really come in
handy. I’m getting up at 5am some mornings to start painting,
with each one taking around four to five hours to complete
over two to four days, allowing the paint to dry between
sessions. It’s a sort of production line.”
Natalie, a ward manager, said: “Mark has painted
my portrait and other colleagues and I’ve asked him if
he can paint one of all my ward staff together on one large
canvas, which will be quite a challenge.
“We’re hoping to stage an exhibition of the portraits at the
hospital at some point, before Mark hands them on to the staff
he has painted.”
It’s a labour of love for Mark, who has had a few hospital
stays since being born with spina bifida and needing a kidney
transplant 10 years ago that brought a premature end to his job
as a golf course Greenkeeper. His condition means he currently
has to stay at home with his partner and step-son.
He said: “I like to try and capture the emotion in my subjects’
eyes, depending on how they were feeling when the photo was
taken.Hopefully that comes across in the finished product.
“Painting is a hobby that is well suited to my circumstances at
the moment. I’ve been moved by the way NHS front line staff
have risen to the occasion, including newly qualified doctors
and nurses who have gone straight in at the deep end. This is
my way of saying thank you.”
Check out Mark’s NHS Heroes on @marksart1965
16News matters
North Lincs volunteers are brightening up
working life for NHS staff
An army of volunteer clothiers are
bringing a welcome splash of colour
to the working lives of front-line NHS
staff in North Lincolnshire.
The For the Love of Scrubs Group is a
collective of around 600 people who are
freely donating their skills and spare time to
make workwear and protective equipment
for staff working through the Coronavirus
pandemic.
Started by Keadby based Suzanne Hagan
through a facebook page appeal, the group
has grown from a few friends working
together into battalion size cottage industry,
with team members living as far afield as
Mablethorpe.
Suzanne, who has had to put her own
curtains and window blinds business on hold
because of the pandemic, is coordinating the
production line, which involves daily journeys
across the length and breadth of Lincolnshire,
collecting materials and passing them on to
the various fabric cutters and machinists.
She said: “I wanted to help the NHS and
after contacting a few friends I quickly found
they wanted to join in and the group has
just grown and gown. Many members are
professional seamstresses who are not able
to go to work at the moment but are pleased
to be able to support NHS by producing this
important workwear at home.
“Through my usual business supply contacts established contacts with local NHS Trusts “The group has also supplied hair bands,
I have been able to source materials. We and supply their needs as fast as we can. We which face coverings can be attached to,
started off being able to get the traditional have also made customised scrubs for some rather than round the ears, which can be
NHS blue fabric but as that has become staff who don’t fit into standard sizes.” uncomfortable.”
scarcer we have been making them from a
multitude of different colours, which seem Great Oaks, our adult inpatient mental health To date, nearly £7,000 has been raised to pay
to have gone down well with staff, who say unit in Scunthorpe is one centre benefiting for materials through a fundraising page at:
they are brightening up their days. from the Love of Scrubs Group’s collective https://uk.gofundme.com/f/5b769-for-the-
work. Sallie-Ann Barnard, an administrator at love-of-scrubs. More than 200 people have
“To date, we have made over 3,000 sets the unit, said: “They are doing a fabulous job already donated and more is always welcome
of scrubs, comprising a top and drawstring and we cannot thank Suzanne and her team to keep the production line running. It costs
trousers. We can make scrubs washbags enough. Our staff are really grateful and love around £6 to make a set of scrubs and 40p
and face coverings to order as well. We have the outstanding quality of scrubs, caps, wash for each face covering.
bags and face coverings they have been given.
17News matters
With me in mind
Teams across Rotherham and
Doncaster which support the
mental wellbeing of children and
young people are using Mental
Health Awareness Week (May 18-
24) to remind pupils and students
that help is at hand if they are
feeling down, anxious or stressed.
The Mental Health Support Teams
(MHSTs), which are part of a national
trailblazer pilot launched in February
this year, aims to improve the overall
wellbeing of around 32,000 children
and young people in 50 schools and
colleges in Rotherham and Doncaster.
A key part of the trailblazer is a new
website called ‘With Me In Mind’
specially designed and produced by the
children and young people themselves
in collaboration with NHS organisations,
councils and schools. The website
contains a whole host of new resources
to help children and young peoplewith
arange of mental health conditions. The
website can be found at
www.withmeinmind.co.uk
The MHSTs build on the support already
provided by school counsellors, nurses
and educational psychologists. The aim
of the service is to treat pupils with mild
to moderate mental health issues and
to support those with more complex
needs to access specialist NHS support.
Throughout the Covid-19 situation the
MHSTs have been supporting school staff,
children, young people and their families
online and WhatsApp technologies.
The service is run by our Trust,
supported by clinical commissioning
groups in Doncaster and Rotherham,
Doncaster Council and Rotherham
Council.
For the few children and young people
currently in school, support and advice
is available through their class teacher.
18News matters
New role for Since being appointed to his first
consultant’s post in Leeds in 2004, Dr Medical Director Dr Nav Ahluwalia
Kraam, 56, has worked with hundreds said: “Research is key to improving the
our doctor of young people with mental health
problems and frankly admits
mental health services the NHS provides
and, as an expert in his field, Dr Kraam
that a bout of depression last year has will undoubtedly make a massive
One of our Doncaster doctors helped him better understand what contribution.”
who has taken up a top regional they are going through.
mental health post has spoken Dr Kraam is no stranger to trauma
openly about his battle with the He said: “I couldn’t work for three himself. As a 16-year-old in 1979,
illness he specialises in, and how months and life was really difficult. But he and his family fled their home in
the experience has had a profound war-torn Afghanistan for a new life in
it has helped him have greater effect on me and somehow allowed Germany, before moving to England.
empathy with his patients. me to really connect with the patients
and families I work with. Mental health He said: “We went to Germany
issues can affect anyone and none of us because I spoke the language. I
should be frightened to talk about them learned it earlier when my father, a
or ask for help when we need it. diplomat, was posted there. Returning
as refugees was like starting life from
“Child psychiatry is a fascinating area scratch again. “Similarly, I anticipate the
of medicine to work in and a great current Coronavirus pandemic having
privilege for me to meet and help a traumatic effect on many children
children, young people and their and young people who feel trapped
families through challenging times. and isolated, with their mental health
Research has been an important part deteriorating, particularly those from
of my career, so I am looking forward vulnerable backgrounds. But we will
to helping increase our mental health have to wait to see what the evidence
knowledge base for the benefit of reveals in the months and years ahead.”
people living in Yorkshire and Humber.”
In 2018, Dr Kraam collected a British
Alistair Hall, from the NIHR Clinical Citizens Award for his services to
Research Network Yorkshire and healthcare. The award recognises
Humber, said “We welcome Dr Kraam people who have made a positive
Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Abdullah into the leadership team knowing that impact on society.
Kraam, new Child and Adolescent the expertise, passion and empathy that
Mental Health Service (CAMHS) characterise him and his career will be a Dr Kraam is Honorary Senior Lecturer at
research lead for the National Institute very great asset to us and to the broad the University of Leeds and away from
of Health Research (NIHR) Clinical community that we serve.” work enjoys yoga and literature. A book
Research Network Yorkshire and of his poetry, written in German, was
Humber, is set to play a key role in Dr Kraam will combine his new published several years ago.
managing, promoting and co-ordinating research role with his current post as
mental health research across a huge our Consultant Child and Adolescent
chunk of north England. Psychiatrist with Doncaster CAMHS.
Staff - have your say
It’s important for us to have policies and procedures to help
us to be clear on what we need to do and who can do what
tasks. This is so we are consistent in the way we work. It also Our internal auditors, 360 Assurance, are reviewing the
means we meet external requirements. process for us and would love you to take part in their survey.
Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S9VSGPD and
We know this can sometimes be an area of frustration for have your say. It should take no more than 5 to 10 minutes to
staff, for example, the process to gain approval may be long - complete. The survey closes on June 30.
so now you have the opportunity to have your say and let us
know what we can consider doing to improve them.
19News matters
Rotherham homeless to keep these vulnerable members of the population safe and
well.
get phones and internet “To help them through the current crisis, we are also
providing each of Shiloh’s ‘guests,’ as they are called, with
ready tablets to help keep a health and wellbeing pack containing edible treats and
other practical items. Shiloh’s staff and volunteers are mostly
working from home but are maintaining contact with their
them safe and well guests using the phones and tablets. Mental health worker
Dan Kirk, RDaSH’s Safer Neighbourhoods Lead, is also actively
Rotherham rough sleepers, and those at risk of becoming involved in the project, responding to any referrals made to
homeless, are being offered a mobile phone, an internet him and providing any mental health training as required.
ready tablet and other practical support to help local services
keep in touch with them until their regular ‘drop-in’ centre “With the Shiloh Centre currently unavailable it would
reopens. be very easy for rough sleepers and people on the edge
of homelessness to quickly become unwell and risk becoming
The pay-as-you-go phones and 4G tablets are amongst a an emergency admission to hospital. The steps we’ve taken
package of temporary measures put in place by our Trust for in partnership with Shiloh ensure their guests have access to
around 40 people who normally attend the specialist Shiloh technology and practical resources to help them through this
homeless centre at Masbrough. challenging time.”
RDaSH Borough Wide Service Manager Sally Blackett said: The £5,000 cost of the scheme is being funded through the
“Shiloh normally delivers vital services to homeless adults extra cash the Government provides to ease the NHS through
from their Support Centre, but due to the Coronavirus the winter months, when health services are under increased
lockdown the building is temporarily closed. We are helping pressure.
to resource Shiloh’s new remote support services to try and
Recovery Champions
Service Manager at Aspire Drug and Alcohol
Service Stuart Green has been invited to a national
Expert Recovery Champions panel to share how
lived experience fits in treatment services and
structures for drug and alcohol.
The panel consists of key experts in the recovery field led by
Dr Ed Day, National Recovery Lead. Discussions are on various
topics including the recent Dame Carol Black report and
how lived experience brings value and strength to formally
commissioned services provided.
On a local level Stuart has been invited to a number of
debates taking part in a weekly peer discussion at The Well
facebook live page at 12noon to 1pm. Each week a different
topic is discussed ranging from rehab and does it works to
Recovery and Treatment.
20News matters
Drug and Alcohol Services open for business
Our Aspire service in Doncaster which supports the recovery
of people with an alcohol and/ or drug problem is reminding
residents that its services are open during the Coronavirus outbreak.
Aspire Drug and Alcohol Service, which is run by us in partnership with
registered charity the Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS), is urging people to
continue to seek support if they are worried about their own or someone else’s
alcohol or substance issue.
Located at Sinclair House and Rosslyn House, 37 Thorne Road in Doncaster,
the service is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm (excluding Bank
Holidays). The team at Aspire also continue to provide a telephone, virtual
group, online and digital help and support service for those who want to
address or reduce their alcohol and drug use. There is also access to a wide
range of services which include initial assessments, advice from a specialist
worker, to more complex treatment packages and needle exchange.
Aspire provides a range of professional, self-help strategies, inpatient detox and rehabilitation to support people in recovery
from drug and/ or alcohol related problem.
During the Covid-19 outbreak Aspire has temporarily changed the way it provides some of its services and people are
encouraged to contact the team for support.
If you or someone you know is experiencing drug or alcohol issues and want to talk to someone in
confidence please visit www.aspire.community, or ring 01302 730956.
Meanwhile, The Recovery Games, organised by our Aspire staff, has
been put on hold for this year.
Neil Firbank, Aspire Senior Day Programme
Lead, said: “We are disappointed that there
will no Recovery Games this year and I am
sure that everyone will understand the
reasons for this decision. The safety of the
hundreds of competitors, spectators and
everyone involved in putting the event
together is our main priority. We will be
back in 2021 with an exciting new look
and activities.”
Anyone wanting to support the 2021 Games please visit: https://bit.ly/2VUJs0y
21Staff matters
Antibody testing our staff
We’ve been offering Coronavirus antibody tests for
our staff, students and agency workers.
Since starting the testing on May 29, there been 2,846 staff
who’ve taken up the opportunity to have the test.
This antibody testing will indicate whether how many of
our staff have had the virus that causes coronavirus in the
past, by taking and analysing a blood sample which detect
antibodies to the virus as a marker of past infection. The
presence of antibodies signals that the body has staged an
immune response to the virus. It differs from virus testing
(PCR), which indicates whether the virus is currently present.
Coronavirus is a new disease, and our understanding of the
body’s immune response to it is limited. We do not know, for
example, how long an antibody response lasts, nor whether
having antibodies means that the virus can’t be transmitted to
others. Our understanding of the virus will grow as new scientific
evidence and studies emerge. Antibody tests are also being used
currently in surveillance studies, to understand what proportion
of the population have already had the virus.
Among the first to take the test was Kathryn Singh, Chief
Executive, who is pictured after having her antibody test.
22Staff matters
Introducing the Quit Smoking Team
We welcomed two new colleagues to team #OneRDaSH to focus on the smoking
cessation-focused programme called QUIT. They are:
Olha Hodgson, Healthy Hospitals staff in the provision of a very
and Community Programme brief advice (VBA) and recruitment of the
Manager. QUIT Champion volunteers who will receive
advanced training in and continuous
Prior to joining RDASH I was a support from the QUIT programme
Management Consultant at North team.
of England Commissioning Support
Unit where I worked on a range of Martin Lever, Health Improvement
healthcare transformation projects. Manager.
Having spent a number of years I joined RDaSH in April 2020 as a
working in other parts of the country, I am excited to be back Health Improvement Manager on the
in my home town Doncaster and join the Healthy Hospitals QUIT Programme. I am a smoking
Programme at RDASH. This programme is part of the Nursing cessation expert specialising in working
and Quality portfolio of work and it will tackle a range of with patients with very complex needs
issues including smoking cessation, physical activity, healthy and/or long-term health conditions. I have worked in smoking
eating and mental wellbeing. cessation since 2006 and completed the Level 2 smoking
cessation training in 2008. I’ve worked in London for 12 years
Ultimately, we are looking to create a healthier environment for NHS trusts and government including NHS Greenwich,
for patients and staff on all RDASH sites, and spread the Government Office for London and the South East London Illegal
message of healthy living to the wider community. Tobacco Partnership.
Right now we are working on setting up the first element Before joining RDaSH I managed the Quit Your Way smoking
of the Healthy Hospitals Programme, a smoking cessation- cessation service at NHS Orkney. At RDaSH we are working
focused programme called QUIT. This is a novel approach to towards creating a personalised, flexible and accessible
providing smoking cessation support to patients and staff environment for our staff and patients to reduce harm from
on site, using highly skilled Tobacco Treatment Advisors who tobacco or quit smoking for good.
will join RDASH in the next few months. We anticipate this
programme to be fully implemented by the end of the year. Presently, we are developing a bespoke model of care for
During the summer months we will be working on improving RDaSH mental health settings so we can reduce the health
general awareness of the Trust’s Smoke free policy, reducing inequalities associated with smoking and mental health.
the number of smoking-related incidents, training all ward
If you need to contact Olha and Martin please email rdash.quit@nhs.net
23Staff matters
Health and Wellbeing
rooms launched
Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic we have been
supporting the health and wellbeing of our staff.
One of these measures was to introduce a number of Health and
Wellbeing rooms across our sites. The rooms are also known as
‘Wobble Rooms’ and offer a safe place for staff to go to if they were
feeling overwhelmed by the Coronavirus situation.
The rooms are filled with health and wellbeing ‘pick me up’
information and leaflets. There are also relaxation fragrances, a
massage chair, light refreshments and self-help web-based resources.
Kathryn Singh, Chief Executive at the ribbon cutting ceremony
The first room was opened at Tickhill Road Hospital by our Chief in Doncaster.
Executive Kathryn Singh in April 17.
Many more have opened since then offering support for staff across
our sites in Rotherham, North Lincolnshire and Doncaster.
(Left to right) Dr Kerry Sheldon, Consultant Clinical Psychologist;
Wendy Fisher, Interim Care Director; and Vicky Clare, Interim
(Left to right): Chris Pym, Modern Matron; Kathryn Singh and Associate Nurse Director, in one of the rooms in North
Rachel Millard, Deputy Director of Nursing at the ribbon cutting Lincolnshire.
ceremony in Rotherham.
Huddle Up For Safer Noma and Kerry have been introducing
Safety Huddles within the Trust in
the production of Statistical Process
Control (SPC) charts on a monthly basis
Healthcare (HUSH) – partnership with the Improvement Academy
and six clinical teams which have signed up
for the coach to feed back.
2. Analysis of each team-working and safety
Safety Huddles to the programme. culture data, at baseline and after HUSH
Coral Lodge in Doncaster was the first team implementation.
A ‘safety huddle’ is an evidence-based to introduce a Safety Huddle. The Recovery 3. At the end of the 12 month programme,
intervention to improve staff team- Team in Scunthorpe and Osprey Ward in each coach will have the ability to formally
Rotherham will start their safety huddles accredit the team’s competence in HUSH.
working and culture, and to reduce
soon. Each team on the programme will
patient harm. Watch the Improvement Academy’s brief
receive:
overview of Safety Huddles here:
We have two Safety Huddle Coaches Noma 1. Critical analysis of teams routinely https://bit.ly/37QlnMS
Makhanda and Kerry Pepper from our collected data in the area of harm chosen
Improvement and Culture Team. by each frontline team. This will include
24Staff matters
Answering the call for nursing
A Sheffield man has answered his
calling and taken up a new career in
nursing at the tender age of 57.
Dellroy Blake, a former planner and designer
in a kitchen and bathroom showroom, has
started his first Bank Nursing Assistant role
with us.
Dellroy, who is in the final year of a four
year Open University BSc (Honours) Mental
Health Nursing Degree, said: “After being
impressed with the level of nursing care in
the Brambles Ward at The Woodlands during
my placement, I decided that I wanted to
become a member of the RDaSH bank staff.
“I gained experience of a number of
different services at RDaSH. My placement
covered acute care, psychiatry intensive
Dellroy Blake, Student Nursing Assistant
care, rehabilitation and forensic settings. All
of this broadened my nursing experience in
supporting the teams at Swallownest Court in Rotherham and Tickhill Road site, Doncaster.
“Throughout my working life various people have told me that I should go into nursing because of my caring nature and people skills.
“I have always been interested in helping and supporting people. During my time working in the kitchen and bathroom showroom, I noticed
a young man being disadvantaged by his peers. On intervening I established that he was unemployed and offered him the opportunity
to work in the showroom for a couple of weeks doing some cleaning work which he did. He turned up every day and during that time I
realised that he had a learning disability. He did a good job and I like to think that I boosted his confidence and provided him with some job
opportunities in the future.”
Dellroy was involved in the Wilfward Family Trust, a charity providing respite care for parents with challenging young people.
He said: “The charity work made me realise that I enjoyed supporting people. Although I wanted to go into nursing, I wasn’t in the
position to leave my current employer. Eventually, when the time was right, I joined an agency and started working for a private forensic
mental health hospital. It was during this time that one of the doctors noticed that I had the right people skills and attributes for nursing. I
was encouraged to apply for The Open University BSc (Honours) Mental Health Nursing Degree, where on my very first placement was
introduced to RDaSH.
“Under the leadership of my mentor Maggie O’Malley and Kim Gostolo, Ward Manager, I was a privilege to join the team in providing
person centred care for our patients. It has been an amazing and challenging journey especially being a mature student and returning to
education. The staff are so empathetic, caring and compassionate, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you ladies.
“Age is just a number and it shouldn’t put you off changing careers. I am now doing a role which I am very passionate about. I can see the
positive difference it makes to people’s lives. It’s fulfilling and enjoyable and I would recommend nursing to anyone.”
The Woodlands in Rotherham provides assessment and treatment for older people who are experiencing mental health conditions including
depression and psychosis.
25Staff matters
Values and behaviours workshop information
As part of the Trust’s five year strategy the Improvement and Culture Team will be working with everyone in the
organisation to embed behaviours which align to the Trust’s Vision, Values and strategic ambitions.
The values and behaviours project will focus on where we are with the Trust values, and to help make them more meaningful.
The main outcome of this project is to co-design a behaviour framework to avoid ambiguity, uniting workforce standards, values, and
commitments. This framework can be used to support appraisals, recruitment, team planning, and to celebrate achievements. The idea of a
behaviour framework is that it lists behaviours expected from our staff that wouldn’t appear in a job description, it’s about how we do things
around here, not what we do.
It’s really important that the ideas for the behaviour framework come from the wider workforce so that we can all be sure that they’re
right for our teams, the culture and the aims of the organisation. Therefore, to create this framework, Joanna Millward, Organisational
Development Facilitator, is running a number of values and behaviour workshops across the organisation.
These one hour ‘virtual’ workshops will be held on Microsoft Teams until the end of July. They will help to develop a Trust-wide framework
ensuring your voices are heard. They will also act as team-building workshops to benefit all those taking part.
To book, please email joanna.millward1@nhs.net
Remember our Freedom to
Speak Up
There are many ways to let us know about the things that are
bothering you.
We all have a part to play in making sure we continue to provide safe
services for our patients. Here’s a reminder of how you can raise a concern.
RDaSH leading the way with care
26Staff matters
Pride Month
June was Pride Month and this year’s celebrations were a little low key due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
But we couldn’t let Pride Month go by without doing something, Here’s Pride in 2020.
Staff volunteer
to work at
The Nightingale
Eight nurses and nursery
nurses and several of our
doctors volunteered to work in
Harrogate’s Nightingale Hospital.
A big thank you to all of them.
(Left to right): Joanne Rimmington, Caroline McNeill, Maria Rodgers, Mike
Bell, Amy Strelczenie, Joanne Bailey and Jane Whaley.
27Staff matters
Being a WRES expert … The Language of Race
This was probably the module that I thrived on the most. It was so
insightful and raised a lot of issues for some of my peers. Having
the journey so far! worked in equality, diversity and inclusion for a long time it was good
to cement some of my current knowledge but also learn different
information and take on other people’s points of view. Often people
Our Head of Equality Diversity and Inclusion, Virginia feel uncomfortable to talk about race and this module addresses
Golding talks about her journey to become a Workforce how this can be carried out in an effective non-threatening way. Two
Race Equality Standard (WRES) expert. books which are good to read to raise awareness are ‘Why I am no
longer talking to white people about race’ by Reni Eddo-Lodge and
WRES came into place in 2015 and is ‘White Fragility’ by Robin Diangelo (an American white woman.)
overseen by the WRES Team in NHS
England and Improvement. Some people may have heard the term White Privilege, which can
cause misunderstanding and resistance due to lack of awareness.
The Standard measures the experiences
and opportunities of white people and White Privilege
Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) using It does not mean you’re racist
nine key indicators to gather data around It does not mean your life has been easy
issues like promotion and discrimination.
It does not mean you don’t face struggles too
So far, the modules I’ve attended include: It means your life isn’t made harder by your skin colour.
The Global and Historical Aspects of Race Race, health and wellbeing
This module was extremely educational as it examined the concept of I was late to the session, stuck on the motorway, so missed the most
race, colonialism, cultural heritage and my own racial identity, which powerful exercise which was ‘White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible
was challenging for the BME and white peers on the course. We had Knapsack’ by Peggy McIntosh. I have seen something similar so
to define race inequality in the workplace, its impact on staff, how know what an insightful and emotive exercise it can be. There was
we could understand the key challenges to the system and how to a stark difference between the experiences of my white peers and
develop strategies to improve race equality. BME peers but then there was also a negative difference between
some of my African and Caribbean and Asian peers.
In this session I learned the importance of examining organisational
culture and the type of culture that is required to promote inclusion. We watched a video of a presentation by Professor David Williams
A learning point was also the need to identify a range of individuals of Harvard University, whom I have had the honour of seeing a few
within the organisation who had the required expertise to make times. His seminar on ‘Race and Health – the global overview’ is
effective change and how to get them involved. This taught me that a must see, especially for healthcare practitioners. There is a term
we have a collective responsibility to make improvements in race called the Weathering Effect which describes how, disadvantage,
equality in our Trust. discrimination and racism has an impact on BME people’s health. If
we want to improve the health of our BME patients and colleagues
Data, Policy, Strategy and Communication his presentation is a MUST! https://youtu.be/i1xHs3DxfLE
This module set the context of why the WRES came about and
how it is mandated in the NHS Standard Contract. It gave a good So this is my journey so far. It has been an amazing experience. I have
overview of the nine indicators, how we can interpret the data and been putting my learning into practice, sharing it with colleagues and
the importance of conducting a root cause analysis of the issues influencing change in RDaSH.
before putting interventions into place.
Why focus on race? I have two answers to this, if you know me you
Gathering data, analysing it and identifying how to improve will know that I focus on diversity and inclusion because that is what
outcomes is important. Yes, we know this because we do this is important to me. Also research shows that if you focus on race
throughout the NHS. Sharing the lived experience can talk truth to you will get it right for the other protected characteristics. Two more
power and is an effective way of opening other people’s eyes by modules to go: Legislation and Inclusive Practice
using another lens to see learn. and Engagement.
Please watch this two minute video to see my lived experience
www.patientvoices.org.uk/flv/1205pv384.htm. RDaSH has just Please feel free to contact me if you have
launched its own Reverse Mentoring Scheme to learn and act on any questions just email
others lived experiences. virginia.golding@nhs.net
28Staff matters
‘Recovery’ the next steps
As we move forward to a time for stabilisation,
review, learning and consideration of our next
steps we want to hear from you.
Tell us about your reflections on your personal experience
of what has happened as a result of the pandemic. Join
the conversation on the Improvement HUB and let us know about:
• What has worked well for you and your area of work?
• Where could we do more?
• How can we make your working day better?
You may have your own questions and suggestions too.
Click https://bit.ly/2Z3QAs1 to join the conversation.
Reverse Mentoring
Programme
We started our first Reverse Mentoring
Programme on June 16 as part of our
commitment to develop an inclusive culture.
The aim of reverse mentoring is to educate leaders in
diversity issues and expose them to challenging dialogue
which they might not otherwise encounter. It’s also an
opportunity to learn about other people’s experiences through Reverse mentoring comprises of a member of staff (the mentor)
a different lens which in turn influences organisational change. mentoring a more senior member of staff (the mentee) about
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The mentor shares their lived
The programme promotes an understanding of issues relating experience with the mentee through 1:1 meetings, shadowing,
to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). It also provides observations and other opportunities as they arise. It’s called
opportunities for those in protected groups to challenge and Reverse Mentoring because the typical hierarchal power
influence the Trust based on their lived experiences. dynamic is reversed in this model. The less senior employee
takes on the role of mentor and is considered the expert, with
Our Trust Board requested this programme in response to the the senior employee learning from them and their experiences.
Workforce Race Equality Standard and Workforce Disability Both mentors and mentees receive training and support
Equality Standard reports. These reports highlighted that the throughout the programme.
experiences at work of our Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME)
and Disabled staff are not as good as those of our White or The first cohort for this programme is for BAME members of
Non-disabled staff. The entire Trust Board has signed up to be staff and we will also be running other sessions for our Disabled
in the first cohort of the programme acting as mentees. We members of staff.
are pleased that 11 of our BAME staff signed up to be mentors
to our Board members. It’s a fantastic opportunity for their To find out more please email
personal development as well as an opportunity to make a real amanda.ambler@nhs.net
difference to the experiences of staff and service users in the
Trust.
29You can also read
