British Society for Mental Health and Deafness

British Society for Mental Health on Deafness - promoting healthy deaf minds BSMHD

Newsletter September 2005

The next BSMHD meeting will be held at the Media Resource Centre, Oxford Road, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, LD1 6AH on Thursday 6th October 2005. The meeting will be an opportunity to meet staff from the Health Services and Deaf Organisations in Wales. BSMHD Meetings are open to all members and are free to attend. If you would like to attend please contact Jonathan Isaac, [email protected]

The winter meeting will be held in Cambridge on Friday 2nd December. Further details will be available in the next Newsletter

The Department of Health Towards Equity and Access Implementation Panel held its first meeting on 27 June. The panel consists of 3 representatives from the Specialist Services, one each covering Adult, Child and Forensic Services; 3 representatives from the voluntary sector, from RNID, SIGN and UK Council on Deafness; 3 representatives from the NHS and 3 User Representatives. The remit of the panel is to:

· Engage with PCT's to help implement the recommendations in the Towards Access and Equity Report

· Monitor and evaluate PCT expenditure of the money they receive to implement the TEA report recommendations

· Work with PCT's and Strategic Health Authorities (SHA's) on the commissioning of specialist mental health services for Deaf people using the DH Guidance issued in March 2003

· Ensure the Deaf community are aware of the TEA report and its recommendations and are able to act as a force in ensuring implementation

· Report back to Department of Health on progress made in implementing recommendations and propose further initiatives to develop equity and access for Deaf people

· Engage with other government departments to ensure joined up approach providing equity and access

At the first meeting of the TEA Implementation Panel it was agreed that the only way to progress the recommendations in the report was by positive action. Sign offered to second two of its staff to the Implementation Panel and Herbert Klein and Lloyd Wint have now started work on influencing PCT's to take action.

A major problem they have encountered is that although £2.5m has been distributed to date, with more to come, PCT's have not connected the money they have received to the report recommendations. The report went to Chief Executives of the PCT's and they will have passed it down the line to someone else to consider, but the actual money went directly to finance with no clear label. The result is that the money has either been used for other purposes or is sitting there with no one giving direction on its usage. Finding the right person to contact in a PCT to discuss the recommendations is a major task in itself ! More information on the Implementation Officers progress will be in the next newsletter.

“Thank you for your recent letter about Department of Health funding for Primary Care Trusts to implement the recommendations of its report, Towards Equity and Access, which prioritised key areas for improvement on access to NHS services for deaf people with mental illness.

I should advise that there were delays in finalising central budgets within the Department this year. I am sorry for this delay and I understand the concern which this will have caused members and affiliates of the British Society for Mental Health and Deafness.

However, I am pleased to inform you that the £2.5million will be awarded. This will comprise £1.5million for last year and an additional £1million for this year.

Please be assured that this Department recognises the unique needs of deaf people with mental health problems. We remain fully committed to improving services for this patient group and to working with the voluntary sector and other interested bodies to make this happen”

The next British Society for Mental Health and Deafness Wales Reference Group Meeting will be held on Tuesday 27 September 2005 at 11.00am at Powys LHB Boardroom, the Mansion House, Bronllys Hospital. For further details contact Nigel Bone - [email protected] .

Corner House deaf child and family service have recently set up a youth club project for deaf and hearing young people who receive support from mental health services within the South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust. The project is a collaboration between the NHS, Wandsworth Education and Wandsworth Youth Services and provides a youth club environment on Thursday evenings for young people with mental health difficulties, both deaf and hearing, to develop their social skills, build friendships and have fun in a supported environment.

The project opened in April with celebrities from the Deaflympic team and their medals, the deaf British rugby team and the WASPS rugby team. In July the project was awarded the SW London NHS excellence award for mental health development. So far the feedback from the young people has been really positive and the project hopes to go from strength to strength.

CACDP and Sign have produced an Accredited Communication Tactics training pack. This is specifically for Health Care Workers and those completing the days training can receive a Level 1 certificate from CACDP. The training includes all the normal Deaf Awareness but additionally covers other subjects specific to the health care sector. This is the only such accredited training and was developed in conjunction with the NHS in Scotland who originally lead on this initiative. CACDP accredited trainers to deliver the package are available around the country. Contact Sign for details www.signcharity.org.uk

Thursday 13th October 2005 at the Inmarsat Conference Centre, London EC1

The government's drive to boost the numbers of key staff in mental health services has been highlighted by the renewal of the NHS Careers Campaign, which specifically identifies the need for an increase in mental health workers. By encouraging staff to develop their careers within mental health services, the workforce can become professional, integrated and sustainable. Recruitment and retention are key issues within the mental health workforce with a high use of temporary staff resulting in lack of continuity of care and specialist skills. By tackling low morale and job instability, a more cohesive and integrated workforce can be developed alongside a programme to ensure effective governance.

This conference will offer an opportunity to discuss how best to develop a more diverse and coherent workforce, with structured career development programmes and a drive to recruit more service users as part of the workforce. Bringing together the many various roles from within mental health services, this important event will facilitate progressive debate and practical workforce development strategies.

For further information contact Debbie Young on 020 7324 4364
e-mail [email protected] www.neilstewartassociates.com

In 2001 the Mental Health Centre ‘de Gelderse Roos’ opened its special and unique ward for elderly deaf people. The ward is a part of the Department for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, a mental health service for deaf and hard of hearing people. The service also offers day treatment and outpatient services. Presently this service employs about 70 staff. In 2006 the ward will celebrate its fifth anniversary. This seemed a good reason to get together with professionals from all over the world who are working for and with elderly deaf. We hope to meet with you all at the conference we are planning.

Although our target group focuses on seniors, the professional state of the field is quite young. Special services have been developed throughout the world. In several places, services are highly developed while in others, the services are still at the embryonal stage. But services are being developed and can not be stopped. Numerous people all over the world have discovered how pleasant it is to work in our field. They are pioneers who like a challenge. So this celebration will be a great opportunity to share, exchange, learn and teach, with and between soulmates.

We would like to highlight a variety of issues related to elderly deaf. Issues to be discussed: Mental Health; Gerontology; Sign Language and Communication; Ancient Deaf Culture; Science; Physical Health; Care Homes; Home Services; Deaf and Blind and High Age; New Developments.

We decided to call our conference ‘SPRING’, as a positive symbol for where we are as a professional field. Many services are already blossoming or are about to do so. Spring is the season for positive energy and surprises, for things about to happen. And this is the message we would like to spread. ‘Elderly deaf’ is a nice, challenging branch of work. New initiatives are being taken everywhere.

All information will be available and continuously updated on: www.degelderseroos.nl/springconference

The Spring Conference Host Committee invites all participants to submit for papers to be presented during the April 27-28, 2006 International SPRING Conference on deaf senior issues. You are invited to give a presentation (about 20-25 minutes). All presentations will be plenary. After every presentation there will be room for some discussion. Altogether each presentation will be no longer than 30 minutes.

We would like a variety of issues to be highlighted related to deaf seniors.
Issues to be discussed:
Mental Health
Gerontology
Sign Language and Communication
Ancient Deaf Culture
Science
Physical Health
Care Homes
Home Services
New Developments

The committee will evaluate each submission according to the theme and the Conference overall. Papers will be selected on significance, accuracy, clarity, originality and relevance to the theme.

The outcome of a selection and notification of acceptance will be sent by the committee.
Abstracts accepted for publication will be published in the Congress Abstract Book. After acceptance the presenter must send the full presentation for interpreters use.

Proposals should include your name, contact information (including e-mail address) and an abstract of your paper. The deadline for proposals to arrive is February 1, 2006

Proposals must be written in English (300 to 400 words), in Word file format. Proposals can be submitted electronically (the method preferred) to: [email protected]

or via postal mail:
De Gelderse Roos Veluwe Vallei
Dpt. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
t.a.v.: SPRING committee
Willy Brandtlaan 20
6716 RR Ede
The Netherlands

SignHealth, a communication software program, is now available and has been purchased by a number of PCT's and doctor practices. The program is being further developed and by the end of the year will be more flexible and provide more information. It will have an additional 12 minority languages added. Details on the program from Sign www.signcharity.org.uk

BSMHD, Westwood Park, London Road, Little Horkesley, Colchester, CO6 4BS
Tel 01206 274075 Text 01206 274076 Fax 01206 274077
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.bsmhd.org.uk

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