Rolling News & Views Page:
Winter Issue26 2009
Children in Need
There was another sterling effort from the wards on Caswell clinic. Apart from the usual collection there were Pudsey bear cookies and a twelve hour bike ride. Approximately £300 were raised. Congratulations to everyone involved.
NSPCC
LeeW together with AndyS and Chris T did a sponsored walk on the Brecon Beacons (see photo) for NSPCC. Lee raised a staggering £112!! He is to be congratulated for his efforts.
Chat Issue May 2009
Update about the Female only ward
The high dependency area is now up and running, The ward itself is almost full and everything is going well.
The ward had a visit from the Mental Health Commissioners on the 8th of March it was positive overall, the ward is taking on board Healthy living and exercising which is going very well.
Mark the activity co-ordinator based on Newton ward has settled in, and the girls are using the ward based facilities. They make their own personalised cards, they do pottery, and art, they have an activity room on the ward. They often have karaoke, and music sessions, pool competitions, and off ward activities, such as badminton in the gym, and Mark is hoping to get a team together to play basket ball, he also takes the girls out cycling which they enjoy very much.
The patients and staff wanted to raise money for red nose day and set about doing raffles and other things they managed to raise £168.00 well done Newton ward.
Christmas Issue 2008
Children in Need
Newton ward patients and staff decided to take part in a marathon, to raise money for children in need, music and refreshments were provided to stimulate the walkers, a stop watch was used to make sure everything was done correctly, the patients enjoyed it so much that instead of one marathon they did three, the occupational therapists also did some walking, a good time was had by all, and £390.00 was raised also. Ogmore ward did a raffle and the prizes were given by the patients, they raised £55.00 a grand total of £445.00, well done everybody.
Christmas Issue 2008
Quizz Night
Yes, it was that time again when the friends of Caswell threw down the gauntlet and challenged the boffins in Caswell Clinic to a Quiz night. Every thing was fine except that The Friends had brought a secrete weapon- the 2008 Master Mind champion – yes that´s right the MasterMind Champion for 2008, David Clark from Port Talbot. It was celebrities all round with John Devereux, ex Welsh rugby player ably assisted with his wife Alison.
There were 5 tables battling it out - three from the friend s and 2 from Caswell.
It was a relatively close affair but the champion as if you wouldn´t believe it was David Clark´s table.
As always Caswell teams look forward to the next contest but with no, dare I say it, ringers!!
Christmas Issue 2008
SKILLS FOR LIVING
The Life Skills Group within the Clinic consists of one hourly weekly sessions over a period ten months. The group is led by Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Nursing profession.
The focus of this particular group aims to help participants learn how to cope with life events. These include addressing coping with stress, failure, boredom and fear, as well as the more positive aspects of relapse prevention such as increasing self confidence and support networks.
The Life Skills Group enables and encourages participants to use the new skills taught and incorporate them into the everyday life. The Life Skill sessions are divided up into modules. These include dealing with problems, interacting with others and assertiveness.
The Group has successfully been completed for the Year 2008 and will resume February 2009. A referral can be made through weekly CTM to group facilitators.
Chat Issue 23: Summer 2008
RECYCLING With Ian (Voluntary Role)
Did you know?
- It takes 24 trees to make 1 ton of newspaper! Rainforests are being cut down at the rate of 100 acres per minute!
- The average person in the UK gets through 38kg of newspapers per Year!
- 12.5 million tonnes of paper and cardboard are used annually in the UK!
- 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes!
- 1 recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours!
Please Recycle It!
Dale & I are currently taking newspapers/magazines/cans to the recycling centre on a regular basis.
Chat Issue 22 Spring 2008
Mike Sullivan′s Promotion
At the beginning of February Mike S informed the staff and patients that he had been promoted in the clinic. His role is to oversee the 5 wards and so he will still remain as a fixture on Cardigan Ward. So our loss are the Wards′ gain.
The patients made a card for Mike (see photo ) with a poem Mike was also bought a Tottenham Hotspur shirt.
Still, Mike, you will be sorely missed by us all.
From Patients and staff of Cardigan ward
Chat Issue 22 Spring 2008
This time of Year
Hi folks, It′s me just writing to let you know Spring is here and all the signs of Spring are here too with the weather being very mild. This could be something to do with the greenhouse effect. But listen folks, this ozone layer thing about CFC′s and others could just be one theory as to why the earth is heating up. It could be just us putting on our gas fires or using our lighters and heating our houses or factories burning lots of coal who are causing this.
So we need to stop and just have a little think about it. What we could do is simply save on the electric and gas and turn off all electric items after use. This is a start but best of all give some work to your local library by telephone or visit and ask for some books on the subject or/and access the internet. If not just try and recycle papers, plastic and tins.
All the best for a better future.
Chat Issue Winter 2007
DIY at Caswell
The D.I.Y. group started up back in the autumn of this year, with Alex and me running the sessions. We managed to track down the D.I.Y. project board that the clinic used for past sessions (see image below) and the kind people at Hafal who had no use for it kindly returned it to us. After years of use it took Alex and me several hours to get it ready for our first session. At the moment we are covering a range of skills including painting, wallpapering and tiling, we also hope to include some basic carpentry skills.
If anyone is interested and would like to attend the sessions please speak to ether Alex or myself or you can approach your O.T. We hope some of you will be interested as some these skills may come in use in the future.
Chat Issue Autumn 2007
Recycling from Ogmore
Since our last article in Caswell Chat we have found new uses for our recyclables. One has been to try and help rid the garden of slugs. We cut off both ends of the 2 litre pop bottles and put them over our runner beans. Unfortunately this did not help. We then cut a hole in the side of bottles and put squash in them (unfortunately we could not use beer as recommended) - this also failed.
We are now recycling waste paper for major projects using Papiere Mache in arts and crafts.
Chat Issue Autumn 2007
NeilW a new recruit to the OT team updates us on the woodwork workshop.
Resurrection of Woodwork at Caswell Clinic
Chat Issue Spring 2007
OT Heather Leaving.
It is with regret that I announce that HeatherG, OT is leaving the Clinic.
Heather is an excellent organiser and helped immensely with the production of Caswell Chat chasing up articles, as well as contributing with her own pieces. She spent a lot of time organising the Koestler Awards and even drove the entries to London herself.
She also got involved with key activities such as African Drum Music and the DJing course during evenings. Her happy nature will be missed by all of us.
On behalf of patients and staff I wish her well in the future.
I too wish Heather well for the future. Although I had little direct contact with Heather, it was evident in passing she had an infectious enthusiasm that was contagious in whatever she was involved in. It certainly motivated and rubbed off onto others successfully.
Chat Issue Spring 2007
Men's Group
Men′s group, is as it′s name suggests, a group for men within the Caswell Clinic which runs for just over an hour every Tuesday afternoon. The group currently has about seven participants and is facilitated by myself (NeilM, OT), James G (psychologist) and Geoff B (clinical nurse specialist). The group has two main aims, to offer education into different area′s of patient′s lives and to offer support and encouragement from peers and staff members.
The group has just completed it′s first module, entitled "exercise and Mental Health". This was generally well received and involved guest speakers on both theoretical and practical aspects of the benefit of exercise on mental health. Forthcoming modules include; healthy lifestyle, legal and nutrition. Some suggestions for future topics have been "leavers group", "vocational opportunities" and "medication".
Feedback from participants is that they are enjoying the group and if any of you are interested in joining the men′s group, please discuss with one of the facilitators.
BUILDING BETTER HEALTHCARE AWARDS 2004
The new Caswell Clinic has been short-listed for the "Best Designed Mental Health Facility" in the above awards.An assessment team will visit the Clinic shortly to formally review the Trust´s application for this prestigious building award.
CHARTER MARK RENEWAL (2004)
The time has come for the Clinic to begin preparing for the renewal of its Charter Mark. The Clinic has achieved three such awards at three-yearly intervals. The next application needs to be submitted by the end of November 2004 and will be followed by a visit from the Charter Mark office
In order to secure the award for a fourth time, the Clinic will need to demonstrate that it meets each of the following six criteria
- Set Standards and Perform Well
- Actively Engage with your Customers, Partners and Staff
- Be Fair and Accessible to everyone and Promote Choice
- Continuously Develop and Improve
- Use your Resources Effectively and Imaginatively
- Contribute to Improving Opportunities and Quality of Life in the Communities you Serve
Patients will be able to meet with the visiting team when they arrive for their assessment in December. Anyone wishing to obtain further information or possibly suggest areas that could be added to our application,please contact your Ward Manager or Robert Goodwin, Directorate Manager
Winter Issue26 2009
Obituary Ron Howe
Earlier this year Ron Howe a member of staff on Ogmore ward sadly passed away.
A story that springs to mind about his character when I think of Ron was when I was on community leave with him and ended up going to the library to loan some books. I looked from head to toe throughout the library for books that I wanted. I spoke to the librarian downstairs and by the time I got back Ron had found every book I wanted to look through.
He was a well read man and a very decent chap, He will be missed.
As editor of Caswell Chat I would like to add a few words about Ron. He compiled the crossword for each edition from the start back in 2001. He was never late with the crossword and did not complain once about compiling it. He also kindly wrote an article about his visit to China and seeing a Chinese garden. I have decided to rerelease the article to remind us all of his endeavours.
Link to Ron's Chinese gardenWinter Issue26 2009
Aaron′s African Sunflower Competition
Aaron kindly gave sunflower seeds to plant representing all the members of the African Drum Music Group. The seeds were planted in pots in the green house with the help of SimonB and then transplanted against the green fence. There was no cheating but at the end of the season the tallest sunflower was Saras with Aaron coming a close second (See photo). However, Aaron′s sunflower had the most heads with nine; Aubrey was second with eight!!
Some of the sunflowers had red heads so we will keep them and grow them next year.
Chat IssueMay 2009
Celebration of Elfyn George´s Contribution to Life at the Caswell Clinic
Now that we are in the tenth anniversary year of the Friends of Caswell Clinic, it is a particularly relevant time to celebrate the contribution of the late Elfyn George, one of the founder members of the Group. Click here to link to the full article
Christmas Issue 2008
The Shop
This has now been running for 15 months. There have been slight hurdles to over come, but things are running more smoothly with RobC ably assisted by MellyS and AndyH. Produce that sell well are the mineral water, crisps and snack bars. Clothes and toiletries are also sold.
The shop is open twice a week on a Tuesday and Friday form 1pm to 3 pm. Canon O´Donnell kindly donated a Welsh Dresser to put items on (see photo).
RobC has been concerned as to whether the shop is selling the right produce. To this end DebbieB(nutritionist) had assessed the food and given it a thumbs up - That is apart from Pot Noddles which are high in salt.
Andrea will be helping out with the shop in the New Year especially for female patients who might not be able to make it to the café. She can also buy items of clothing for women.
Christmas Issue 2008
The Women´s Ward
Newton ward was originally a fourteen bedded mixed ward. It has now become a female only admission and assessment ward. The ward benefits from a high dependency area that could be used to nurse anyone who becomes acutely unwell. They would be nursed separately to the other patients. There have also been some changes to the way property is managed and to some security checks. The ward staff tried to involve the female patients in these decisions.
Newton ward now has its own activity co-ordinator that is ward based. This is a unique role to the ward with the co-ordinator being available three shifts a week out of the main nursing numbers. This allows them to meet the needs of the patients either arranging to do one to one sessions such as escorting patients to gym or café, but also spend time arranging group activities on the ward.
Chat Issue 22 Spring 2008
NHS Open Week
Our first forensic mental health stand was facilitated by Suzannah, Rebekah, Maddie, Chris and Natasha. The NHS Open Week is an event where the Trusts in Wales raise awareness of the wide range of career options available within healthcare services. It is aimed at school children in year nine who are due to choose their options. We also used the days as an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues.
Thank you to all who contributed.
Chat Issue 22 Spring 2008
ABERTAWE BRO MORGANNWG UNIVERSITY NHS TRUST
From 1st April Bro Morgannwg & Swansea NHS Trusts became one, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University NHS Trust (ABM University NHS Trust). This makes us the largest Trust in Wales, covering a population of 600,000. To manage the day -to-day operational structure there is an East division and a West Division.
For the whole of the Trust there will be thirteen Clinical Directorates, which are
- Women and Child Health
- Anaesthetics, Critical Care, Theatres
- Diagnostic Services
- Cancer Services
- Cardiac Services
- Medicine
- Intermediate Care and Reablement
- Musculo-Skeletal
- General Surgery
- Regional Surgery
- Pathology
- Learning Disabilities
- Mental Health
The structure of each Clinical Directorate will be developed over the next few months and will be fully operational by September 2008.
Paul Williams is the Chief Executive and Win Griffiths is the Chairman. The Trusts aim is to deliver top quality care. There will be very little changes that will directly affect us within the Caswell Clinic at a grass root level.
Chat Issue Winter 2007
Sandra Howells Retirement
The clinic would like to take this opportunity to wish Sandra along and happy retirement.
Sandra came to the clinic in 1993 as a NVQ student. After completing the course she gained employment as B Grade care assistant on the bold rehab ward (Faldau). She was soon seen for years passing through reception with her cheery wave and smile on many of her countless community and ground leaves. Sandra′s cure for everything was lets go for a walk.
Sandra later moved to the assessment ward (Newton) where she remained for her last years within the clinic.
As a send off Sandra was given a farewell celebration at the New Garden Restaurant, Aberkenfig. She was presented with flowers and travel vouchers by her longest serving ward manager, Jackie Davis on behalf of everyone at the Clinic.
Sandra was a pleasure to work with and will be missed by patients and staff. She will now be able to spend more time with her number one priority, that is, her family and husband.
Sandra, enjoy your retirement from every one at Caswell Clinic.
Chat Issue Autumn 2007
Tenby Ward Opens
At last Tenby ward opened on Monday the 3rd September – there was no fanfare. But when our kettle arrived it was tea and biscuits to celebrate!!
During this week five patients were transferred or admitted to Tenby ward and our first service user meeting was held on the 11th of September.
Thanks to all staff and patients who have worked together to get the ward through its first week!!
Chat Issue Autumn 2007
Women′s Services
We have now set ourselves up in the Women′s drop in room, on a Sunday. The room is occupied from 3pm till 4pm, come along and do whatever you enjoy. There is paint by numbers, card making, we have a CD player so you can come down and just listen to some music. There will be embroidery, cross-stitch, also knitting and sewing. We are open to ideas, so if there is anything else that you want to do, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Chat Issue Spring 2007
Ogmore Ward Goes Green
Following a current affairs session on Ogmore Ward one evening, the subject of global warming was raised and the patients showed a keen interest in how they could help participate in reducing global warming and become "The Green Ogmore Ward".
One of the main concerns was the lack of recycling amenities and the opportunity to recycle everyday items such as newspapers, plastic milk cartons, tin cans and glass.
An identified area of the ward was allocated as a recycling station.
An information board promotes re-cycling and a collage has been created by the green gang.
This is having a good impact in motivating and educating staff and patients.
The green gang consists of Dharma, Darren, Melly, Aubrey, Adrian and Rus who promote and deliver the recyclables to the local waste management centre such as Sainsbury′s.
We have been recycling for over a month with no teething problems but we have to recycle twice a week because of the volume of material that has accumulated!!
Finally, watch this space for other ideas that highlight green issues.
Chat Issue Autumn 2006
Food Hygiene Course
Last month I gained my Food Hygiene & Safety certificate after I took part in the exam. The test involved a detailed one and a half hour talk by a lady from the Health &Safety Department. I then had half an hour to revise before sitting the test of thirty questions with a limit of ten wrong questions – nothing too hard: correct temperatures for cooking, preparing food safety as well as various do′s and don′ts. I had seven wrong and was very pleased to pass.
Now I am able to work in the catering trade and maybe own my own burger van!!
Well done JonG on passing; reading about the burger van got me thinking about "Veggie Burgers". I′ll do a website for your van for free "Veggie Burgers". Have we got a deal JonG? (WebEd)
MENTAL HEALTH ACT COMMISSION VISITS THE CLINIC June 2004
The Trust has recently received the Commissioner´s report following their visit to the Caswell Clinic. During the visit, the Commissioners, following earlier interest from patients, considered whether there were any delays in the processing of patient leave by the Home Office. Whilst the Commission were happy to report that they could find no evidence of such delays during their visit they have, nonetheless, asked the Directorate to monitor the situation. The Commission have also asked for information on the full commissioning programme of the new build unit. The Trust has recently reached agreement with Health Commission Wales, the service´s commissioners, to open the fourth ward in early December 2004. The aim is for the fifth and final ward to be commissioned before the end of March 2005.
The Commission also visited the Trust on the 23rd August 2004 to review previous mental health reports over the last twelve months. During this visit, the Commissioners were particularly interested in the Clinic´s approach to user involvement and the patient information leaflet prepared by our patients. The Commissioners have suggested that the Clinic submit an article on these issues for inclusion within the new biennial report.
Activity Coordinator Patient Questionnaire (2004)
Overall, the feedback from patients was positive with over 80% of respondents stating that they believed the wards had benefited from the introduction of the role of activity coordinator.
Patient feedback surrounding the positive aspects of the role included issues of increased choice and availability of activities. Comments included; "I have done more activities than I would normally do on the ward." Improvements to the quality of life of patients were demonstrated with one respondent stating, " I think they are really beneficial, I notice a great difference on the ward to do more since they began and I think the wards would not run properly without them".
Helping patients with problems related to motivation was also a theme with one respondent indicating that the activity coordinators help in motivating patients to undertake ward based activities.
Possible improvements to the role included increasing support for the role from other staff and minimising activity coordinators involvement with patient observation. The need for a female activity coordinator was also mentioned as a possible way of improving this service to patients.