‘Inspiring’ event on the health and wellbeing of people with a learning disability

Nearly 50 people attended an event focused on the health and wellbeing of people with a learning disability, which was described as ‘inspiring’, ‘’positive’ and ‘informative’.

The sharing event, held in Trowell, was hosted by Clare Watson, Health Inequalities Lead at Nottingham West Primary Care Network (PCN) and Chloe Corden, Active Lifestyles Manager at Liberty Leisure Limited (LLeisure). The aim was to share the learning from a year of prolonged listening at a series of health and wellbeing roadshows, to share actions already taken based on what they heard and to agree on ways to build on this work collectively.

The roadshows were funded by a grant of £2,000 from Health Innovation East Midlands to Nottingham West PCN to engage with people living locally who have learning disabilities – to see how local services could better support them to live more healthily.

The PCN, in partnership with LLeisure, has reached hundreds of people by holding six roadshows with patients with learning disabilities, their parents and carers alongside local partners from the health, care, leisure, and voluntary sector.

Sharing the learning

Clare and Chloe opened the event by explaining that there are unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes and life chances for people with a learning disability and that their access to services, experience and opportunities can all be improved.

Clare said: “We think big but we’re starting small. Each of us can make a difference. Through the roadshows, we wanted to improve outcomes and experience locally but we knew that we weren’t the right people to come up with solutions or even identify the problems. We needed to hear the voice of patients from the start.”

The roadshows were a great partnership success story. There were six events with 35 partners engaged. The roadshows were designed to be a fun, safe space to share voices and opinions.

General feedback was that people with learning disabilities want to be known, they want to be spoken to directly and involved in decision making that directly affects them, and that language is important – for example, one attendee said that people were ‘talking upside down language’ – where a negative result in health isn’t usually a bad thing but a positive result may be.

Chloe added that attendees said they want access to everyday activities, and that feeling safe is necessary for a positive experience. “The aim is to have adjustments put in place without needing to be asked and remembering that when we get the small things right, we really do make a difference.”

The roadshows also encouraged people to try out social and physical activities such as Nordic walking, tandem riding and Boccia – and sessions are being established locally to encourage people to get involved and benefit their physical and mental health.

Looking to the future

The attendees did some group work on the topics of health, education and training and physical activity, discussing the issues, barriers, solutions and who was best placed to lead on implementing specific changes. The feedback included:

Health

• Carers often worry about what will happen with their children when they are no longer here. Ideas included community and living networks where people can live independently surrounded by people who know what their needs are.
• Continue work on having a learning disability champion in every surgery.
  • Offer additional services such as a sensory clinic for giving vaccinations or diabetes checks in places where people feel comfortable, for example at a day service, and have a named person for patients with a learning disability in the GP surgery.

Education and training  

• Ensuring tier two Oliver McGowan training is fit for purpose and rolled out as widely as possible – not just in areas mandated, for example within Leisure, to reception staff and ‘gate keepers’ of community services.
• Have better access to adult learning
• CPR training
• Training in active listening
• Support employment by offering an experience of what it would be like to have a job and telling potential employers of costs covered by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Physical activity

• Enablement is key
• Leisure services are open to volunteering activities
• Consider offering people who enjoy physical activity the chance to be a buddy for someone with a learning disability
• Boccia can be played anywhere and training courses are available
• How can we encourage and embed physical activity in services, through the whole system.
• Mapping what is available, advocacy from GP practices by inviting patients to groups and opportunities.

PCN Clinical Director Ali Rounce thanked Clare and Chloe, saying “the energy, drive and passion you have are so evident, you give us hope and inspire us to make a difference. Thank you to everyone who came today for what they brought, building a greater understanding.”

Clare and Chloe also thanked the attendees and the partners in the roadshows from across Nottinghamshire, recognising that they would not have been a success without everyone’s support.

Explore free nature-based groups and activities with the Rushcliffe Big Green Book

The third edition of a directory that details nature-based activity providers and green spaces in Rushcliffe is now available to encourage more people to explore local nature and improve their mental and physical health.

The Rushcliffe Big Green Book gives a wealth of local contacts and information to help groups and individuals find great new health and wellbeing opportunities on their doorstep in the Borough.

To view the latest version, visit www.rushcliffehealth.org/green-book

It features a range of activities such as walking routes, cycling and exercise groups, coffee meetups, wildlife and environmental links, gardening, allotment, food sharing and leisure opportunities at local waterways, parks and open spaces.

There is also additional information on staying active, building strength and details on the health benefits of physical activity including improved sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress and more.

The concept is designed to be used by social prescribers and healthcare workers who want to find activities for their patients, as well as individuals who are looking for local community groups to get involved in.
  

It has been developed as part of the GreenSpace Green Social Prescribing Project that focuses on improving people’s mental health, in line with the national Green Social Prescribing initiative.

Green Social Prescribing provides a way of connecting people to nature-based activities and green groups, projects and schemes in their local community for support with health and wellbeing.

More here: Explore free nature-based groups and activities with the Rushcliffe Big Green Book – Rushcliffe Borough Council

Memory café supports patients with dementia, their carers and families

In Nottingham West, which includes Beeston, Stapleford and Eastwood, a local design team was formed in 2022 as part of the community care transformation programme. The team identified people living with dementia and their carers as a priority to look at providing them with further support.

The team was made up of partners across the area such as Community Health, Social care, The Alzheimer’s Society, Community and voluntary sector group and local citizens, but now is heavily driven by the local community and volunteers. The purpose was to improve access to services and identify gaps for those people living with dementia and their carers.

The memory café was started after Stapleford was identified as being the only one of the three neighbourhoods in Nottingham West Primary Care Network (PCN) without a memory café. The design team were approached by members of the community and worked together to get one up and running, so it has been a true co-produced piece of work.  

The café has proven to be really successful and well attended. It provides an opportunity to have a drink and a chat, play games and have a sing song with others in a similar situation which has proven to be a great support.

Here is what people have said about attending the café:

“I enjoy mixing up with people and having a sing-song. I still went when the weather was bad because I enjoy the company. I enjoy it with Renee” (Brenda, Person Living With Dementia)

“I am a British Army Veteran diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Being a regular helper and supporting my partner to care for her mum brings me enormous satisfaction. The Stapleford Memory Cafe is a wonderful place for people living with memory issues, their families, and volunteers to come together, socialise and share experiences. Everyone gets the rewards of being part of a caring community and having fun. The cafe is a bright and happy place to be”. (Kevin)

“I am so proud of being involved in setting up and running Stapleford Memory Cafe with other dedicated, passionate and positive local people. Previously, my mum who has Lewy Body Dementia and myself as her carer, felt so isolated and lonely, that it really affected our mental health. My mum used to cry a lot because she felt ‘so low’ and I’d cry behind her back because I felt ‘so upset for her’ and ‘all alone’ myself. Since developing the cafe, we have become part of a truly inspirational and supportive community, and we look forward to the fortnightly sessions and singing and games. More so, we look forward to chatting and having a laugh with others in a similar situation to ours. The cafe has really lifted mine and my mum’s spirits which has improved our mental health and confidence” (Steph)

If this sounds like something that would help you or your family then please do go along. It is held every other Wednesday at The Equalised Club, Albert Avenue, Stapleford, Nottingham, NG9 8ET. From 2pm – 3.30pm . All they ask is for a small donation. Please contact Jayne Daykin for more info: jayne.daykin@ntlworld.com or Mobile: 07796651950

Integrated Neighbourhood Working update

Earlier this year, we kick started our Integrated Neighbourhood Working programme in Arnold, Cotgrave, Eastwood and Hucknall.

Successful Integrated Neighbourhood Working (INW) happens when local councils, health and social care, community groups and voluntary sector organisations work together with communities to find ways to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

We have now held events in three of four Integrated Neighbourhood areas – Arnold, Cotgrave and Eastwood. Hucknall is building on work already started and a history of close partnership working in the town.

All four neighbourhoods have identified key stakeholders and Local Design Team are currently being established.

With these developments key themes are emerging. For example, in Eastwood, priorities focus on children and young people, improving access to information and leisure facilities. While in Cotgrave, key areas are childhood obesity and anti-social behaviour. 

It’s a great start to this work and we’ll be updating on the developments in each area early in the New Year. If you’re interested in finding out more, please email:

• Cotgrave: nnicb-nn.cotgrave-inw@nhs.net 
• Arnold: nnicb-nn.arnoldinw@nhs.net 
• Eastwood: nnicb-nn.eastwood-inw@nhs.net 
• Hucknall: nnicb-nn.hucknall-inw@nhs.net 

Seasons greetings from South Notts Place-Based Partnership

Our Clinical Lead, Dr Jill Langridge, wishes everyone working and living across South Nottinghamshire, a very Happy Christmas in her seasonal message. She also reflects on a busy year for South Notts Place-Based Partnership.  You can read the full message here.

To keep up-to-date with everything happening across our partnership, take a look at our latest newsletter. You can also take a look back at some of our highlights of the year below.

Stay well this winter

With our colleagues in Nottingham City Place-Based Partnership (PBP), the South Nottinghamshire PBP has produced a winter leaflet, which will be shared across all our partner organisations. 

The leaflet has helpful advice to stay well this winter and lots of information about additional local support available. 

Download the leaflet here. 

Health, education and social care working together in Broxtowe

Congratulations to Broxtowe Day Service, Nottingham West PCN and the University of Derby who have become a Notts County Council Celebrating Success finalist. These organisations have come together, working in partnership, to offer trainee nurse associates (TNAs) from Nottingham West PCN placements working with people with disabilities in a strengths-based way.

Following on from the success of the recent learning disabilities health and wellbeing roadshows – which supported people with disabilities to better understand what happens at NHS health check appointments; a bond was struck between the day service management team and the primary care network.

The Broxtowe team recognised they could support health colleagues on their learning journey to understand how working with people with disabilities in a strengths-based way can be so beneficial, particularly in relation to effective communication. This is when the TNA pilot was born, with Broxtowe Day service being the first to offer placements for health colleagues.

People training to become Nurse Associates were identified as the ideal candidates to take part in a pilot of a series of three-week placements. Although the pilot is still very much in progress it is easy to see that with social care holding a much higher status in the world of nursing, the shared goal of seeing “gold standard communication and relationship building being role modelled, with people with a range of complex needs, levels of understanding and comprehension” for the trainees.

Once evaluated in the new year, it is hoped that the pilot will be scaled up to run as a multi-PCN model across Nottinghamshire, with the team hoping to influence at national level in the long term.

How social prescribing helped boost Louise’s mental health

Louise had had a difficult few years, she was struggling to know what to do next after life had changed so much from what she knew or had expected and experienced, and found herself feeling very low. She wasn’t sure what to do with herself, but came across on social media, social prescribing activities advertised through the Canal and River Trust, so she registered and was referred through her GP.

Her GP referred her to Sophie, her local social prescribing link worker. Social prescribing connects people to activities, groups, and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that can benefit their health and wellbeing.

Louise spoke to Sophie on the phone about what she was struggling with, and Sophie shared details on local activities that were available which she thought would help, one of those being wild swimming. Already a strong swimmer, wild swimming was something Louise had always wanted to try, so this seemed like the perfect choice. She wanted something to go to that was different and a new experience. 

Sophie said: “Louise was referred to social prescribing as she had just come out of a long term relationship, had returned to Nottingham and wanted to look forward and not back. She had always been sporty and wanted to take on new challenges, including paddle boarding and wild swimming. I was able to refer her to the Canal and River Trust for paddleboarding and also suggested she link up with other social prescribers and patients via our Water and Wellness WhatsApp Group. I also worked with Louise on her wellbeing and confidence until she established herself in the new group”.

Sophie continued to speak to Louise to see how she was doing on a regular basis, to discuss what other activities were available which Louise did take part in, and also how she was coping generally. Sophie was a great support at this time for Louise.

“It was like talking to a friend who really understood you and just wanted to help if they could. I cannot thank Sophie and the team behind social prescribing enough, for the opportunity to take part in things, have new experiences and meet new people, all of which has given me a new lease of life, I urge anyone struggling with anything mentally to look into what’s available in your area.” 

Louise now swims a couple of times a week at Colwick lake, In the summer she swims four times a week. Since starting in July, she has seen a real boost in her mental and physical health, so much so she signed up as a member with the organisation running things at the lake, Whole Health.

She explained what she liked about wild swimming:

“Wild swimming is something that I now really enjoy, an indoor pool just doesn’t appeal anymore! I love being outside and in nature anyway, I find it really re-sets me and gives me a boost. There are loads of physical health benefits too, cold water helps with injuries and other health conditions which I have, it has many anti-inflamatory benefits, when I’m in the lake I’m not in pain. 

“Every time I go in the lake, I’ve experienced it in a different way, noticed different birds, trees, how the light effects the water and also different weather conditions like rain and wind, as well as taking part in full moon night swims, you feel very present in the moment. I love being there and It’s really improved my mental health. I have also made some great friends through the whole experience too.

“We have a WhatsApp community water and wellness group which is a fantastic support chat to everyone involved. We share with each other if we are having a good day, a bad day, any top tips for wild swimming, links to supportive content and we are in the process of organising other things together like walks, camping, and meals out.”

For anyone unsure if this is for them Louise said: “I would say do it, you don’t have to swim or be a strong swimmer, you can just get in the water and float, don’t put pressure on yourself to physically swim , I just floated about on my first couple of sessions. Even if you think you wouldn’t like it, you should try it. Give it a go.”

Morgan, Social Prescribing Team Leader who swims with Louise said:

“Louise is an absolute beacon of hope to the group, myself included. I would’ve never come this far in my own open water journey without Louise and other members of the group, they are absolute superstars! So courageous, so kind and so cheerful! We are very lucky to have them.”