St Andrew's Healthcare

"OT's make nice things happen" It's #OTWeek2024, a week dedicated to celebrating the incredible impact Occupational Therapists (OTs) have on people’s lives across the UK. We couldn't be prouder of our team of OTs and Technical Instructors here at St Andrew's, who work hard to enable the people in our care to lead more empowered, independent, meaningful and fulfilling lives. We would like to thank them all for their dedication, compassion, and commitment - we’re so proud of each and every one of you! Here's some artwork created by patients in our Neuro division, alongside some quotes about what OT means to them.  Happy #OTWeek2024! #OccupationalTherapy #RCOT #WeAreSTAH With: Anthony Cooper, Jackie Branston, Gemma Ashton, Greg Floyd,

We're going to be on BBC Two's Gardeners' World tomorrow night! A video of our Tropical Tunnel, a community garden project created by learners at Workbridge, is to feature on Friday night's programme. We love Monty Don, and we're really quite excited. The amazing Tropical Tunnel - which features plants and a waterfall - is located within the Workbridge garden centre on Bedford Road, Northampton. It was created by learners who attend vocational gardening and natural world sessions at Workbridge, who were asked to think how an old polytunnel could be reused.  Jenny Lane, Education Manager said: “We encourage our learners to think creatively about items and how we can repurpose and reuse them. The Tropical Tunnel is a fantastic resource for us, and means we can teach our learners about climate change, eco-systems from across the world, and sustainable living." Our CEO Dr Vivienne McVey said: “I am a huge fan of Gardeners’ World and have watched it for many years. I have always viewed the community projects they broadcast with interest, but never imagined that the work we do at St Andrew’s and Workbridge would be featured. “As a charity, our purpose is hope, and this project has shown us that with imagination, determination and hopefulness, you can turn an old unused polytunnel into a thing of beauty." The Workbridge Tropical Tunnel section will be featured on BBC Two’s Gardener’s World on Friday, November 8, from 8pm.  Tune in! Thanks to Lisa Wright for filming this lovely piece. #WeAreSTAH #GardenersWorld #MontyDon

Emotionally based school non-attendance is a hugely complex, growing issue that goes way beyond just not wanting to go to school. This year's LightBulb Mental Health and Wellbeing conference - taking place on Monday 11 November at Barclaycard in Northampton - will focus on this important topic. A line-up of speakers including Mica Jayne C., Victoria Bagnall, Jonathan Newport and Christopher Lore will explore non-attendance from different perspectives. As Mica Jayne C., explains: "We have asked children and their families what causes them difficulty at school and what would help them, and it has become clear to me that the greatest incentive for attending school lies not in certificates and prizes, but in relationships and connection. We must create places of belonging. I can't imagine a child or adult who would want to be somewhere they didn't feel accepted or valued." This event is open to anyone with an interest in education - including teachers, parents and caregivers. Virtual tickets are also available. Thank you to Paul Hanrahan, Peter Rainford and our #LightBulb team for their hard work in arranging this year's conference. Booking link in comments. #WeAreSTAH #Education #Schools

Well done to colleagues and people in our care on Oak ward, who recently held an event to raise awareness of breast cancer. The team had pink cakes, drinks and treats, pink tattoos, fun activities and lovely music. Most importantly though, the people in our care and our staff team learnt much about breast cancer awareness from our very knowledgeable and caring Victoria Kelly, Self-care Therapy Practitioner. Thank you Vicky for sharing how everyone should check for changes and get anything new or unusual checked out. Patients and staff also made some generous donations to the Breast Cancer Now charity, which will go towards life-changing research and support. Well done, team Oak! With: Gemma Callan #WeAreSTAH

We're proud of Donna Arya and Sadra Ghazanfaripour who are representing St Andrew's Medical Education team at the The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Annual Medical Education Conference today! Sadra and Donna have presented two impressive research posters. The first focusses on their work to support international medical graduates to prepare for interviews and job hunting in the UK. The second poster shares the results of a workshop with University of Buckingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences to introduce psychiatric history-taking and mental state examination skills earlier in the medical curriculum. The researchers gathered feedback from both students and junior doctors who were taking part in the session. Thank you for sharing your photos, Donna and Sadra! #WeAreSTAH #Research

So, my OT Week started off with a bang, all because of this delightful fella! Ollie came in today to enquire about doing some volunteering with us St Andrew's Healthcare Essex. Apparently, now that his mom Rosemary, retired, he can focus on his career and develop his skills as a joy spreader and cuddle giver. According to his CV, Ollie is 3 years old, is fun loving and loves making new friends. He demonstrated his IT skills and it was evident that he is open to feedback and learning new tricks. His going rate is not bad either...treats and lots of belly rubs! We look forward to you joining our great team in Essex, Ollie! ps. Would it be unprofessional of me to comment on his appearance? He has the most amazing hair and smile. Ollie rocks! #OTweek2024 #petsastherapy #growingspaces2grow

Yesterday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, delivered her first Budget, laying out the UK government's financial priorities for next year and beyond. We are pleased that the government is focussing on expanding and transforming mental health services, but there's still so much to be done. Mental health accounts for 20% of all ill health but only gets 10% of NHS spend, and more and more vulnerable people are slipping through the net. Our Dr Sanjith Kamath is calling on the government to do more to support the most vulnerable in our society. Read his thoughts here... #WeAreSTAH #Budget

"I talk to my teacher when I’m feeling worried" Thank you to Paula O'Meara, Teacher at St Andrew's College, who has been talking to children and young people from local schools as part of #Headfest! Paula, who teaches Science to young St Andrew's patients, is also part of the team who deliver our LightBulb Mental Wellness Programme for Schools.  LightBulb is an initiative that provides participating schools with mental health awareness and support training for school staff, as well as sessions for parents and students. Each session talks about mental health symptoms, support and signposts resources. At Headfest, Paula had the chance to talk to young learners about recognising their emotions and finding someone to talk to when things feel overwhelming. One pupil shared, "I talk to my teacher when I’m feeling worried," while another mentioned, "I have a teddy bear like yours that I talk to." A schoolteacher later added, "It’s easy to forget how important it is for young people to have someone they trust to talk to." Children at the event also had the chance to try yoga and sports classes, calm themselves by petting Pets As Therapy dogs and gain insight into improving their mental health and wellbeing with poet and good mental health advocate Quinton Milise. Thank you to Paula and everyone involved with this year's Headfest! With Helen Blaby, University of Northampton, Jason Day, Peter Rainford, Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

We're excited to launch the Postgraduate Diploma Practitioner in Complex Trauma, as part of our collaboration with the University of Buckingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.   The PGDiP in Complex Trauma is a part-time, year-long distance learning course delivered one day a week. It focuses on developing applied skills for successfully working with adults who present with chronic and/or enduring complex trauma related needs. We look forward to working with the first cohort of students in September 2025! #WeAreSTAH #trauma

We're so very proud of our Ward Manager Jackson Mazvia; he has been shortlisted for the Frontline Leaders prize at The Great British Care Awards! Jackson, who oversees Berry ward within our Learning Disabilities and Autism division, was nominated in recognition of his “outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to his team and patients”. Quality Matron Lindelwa Sibanda nominated Jackson for the award. She said: “As a ward manager, Jackson consistently demonstrates what it means to lead from the front. His hands-on approach and proactive attitude have had a significant impact on the ward’s performance and team morale. Whether it's stepping in to assist during busy shifts or guiding staff through challenging situations, Jackson is always present and ready to offer his support. “What truly sets him apart is his ability to inspire and uplift his team. He fosters a culture of collaboration, where every member feels valued and empowered. His mentorship has helped many junior staff members grow in confidence and competence, and his open-door policy ensures that every concern is heard and addressed promptly. Under his leadership, the ward not only runs efficiently but is also a positive, supportive environment for both staff and patients." Service Director Dean Robinson added: “Jackson is an exceptional leader who truly embodies the spirit of teamwork and excellence. He is not only a leader but an inspiration to everyone who has the privilege of working alongside him.” The Great British Care Awards programme was created to celebrate excellence across the care sector and to pay tribute to individuals who repeatedly go above and beyond within their field of work. We're keeping our fingers crossed for you Jackson! #WeAreSTAH #GreatBritishCareAwards #GBCA2024