A new life skills education programme is helping young people receiving inpatient mental health care to develop practical skills and confidence to support their wellbeing and independence.
The pilot project has been launched on Poplar ward, a child and adolescent mental health ward at Rochford Hospital. The service is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and provides care for teenagers aged 13 to 18.
Helping young people to build their future is theme of Youth Mental Health Day (18 September) and the life skills programme is one of the ways the Trust is working to provide personalised, inclusive care that improves mental health for everyone.
The young patients on Poplar ward can join the life skills group at any point during their time at Poplar and focus on topics that are most relevant to their needs and goals.
The weekly sessions cover a variety of topics, including education, career and future planning, cooking and nutrition, managing relationships, health and wellbeing, money management, housing and adult responsibilities, laundry, getting around, and digital and communication skills.
The programme was created by Peer Worker Madeline Brown and has been piloted with support from Occupational Therapist Pamela Stevens and Activity Coordinators Kelly Evers and Maya Cox. Staff across the ward have also been invited to help support the young people with developing their skills outside of the sessions.
Madeline said: “I created Life Skills largely from my own lived experience. I was an inpatient myself at 17 and was discharged just weeks before turning 18, so I know what it feels like to suddenly enter adulthood feeling unprepared for everything that comes with it.
“I wanted to create something that gave young people a headstart with the practical things they may face after admission, whether that’s managing money, finding somewhere to live, navigating education or employment, or simply learning how to look after themselves.
“Life Skills is about up-skilling, restoring confidence, and treating our young people as the young adults they are becoming.”
Sessions are delivered in a variety of ways, including classroom-based learning, role play and interactive activities, games, and challenges.
Each young person receives a Passport to Independence booklet containing additional information and worksheets, where they can also record their achievements from each session.
Pamela said: “Their feedback is helping us to shape the programme so we can make sure the sessions are relevant to their interests, needs and goals.
“Colleagues have also told us some of the information and practical advice could even be beneficial for adults.”
The team hope to link up with community organisations, local businesses, colleges and employers to create opportunities such as work experience for the young people when they leave hospital.
Pamela said: “Developing these connections could help bridge the gap between inpatient care and community life, supporting young people to make the important transition from hospital back into education, employment and their local communities. “Ultimately, the life skills programme is about more than teaching practical skills. It is about giving young people the knowledge, confidence and tools they need to navigate adulthood, recognise their own achievements and take positive steps towards their future.”
About EPUT:
- EPUT has a vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care: Who we are – Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- EPUT provides services to more than 100,000 patients at any one time and our staff are focused on providing high quality care in often complex situations.
- The organisation has invested in inpatient facilities and community services to make them safer and more therapeutic. We have extensively invested in technology to keep patients safer, enhanced training, and are continuously working with our staff, patients, their families and carers to use learning and best practice to enhance our quality of care.
- While there is more to do, the Trust has made significant progress through innovation:
- Our 111 mental health crisis phone line ensures people in need can access support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- People with lived experience have been employed in designated roles across the Trust, ensuring patient voice is heart of the organisation and all that we do.
- A number of new initiatives have been launched, helping people access the support they need when they need it most. These include a mental health urgent care department, By Your Side maternal mental health service, Rough Sleeper team, mental health crisis ambulance cars, virtual wards and neuromodulation service.
- EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 and provides community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex, Luton and Bedfordshire and Suffolk. We employ more than 7,200 staff working across more than 200 sites.
- To read more about our priorities and commitments to deliver the highest quality and safest care possible, visit https://eput.nhs.uk/about-us/2023-2028-strategic-plan/