Two peer support workers from our Inpatient Peer Support Team have been trained to deliver the course, which is part of the national Multiply programme and funded by Essex County Council.
Twenty-five patients on our wards at the Linden Centre and Crystal Centre, Chelmsford, are currently enrolled and the course will be extended to more wards across Essex. The aim is to support more than 250 patients by the end of March next year.
Research has shown there is a strong link between money worries and poor mental health, and the Multiply course gives participants the opportunity to learn more about the relationship between money and wellbeing and develop skills to effectively manage income and spending.
It includes group sessions about budgeting and managing monthly finances, creating positive relationships with money, and how to manage income-related anxiety. All participants also have a one-to-one session to talk about their specific situations and any support they need.
The aim is to help them feel more confident and in control of their finances, which will support them with their overall recovery and wellbeing when they leave inpatient care and return home.
Matthew Sisto, EPUT’s Director of Patient Experience and Participation, worked with Enable East, an independent NHS team that operates as part of EPUT, to secure funding from Essex County Council to enable us to deliver the programme at no cost to patients.
He said: “There are many reasons why people may have money worries, and this can have a real impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
“Our mental health inpatient teams care for people with complex needs, and concerns about money can make them more vulnerable.
“The Multiply programme aims to give them more confidence in managing their finances, which will in turn have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.
“We started delivering the course in April and are already seeing the value. The learning sessions have prompted discussion on challenging topics such as financial abuse and financial vulnerability, with many of the participants already saying that their spending behaviours have changed whilst under the care of inpatient services.”
Renee Conley, Inpatient Peer Support Team Lead, said: “Two peer support workers who are now Multiply facilitators have worked diligently to tailor this programme to fit the very complex needs of our inpatient service users.
“Challenges with money is a consistent theme for many of them.
“Financial concerns can be an immense stressor, leading to increased vulnerability.
“There is a noticeable shift in people’s mental health when they feel in control of their money. That is what this programme provides – empowerment with their finances.”
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Life Long Learning and Employability, said: “Multiply is all about breaking down barriers to maths and showing adults how maths can be applied to everyday life.
“So far, our programme has supported more than 5,500 residents in Essex, empowering them with a better understanding of maths and an increased confidence in working with numbers in their everyday life.
“It is extremely pleasing to see this innovative use of the programme and the real benefits courses are bringing to patients of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.”
Every participant will receive a £10 supermarket voucher and a one-to-one follow-up session when they have completed the course.
The programme is part of our commitment to ensure patients receive therapeutic and personalised care to support their long term recovery, and working with our partners to reduce health inequalities and support our local communities by addressing the wider issues that affect people’s health and wellbeing.
Enable East has also secured funding to deliver the Multiply programme in the wider community and more than 430 people across Essex have completed its programme since January 2023.
Some had never paid a bill before because of their living situation, and others have experienced homelessness.