Cluster's focus on mental wellbeing sees team shortlisted for national award
Sending people for drumming and singing sessions to help their wellbeing are among the innovative ideas that could see a Swansea team win national recognition for the second year running.
The Cwmtawe Local Cluster Collaborative (LCC) has been shortlisted for an NHS Wales Award for the second year in a row.
Last year, staff were presented with the Delivering Person-Centred Services award for the Cwmtawe Pathway Service, which helps people with complex health and wellbeing needs while taking pressure off GPs.
Now, the cluster – which covers Clydach, Llansamlet and Morriston – has been shortlisted in the Whole Systems Approach category, for all the mental health and wellbeing support made available to patients.
The mental health and wellbeing hub based at Strawberry Place Surgery in Morriston offers patients access to a variety of support from a number of services and initiatives, as part of a one-stop-shop.
As well as the hub, the cluster also boasts the health board’s first community psychologist who help strengthen resilience around mental health and wellbeing.
The community psychology service has been introduced to help provide early intervention to support mental health and wellbeing in the community with the aim of preventing the need for people to access clinical support.
Mike Garner, Cwmtawe LCC lead, said: “The whole system approach focuses on the mental health and wellbeing hub we have developed within Cwmtawe LCC.
“Our Cwmtawe Pathway Service forms part of that model, as well as our wellbeing practitioners, mental health virtual ward, counselling service and our longstanding social prescribing service.
“We have also had newer additions such as the charity Mind, which is offering a project for 11 to 18-year-olds to support their mental health and wellbeing.
“We have staff from Swansea Carers Centre join us once a week, as well as local area coordinators and Fertility Network UK.
“The cluster is also part of the innovative community psychology service which is going to play a crucial role in promoting wellbeing within the community.
“They have all been able to come together as part of the hub and it is growing and evolving all the time.”
Bringing the services together in one place has made them more accessible to patients.
This in turn has reduced the demand on GPs for low level mental health needs as patients can seek support and information from the hub where appropriate.
Karen Edwards, health board planning and cluster development support manager, said: “We wanted to change the way people with mental health issues were dealt with in primary care as the number of patients was increasing.
“The cluster started with a social prescriber, who helps connect people to social activities to improve their wellbeing, and then it grew from there.
“There was a lot of patient feedback where staff asked them what services they would use, which is how the social prescriber started.
“Then from that the Cwmtawe Pathway Service was identified to support those struggling with substance misuse, mental health and domestic abuse.
“It has all followed on from each other and it has all been down to what the patients have wanted.”
The main aim of the hub is to provide advice and support that will hopefully prevent the need for future mental health referrals.
Mike added: “The hub can help patients who want to speak to a counsellor or a wellbeing practitioner and they won’t face a lengthy wait.
“It’s about offering a preventative approach.
“In addition to the hub, we also have a wellbeing offer in the community too.
“We have drumming courses, for example, which are good for wellbeing, as well as a dementia café, a singing group and a SO Fit programme to improve health and wellbeing and help reduce anxiety.
“These are services available in the community which patients can refer themselves to.”
Staff will have to wait until Thursday 24th October to find out if they will receive their second NHS Wales Award, as the winners will be announced at a ceremony in Cardiff.
“To be shortlisted as one of three projects across Wales in the category of delivering a whole system approach is a major achievement,” Mike said.
“We are very proud to be shortlisted again.”
Pictured (from left to right): Social prescriber Katie Francis, Strawberry Place Surgery practice manager Nicola Baxter, Cwmtawe pathway officer Emily Tumeth, single point of access team leader for child and adolescent mental health services April Shell, Cwmtawe LCC business and development implementation manager Debra Morgan, Strawberry Place practice co-ordinator Susan Tutans and wellbeing practitioner Sally-Anne Harris.
Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.
We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.