Workbook designed to help service users express themselves
A new workbook has been co-produced to help the recovery journey of people with complex psychosis.
A peer support worker, an expert by experience volunteer and staff at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust have produced All About Me to use within the rehabilitation in complex psychosis team to improve communication between service users and staff.
The workbook allows service users to express what is most important in their recovery journey so staff can gain a deeper, more holistic understanding of the person’s life.
Vicki Malcolm, lead for the rehabilitation in complex psychosis team, said: “The team is committed to supporting individuals with severe and enduring mental illness through a recovery-focused approach and we recognised a need for improved communication between service users and staff to help the recovery journey and foster motivation and inspiration.”
All About Me includes sections on service users’ preferred approaches to care, personal interests and hobbies, and hopes for the future.
It was conceived and designed by peer support worker Rhea Smith, who is based with the rehabilitation in complex psychosis team at Hellesdon Hospital.
“For me, this was important as I feel a lot of the things that are given to service users are too clinical and impersonal. It's so important to make sure all service users know that they are more than just a form and some data and, as a peer support worker, I want to know them as people.”
She said she would have found the kind of book she has created really useful when she was in therapy.
“I’d like to think my experience has helped. I've personally been on the receiving end of things like complicated forms so I know how things like that can make you feel as a service user.”
She hopes the outcome of the workbook will also help service users feel more comfortable around clinical staff. “We want them to know that they are being seen as individual people rather than just a diagnosis or numbers on a form. I'm also hoping that it will continue to help the staff understand service users and their needs.”
The booklet has been trialled with service users in standard and Easy Read formats and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “Service users found it insightful and helpful in expressing their needs and goals,” said Vicki.
Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Medical Officer Dr Faisil Sethi praised Rhea for her work and welcomed the extra support to help service users express their needs.
“Giving our service users the chance to document how they are feeling and their expectations on their recovery journey goes a long way to increasing understanding between them and their clinical team. We want to continue to improve our services as we strive to become a safer, kinder and better organisation.”