The High Sheriff was invited to attend the Trust’s Annual General Meeting which was held at St. Georges Hospital in Stafford. St. Georges Hospital specialises in delivering mental health and learning disability services to south Staffordshire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Powys. It also provides specialist children’s services across South Staffordshire as well as a number of services on a regional or national bases.
Prior to the meeting the High Sheriff had the opportunity to view stands, and speak to the staff involved, displaying the exceptional work of the many teams and parties involved in supplying the available services that offer much needed support in all aspects of mental health issues affecting people in the county. Attending the AGM gave the High Sheriff a unique insight into the work achieved by the Trust due to the commitment and dedication of all teams and partners involved.
Some of the programmes offered include Prison Employment Schemes, services for the Elderly, specialising in dementia, specialist care for Children, caring for Military Personnel, and also empowering people with learning disabilities. One major achievement that was highlighted for this last year was the opening of The Redwood Centre in Shrewsbury, a new, light, airy, modern inpatient health facility, replacing the old Shelton Hospital. Also another welcome development achieved was the setting up of the West Midland Regional Veteran’s Hub in Stafford. It is an innovative, trailblazing service available to any ex-armed forces individual who has served in any of the armed forces and is now experiencing mental health issues as a consequence.These are examples of the core service provision offering local services through multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams across a spectrum including inpatient and community care.
The Trust has developed a ‘5 point’ programme: 1. Respectful, 2. Honest and Trustworthy, 3. Caring and Compassionate, 4. Taking the time to talk and listen, 5. Working together and leading by example, which they are wanting to implement whilst trying to focus on the theme of ‘Recovery’. This ‘5 point’ programme and the ‘Positively Different’ approach they are taking can be viewed in greater detail on their website: www.ssft.nhs.uk
It was an extremely interesting and illuminating day out, meeting those involved with running the Trust as well as gaining an understanding of all that is involved in making it work.