The MPFT Podcast

In this episode Gemma and Tori discuss why returning to school after a long break can be a challenging time for many children and young people.

While there are often many things that they might be looking forward to, such as catching up with their friends or returning to a favourite subject, there can also be a great deal of anxiety and worry around starting a new school term or year.

They talk about strategies to help your child or young person to overcome this and have a positive return to school.

A transcript of this episode is available to download.

Links & Info:

In this episode of the podcast we hear from Leanne Borley and Jordan Perrins. Both of them work for the Mental Health Support Team in South Staffordshire. The team work closely with identified mental health leads within schools supporting children and young people with emerging, mild, or moderate mental health difficulties that may be affecting their day to day life.

Jordan talks about the mental health difficulties he experienced as a young person, and the work he now does supporting children in South Staffordshire.

Follow the team on social media:

https://www.facebook.com/SouthStaffsMHST/

https://www.instagram.com/southstaffsmhst/

Further online support:

https://sandbox.mindler.co.uk/

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

A transcript of this episode is available to download.

In this episode Kristy, Carolyn and Caroline talk about 5

Our mental health is important and evidence suggests there are ways that we can look after it which can help to improve our mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive, cope

These 5 Ways to Wellbeing are simple things that we can all try to fit into our everyday lives and give ourselves a boost.

Read tips on improving your mental wellbeing (Mind website).

A transcript of this episode is available to download.

March is when the NHS Staff Survey results are published, and we are delighted to announce MPFT scorded above average in all nine of the key elements of the 2023 NHS Staff Survey, surpassing our previous year's results despite another difficult year for NHS services.

In this episode we are joined by two colleagues from our Organisational Development Team (Lisa Whitehouse and Abbie Charlesworth) who discuss the highlights in our results, and also the importance of the survey results in shaping and improving the health and social care services we provide.

A transcript of the episode is available for download.

Links:

Independent report: NHS Staff Management and Health Service Quality (UK Government website)

Michael West on compassionate and inclusive leadership (The King's Fund website)

NHS People Promise (NHS England website)

Our Safeguarding Team offer an introduction to the White Ribbon campaign, and discuss the recent announcement of MPFT becoming White Ribbon accredited.

Website links:

A transcript of this episode is available from our website.

To mark Black History Month 2023 we present a discussion between Jack McKinnell (Senior Peer Support Worker from the East Staffordshire Mental Health Support Team), Chanette Barnard (Director and Training Lead at Empower My Voice), and Simeon (a teacher at the Knowledge Room DE).

Unemployment rates are often high for people with mental health issues and the road to a new job can feel overwhelming.

Within Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, MPFT is working with specialist mental health employment support service Enable to support people to find work suited to their interests and skills. We chat with Neil Woodhouse, an Early Intervention Support Worker with MPFT, and Matt Morris, Senior Employment Specialist with Enable to explore this further.

A transcript of this episode is available to download.

Mike Cooper and Jade Clarke are MPFT Mental Health Nurses who work with local authorities, housing associations, and voluntary and community organisations in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin to offer mental health support to people who are sleeping rough or experiencing homelessness.

They talk about the support they provide to some of the most vulnerable people in society, what motivates them, and the difference it is making.

A transcript of this episode is available for download.

Speaking up to raise a concern about anything that gets in the way of good patient care is vital in ensuring lessons are learned and services can continuously improve.

To mark Speak Up Month, which takes place throughout October each year, we chat with Kath Chambers, one of MPFT’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardians about the role and process of speaking up, and why she’s so committed to ensuring this is business as usual across the NHS.

A transcript of this episode is available for download.

Jo Probyn (Head of Forensics) talks about her experience of being invited to 10 Downing Street to attend the 'NHS Heroes' event as part of the NHS75 celebrations. She also discusses her career path that led to her current role as Head of Forensics, and her receipt of "The Fantastic Place to Work Award" at our recent Staff Awards Ceremony.

A transcript of this episode is available to download.