http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/news-and-events/blog.rss Hello everyone I am being entertained by the band playing here at Southfield as I sit here sending you all this message. Earlier I escorted Esther Rantzen to Southfield where she has opened the newly furbished flat which will accommodate 2 people from tomorrow who are taking the next step in their journey to independent lives. The facility is superb and will give those who live there the chance to start living their own lives, cook their own meals and look after themselves prior to leaving the unit completely. Look out for it on Meridian tonight and on our web soon. All mod cons and a lovely environment. You would never beleive it used to be the industrial kitchen!! We then toured the garden and listened to a debate on the subject of "do mental health services add to the stigma or are they part of the solution?" Nice to see so many people there and have a chance to chat and catch up and am really pleased the weather has been ok. Also had my flu jab today so packing it all in! Have a good week. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=86 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:57:38 GMT 20111010145738 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:57:38 GMT 20111010145738 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:57:38 GMT 201110101425738 Hello everyone Wow what a 2 weeks it has been since I last blogged and what an emotional rollercoaster for many reasons!!! Board meetings (Trust and Foundation Trust Network) at Parklands, Southampton and in London, the Annual Members meeting on Tuesday this week in Southampton where it was great to see and meet so many staff, governors and members of the public, various College Governor events at Costello where we're considering whether to become an Academy or not, Ollie going off to University for the first time and Chris immediately claiming the bigger bedroom, a photographic shoot in Hook which I'd been told was to cover a conference but which turned out to be a Health and Safety Course on the importance of maintenance-that tested my creativity- and a weekend course I'd promised a friend I'd go to with her at Wembley last weekend, where together with 1300 other people we experienced 2 days of Paul McKenna and Richard Bandler (founder of NLP for those who know about that) helping us "Get the life that you want". Different, timely given the circumstances, controversial and certainly an experience-all helped by the wonderful weather we had!!!!Time will tell if it made a difference. Sitting here in the peace and quiet of my study that all seems a long time ago now though. On a personal level I would like to thank all those of you who have contacted me since I announced last week that I would not be standing for re appointment when my term of office as Chair comes to an end at the end of January next year. I have been really touched by your lovely messages of support and thanks and it has just confirmed why this has been one of the best jobs I have had the privilege to hold in my career and I will always look back on it fondly. I hope that I get to see many of you over my remaining 3/4 months to say thank you. In the meantime the Trust has a challenging time ahead and there is lots to be done. All around us it is a changing world but I am confident that with clear direction, good solid leadership, clear and concise communication and a culture that encourages everyone to give of their best we have the staff who can and will adapt to this to ensure this organisation continues to deliver and improve services in the best interests of all whom we serve. Can I wish you all a happy weekend whatever you are doing. All good wishes Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=85 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:11:16 GMT 20111007121116 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:11:16 GMT 20111007121116 Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:15:33 GMT 201110081421533 Lots has happened since I last signed on but just had to say a big thank you to Mark Roberts and Carol Brown who I met at Fareham Community Hospital this morning and with whom I spent a very productive 3 hours conducting a Dignity Audit. A great opportunity for me to see life as it really is on the ground-what works well and challenges you face- and to meet the staff, all of whom were lovely, very positive and enjoying their work and full of ideas for improving patient care. One of my days where I come home and say that I've enjoyed it and which makes it all worthwhile -spending time where it really matters delivering front line care. This afternoon I then met up with the Chairman of the Hampshire Local Involvement Network, LINKs , Frank Rust and had a really good conversation about how we can work better together in ensuring the voice of the patient and carer is heard. Lovely man and I hope we can strengthen relationships between our organisations. Meanwhile. at home No 2 son is coveting elder brothers room which should become available on Sunday (trip to Uni Bighton to deposit him allowing!) ...............but No 1 son has decamped to Gloucester where his girlfriend started on sunday and is not happy with her course so wondering whether he will return in time. True love eh? Will let you know how my 2 days in \london go. In the meantime hope you are all ok and safe. Always happy to hear from you at anytime so do get in touch Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=84 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:49:11 GMT 20110921224911 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:49:11 GMT 20110921224911 Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:51:37 GMT 2011092122105137 This time around 1-0 to Hedge End despite a valiant and courageous attempt by Southfields to win back the World Cup!! Fellas you all played wonderfully and kept it going right until the end and it was a good match to watch-well done to all of you and again especially to Paul whose passion and energy for this has made it happen. I've really enjoyed this evening as I had the fantastic opportunity to talk to staff and patients at the touchline and find out what you really think and ideas you have for what we could be improving and looking at doing more of . I met lots of really interesting people including Chris, Harriet, Warren, Craig, Paul, Andrew, Ken and many others who have made my day so thank you for being so open and honest and sharing your experiences with me. A good end to a fairly chaotic day which saw me in a variety of internal and external meetings around Southampton. somehow missed lunch and so just had to have a prortion of chips tonight at the game to keep me going-don't tell those who are monitoring the diet (what diet I ask myself frequently!!) Tomorrow I'm at Parklands in the morning and then off to Winchester for a Board Development programme which is aimed at ensuring your Trust Board operate as effectively as possible now and in the future. If you have any feedback on the impact we are having or hints on what you would like to see us doing more of or less of that would make your lives easier, do let me know as I'm always open to feedback. Meanwhile Oliver's just twigged that his Uni maintenance grant has to contribute towards his Uni acommodation costs and that Mum is not going to be subbing him out as much as he thought!! Chistopher is still planning the take over of his room when Ol disappears to uni in 2 weeks. Sibling rivalry at large in this household at the moment!! Love to hear from you sometime if you have a moment. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=83 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:51:16 GMT 20110913235116 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:51:16 GMT 20110913235116 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:51:16 GMT 2011091323115116 Bright and breezy up here in Basingstoke today and so before I carry on with all the usual weekend chores-just how much washing can my family produce?- I'm taking the opportunity over a cup of coffee to write a brief update. So going backwards through the week for a change!! My highlight of yesterday was popping over to Andover at lunchtime for the opening of Andover and District Mencap's new building "The Wellington Centre". A life long dream come true for of one of our Governors Mrs Liz Hall, who many of you will know, and who champions the cause of all those with learning disabilities so passionately around the county and beyond and has done so with such energy and enthusiasm for many many years. A lovely purpose built centre which they intend to share with the local community, and with many rooms for a whole planned range of activities, a sensory room, resource centre, training room, kitchen and cafe and rooms for other agencies to visit and hire. It was packed yesterday and it was so good to see and meet some of you from TQ21 and from our homes in Andover with your clients all of whom were enjoying the body painting and burgers! Shame about the rain or more I am sure would have been on the bouncy castle! Thank you Liz for giving me the full tour and I will really encourage Southern Health locally to support this venture to the full. Friday saw me at Costello College in Basingstoke as I was elected Chair of Governors there on Thursday evening after being a parent Governor for 5 years, which I'm delighted about. Friday therefore was my first meeting in that capacity with Julia the Head teacher. She's great and has really turned the College around since being there with her leadership and determination and I'm going to enjoy working with her. Now just comes the little challenge about fitting it all in but where there's a will there's a way as they say. Christopher was none too happy mind you as it's not really cool is it when you're in your final year to have your Mum as a Governor let alone Chair and so we've renewed our pact that I will ignore him totally whenever I'm in College and will do all I can not to embarass him. Thursday was a scheduled court day in Alton where we completed 3 trials-well 2 pleaded guilty on the day which happens quite often so that helped us get through it all. Going up to London on Tuesday afternoon was very wet and windy but worth it as the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) dinner I attended with David Bennett the Chair and Interim Chief Exec Monitor was very informative and helpful as many things are changing in the regulatory world as you may know and it's difficult sometimes to keep a handle on exactly what is changing and when. FTN Board meeting and Audit Committee then on Wednesday was good and it gives me an opportunity to work with colleagues from around the country and so can compare notes and see whether we're on the right track or ahead of the game. And other than that the rest of the early part of the week was in the office in various meetings with staff and our governors. Tomorrow I'm visiting Antelope House and Gosport War Memorial Hospital so looking forward to seeing some of you then and then I'm at Parklands on Wednesday morning so again might bump into some of you. Meanwhile for those who are able to get to Totton on Tuesday evening remember it's World Cup Part 2 at the Totton stadium and I'll be there. (I've heard some of the Southampton coaches who've been training our team may be joining our players on the pitch so come along and cheer and spur them on and come and have a chat if you see me Finally before I go, I'd just like to encourage anyone who has anything on their mind or wants to ask questions on anything they see happening around them or wider in the Trust to speak to their line manager or if that is difficult find other routes to do so eg whistleblowing, staff briefings, Board Director visits etc. We are such a large organisation that we need to do everything we can to ensure that our patients continue to receive high quality, effective and safe services and you, our staff, feel that you know what is going on, feel you are being treated fairly, feel listened to and feel safe. The Trust Board really do want to hear from you. And now, I've put off the chores for too long so must go and empty the washing machine which finished 30 minutes ago and is awaiting the next load. Have a good week everyone. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=82 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:00:28 GMT 20110911120028 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 12:00:28 GMT 20110911120028 Sun, 11 Sep 2011 15:22:53 GMT 201109111532253 .....for the week ahead. Just been through diary to plan my week and pretty mixed week. Tomorrow and Tuesday morning see me at Tatchbury after which I'm then going to London for a dinner with the Chairman of Monitor on Tuesday evening in London and a Foundation Trust Network Board meeting in London on Wednesday followed by Audit Committee. A sheduled day in court on Thursday and College Governors meeting Thursday evening means I'm doing someof all my jobs this week!! Bit of respite on Friday and planning to see an ex collegaue down in Swindon which I'm looking forward too.I have to find some time though to get back to do some exercise and sort out my diet which has gone haywire again....got to find the motivation first and so anyone with ideas please get in touch!!! In the midst of all this I must make sure Christopher is ready for new school year that starts on Tuesday for him. Why is it that any homework that should have been done in summer holidays is frantically being completed today and tomorrow andsomehow that's my fault?!!!! Had a lovely day in Bristol yesterday again with an old colleague. Visited the cathedral and had nice lunch overlooking the water. Pam and I used to work together at Sainsburys in HR at Woking Area Office in the 1980s and then she moved to ASDA and now works for the Environmental Agency so it was good to catch up on many years and old times! Today I've been taking photographs of the Old Basing Village Show exhibits and also judged the photographic entries. Subjects were Village architecture and water. Got absolutely soaked getting there this morning in the downpour but the sun came out this afternoon in Basingstoke. Hope it's been ok where you've been. Happy to hear from you at any time on anything on your mind so do get in touch and let me know your news and ideas. Best wishes Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=81 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:53:08 GMT 20110904185308 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:53:08 GMT 20110904185308 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:53:08 GMT 201109041865308 Hello everyone I hope you all enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend. Cornwall was great although somewhat cold but I got a good dose of healthy sea air and enjoyed lovely views from the hotel. Was not looking forward to the Bank Holiday Monday drive home but it was actually very quiet and I did it in record time. Meanwhile whilst I was away, Stewart and Chris had been to the Rugby League Final at Wembley where unfortunately Leeds(Stewart being life long supporter) lost to Wigan but they still had a good time and Ollie had managed Portsmouth vs Cardiff followed by a day at Reading festival. Don't think they missed me at all:-( On Tuesday I took some time out with Ollie and we went buying all his stuff for University. What with that and already paying the first instalment for his accommodation he's costing me a fortune already and he doesn't start until the 24th!!! Proud of him though and will be strange for me with him leaving home. Any tips gladly received! On the work front, I've been in Tatchbury for a series of meetings including an additional Board meeting yesterday where we considered and signed off the final draft of the public consultation document due to be launched imminently on the AMH service redesign proposals. There are a number of public meetings planned and briefing sessions over coming weeks as well as on line access to gain views. I know that many of you have already sent in your comments during the staff engagment period and I would like to thank you for doing so. There and elsewhere in the organisation there is much change going on and I am very aware of the uncertainty and impact this is having on many individuals as new structures are developed and put in place to reflect the needs of our new organisation. Communication is never more key than at this time and it has always been our intention that any proposals to change the ways we do things is seen as an open and transparent process and that anyone feels able to give their view and can expect that we listen and react accordingly. I have always personally worked to the standard that whilst I cannot always expect everyone to like and agree with decisions that sometimes have to be made by the Trust Board, I do expect that everyone is given ample opportunity to discuss and fully understand the rationale and background to them and, as I've already said, has the chance to give views, ask questions and volunteer additional ideas. I really hope that you feel this has been happening around the Trust with all the changes that are taking place and that you feel supported in the process and believe it to be fair and I am always happy, as are any of my Board colleagues, to hear your views on how you are actually experiencing it. The Trust Board itself is taking a long hard look at how it is operating as we've now been together for 5 months. Like any new team there are things we are doing well and some areas that will need our attention to improve. Some of you may have been asked recently to fill in a questionnaire as part of the review and so to those of you who have done so very many thanks and in the fullness of time I will keep everyone posted on what we're learning and working on. Finally for today, I'm just back from acting as independent Chair of an interview panel for an Executive Director of Quality at Dorset University Healthcare FT in Boscombe which was interesting not only to meet various individuals but also see how a fellow Trust is tackling the issue of Quality Governance and Assurance from top to bottom in the organisation including now a specifc dedicated role on the Trust Board for Quality. Dorset have recently taken on 2 community service organisations which has more than doubled their business and there is lots of common learning I'm sure we could share to mutual benefit. Always an enjoyable experience to meet up with my counterpart Jonathan there and compare notes! We Chairs sometimes see things from a totally different perspective and so having a close network to bounce ifdeas off is really improatnt to me. Tomorrow I'm off to Bristol-part work and part pleasure and so more about that next week. Take care Carol PS Had message from wedding couple saying they loved their photos-phew!!! http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=80 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:24:44 GMT 20110901172444 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:24:44 GMT 20110901172444 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:32:10 GMT 201109011753210 Hello everyone Returned safely having had fantastic week with Stewart, Ollie and Chris in Las Vegas. As well as doing a lot of people watching in the fabulous hotels and having great meals we went on some great trips to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam which the boys loved. Temperatures over 100 each day but we coped! They can't wait to go back when they are 21-can't think why!! Last week was a bit of a busman's holiday as had a scheduled day in court-in Alton on the day it rained really heavily and so the court room and adjacent police station flooded which delayed things a while and added to the day's excitment as the fire service baled us out!! Also did some wedding photography in Guildford and on Friday was back in London as part of my Foundation Trust Board work. Great news on Thursday for me though which made me a very proud Mum as Ollie did really well in his A levels and as a result is off to Uni Brighton next month to do his sports degree. Christopher already has plans for his bedroom. This week went to Tatchbury on Monday but since have had 2 scheduled days in court in Andover yesterday and Basingstoke today-bit like buses: nothing for a while and then all come at once. Tomorrow sees me back at Tatchbury for a series of meetings and then I'm off to Cornwall for the weekend. A very dear friend of mine is 60 and we're all celebrating down there. I really hope you have all been able to enjoy some of the summer. I do recognise the changes that are ongoing in many areas of the organisation which is bringing uncertainty and worry to many but I really hope you are being given the information you need and are getting good support at this time. It is a difficult time for everyone in the NHS but I want to stress that as an organisation we really want to do be totally open and honest with you and do what is fair for you and in the best interests of our patients. Do let us know what you think and keep your feedback coming as we are always happy to receive it. I'll check in next week but in the meantime have a good Bank Holiday weekend. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=79 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:44:11 GMT 20110824174411 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:44:11 GMT 20110824174411 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:47:08 GMT 201108241754708 I'm just about packed and ready to go on holiday tomorrow. As for Ollie and Chris ...........well I'm just hoping they'll be ready on time! Away for a week in the USA visiting Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Las Vegas followed by a week back in this country. Really looking forward to having a break. Since Tuesday I've had quite a lot of photography to do. I managed to complete the processing of the wedding photos in time for the couple's return from honeymoon today (phew!), have also completed an order following the Leaver's Ball I covered in July and have sent a couple of preview CDs of portrait images for the families to look at whilst I'm away. I've now got square eyes from looking at the PC for so long. On the Trust front, Thursday saw the Trust Board together near Fareham for our second seminar - this time the focus was on Integrated Community Services. Lesley Munro, Nicky Adamson-Young and Gethin Hughes came to talk to us about their services and plans for the future and it generated lots of interest and discussion and provoked a lot of good debate. So many good examples of local initiatives, excellent patient care and exciting opportunities for the future that I certainly left quite upbeat and positive so thanks to everyone. But I'm now switching off until the 22nd August and so take care and I will be in touch on my return. Best wishes Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=78 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:13:42 GMT 20110806151342 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:13:42 GMT 20110806151342 Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:08:25 GMT 201108080990825 England (aka Southfield Unit) played brilliantly last night against Spain (aka Hedge End FC) at the Testwood Stadium in Totton at the World Cup final!! Unfortunately the scoreline didn't quite reflect how well they did with Spain winning 5:1 on the night. None the less, the training that England have been getting from Southampton FC certainly paid off and everyone gave their all so well done everyone. Spain were a great team and the game was played in excellent spirits with a large crowd supporting them and a super and amusing running commentary throughout. Lovely warm evening and the atmosphere was fantastic. I met up with quite a few familiar faces too and so a pleasnt way to spend an evening. Thanks especially to Paul and Joan at Southfield who have put so much into setting up and organising the team (Paul-are you sure you don't play professionally??) and everyone else who made it such a special occasion for patients, their families, staff and the community. Hope everyone's enjoying this weather. I'm on holiday next week for 2 weeks and so I'll check in before I go. Until then, take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=77 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:30:14 GMT 20110803093014 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:30:14 GMT 20110803093014 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:25:46 GMT 2011080511112546 We had our bi monthly Trust Board meeting yesterday and met in the seminar room at the Tom Rudd Unit. A lot of people to cram in a room and it got very hot as the day went on...........either that or my "tropical moments" as I call them, have come back with a vengeance!! Thanks very much though to the catering team at Moorgreen who kept us fed and watered through the day and I hope we cleared up after ourselves ok. We had a lot to get through and the day started with a view from the top from Katrina and I in terms of what we see and pick up as key national and regional developments that have a potential impact on the organisation such as the reformed health bill changes after the government's "pause" for listening , the emerging SHA clusters etc. all of which will affect the health system in which we operate and work in and so we have to keep close to these developments. On future strategy we spent time discussing where we are with the service redesign proposals in AMH and OPMH and also considered ways we could develop our procurement processes to be more efficient and cost effective as a result of bringing two organisations together with different systems. We then turned our attention to gaining assurance over our current performance in the divisions, our key risks, workforce issues and also information from lots of sources which helped us take a view of the current quality of our services. From a corporate governance point of view we also approved our Quarter 1 submission and self declaration on Finance and Governance that was then sent to Monitor last night. For anyone who would like to, you will be able from now to read our full minutes of the Trust Board meetings and access the papers as we also took a decision yesterday, in light of some of the national Government drivers coming our way, to revert to having open Board meetings held in public with papers and minutes available on our website from now on, in addition to the many Governor meetings already held in public and public constituency meetings for members. We have nothing to hide and hope this will demonstrate our desire to be open and transparent to all. Like any new team, and the Trust Board is a new team, we are looking at how we develop to operate at our most effective and have therefore embarked on a 6-9 month Board review and development programme which will look at everything from how we organise our Board timetable and agendas,to sub committees, information coming to the Board and support through to how we all operate as individuals and behave towards each other and also with our Governors. A very full on programme but one that is essential to make sure we are doing what we should be most effectively. Yesterday , and as part of this, we had Laura from Deloitte observing us in action and so I'm intrigued to receive her feedback on what she saw!. Still going to sign off now as I am now going to spend the afternoon working on the wedding photographs I took a couple of weeks ago as they'll be back from honeymoon before I know it. Have a good weekend everyone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=76 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:41:20 GMT 20110729124120 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:41:20 GMT 20110729124120 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:44:40 GMT 2011072912124440 Just back from a fascinating and interesting day visiting Fleet and Alton Community Hospitals. A big hello to everyone I met and thank you for giving me your time to show me around and explain what's going on and how everyhting works. With all the changes going on at the moment I really appreciated hearing your views and ideas. Patients I spoke to were all very appreciative of the care they are getting and could not speak highly enough of the staff which is great. I'm beginning to appreciate a lot more as I visit all the community sites around Hampshire how very differertly they all operate and work depending on the are they serve and the GPs and Acute hospitals they link with and I now can say I've seen the Virtual Ward concept in action. I'm also learning a brand new language as I learn the jargon of life in the community. Today it is SPA that I will remember...........single point of access......which I only cottoned onto after a little while of seeing the signs all around!! The list is growing everyday. In particular thanks to Barbara at Fleet and Trudy at Alton for showng me around all departments and introducing me to so many staff (and a special hello to the Anstey ward team in Alton who I promised to give a mention to as they told me they'd be checking up on me!!) There was a good feel to me to each of the environments and they came across as calm, caring and professional whilst I was there. Completely different challenges to those I am more familiar to date but ones where there is plenty of opportunity to shine and innovate and you certainly have the ideas! Tomorrow I'm off to the Tom Rudd Unit on the Moorgreen site where we're holding our Trust Board meeting so perhaps I'll check in again if I survive that. Thanks again everyone for today Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=75 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:02:34 GMT 20110727190234 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:02:34 GMT 20110727190234 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:03:43 GMT 201107271970343 I dropped in and joined the fun last night at an "Open Mic" event that is running for 10 weeks until the end of September on every Monday evening at The Anchor, Eling Lane, Totton SO40 9GD. It's being supported by the South West Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team working with its service user group and one of their volunteers who has set up the project and got funding through the O2 Think Big Grant. Starting at 6pm, I turned up at about 6.15pm and was then entertained by a number of clients and staff who got up and sang, played instruments and entertained everyone there. What amazing voices and talented individuals and I really enjoyed listening to them on a warm and sunny evening by the water! For anyone who is in the Totton area on a Monday evening for the next few weeks I know they would all ove to see you there and you'd have a good time. I know from visiting the South West EIP before they have always prioritised recovery focussed working, with an emphasis on social inclusion so this was a fantastic opportunity to support one of their initiatives. Next week I'm going to try and get to the "World Cup final" where Southfield United FC will be playing as England in a World Cup final at Testwood Stadium, Totton SO40 2RW on Tuesday 2nd August against Spain (a Hedge End fottball team) to support the dreams come true charity. Our players who include people from Southfield, Bluebird and EIP clients are currently in training with Southampton FC this week and so they're all gearing up for it in style. Kick off is at 7pm and I know any support would be welcomed. Might see you there!! In the meantime we have our Trust Board meeting on Thursday this week and so plenty of reading for me in preparation over the next 24 hours. Hope your week is going well. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=74 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:11:51 GMT 20110726161151 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:11:51 GMT 20110726161151 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:13:15 GMT 201107261641315 Southampton turned into Hollywood last night at our own version of the Oscars-The Star Awards. What a fantastic event and it was lovely to meet up with so many of you and see you having so much fun. I haven't been anywhere in a while where the noise level was so high as everyone laughed and joked and had a good time. I left at 12.30am and it was still going strong for some who were still "giving it shapes" on the dance floor!! (That's a new phrase I learnt last night and I must try it out on Ollie and Chris and see if they think I'm a modern cool Mum!!) Everyone who came along last night was truly amazing and a winner in their own right. We heard some lovely stories which just went to prove how wonderful our staff really are and I was so proud, and on occasion quite choked, to hear them and see everyone's excitement. Didn't everyone look quite stunning as well........a lovely opportunity to dress up as I'm sure the photographs will show. Great credit must go to Amanda Owen and her team who organised a superlative event. Everything was planned right down to the last minute, we all knew what we had to do and when, and I know how hard Amanda has been working behind the scenes for many months now to make it happen so flawlessly on the night. Thank you. I actually arrived home after Ollie last night which doesn't happen very often these days! It made a change for me to creep around the house so I didn't wake everyone up. Today sees me catching up on photos I mentioned in the last blog and I'll try my best not to fall asleep over the computer! Have a good weekend. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=73 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:52:16 GMT 20110723115216 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:52:16 GMT 20110723115216 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 11:52:16 GMT 2011072311115216 Hi everyone I haven't disappeared and I know it's been around 6 weeks but I'm back blogging again and eager to tell you what's going on and what I'm up to. Whilst I've been off line, lots has happened as I'm sure it has been where you are. I'll just give you a flavour here and if there's anything you'd like to know in more detail then get in touch and I'll happily tell you more. But for now: I have had the opportunity and great pleasure to attend some great internal conferences in June: Research and Outcomes, Spiritual Care in Action and the Consultants Conference. Each was very different but each a huge success in their own right mainly down to the sheer enthusiasm and contribution of all staff who attended and the pre planning and organisation that went into them. So many innovative and interesting ideas and solutions were put forward during these events that demonstrated to me again just how much untapped potential there is in this organisation which if we could tap into and unleash could really take this business forward in a positive way. London has featured highly again in my schedule-in fact I'm just back from there now where today I was at the Foundation Trust Network Mental Health Group meeting. Last week I was invited to speak at a Westminster Health Forum meeting on the subject of "Competition in the reformed Health Service" from an NHS FT provider point of view whuch was interesting...........and also interesting to hear the veiws of many others who spoke even if it did add to my own confusion about what is actually going on in the industry!! 2 weeks ago saw me in Manchester at the NHS Confederation Annual Conference for 3 days. I haven't been to it for a couple of years but it was an opportunity to hear many guest speakers including the Health Minister Andrew Lansley and other politicians discussing their views on the health system reforms as well as senior figures in the Department of Health. Katrina and I both spoke at sessions: Katrina on community services and I did a session on role of Governors and so Southern Health was placed firmly on the map! I was also able to pick some workshops of interest to attend (eg a subject you know I'm keen on is how we work better with criminal justice system) visit stands in the exhibition and meet up with a number of contacts from around the country to swap ideas and experiences. I wouldn't want to do it too often but I did get some value from going this year. I stayed on the Friday evening too to meet up with an ex colleague from the AA who had moved to that part of the world only to then spend my evening in an ambulance and at A and E as he was taken ill 10 minutes after we met. (I have that effect on people!) So 3 days at an NHS conference and then real time sampling of services straight afterward. He's ok and now back home so positive ending thankfully. Had an excellent day with our Governors yesterday as we engaged them in our thinking about strategy and this years plans for each service. Thank you to everyone who came along and took part and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I know the Governors did from what they told me afterwards. Lots of useful ideas and questions from the floor which we can take away and work on and a great example of how governors add value to the workings of the Trust and keep up firmly grounded in what local people need and want. On the home front, I've had a week away visiting friends just outside Detroit where the weather was supposed to be hot and sunny. Let's just say it was hot but that I saw a lot of rain that week!! Did mean I got to visit Henry Ford's museum and village which I found fascinating rather than chill out by the pool but a restful week despite the rain. Ollie's waiting for his A level results and has visited an old school friend in Abu Dhabi which he thought was lovely. While I sat at work one day he text me to say he was going shopping in Dubai. What did he buy his mum-a camel key ring and fridge magnet!!Chris is doing his work experience in HMV at the moment and says he's bored most of the time. I've got a few jobs he could be doing but he doesn't seem keen on those but the school holidays start next week and so maybe I'll be able to bribe him!!Stewart and I went to see Neil Diamond at the O2 arena recently which was great and other than that usual round of magistrates activities and photography-2 latest assignments were a Leavers Ball for Costello College at Winchester Guildhall and a wedding last Saturday in the rain!! I've now got toknuckle down and process them all. Anyway I'll blog again soon but until then-take care everyone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=72 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:33:51 GMT 20110721183351 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:33:51 GMT 20110721183351 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:33:51 GMT 201107211863351 Friday again tomorrow and I'll be back in London..........this time I'm attending a Career Transition Masterclass as part of my own personal development. At the moment just doing the pre course work which is centred around "My proudest achievement" and which has to be non work related. Not sue what to choose at the moment- being a Mum to Ollie and Chris or my photography!. Probably will be the photography as I can take along some examples where I can't drag O and C along as that would be "so embarrassing mother!!" Chris is in the midst of some GCSE exams he's taking in Year 10-Maths paper 2 tomorrow I think: English poetry yesterday. Anywat the X box seems to be off at the moment and some revising (or is it last minute cramming!!) seems to be taking place. Ollie on the other hand, whose A levels come up very very soon seems to be having a very relaxed time and is very laid back about everything. I'm trying not to fret too much!! Had a varied week so far which as you know I love as routine and me do not go together well. Hello to everyone I met yesterday at the Research and Outcomes Conference in Winchester which was excellent. Well done to the R and D team for organising and to all the speakers Jessamy Baird, Director Health Technology and Outcomes, Dr Shanya Rathod, Professor David Baldwin, Professor David Kingdon, and Greta Westwood from the CLRN (the body that awards us funding for research). I am so excited about the potential to really embed research into the culture of the organisation as it so much underpins our strategy for improving quality and delivering better outcomes for patients. It's not before time that we acknowledge the excellent work that already goes on in the Trust in this are but in many respects goes unnoticed. Met with Governor co-ordinators virtually (ie by teleconference) and we reviewed how well the recent public constituency meetings had gone and discussed options for the future based on their feedback. I believe that the Trust really benefits from having such a rich and diverse group of Governors who are willing to provide their views and get involved with the Trust. For anyone who would like to find out more about them......or even meet some of them........then do let me know as they would love to meet you. Today saw me visiting the Alzheimers Society in Portsmouth where I had a good meeting with Amber Reed their locaility manager for HIOW and Portsmouth. They're based down near to HMS Nelson and Gun Wharf Quays which is a really interesting area of Portsmouth. Didn't have time to pop into the shopping centre though!! Magistrates work this week has included one of our Training and Development Committees which I sit on. Quite surreal really as if anyone knows Aldershot and where the court house and police station are, all around is literally now a building site as they work to construct a new leisure area around it. It's the last house standing almost!!! Loads more I could tell you but by now I'm sure you're bored. Stewart off to Scotland for weekend playing golf so have weekend to myself. I'm off to the USA next weekend for a week visiting friends. I'll be in touch before I go. Do get in touch with your news. Best wishes Carol PS I've managed to get tickets this week to see Neil Diamond at the O2 in early July which I'm really looking forward too but must show my age. No comments please!! http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=70 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:59:00 GMT 20110609205900 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:59:00 GMT 20110609205900 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:57:08 GMT 201107011425708 London in the heat today-many people wilting on the train coming home!! I was at the BMA in Tavistock Square today chairing a conference for aspirant Foundation Trusts-ie those NHS provider Trusts who have still to "enjoy" the rigour and challenge from Monitor of becoming an independent organisation. It was very good to meet lots of new people and be able to introduce speakers from the Foundation Trust Network, Department of Health and exisiting FTs who all were able to provide lots of valuable informationa and share experiences. I also ran a workshop with the Company Secretary from Guys and St Thomas on "working with Governors" so for any of our Governors reading this I hope your ears were burning...........I promise it was all positive!! I personally find these days useful too as I get to hear what it's like for others and realise that we are in a really good place and have a lot of good practice to share so for me a thoroughly enjoyable day. Come home now and there's no food in the fridge and not sure I can face the mammoth weekly shop tonight so Tesco Express down the road here I come before the men in my house start complaining. You'd have thought as it was half term someone would have thought about this but I'm told the revision for A levels, GCSEs and improving golf swings has taken precedence over anything else.............where did I go wrong?!!!!! Hope the sun shines for everyone this weekend though. I'm off photographing again tomorrow which reminds me must charge the batteries. Special thanks to Carra who keeps me going with this blog with her comments. Keep them coming everyone as always like to hear from you. Take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=69 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:19:46 GMT 20110603181946 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:19:46 GMT 20110603181946 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:19:46 GMT 201106031861946 Day in London today attending the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) Board of which I'm a member.It was a significant day as today the FTN became an independent stand alone charitable organisation and is no longer under the umbrella of the NHS Confederation. Important because our vision is to be the voice of independent public providers of health care within the health care system. Exciting and new territory for everyone and in the next 2 weeks we will be consulting with all Foundation Trusts about how best to carry out this role and agreewith them the key priorities. At the moment the main focus is on trying to influence the national debate and government ministers about the Health Bill during "the pause" from an FT perspective so that we remain financially sustainable, able to provide quality care and better patient experience and best value for money. I don't profess to personally understand fully all the politics but certianly find it fascinating to hear the various points of view. Highlight of my day yesterday has to be the fact that whilst in the office, I've managed to get all my hanging baskets and tubs done for the summer care of taking them down to the Southfield Unit!! Jan Knight... you and your helpers have been my saviour and I now have them all displayed for all to see. Thnak you so much as I'd never have got round to doing them befoire the sumner was past! I know that Jan has a few more hanging baskets already made up if anyone else is interested and I can vouch for the fact they're really good value!! Slightly poignant day today for me as I lost my Mum suddenly 6 years ago on this day and the rose I planted for her in her memory always blooms on this day. Hello Mum!! In the office tomorrow and then tomorrow evening at a magistrates evening meeting so will let you know how that goes. Friday I'm back in London chairing a conference for aspirant Foundation Trusts and also talking about what it's like to work with Governors. Should be interesting!! Bye for now Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=68 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:05:56 GMT 20110601220556 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:05:56 GMT 20110601220556 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:05:56 GMT 2011060122100556 Well I suppose it was too much to ask for a hot and sunny weekend as last time but at least the rain's stayed away so far. I was pleased it did last night as I went to see Rod Stewart in concert at Newbury Race Course . A fantastic 2 hours of all his greatest songs which for those of you in my era brought back so many happy memories! Had some really good seats too ...........although everyone stood for 2 hours............which meant at least I could see him and didn't have to rely totally on the big screen! Bit of a scramble to get out of the car park afterwards but well worthwhile. Christopher finally got to have his MRI scan of his knee at Basingstoke Hospital on Saturday morning so hopefully we will get to know what all the trouble has been when we see the consultant again in a couple of weeks and he will be able to get back to his sport (might help the teenage moods!!!). The MRI centre is very impressive indeed and service impeccable. Enjoyed my cup of coffee and reading a magazine whilst waiting for him anyway! Thursday's Board meeting went very well indeed and a suumary of key things we discussed will appear very shortly on the website as normally happens. Amy Hobson attended on behalf of Jane Elderfield, who was away on an Executive Coaching programme, and Julie Jones attended to present a paper on governance and quality. We enjoyed having them with us and their input was superb and I hope they found it of interest too and useful. I look forward to hearing from then what they thought. And now I'm off to take photographs of the local duck race at Bartons Mill in Basingstoke. One of my voluntary jobs for the community!! The sky is now looking pretty grey so maybe I won't avoid the rain this afternoon-oh well the ducks won't notice! Speak again soon. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=67 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:21:32 GMT 20110530122132 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:21:32 GMT 20110530122132 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:21:32 GMT 2011053012122132 After the mammoth Audit Committee on Monday tomorrow is our Board meeting down at the Holiday Inn in Southampton and have just finished going through and reading all the papers again to make sure I'm prepared! So much reading and information to take in in one week but tomorrow's important as it's our first month reviewing the performance of Southern Health since we came together and we need to approve and sign off our annual plan that will then be submitted to Monitor. It's all looking good and you'll be hearing more about in over the coming weeks. In between Ollie wanted help to do the student finance application and accommodation application for University so that diverted attention for a bit but that all done now too. Multi tasking required tonight!! Hello to everyone I met at the last of the latest round of public constituency meetings in Basingstoke yesterday. We had a good audience and some lively questions and my thanks to Paul, Kerry and Sheila from the local teams who were on hand to answer questions. Really useful and great to have you there. Jessamy Baird presented really well on behalf of the Executive Directors with Jane Elderfield in support. Sue Smith, Geoff Older, Philip Branigan, Fran Lloyd and Liz Hall were the Governors in attendance and got to meet many members and have a chnace to talk with them. A worthwhile afternoon all round. It was one of my scheduled days in court today. I sat in the Youth Court in Basingstoke with two fellow magistrates I get on really well with which makes all the difference and so whilst it was challenging and busy with some sad cases before us as well as good news stories of good progress being made by some, it was a good and very enjoyable day. So better turn in now and focus on tomorrow. Hope your week is going well Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=66 Wed, 25 May 2011 22:26:19 GMT 20110525222619 Wed, 25 May 2011 22:26:19 GMT 20110525222619 Wed, 25 May 2011 22:32:46 GMT 2011052522103246 What's happened to the weather. I'm so cold today!! We had our important Audit Committee today where we were reviewing the annual report, including the quality account, and our end of year accounts before they go to the full Board on Thursday for approval. Lots of information to read....and not the easiest document to read I found......but a great review of our very successful last year. Makes me so proud of all of you who have made this Trust so successful. Thanks to the Finance department and Governance teams who have put so much effort into documenting everything and to Andy Clapper and Letsie Tilley for overseeing the whole thing. Robert Boyle, Non Executive Director who is the Chair of Audit Committee had his work cut out today keeping everyone in order so we got through the business and had spent many hours beforehand checking and going through information so wel done Robert!! Left at 7pm tonight and so home just before 8pm. Cooked dinner, caught up on the soaps as I can just watch without thinking. Watching a programme about Strangeways now as I do this blog. As part of my magistrates training a few years back I visited Winchester and Reading prisons which was quite a salutory experience and not an environment I would like to find myself in for amy length of time. Tomorrow I'mmeeting my counterpart from Oxford Health and in the aftrenoon the North constituency meeting in Basingstoke at the Red Lion so again anyone who would like to come along please do as it would be lovely to see you. Ollie's just reminded me that his application for student finance for Uni is due in by next week.............he's only known about this for 3 months!! So that's tomorrow evening's job!! Oh to be a Mum-anybody else out there with the same requests? Enjoy your week Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=65 Mon, 23 May 2011 21:40:25 GMT 20110523214025 Mon, 23 May 2011 21:40:25 GMT 20110523214025 Mon, 23 May 2011 21:40:25 GMT 201105232194025 Hi everyone What glorious weather today again. I do hope that many of you have been able to enjoy some of it. I've been catching up on the chores today-washing, food shopping, taxi driving for youngest!! My week has been varied and interesting since last Monday. I've met with two of my fellow Chair colleagues: Mike Gretton who is Chair at Winchester hospital and Julia Clarke who is Chair of Ridgeway Oxford Learning Disability Trust. You may have heard that Winchester is currently being looked at by Basingstoke and North Hants hospital to merge with them so it was interesting to swap notes and share our experiences-me from the position of Chairing the acquiring Trust in our case and Mike in the position of Chairing the Trust potentially being acquired by another. Ridgeway are now similarly looking at their future as they have decided not to pursue Foundation Trust status and so it was good to meet Julia and hear more about their future plans. I left Julia in Oxford and then made my way to the Birmingham Children's Hospital for a meeting of the Foundation Trust Network Governance group . Now that the FTN is an independent charitable organisation it is important to make sure all the proper governance mechanisms are in place and so we were considering Board make up, Board process and appraisal, vision and priorities and ways of engaging with members. Got a bit lost in the centre of Birmingham as I think my sat nav hasn't quite kept up with new road systems and so a few back streets later I suddenly came upon the hospital by pure chance!!! I went to both Hampshire County Council and Southampton City Council during the week to meet the Leaders for the first time-Ken Thornber and Royston Smith respectively. We had really good exchanges and I found them both to be interested and receptive to our organisations working even more closely together in the future and I look forward to further meetings and discussions. Hello to everyone who turned out to the Southampton constituency meeting too on Tuesday afternoon at Central Hall. Katrina and I led the session and as ever in the city a good lively audience who have a lot of varied questions and views and so we were still going strong at 4pm when it was supposed to come to an end!! Tested my ability to see all the hands going up and make sure people asked their questions in turn and hope I didn't miss anyone out. Great to see Karen Trippier Chair of the Southampton Service User Group there too with some of her members and also our Governors, Deborah, Royston, Susie, Audrey and Ivan. Thanks as ever Trevor Abbotts and Jane Bray to being on hand to answer questions on local services and the membership team and PALs who organise and arrange these meetings in the background. Without you they wouldn't happen and only one more of this round to go in Basingstoke next Tuesday at 2pm at the Red Lion. All are welcome to come along if free! Finally for now, I am still recovering from a trip to Wembley Arena on Thursday evening with Stewart. Ollie and Chris. Concert, football match you may be asking?..... No, I found myself being taken to the Premier Darts League final (can you believe it -me and darts???) where I was surrounded by a lot of people singing and waving and some even dressed up. Plenty of Teletubbies, Batmen and Robins, Supermen, Dr Who, Princess Leya etc etc...... It was an experience I can tell you and great for people watching.....whether I'd repeat it!!!!!!! And now with my reputation shot to pieces completely, speak again next week. Take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=64 Sat, 21 May 2011 18:22:41 GMT 20110521182241 Sat, 21 May 2011 18:22:41 GMT 20110521182241 Sat, 21 May 2011 18:22:41 GMT 201105211862241 Difficult to get into gear this morning after a weekend of Charity Ball for local Basingstoke school on Saturday evening which was great fun (late night though and how on earth did I do this regularly when I was young?) followed by a 60th birthday celebration at Duxford Air Museum near Cambridge yesterday where I met up with many faces from the past who reminded of things I had long forgotten!!! 2 days of dressing up though-I'd forgotten the feeling of being "girly" for a change and really enjoying that!!!! My morning today started at Eastrop House in Basingstoke chairing a managers hearing. Eastrop House is a designated rehabilitation house where I met a lovely elderly lady who I had met before 5 years ago and who had been there for 15 years now. She is unlikely to ever leave however and I do wonder if Eastrop is really a rehabiltation unit or is it continuing care? I'll have that conversation anyway back in the Trust. Great to meet all the staff there though and thanks for the cuppa by the way!! Then down to Tatchbury for a meeting to review a set of behaviours that have been developed for the Trust Board that should demonstrate to anyone that each Director is "living the values" of Southern Health. They've been put together having spoken to many people across the organisation and I now need to share these with my colleagues and we need to decide how we will use them. eg one of the options is to use them as part of the apprasial process for each Director.If anyone is interested to or would like to hear more about this then do get in touch. Regular monthly meet then with Anne Belasco our lead governor who is always good news and good for me to talk to as she keeps me on the straight and narrow in terms of how Governors are thinking and feeling. Then I met with Susan Suliman our Trust Secretary. Company Secretaries are relatively new to the NHS and their role is quite often mis understood. I've worked with one for many years in commercial life though and it's the person every Board Director should be able to turn to ensure they are working in line with company law. They're an essential part of maintaining appropriate corporate governance.; Update meeting then with Lorraine Foley our new Commercial Director who is really settling in well. I really appreciate receiving updates from Executive Directors as their lives are so busy that it's important for me to know what their key priorities are so I can support them at Board level. Call then with someone who will be helping us with Board development over the next few months. The team I have is new and as with any new team there is a need to ensure that we set the ground rules and develop our relationship and teamworking appropriately. Esapecially as everyone will be watching how we behave and operate. It's fun, exciting but very challenging both personally and professionally!!!! Home by 8pm tonight to my dinner cooked (aren't I lucky!) -knew there was a reason though and that was football on the TV all night Nottingham Forest in play offs with Swansea. Any Swansea supporters out there well done and good luck at Wembley..............Nottingham Forest fans can join the one true Leeds fans in this household (and that's not me by the way!) and look forward to another year in the Championship League next year.; Looking forward to a meeting with my counterpart at Winchester Hospital tomorrow. Leader of the Council at Hampshire County Council and then a constituency meeting in Southampton tomrrow afternoon. Will I make Zumba tomorrow night though after 5 weeks of not quite getting there or will a night at home getting over my day seem a better bet? Think I need some help and motivation to get back into the keep fit and slimming-any offers out there as I'm in need?!!!! Take care folks Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=63 Mon, 16 May 2011 21:52:17 GMT 20110516215217 Mon, 16 May 2011 21:52:17 GMT 20110516215217 Mon, 16 May 2011 22:02:22 GMT 2011051622100222 Hello everyone Just a few snippets of the highlights of the past few days and the first as Chair of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust-the new brand we have launched for our new organisation. What do you think of it as always interested to hear your reactions? Best bits for me have been where I've had the opportunity to meet up with and talk with many interesting people. I'll start with today and work backwards for a change! This morning saw me at Moorgreen Hospital for a manager's panel hearing on Linden Ward where we were being asked to review the application for a renewal of a detention. The patient was a lovely lady and she was ably supported by a wonderful advocate. Whilst we decided to agree with the renewal I do hope that she will make steady progress to a point where she can leave hopsital which is what she so desperately wants to do. The staff were all very caring and obviously wanted what is best for her so we have to hope that she will move on in time. Thanks to everyone who took part and to Leanne for organising the meeting and providinf the coffee and to the Ward Manager who then spared me some time for a chat about how things are for staff in OPMH at the moment. I am aware that the formal OPMH consultation events started in earnest today about the proposed service changes and that for many of you these are unsettling times until final decisions are made about where the jobs are and your own position. I hope that you are finding the communications you are getting are giving you the information you need and that you feel able to ask any questions and queries you have as that is very important in helping you make your own choices. Wednesday saw me at the SHA in Newbury and Tuesday was a particularly fun day.In the morning I chaired meeting of our lay Mental Health Act Review Managers who conduct managers panels, like the one above at Moorgreen, around Hamsphire many times per week for the Trust. They are a great bunch of people with so much life experience and interesting backgrounds, and with such a passion for what they do and the patients they see, that our meetings are always fun and highly enjoyable. The afternoon saw me in Lyndhurst at the first of our latest round of public member meetings. Together with Gilda Newsham, Janet Best and Sandy Whittaker (3 South West public governors) and Liz Hall and Audrey Howe (2 of our appointed Governors) I was joined by Katrina Percy, Lorraine Foley, Fred Mehta and Mike Petter from the Trust Board . A number of members came and asked many interesting questions about our services, patient choice in where to get care, levels of funding and impact of cost reductions, patient and carer information, and also provided us with useful feedback. Thess events are so important in the Trust's engaging with members and really listening to their views and ideas and the information we reap from them is crucial in our decisions. I know that another meeting took place in Fareham yesterday which Pam Charlwood ably chaired and next week is the turn of the Southampton meeting on Tuesday at Central Hall followed by the North meeting at the Red Lion on Tuesday 24th in Basingstoke. If you know anyone who would be interested in popping along do encourage them to do so please. Had my appraisal on Monday where I receive feedback from Board members and Governors via the Senior Independent Director and Lead Governor. With getting feedback from so mnay people it is always interesting to hear the various percetions people have of you and probably like you find, there's always good stuff to hear and the not so good stuff that I need to work on but then I'm a firm beleiver that we can all strive to continually improve. Had a great weekend last week in Cardiff with a very old and dear friend of mine from my AA days. She is a bad influence on me though and I tell her so!! I managed to spend too much and probably drink rather more than I should but it was fabulous, great to see her and very relaxing. Weekend after the "wedding" I spent with my father and stepmother in London which was great too. Really not sure what's happening to my social life at the moment as after months of not very much, I'm at a Charity Ball tomorrow evening and on Sunday I'm going up to Duxford Air Museum for a 60th birthday party of another ex collegue of mine, but this time from Sainsbury's, who also used to be my landlady when I first moved to Basingstoke in 1979 to work at the Woking Area Office as a trainer. 4 weekends on the trot doing things-amazing!! So I hope your weekend is as good as I am hoping mine will be. Will check in again next week and until then take care everyone. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=62 Fri, 13 May 2011 23:32:26 GMT 20110513233226 Fri, 13 May 2011 23:32:26 GMT 20110513233226 Fri, 13 May 2011 23:41:55 GMT 2011051323114155 Hope that everyone managed to enjoy some of the lovely Easter weekend. I thought I'd let you know what I've been up to that has nothing to do with NHS for a change!! Back from some days in Kent over the weekend which were great and nostalgic as I lived in Ashford from when I was about 7 to when I left for Southampton University at 18 . Stayed with my younger brother and his wife who treated me as it happened to be my birthday as well (going backwards in age now though!). On Friday we went to where there's a man made nature reserve with long walks and beach near Dover, made from all the rocks that used to be where the Channel Tunnel is now!! Lovely warm and sunny evening by the White Cliffs. Saturday saw me visiting my other brother and his family followed by lunch at a old Kentish pub near Biddenden surrounded by oast houses and glorious scenery-I can definitely see why it's called the Garden of England. Then onto Sissinghurst National Trust gardens which used to be one of my Mum's favourite places when she was alive but which I'd never been to before. Evening then started with watching my younger niece star in a Harold Pintner play with Ashford Youth Theatre-very dark and strange play it was but she was very good. Finally before I came home on Sunday I went for a walk in Kings Wood near Challock where the blue bells were out in full and at their stunning best. Miles and miles of blue carpet.......as you can imagine I had my camera with me and so I hope I've managed to record some of it. M25 on Easter Sunday was very quiet indeed in the middle of the day so no hold ups on way home either and then I was taken out for dinner in the evening so can't complain at all!!! Yesterday recovered and today I've been sitting in Basingstoke Court which was very busy and very varied so time flew past. Tomorrow sees me back at Tatchbury catching up and preparing for the Trust Board meeting and Council of Governors meetings on Thursday so will be well back in the swing of it just in time for "The Wedding" !! Speak again soon Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=61 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:37:11 GMT 20110426233711 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:37:11 GMT 20110426233711 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 23:42:25 GMT 2011042623114225 As ever I'm a bit behind with the blog-sorry to all you readers out there!! Last week saw me out quite a lot with 2 days in court helping to run a magistrates course in Andover as a member of the Training and Dveelopment Committee on one and on the other sitting in court listening to a trial, and 2 days in the Trust. Spent a day at Fairways House on Thursday and enjoyed the time I spent with everyone there. Hello especially to Alida and her team, Alan, Jason, Melvyn and Anna-all of whom made me most welcome and I hope the move to your new offices goes well next month. Those I met in the IAPT and POG meetings (don't we have the most wonderful abbreviations for things!?) thanks too as I learned a great deal. I've taken a few days off this week and have been so lucky with the weather!! Taken the opportunity of spending some time with family and friends and am just about to go to Ashford in Kent to see my brothers and their families for a couple of days. Also done the usual run of dentists and opticians-all those things you have to fit into your days off!! Would you believe Christopher had me shopping in West Quay in Southampton on Wednesday so on the week I didn't have to do the drive south I ended up doing so anyway!! Typical 15 year old I think we only went to visit Hollister!! I then took him for his consultants consultation about his knee, which we've been waiting for and that I may have told you "collapsed" playing football in February after a few weeks of it playing up, only to be referred for an MRI scan now which will be another 8 weeks and so for someone very sporty he'll have been out of action for nearly 4 months which is not going down too well as you can imagine. Joys of teenage years! Anyway for now I wish everyone a happy bank holiday weekend. Enjoy the sun and I'll be back at work next week so will sign on again then. Take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=60 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:29:08 GMT 20110422112908 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:29:08 GMT 20110422112908 Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:31:52 GMT 2011042211113152 I found my new office this morning no problem and Sue had done a splendid job in setting it up for me so I owe her a big thank you . Thanks too to Sheelagh and her team for organising the shift down the corridor for me but also all the other moves that go are going on. It feels lile one big continual house move in the buidling! I met our 2 new Directors Lorraine Foley (Commercial Director) and Jessamy Baird (Director of Technology and Outcomes) today who both have great and refreshing ideas to offer and who are really looking forward to getting out and about and meeting as many of our staff, our governors and members, our patients and carers and our external partners in the near future. Look out for them if they're in your vicinity as I think you're going to warm to them a lot. I also met Councillor Keith Manns from Hampshire County Council with Patricia Banks who has been HCC's appointed governor for the last 3 years. Keith is going to be taking over from Patricia in the near future and I enjoyed finding out more about Keith and his background and discussing how we are going to work together in the future so that his Governor role is meaningful and valuable. Am just in and now off to an information evening with Christopher about a football academy he is being invited to join next season to get all the details and so must go and start the taxi up!! Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=58 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:08:53 GMT 20110407190853 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:08:53 GMT 20110407190853 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:08:53 GMT 201104071970853 What a lovely day I thought as I was driving back from Andover today: far too nice to have been shut up in a court house where I've been chairing a trial in court!!. Still all went well for me and so I hope your day is going well too. In a minute I'm off for a College Governors meeting where we're receivinga presentation on what it means to become an Academy Trust which you have all probably heard about by now is one of the Government's latest priorities in education. As a Foundation School already which sits in a charitable Trust it will be interesting to hear about the added advantages of going one stage further so hope to learn a little more. Yesterday I was in London where I was at a task and finish group with some of my Foundation Trust Board colleagues considering all the governance regime and issues that now need to be put in place now that the FTN has decided to become an independent entity and separate from the NHS Confederation. I find my experience on our Trust Board and my college governor work invaluable at things like this and it was a very productive and enjoyable day-even the trains ran to time for me!! Day in the office for me on Monday and another memorable day as Letsie Tilley retired and I attended her leaving lunch along with many many others who she has worked alongside for so mnay years. The singing duo of "Clapper and Carter" came out again to entertain, Chris her PA had organised the most wonderful buffet and decorations and Letsies's own account of her career with the NHS was funny, revealing and great way to honour and recognise her incredible loyalty , service and commitment. She's been a great colleague and support to me at the Board and on a personal level and I along with many others wish her and her husband Bill much happiness in their future life in France. Tomorrow sees me in the office again and I'll be searching for my new abode as I've been moved today so many thanks to Sue my PA who I am sure has been really busy in organising everything in my absence. So until later in the week enjoy the sunshine evryone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=57 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:38:53 GMT 20110406173853 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:38:53 GMT 20110406173853 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 17:38:53 GMT 201104061753853 Today marked the start of a new era for our organisation as we officially merged with Hampshire Community Health care to form our new and exciting organisation. Today we became one of the largest mental health, learning disability, social and community care provider organisations in the country and I feel very privileged and proud to be able to lead us into this new chapter in the organisation's history. I'd like to welcome all HCHC staff into the organisation and look forward to getting out and about and meeting many of you over the coming weeks and months. For me it's been a week of mixed emotions -really excited about the future and glad that after many months of intensive work and scrutiny of our future plans, our finances and performance, that part is now over and we can now get on with the job of creating an organisation that will provide better integrated services for our patients. But I have also reflected on the road that HPFT has been on since I joined 5 years ago and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone who over the years since its creation has contributed to HPFT's phenomenal success and has built such a solid Foundation Trust infrastructure which has enabled us to get to where we are today-a new Trust which I know will be delivering services that our local populations need and deserve. Without you all in both organisations it would not have been possible. As ever when any two organisations come together there is bound to be change, and I am very aware that while some people may not even notice a difference, there are others for whom this may mean that roles and structures will change and therefore understandably you may be feeling a little uncertain about the future. I know, I've been in your position in my own previous career (for example when Centrica took over the AA) and so I want you to know that the Trust Board are very mindful of this and supportive of anything that it done to communicate with you and to help and support you through this period. We had our last "HPFT" Trust Board as I've known it yesterday and next month there will be a new team in place for me to lead! As you may know two long standing Executive Directors, Andy Clapper and Letsie Tilley and Non Executive Director Professor Robert Peveler have retired from the Board. All of them have been there since I started and so over the years I have got to know them really well and have valued their friendship and support . I know they all have exciting and different plans for the future and I really wish them all well and will miss them. Andy's leaving event on Monday was superb and so entertaining. I've always believed that you never really know the true extent of people's talents unless you ask or have the opportunity to see them in a different setting and Monday certainly proved that!! Kevin Liles and Bernard Carter were instrumental in assisting me with acknowledging Andy's career-Kevin the stand up comic who I am sure could hold an audience for hours if given the chance, and Bernard (MC Carter) who's new career in rapping is obviously going to hit the charts big time. But the piece de resistance had to be Andy himself on his ukelele singing his farewell song with his lovely wife Barbara, Very lovely, very funny, very poignant and I'll admit it brought a tear to my eyes!! Anyway this week's over. Hope you all have a good weekend and here's to a bright and successful future. Best wishes everyone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=56 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:54:58 GMT 20110401215458 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:54:58 GMT 20110401215458 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:54:58 GMT 201104012195458 I've had the privilege of meeting some lovely people over the past couple of weeks at 2 service user and carer events I've attended. The first took place in the Guildhall in Andover on a wet and windy Friday 10 days ago and was organised by Lizanne and the team from Andover OPMH together with Debra and the team from Andover Mind. The day was well attended by service users, carers, representative Governors, The Princess Royal CarersTrust and local councillors and was focussed on identifying needs of people with early onset dementia. In the morning service users and carers told their own personal stories and we saw a DVD; after a lovely lunch laid on by Andover Mind who had been preparing food the night before and from 7.30am that morning, the afternoon was organised as a world cafe with six tables each with a different theme. Groups circulated around the tables and gave their views on requirements for lesiure and education, support for relatives, jobs, benefits and finances, health and well being, relationships and peer support. Lots of good ideas and the plan is now to develop a service proposal and try and access some grants or funding to address what has been identified as a gap in service provision for this group of people. I look forward to seeing how this progresses and hope that I can meet up with all those I met that day at some point again in the future. Last week on a warm and sunny day in Eastleigh, Pam Charlwood (Vice Chair of the Board) and I were lucky enough to attend the service user involvement event showcasing excellence where we were able to learn more about the different projects taking place across Hampshire. Such enthusiasm from the groups was evident throughout the day and it was a pleasure to listen to people talking about their plans and activities and also see some of the digital stories and videos that service users have made. In particular, Janet's story (I recognised Janet as one of our Trust members too who has hardly ever missed a public constituency meeting or AGM!) and the "Reality Through Our Eyes" ITV Fixers film created by the EIP team working their service users were incredibly powerful. I've met new friends and will be doing what I can to forge greater links between our Governors and Non Executive Directors with Karen, Bob and group from the Southampton Service User Project, with Tracey and the gang from the Fareham and Gosport Service User Network (good to see you all again!), with Barbara, Lorraine and the group running the West Hants network and with John in Basingstoke running the North's mental health forum. I've also had the opportunity to visit a few places and meet more staff and so hello and thanks to Claire Sheridan at Woodhaven, where I enjoyed seeing the work of the Occupational Therapy department there and hearing about the positive results you're getting, to Elaine Cox at the Meadows and all the staff I met during my visit there the other afternoon, to Dr Ann Marshall who gave me a quick guided tour around the recently refurbished Newtown House in Eastleigh which, from what everyone I bumped into was telling me, has been a real improvement for them in their working environment and certainly had a good feel about it and to those I was able to chat to during a visit to Fairways House where I nabbed an empty office to work from before meeting Anna Lewis. And finally I enjoyed a traditional Ghanaian supper organised by Dr Mark Roberts where I was able to talk with many of those involved with the project and meet 4 students visiting the UK for 4 weeks from Ghana. A lovely friendly evening and nice way to spend a Thursday evening. Thank you Mark for your hospitality. This coming week will mark and important and exciting step on our organisation's journey so more from me in a day or two. Take care everyone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=55 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:25:41 GMT 20110327182541 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:25:41 GMT 20110327182541 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:25:41 GMT 201103271862541 "Don't Put Me Out with the Rubbish" , "Spiritual Care in Action" and "Evidence-based Supported Employment" are just 3 conferences I've attended over the last couple of weeks and thoroughly enjoyed. I've met loads of people and as ever have come back with loads of questions!! I chaired yesterday's successful conference (Don't Put Me Out with the Rubbiish") which was held in Winchester and ably organised by Kaye Adamson and the "Time to Change" Trust steering group and laid on for local businesses. Over 80 people attended which was a fabulous response and throughout the day we heard from key speakers on a number of topics: 1 how as employers we all need to take better care of our staff's mental health and be more aware and understanding of individual's needs and circumstances as this would not only make a better place to work for everyone and therefore improve job satisfaction and productivity but would work to reduce absence levels which costs organisations a lot of money; 2 lots of facts and figures that demonstrate how talents can be totally wasted by "discarding" potential candidates, both internal and external on the basis of their mental health which challenged recruitment processes and also mindsets of those making decisions; 3 personal stories of people's experiences and the importance for them of being able to work as part of living with a menatl health condition and how essential it is on their path to recovery; 4 a "forum theatre" which acted out a scene from a call centre which very visibly showed how rife discrimination can be in an organisation against colleagues with mental health conditions. Excellent day and excellent feedback and good links made with local businesses which will be invaluable and so a big thank you to everyone who attended from within HPFT, from the Council of Governors, from partner organisations and from local businesses. "Spiritual Care in Action" was held in Basingstoke last week which was a great place for me as it saved me a trip down the motorway for once! Chaired by Sarah Baines and planned and put together by Isabel Clarke, Revd. James Hair and their teams around 50 staff and service users attended for again what was a thought provoking day. It was a popular event with 40 other names on the reserve list too and it was good to meet up with so many interested people and familiar faces from the Fareham Service User Network (SUN), from Southfield and from local units. A day of speakers and personal stories from service users which poignantly described roads to recovery and what keeps their hope alive. In the afternoon workshops took place and I found myself in one where James was going to interview me and ask me very searching questions -he promised to take a "Michael Parkinson" approach as opposed to "Jeremy Paxman". Examples included: 1 How does the world of finance lend itself to people's well being? 2 How does business-speak- translate into the language used by service users and patients, as well as clinical staff? 3 Is the business model so full of procedures and policies that the "person" can be lost? In short it can become de humanising and so on..... We never got past question 1 as, albeit it was a small group as other workshops proved far more interesting(!!) the debate I was able to have with everyone was really constructive and really pointed out that we have to get the language we use right in the future as this quite frequently gets in the way of understanding and causes anxiety. Personally I also believe we have to do more to show how the "world of business" is what we do anyway in order to survive and deliver what we already do very well. I cannot begin to do justice here to what turned out to be over an hours' debate but is something that I will take forward. And then a Mental Health Network Conference in London on "Evidence-based Supported Employment" gave me the opportunity to see in particular how some other Mental Health Trusts who are Centres of Excellence for Individual Placement and Support (IPS) are addressing the employment agenda and actively supporting individuals with mental health conditions into work as part of their receovery. It was good to spend some time with Sheila Greenfield who was also there and who works as the HPFT employment Service Coordinator as I was then able to find out more about what we actually do and compare and contrast. What struck me was the emphasis given to this by some organisations especially as employment is one of the key outcome measures in the government's new mental health strategy and how effectively some organisations are working in partnership with employment specialists to deliver this. As a Non Executive Director who has the privilege to receive lots of information during the month, visit lots of places around the Trust to meet and talk with staff , meet external partners and attend conferences I can reflect on these and themes emerge. Recovery is the current common theme coming from so many things I have come across recently and is so important to many of you I meet who tell me about it. It is making me curious to understand more about how recovery principles are being reflected in our own clinical services as they are redesigned and developed and in a much wider way what it means and can mean to the whole organisation. So I'm off to learn a bit more!!!! Have a good weekend Carol PS Sorry it's been some time since the last post. promise to do better!! http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=54 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:27:15 GMT 20110311132715 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:27:15 GMT 20110311132715 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:36:37 GMT 201103111313637 Thanks for the comments I'm receiving both the posts on here and what you say when you see me-really appreciated. By the way Zumba this week left me exhausted and very stiff...........I thought it was supposed to get easier over time but I seem to be going backwards though. Either that or I'm shaking all the wrong bits. (those of you who do Zumba will know what I mean!) Just back after a very wet and windy drive in torrential rain to Oxford to visit the Ridgeway Partnership Trust (Oxfordshire Learning Disability Trust) with Sandy Taylor. There we met with Julia Clarke their Chair and John Morgan CEO and shared information and some of our plans for the future. It is always useful to see how things are elsewhere in the health system and swap notes as it were as we can all learn form one another. Ridgeway are on their journey to becoming a Foundation Trust later this year -probably late summer or autumn- and we talked about this and also ways in which our two Trusts can perhaps look at how we could learn from each other more and also work together more on joint activities in the future. Seems a logical thing to do to me. Like Linda the Chair from Somerset Partnership FT whom I met the other day, I met Julia when I first became Chair here and she is another person that I get on really well with. In fact next Thursday I'm coming back from London (where I'll be attending a really useful and informative quarterly meeting that run for Chairs and CEOs of Foundation Trusts and gives us all the latest national guidance and views) and going to straight to Oxford for an evening womens network meeting that Julia has organised at the University which has some very interesting people attending. It's going to be a long day but hopefully worth it. Meanwhile, Ollie has just gone off to work; Chris has stomped off into his bedroom as 15 year olds do; I'm about to go out and meet up with Melanie from Veredus, the company who ran the CEO appointment process, at a local hotel for supper and Stewart's on his way back from Scotland where he's been working all week so trying to organise dinners for them all at different times is a nightmare. Notes and instructions everywhere and I know none of them will get read or acted upon!! Tomorrow sees us all in Kent for the funeral of my late mother's very dear friend who was very special to me and the boys over the last 20 years and that will be sad but also a celebration of the wonderful life he had. So I'll sign on again next week and in the meantime have good weekends everyone. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=53 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:41:59 GMT 20110210174159 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:41:59 GMT 20110210174159 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:43:25 GMT 201102101754325 After last week where I didn't manage a day in the office, this week is completely different. 3 days of solid meetings!!! Most have been really productive, enjoyable and useful but there has been the odd one or two where I have questioned myself as to their value and I know from going around the Trust that many of you think that generally there are too many meetings held. When I worked at the AA many years ago (we are talking early 90s now!) as part of an efficiency drive, every meeting room for a while had a chart by the door and after each meeting you had to mentally calculate the cost of the meeting (time, number of people there, salary. cover costs etc) and work out whether the benefits derived outweighed the costs. Not always easy to quantify and very subjective but it certainly focussed the mind and got you questioning "does this meeting really have to happen" or "what have we achieved that adds value" or "does everyone who attends have to attend etc." A discipline that's always stuck with me! I always enjoy meeting new people and this week has so far included more staff from HCHC and Petra and Elizabeth who are independenmt consultants currently engaged in supporting the Trust develop an approach to branding and identity for the new organisation and also our model of communications. I really look forward to seeing their early proposals. I spent some time this morning with the Rev James Hair, Trust Chaplain, in preparation for the Spirituality Conference being held in Basingstoke that I am coming along to in a couple of weeks time and which, for those of you attending, is certainly looking to be a good day. It will certainly be a day for exploring and seeking out the spirit of the organisation and I'm quite excited about it. Met up with a fellow Chairman Linda Nash from Somerset Partnership NHS FoundationTrust to share experiences and talk about how things were in our respective organisations. I met Linda very eraly on in my time as Chair and we hit it off straight away as we think along similar lines. It is always useful to talk to other Chairs as I can then get a sense of whether I'm on the right lines in what I am seeking to do as your Chair here and sometimes it's just nice to get an independent view on things you are doing-it helps me with my self confidence and belief anyway! Somerset are also in the process of acquiring community services but in their case the business they are acquiring is larger than the mental health trust. They are a few weeks behind us in the process and so I was able to share our expereince to date with Monitor and Governors etc. There is no point in "re inventing the wheel" after all. Tomorrow Sandy Taylor and I are visiting the Ridgeway Partnership LD Trust in Oxford which I'm looking forward to. All part of the networking and collaboration between Trusts that is so crucial to the overall effectiveness of the health care system. More news on how that goes later. Meanwhile I've fed the boys, listened to their sagas of the day and now I'm off to watch some TV now football has ended . I am told that England beat Denmark 2 : 1 so guess many of you will be happy tonight. Speak soon Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=52 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:55:46 GMT 20110209215546 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:55:46 GMT 20110209215546 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:57:37 GMT 201102092195737 How have your last 2 weeks gone? Sorry I've not been on line as I've not been near my PC for a while. (That and waiting for the new photo -thank you Fiona and Tom-what do you think of it? Christopher took it for me in my studio-he wants to take over my business he tells me as he's a much better phtograpger than I am!!!) Difficult to believe that it's already February as January seems to have whizzed past in a flash for me. Looking back over the last 2 weeks and I seem to have spent a lot of time in London and Board meetings of one kind or the other. This time last week I had organised the family and was on a train to London as I decided to stay overnight in London on Sunday evening prior to our Board to Board meeting with the Regulator Monitor regarding the HCHC transaction on Monday morning. Other Board colleagues did the same as we had arranged to meet at 8am on the Monday morning for a final preparation session and I didn't fancy the pressure of having to travel up really early and battle the Monday morning chaos. It worked out well and despite being away at a weekend was worth it to get in the right frame of mind for Monday. We even got to met Katrina's fiance as he had driven her and a couple of others up to London. (Actually by now he will be her husband as yesterday was her "big day" as you may have read in the latest version of Staff Focus. We're all really happy for her and hope it was a spendid affair.) The meeting with Monitor went really well from our perspective. It was a robust and challenging 2 hours which tested our thinking and decision making about the HCHC acquisition and only served to strengthen the Board's view that this is a good proposition for the patients, organisation and staff. Monitor now consider how they are going to risk rate this transaction and will come back to us in mid March with their view which the HPFT Trust Board will then consider at its Board meeting on the 31st March as the final stage in this process. As of today it's still looking positive for a 1st April start date for the new organisation on the proviso that everything that needs to happen between now and then does. Whilst the transaction is obviously important and has been taking up a lot of Board time, we still, at our Trust Board meeting and Council of Governors meetings the previous week, spent time considering what's going on today in the organisation and key priorities for the next year. We are placed really well at this point in the year to deliver an excellent overall year end performance and that's all done to you all as without you it would not be possible. We also debated the challenges and pressures that are around too and then as part of considering the way forward Dr Lesley Stephens attended and presented the future strategic direction for Adult Mental Health. This updated the Trust Board on national thinking around adult mental health, how our Trust fares when benchmarked with other Trusts and some early conclusions from the thinking that has been done within the AMH Directorates which some of you will have been involved in. The Board gave agreement to progress this thinking further and will be monitoring this very closely over the next few months-indeed we are trying to arrange a dedicated Board seminar in the next couple of weeks to focus on this in more depth. Some of you have also taken the opportunity to tell me and other NED colleagues over recent weeks about some of the myths and rumours there are around this isuue in the organisation and I am very aware of the uncertainty this is creating and have fed this back to my Executive colleagues. I and my NED colleagues will be following very closely how staff are being engaged and communicated with on this as we want you to be confident that you hear any developments from management when decided and have the opportunity to input ideas and ask questions. Back to other meetings I've been at: 1 HCHC Board meeting as an invited guest; this has been very helpful to me in helping me understand better the dynamics of their business and how performance is measured. Obviously it doesn't beat getting out and visiting locations and staff and I am certainly planning more of those for the coming year 2 Remuneration Committee: this is a sub committee of the Trust Board made up of Non Executive Directors. We met last week to consider the Trust Board structure from the 1st April which you will all now have seen in the staff briefing that went out 10 days ago. It does herald the start of a new era and I am very excited about the future, working with new people and the many opportunities there are to be taken. With any exciting future there is always a past you leave behind though and I am also slightly sad that it marks the end of an era too for the HPFT Trust Board as we've known it. I'll miss Andy and Letsie as they have been good friends as well as dedicated, committed and loyal Board directors and I'm so glad they will be around for a while yet. Professor Robert Peveler who many of you know, has also decided not to stand again for another term as Non Executive Director when his term of office expires in March and so watch this space for his replacement. I have really valued Robert's support, first as a fellow NED when I first started 5 years ago and had no clue what anyone was talking about (!) and latterly to me as Chair. A lovely man. 3 Foundation Trust Network Board. Another month's meeting which I am using at the moment as a learning experience. I am certainly getting a greater insight into the issues that Acute Trusts face and beginning to understand a lot more how much this national network can and is influencing key politicians on health policy. A good group of people to work alongside and I shall be making a few visits to some of my colleagues on that Board to find out more. I was back at Monitor with them on Wednesday afternoon for a planned Board to Board meeting and again it proved useful to understand the challenges Monitor is facing with its changing role to becoming the economic regulator in the future whilst managing the FT pipeline authorisation process. 4 Not a Board meeting but I attended an SHA organised Conference on Thursday at Reading's Madjeski Stadium Conference Centre (very impressive!) with many of South Central's Non Executive Directors from other Trusts. It was aimed at optimising the contribution of NEDS ........for me the opportunity to meet up with many colleagues who I don't see very regularly was the best part as that is where many conatcats and opportunities to work together arise from. What else has kept me occupied? 1 Mental Health Act renewal hearing at Tom Rudd Unit- really well organised for us and focussed our attention on the suitability and availability of appropriate placements post hospital stay. 2 Met a delightful lady who has been the Chair of Kingston PCT for the past 10 years and who runs her own management consultancy and we swapped ideas and experiences. As a relatively new Chair myself I think I can learn an awful lot from her as this can be a very lonely job on occasion and there are times that as Chairman you just need someone to listen to your ideas and challenge you. 3 Dinner with the NEDs prior to the last Board meeting was good as we have not found the time or opportunity to get together recently and just compare notes either on what we're all up to outside of the NHS and what we've experienced in the NHS. With Mike and Jim recently joining us too from HCHC it was a good opportunity to get to know each other a little better. Trying to find a best location when we all come from different parts of Hampshire is the biggest trick but we hit on somewhere in Twyford and it was very nice and worked for us all! (Only 25 mins back up the M3 for me and so I was happy) 4 Spent a lovely day with Ollie my eldest visiting UWIC (University of Wales Institute Cardiff) as that's one of the places he's been offered to do a Sports Management Degree. Fantastic facilities etc and so I think it's now down to Cardiff or Brighton as to where he picks. (For those of you following this blog yes I did then take him to Weston Super Mare to his football match that evening....his little "it's only 5 minutes down the motorway from Bristol" was actually a 60 mile round trip but that's what Mum's are for. Basingstoke lost 4:1 though and it was very cold!) 5 Stayed with my Dad and Step Mum on Monday evening to avoid having to travel back and fro from London. They live in Canada Water (old Docklands area) and its lovely and peaceful and you would never know you were only 15 minutes from the centre of London. I use them quite frequently for bed and breakfast!! 6 Can anyone beat me for delayed Xmas meals? On Tuesday evening I was in Godalming at Stewart's company's delayed Xmas do. He works for a Belgian firm and the snow before had stopped the bosses coming over and taking the small UK team out for a meal. Nice meal in a converted church so lovely setting but the drive home in freezing fog across the Hogs Back not so nice. 7 Attended a Governing Body meeting at Costello Technology College where the Head gave an update on the Schools White Paper. I could have been at a work meeting except the subject was education not health. 8 Yesterday saw me just past the office on the A31-Chris was playing football against Lyndhurst in pouring rain. I will confess I watched from the car! And that's about it. Am doing this whilst finishing off some photographs for a family I saw last weekend so I hope the spelling's ok. I also hope you have all had a happy and safe couple of weeks. Anything on your mind then do send me a post. Take care Carol PS Notice I'm silent on Slim and Zumba as with all this being away and meals out the slim part is dire and not going at all well. The Zumba part still good fun! http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=51 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:04:38 GMT 20110206180438 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:04:38 GMT 20110206180438 Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:16:50 GMT 201102061861650 Hello everyone I can't decide what to do for the best tonight-plan for the week ahead, watch TV, catch up on chores or simply relax. Do you have those moments where your mind is racing? So while I decide I'll update you on what's been going on with me. Had a varied week last week which included visiting two of HCHC's Community Hospitals in Lymington and Chase (Bordon) as part of my getting to know more about HCHC. Both excellent facilities, very bright, clean and modern but very different in size and the services they run from there. The staff I met at both were friendly and knowledgeable and my thanks go to all of them for their time and enthusiasm. I have so much to learn about all the different parts of HCHC and look forward to meeting more people very soon in order to do so. If anyone wants to invite me to visit then please get in touch!! Spent a couple of days at Tatchbury Mount in various talks with individuals and that included being able to speak with each of the staff governors-Guy Powell, Heath Gunn, Fran Lloyd, Nonye Ibekwe and Dave Cubbon. It's always good to touch base with them as they tell me what's on people's minds in relation to the strategy and direction for the Trust and I can share with them any latest thoughts and plans which they can then feed back. One thing we did discuss in particular was the plan that, once we have merged with HCHC, all the staff governor roles will be up for re election as we need to make sure that everyone's views are represented. Each governor will cover a region in future raher than a specific directorate and so to help with this in addition we plan to have a number of associate staff governors who will work with the elected staff governors and the staff network. An exciting time ahead and full of opportunity for staff to really have a voice and one of those ways is via the governors. If anyone is interested more then please ask me for more details. What else happened of note? Tuesday saw me at Aldershot at the Training and Development Committee for magistrates which I sit on. Topics for discussion included completed appraisals and competence of magistrates, training needs for magistrates in an environment where budgets have really squeezed ability to run courses-this year will see us all having a brief training session at the start of our quarterly evening Bench meetings-and manpower planning in terms of the number of people we need to recuit for the youth and family panels, appraiser and mentor panels over the next 5 years. On Friday I met the Chair of Winchester and Eastleigh Hospital for lunch, Mike Gretton. Mike and I started in our roles at roughly the same time/ We have very different backgrounds-Mike being Royal Navy-and have both had our challenges in our roles since we started. Winchester as you may be aware is currently the subject of a potenital merger with Basingstoke hospital and so it was good to be able to compare and share experiences. He's a good colleague and was good to meet up again. I did receive some very sad news last week on a personal level. My late mother's partner suffered a massive stroke last weekend and died on Wednesday. At 94 he had a good life and was the life and soul of any party right up until the last. A life long supporter of Arsenal he knew about all the players past and present and there was never a question you asked he couldn't answer. A very lovely, generous and kind man that touched a lot of lives, he was like a second dad to me, and grandad to Ollie and Chris, and we and all his family shall miss him very much. So what's happening next week. I will be processing photographs from this weekend-had 3 family portrait shoots which were fun to do. Tomorrow sees me with the Trust Board at another run through in advance of our meeting with Monitor. The Non Executive Directors are then meeting to catch up and swap notes as it were!! Managers Hearing at Moorgreen on Tuesday for me followed by the HCHC Board meeting. Our own Trust Board meeting is on Thursday at the Hilton in Southampton followed by the Council of Governors meeting to be held in public in the afternoon and so anyone who wants to come along is very welcome. We'll be talking to Governors about our current performance and key issues and then going into detail about the HCHC transaction. On Wednesday I am taking Ollie to Cardiff as he's been offered a place to do Sport Management at UWIC and this is an applicants day and so it will be nice to spend a day with him as I rarely see him these days!! He did drop into the conversation on Thursday evening though that he has then to be in Weston Super Mare by 5pm to play football for the Basingstoke Youth team so could I drop him off as, in his words "it's only 15 minutes down that little road the M32 or M5 isn't it"!!! Geography was never his strong point. Apparently I can either stay and watch him or he'll get a lift home. I know where I'll be going through my Trust Board papers now for a last time then-on the sidelines of a football pitch in WSM!! Tonight we've had a last minute panic as having reminded him many times this month that his car insurance is due at mid night tonight he's left it until the last minute. So last minute that by the time he phoned up the lines were closed. Early morning for him then so he gets to insure when they open at 8am!! What is it with 18 year olds that they don't take any notice of their mothers? So that's me for now. I have been promised a new photo this week to replace this awful one so fingers crossed! Get in touch if you have any views or news or ideas. In meantime have a good week. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=50 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:03:33 GMT 20110123210333 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:03:33 GMT 20110123210333 Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:03:33 GMT 201101232190333 Hi everyone Hope you have had a good weekend despite the miserable weather. I keep looking at my photographs of the Maldives-somehow my wet and soggy garden with the grey skies doesn't quite match up to the white sands, turquoise seas and blue skies I was experiencing only 10 days ago!! My week went to plan-court on Monday was slow as the cells were closed as no heating and so not many customers! Tuesday in the office catching up. Wednesday in London and then on Thursday the Trust Board had its first dry run of the Board to Board meeting planned with Monitor in a fortnight on the transaction. Some things went well and some areas need more work on and so we have another session planned for next Monday. Preparation is key for us all to be able to demonstrate confidence. (Note how I've missed out telling you about the weigh in session on Tuesday-wonder why?!!) Friday saw me at a very wet and windy Rosebowl stadium in Southampton for a staff conference "Whose Aspirations? Tackling stigma and putting the service user first". Whilst it was grim outside despite the lovely view across the cricket lawns, inside we had the most fantastic day and it was lovely to see and meet up with many faces I knew from around the Trust. Everyone was asked to make a personal pledge and one of mine (as being greedy I made two) was to let everyone who reads this blog know a little about the day so that the campaign to tackle the stigma and discrimination that comes with having a mental health issue gains momentum. So here I go! I started the day excited as about 18 months ago Nick Yeo and I signed our Trust up to the national Time to Change Campaign which many of you will by now be familiar with from adverts on the TV and radio and posters featuring many well known individuals. My hope had always been that as a leading mental health and learning disability provider in Hampshire we could lead and actively support the campaign locally and Friday's conference was really the start of what is going to be something great I believe. It is also a subject very close to my heart too as I told the audience, having expereinced as a teenager my mother who had tried to take her own life on a couple of occasions taking many years then to recover, and I myself have been treated for depression on 3 separate occasions over the last 12 years so I have some personal insight into many of the issues. Over a 120 staff and service users attended and we circulated around a number of workshops and listened to some great guest speakers including Sue Baker from Time to Change who told us all the latest from the national campaign, Karen Tripier from the Mental Health Training and Consultancy and herself a service user who told us what it was like to be her-she was funny, down to earth and highly entertaining, and thena fter lunch Professor Geoff Shepherd from the Centre for Mental Health whose talk was entitled "Why be interested in recovery? Implications for new relationships between professionals and service users". Lots of resonance with what's already going on in the Trust with WRAP (wellness recovery action planning) user involvement and joint training etc and I think we'll see some exciting developments very shortly!! One of the workshops made use of "Forum theatre" to demonstrate very vividly how conversations and supervision at work can go horribly wrong if we ourselves do not approach situations appropriately and how easily we can stigmatise either ourselves or fellow colleagues. Seeing it enacted out in front of you and then having the opportunity to "stop the play" and try different approaches was a very powerful technique to use (which I had seen for the first time last year when I went to a Medical Education conference and thought then how good it was) and led so well by James and the team. Well done. In fact I might even investigate it as a part of a Board development session in the future. The afternoon passed quickly and the buzz, energy and sense of common purpose as everyone made their pledges was palpable and like throughout the day there was an overwhelming passion for change and common dislike of the injustice that happens. Much feedback was received including many comments on culture and change needing to start at the top and my second pledge is that I will include that in my next Chair's report to the Trust Board and Council of Governors meeting on 27th January so they are aware and also make a pledge. The feedback could not be more timely as we are developing with staff a new set of values for our new organisation for after we have merged with HCHC and therefore can take into account your views. So a great end to the week and thank you to all of you who were there and who I managed to speak to (the list is endless!) and also to those who organised the day so well, with a special mention to Carol Bunday who I understand organised everyone and everything! A point for us all to remember that came out of the day and which i will share with everyone : "If we reach people we can have an impact in tackling stigma; we can be a champion for change" Have a good day everyone Carol PS Saying a hello to Pat and James from Connaught House and thanks for the positive comments about the blog. Much appreciated and see you soon. http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=49 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:45:56 GMT 20110116234556 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:45:56 GMT 20110116234556 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:45:56 GMT 2011011623114556 Hello everyone and Happy New Year. Got back on Friday evening from an absolutely amazing week in the Maldives. I had heard about the beauty and serenity of the islands from friends and family who have been there before but even knowing that my expectations were far exceeded. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to visit there and hopefully one day I'll be able to go back. Returning from the 29 degrees and sun and blue sky of Male to the 8 degrees and rain at Gatwick brought me back to earth fairly rapidly however!! The weekend has seen me trying to catch up with everything so I know what I'm returning to (the dreaded emails and reports are back with a vengeance-it was so nice being without them for a week!!). I also did a family portrait sitting yesterday afternoon and what a lovely close family they were. The grandparents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next month and a family friend arranged a group family portrait with their son and daughter and their families made especially special as the daughter and her family live in Australia and are only home for Xmas and the New Year. 13 people in my studio means I need expanding walls as was a bit of a squeeze but we all had a good time and I hope they like the resullts. The week ahead is varied for me. Tomorrow will see me in court being appraised as a "supervised chair". I think I told you that I did my chairman's training in September and now face 6 appraisals by 2 people (3 per person) over the next 6 months to make sure I'm competent and can be allowed to "run free" as it were as a Chair of the bench. Must brush up on what I'm supposed to do tonight though! Tuesday I'm based at Tatchbury for various meetings; Wednesday will be spent in London at a meeting in the afternoon of the Foundation Trust Network Board of which I'm a Director and a career coaching session in the morning; Thursday I'm with the Trust Board as we prepare for our forthcoming Board to Board meeting with Monitor as part of their assessment of our merger with HCHC and on Friday I will be at the Rosebowl at the Tackling Stigma and Discrimination event which I'm looking forward to. In the meantime we'll be celebrating Christopher's 15th birthday which is tomorrow-have you ever tried wrapping cricket pads (batsman and wicket keepers) cricket bat, gloves and bag so it's not obvious! And on Tuesday evening I will have to suffer the embarrassment of a weigh in following Xmas and a holiday. Oh well back to Zumba with a vengeance for me! Look forward to working with you all this year. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=48 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:19:22 GMT 20110109131922 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:19:22 GMT 20110109131922 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 13:21:43 GMT 201101091312143 I'm nearly packed and ready to go tomorrow. Been catching up on the chores believe it or not (and some work whilst no one looking!!). Great joy in this house with retaining the ASHES and now the darts is on all the time. What did I do to deserve a sports household? Before I go on holiday, I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year and I look forward to working with you all in 2011. With my best wishes Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=47 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:50:04 GMT 20101229205004 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:50:04 GMT 20101229205004 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:50:04 GMT 201012292085004 Hello everyone I do hope you have all managed to enjoy a Happy Christmas so far whether working or having some time off. Monday evening now and today is the first time some of the snow has melted in Basingstoke and finally some of the ice is disappearing. Let's all enjoy before the next wave hits us! We all had a very quiet and peaceful Christmas weekend here (and especially so as Stewart not at all well on Christmas Day itself so we didn't see much of him) after the family and friends weekend last week where I was wondering if anyone would make it because of the snow-in the end everyone descended on the Sunday and so it was quite a hectic day!! Boys getting back to normal now-Ollie had to work all day yesterday in Matalan (Sunday) and was surprised just how much stuff people were buying. Apparently the queue was almost out the door before the tills even opened at 11am. Chris has now taken off to stay with friends over night. 72 hours with Mum is enough!! I'm starting to think about packing for my holiday over the New Year-Stewart and I are off to the Maldives on Thursday for a week-somewhere I've never been to but have always wanted to go so getting a bit excited now. Before I go though, I have to get all those chores done at home that I never seem to have time for-my photograph business accounts, sort the study, do my filing, clean the studio etc. On the other hand I'm sure something else will come along to distract me knowing me!! Enjoy your week Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=46 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:45:22 GMT 20101227174522 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:45:22 GMT 20101227174522 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 17:45:22 GMT 201012271754522 I was lucky enough to be invited to an absolutely amazing and brilliant Christmas Service at Bluebird House yesterday organised by the Education Unit and young people themselves. The Nativity story was told and Christmas Carols sung by us all...........quite often karaoke style by us following the illuminating words on the screen, or to live music c/o two of the staff on the violin and guitar. Rev James Hair said a few poignant words which struck a chord with me and it ended with two requests from the young people for songs and so there we were all singing away to The Band Aid Xmas song and Wizard's "I Wish it could be Xmas everyday"!!!! Wonderful atmosphere and really pleasing to see everyone including the young people taking part and enjoying it. It was a pleasure to be there and so thanks for letting me be part of it. I then went on to a Xmas lunch with a few of the Maples staff which was fun too and so good day all round really!! Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=45 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:18:04 GMT 20101223111804 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:18:04 GMT 20101223111804 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:20:13 GMT 2010122311112013 Hope your weekend has been good and not too treacherous . As I sit at Tatchbury Mount the snow's coming down again thick and fast so looks like another week of everyone needing to take care and keep warm and safe. I promised I'd let you know the outcome of the CEO recruitment process today and so please find below the text of a letter I have sent to all of you this morning at HPFT and HCHC informing you of our decision which was a very difficult one to make but none the less we did and have been lucky enough to make an excellent appointment. Thanks again to all those of you who have helped and supported us through this process. Would be interested to hear what you think or any veiws of how we've gone about it if you have any. have a good day. Carol Good morning everyone I am delighted to announce the appointment of our new Trust Chief Executive Katrina Percy following an extensive search and selection process which culminated in a 2 day assessment and selection exercise last Thursday and Friday. Katrina as you will be aware has been acting as our Interim Chief Executive since October having joined us from Hampshire Community Healthcare (HCHC) when Nick Yeo departed to take up his new position with the Strategic Health Authority (SHA). We were lucky to have four very strong candidates at this final stage of our search who were all asked to attend a number of stakeholder meetings with over 100 staff (HPFT and HCHC), external partners, users and carers and the Trust Board followed by a final interview panel with myself, Pam Charlwood (Vice Chair) Mike Petter (NED), Lisa Rodrigues (CEO Sussex Partnership FT), Debbie Fleming (CEO NHS Hampshire) and Professor Clive Holmes (Clinician, University representative and Governor). Following an exhaustive process, we found ourselves on Friday afternoon in a good situation and could have appointed a number of the candidates which shows just how strong the competition was. Therefore it is to Katrina's great credit that she has been offered the post. I thought I would tell you a bit about Katrina for those of you who may not know her as well as others do. Since joining the health service as a management trainee, Katrina has worked across all sectors of the NHS but also internationally. Her roles have included Chief Operating Officer and Divisional Manager in an acute Trust, strategy lead for a SHA and Director of a hospital in Tanzania. Most recently as Chief Executive of HCHC, she initiated and implemented a clinical and organisational and development strategy, improving quality outcomes for patients as well as developing the corporate and clinical governance structures. I am sure you will join me in welcoming Katrina into this role which she so richly deserves. I look forward as your Trust Chair to working closely with Katrina as we move forward into the future and create our new and exciting merged organisation and I know that in the New Year Katrina will want to come and meet with as many of you as possible. If anyone has any queries or questions please do contact me but in the meantime all that remains is for me to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year. http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=44 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:56:25 GMT 20101220095625 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:56:25 GMT 20101220095625 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:56:25 GMT 201012200995625 Woken up to snow in Basingstoke this morning as I expect many of you have done. Really glad it held off until today as that allowed the final day of the CEO selection process yesterday to take place successfully and without hitch-exciting news on result will be out on Monday. Sitting here now though wondering if any of my family and friends that I had invited to join Stewart, Ollie, Chris and I for a bite to eat and Xmas drink sometime over a "Xmas open weekend at home" will actually now be able to come? I had decided to do this for the first time this year as normally at this time of year we are travelling length and breadth of country visiting many of them so best laid plans? House full of food and drink as I have catered for over 50 over the weekend with the possibility now of no one coming to the party so please don't tell my Slim and Zumba teacher as I think the diet may be shot to pieces for me this weekend!! I would much rather think though that anyone, including my friends and family, stay put, keep safe and warm and only travel if they absolutely have to as parties can always be rescheduled. For those of you who will have travelled into work today however as I know many of you will have done, and sometimes against the odds, thank you from me and the Trust Board and I wish you all a good day and safe journey home later. Take care everyone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=43 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:47:51 GMT 20101218094751 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:47:51 GMT 20101218094751 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:50:44 GMT 201012180995044 Day 1 of the CEO final selection process took place today at the Holiday Inn in Winchester and in my view it was a really successful day with so many people turning up to take part. When I arrived there was already a real buzz and sense of purpose and excitement from all the staff who had come to join the presentation and Q and A sessions in the morning-we had over a hundred people there this morning. It felt good and positive and it surpassed my expectations. Each candidate met the group and the questions then asked really hit the mark, they were insightful and relevant and hopefully those who were there learned a lot more about each person. There's been a lot of collating all of your views going on this evening on each candidate which will be invauable information for the final interview an selection panel tomorrow. The afternoon groups went equally as well-they included service users and carers, external stakeholders and the Boards of both HPFT and HCHC with Governors joining each group. Again information from these groups will give us valuable and different perspectives for tomorrow's final interviews. I have yet to receive the detailed output from today and we will be getting that at 8am in the morning as part of the panel's final preparations for the interviews. From soundings though it would appear that each candidate displayed different strengths for different groups and at this stage there appears to be little to choose between them. So it really does look as if it is going to come down to the final interview. Good luck to all the candidates who have all put so much time effort and commitment into this so far and I am looking forward to an enjoyable day even if the decision is going to be a tough one for the panel to make. The hotel was superb as well and a great location. Apparently it's only been open a few months and the conference facilities and service were excellent. We had coffee, tea, fruit, buns etc available all day and lunch was good too. Hope those who were there enjoyed it. One of the highlights of the day for me was seeing how well staff from both HPFT and HCHC were naturally getting on and mixing together and no one would have known that we are technically still from two different organisations still coming together and merging. Great to see and experience and bodes well for the future as maybe, just maybe, our cultures aren't so very different in many respects. Finally. a very big heartfelt thank you on behalf of the HPFT Trust Board to those people who have contributed today -our staff, our external stakeholders and our service users and carers-as your views are appreciated . I know that many more of you would have liked to have been there but in fairness to the candidates we felt seeing 150 people in one day was maybe as many as we could subject them too!! A big thanks too to Sue Clark and Helen Richmond, who have organised today for me and will also be in at 7.15am tomorrow to sort us out, and Melanie, Helene and Jackie from Veredus the search and selection company who are running this whole campaign. Without you all today would not have run as smoothly as it has done. It's made such a difference. You'll hear from me again on Monday morning with the final outcome and in the meantime have good weekends all and stay safe and warm if we get the snow and sleet back as promised. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=42 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:26:25 GMT 20101216222625 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:26:25 GMT 20101216222625 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:20:25 GMT 201012180992025 Another couple of weeks have flown by and my thanks go to all of you who coped so well with the snow and ice and freezing temperatures to make it into work. It is really appreciated by everyone on the Trust Board and reminds us what fantastic staff we have working for us so thank you. It was one of my scheduled court days when the snow hit Basingstoke on the Thursday and I managed to get in along with just 3 other magistrates. 9 of us were needed!! So the 3 courts were hastily rescheduled into two courts and we ran them with just 2 of us on each Bench. Busy day as all the defendants managed to turn up (which I have to say surprised us somewhat) and all went very well and enjoyed it especially as I got to have more practice in the chair now I've been trained to do that. A lots happened in the 2 weeks especially with the recruitment for the CEO position and I notice a couple of you have been asking about that so thank you for doing so and here's where we are as of today. From receiving 28 applications we long listed 14 people who were seen and then last Monday we shortlisted 4 people for final selection this coming Thursday and Friday. They've now undertaken a whole series of psychometric profiles and personality questionnaires reday to attend a stakeholder day on Thursday and panel interview on Friday. The stake holder day is being held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Winchester: in the morning we have about 100 staff from all different grades and professions across both HPFT and HCHC attending and each candidate will be spending 45 minutes with this group in a Q and A session; in the afternoon there are 3 stakeholder groups all of about 15-18 people. The first group is meeting the Trust Board of HPFT and HCHC and our lead governor; the second group is a mixed group of service users and carers from both HPFT and HCHC together with some governors; the third group includes our major external stakeholders with the PCTs, SHA, Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Local Authorities, LINkS and others all represented. A busy day but one which will be invaluable to gather opinions. Then onto the final selection panel on Friday being held at Sycamore Lodge where to remind you I will be joined on the panel by Pam Charlwood (Vice Chair) Mike Petter (Non Exec) Professor Clive Holmes, Lisa Rodrigues (CEO Sussex Partnership NHSFT) and Debbie Fleming (CEO NHS H). I am hopeful that we will be in a position to make our decision on Friday after which it needs to go through the necessary approvals with the Non Executive Remuneration Committee and the Council of Governors before anything can be communicated. If all goes to plan this is all jacked up for Friday evening and so I should be in a position to make an announcement on behalf of the Trust Board to all staff on Monday morning once all is in place. Watch this space as I promise it wil appear on my blog as one of the methods of getting the message out! Meanwhile other things have progressed as normal-last week of the month always sees me at our Trust Board meeting which went extremely well and was very positive. Amanda Horsman and Dr Helen McCormack from OPMH attended to give us a presentation on planned consultation for service changes at the Tom Rudd unit and also Hazel Rowe and Pam Littlechild from Social Care came to meet us all over lunch and we heard a really inspiring account of campus reprovision in the SE and the positive impact it was having for clients. Thanks to all who came along as it really does help the Trust Board keep things real and in context and remind us what we're in business for! (And hopefully those who came didn't find us too scary either as we're just normal people like everyone else.....but maybe you should ask them!!) Last Thursday saw me at the Holiday Inn in Eastleigh with fellow Non Executive Directors and Dr Huw Stone for our annual Governors Development Day. This year we used it as the Governors opportunity to provide feedback and ideas into the emerging vision and strategy for our new merged organisation and had some really useful input which we can pick up and use. I always find the diverse views we get from such a large group of people who come from various walks of life and all with their different experiences and views really encouraging and valuable. Governors wished Joanna Cavanagh the Membership Coordinator well as she goes on maternity leave this week-as do we all Joanna so make the most of the next few days or weeks of peace!! One Governor as they were leaving then congratulated me on my little bump too. NO before you all join in I am not!!! At the age of 53 little bumps and I are a thing of the past and it was simply that I was wearing what I thought was one of the fashionable jersey dresses that happens to have a folded pleat at the front and that's my excuse although extra Zumba classes for me this week now! Interesting day today for me as I've met with Geoff Harris Chair of the SHA this morning and then this afternoon together with Andy Clapper we met Chief Constable Alex Marshall and Chief Probation Officer Barry Crook in our ongoing quest to try and see how we can work more collaboratively with other agencies especially Criminal Justice on the issues of Offender Health. I really hope we can get things moving in a practical and pragmatic way across Hampshire and somehow cut through the endless bureaucracy. There is a way I'm sure! Quick update on the boys whilst they're not looking. Ollie's now got 4 offers through from Universities for Sports Science or Sports Management and just now waiting on the one he really wants from Loughborough. It's also just dawning on him that his car insurance is due next month and despite me nagging him all year to save for it he's now wondering how he's going to keep paying it as all the Matalan money from his P/T job seems to disappear on petrol and clothes. Chris is doing well although most of the time I'm embarrassing and annoying apparently-can't think why! His Hatch Warren football team are in the next round of the Hampshire Cup so life was ok this weekend. I'm in the process now of bribing each of them to stick around for a bit this weekend as I some friends and family coming over for a Xmas weekend and it would be nice if thyey could at least say hello. But any of you with 18 and 14 year olds know that they will simply do their own thing anyway......one day I'll learn. Speak to you later in the week. Remember to keep your questions and comments coming. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=41 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:49:49 GMT 20101214004949 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:49:49 GMT 20101214004949 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 21:54:40 GMT 201012162195440 Time is flying by and another weekend to pack in all the things I don't get done during the week. Sitting here with a cup of coffee trying to recover from the Saturday morning exercise class I've been to again. I'm sure it's doing me good! Later I'm off to Bristol to meet a very old friend of mine for a weekend of retail therapy and time out. Think the diet may just have to be relaxed a little for 24 hours!! Had a varied week again-on Tuesday I chaired a quarterly meeting with the Mental Health Act Review Managers who are those volunteers who sit on managers review hearings for patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act and are either appealing against this or their section is coming up for renewal. They're a lovely group of people, many retired who do this because they would like to give something back to society by using their skills and expertise and they come with many varied and intersting backgrounds. We review the past 3 months and look forward to the next quarter and in doing receive some very useful feedback on their experiences around the Trust-mostly positive!Their guest speaker this time was Kaye Adamson who the Trust have recently appointed as our Campaign Manager to lead the Trust's contribution towards the Time to Change Campaign who outlined some of the very exciting ideas for the future. Watch this space! I left this meeting and zoomed along the M27 to join HCHC's Board meeting for the afternoon as part of my learning journey to understand better more of what community services are all about. Fascinating and a very useful time for me. Wednesday saw me in the Youth Court in Basingstoke with an array of young people in front of us. Whilst ensuring that justice is seen to be done in a fair and consistent way that fits with the offence committed, there are some cases where all of us sitting on the bench cannot help but feel sorry for and in despair of some of the very sad situations and backgrounds some young people find themselves in. The purpose of the Youth Court is different from the Adult Court in as much as many of what we call the disposals (ie the sentence that is given out) are programmes aimed at helping and rehabilitaing young offenders so that they do not continue with their offending. For some it works very well; for others it takes a little longer and many appearances in court. We had a mixture of both on Wednesday. Thursday had me back in Court but this time in one of the meeting rooms upstairs for a Traininga nd Development Committee as I am a member of that. this committee is primarliy concerned with the competence of magistrates and so mainly focusses on membership criteria for panels, training programmes mentoring and appraisals. I keep "banging the drum" for magistrates to receive more awareness training on mental helath and learning disabilities as in my experience to date it has been minimal. Had a very pleasant lunch then with Pat Shirley in Romsey catching up who is looking superb as since she left the Trust, as some of you will know, she trained for the Great South Coast run and recently completed it in under 2 hours which is brilliant. She continues to run 3 times per week, is loving having more time to spend with her latest grandchild and is very happy. I'm sure she would want me to say hello to you all on her behalf. Finally yesterday a small group of us met to work through our future strategy for members and governance rationale for the future organisation. Membership strategy mainly looked at attracting and recruiting future members, (how many, where from, do they represent the make up of our populations, joint approcahed with other Trusts etc), and ensuring we then involve and engage them appropriately recognising that some will simply want to receive information through to those who may want to be more actively engaged by attending meetings, filling in surveys etc. The Governance rationale work was more the legal and constitution bit which relates to how the Board of the new organisation will operate in relation to what we call an assurance framework or simple map. In essence what that means is that the Board need to be clear and confident that they are receiving the right information and data at the right time that gives us proper assurance that the Trust is running as well as it should be to deliver safe, effective and quality services to patients. This probably sounds quite boring to many of you but is something that Non Executives in particular have to pay special attention to as our prime role is on of assurance and governance so that we never find ourselves in a situation like some others have done unfortunately, eg Mid Staffs Hospital, where things get pretty awful for patients and yet for whatever resaons the Board did not realise it and act appropriately and quickly enough. I'm confident we are not int hat position but we do have to check ourselves and the way we work reguallry and with the impending merger there is never a better time. Mind you after 6 hours of this yesterday, Pam Charlwood Vice Chair and I did decant to the Mortimer Arms just down the road from Tatchbury for a cup of tea and then a lime and soda (see still being good) to recoup and also have oneof our regualr 1:1 conversations at which she and I can share our experiences and agree how to move certain things forward. Useful and we parted company at 6.45pm for our respective journeys Northbound for me up the M3 and for Pam Eastbound along the M27. Dived into Comet on my home to exchange something I bought a couple of weeks ago and then collected Christopher from football practice so home by 8.30pm. He's had a friend over as they wanted to watch the Ashes together so two 14 year olds camped out in my lounge last night complete with supplies and they're still there now. I'm not asking if they got any sleep!!!! I've now cooled down, so going for a shower and pack my bag and Bristol here I come! Have good weekends whether at home or work and I'll be back next week. Take care everyone Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=40 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:25:13 GMT 20101127112513 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:25:13 GMT 20101127112513 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:25:13 GMT 2010112711112513 Early start for me today with early meeting with Katrina to review what's been going on and exchange ideas and views. It's important for any Chair to work well with the Chief Executive in an open and honest way as it's a relationship that needs to work for both in a mutully supportive way. I have to say that it is and I'm thoroughly enjoying working with Katrina as she undertakes the interim role and think that the work she and the Executive Directors from both HPFT and HCHC are doing at the moment in terms of developing the strategy and vision for the new organisation is exciting and has so much potential and look forward to it being shared with you all. Katrina and others then went off to meet with Monitor the regulator who have started their 3 month assessment of the acquisition today and I went to meet the EIP team based just outside Romsey. Thank you to Ben and the team there who allowed me to join the MDT team case review meeting as it was brilliant for me to see the level of interaction between team members volunteering ideas and suggestions and also providing encouragement and support to each other. I also learned a lot too about the work of the team and that included: 1 Age range of clients which ranged from 15-40 years with a number in their late thirties which surprised me as I had always understood wrongly, as it would appear, that EIP teams are focused on a younger age profile? 2 The importance of the inter-relationship between EIP with CMHTs, AOTs, CAMHS and CRHT and the issues there can be when a service user is referred backwards and forwards between teams That must be something many of you face on a day to day basis I'm sure. 3 The importance of a multi agency approach with services wrapped around the client's needs to ensure a whole person approach is taken to enable recovery and the challenges there are trying to influence that. In this particular case it was trying to influence the agency providing accommodation to stick with this client until more had been put in place. This reminded me of when I sit as a Mental Health Act Review Manager hearing either an appeal or renewal for detention, and how so often accommodation can be the hurdle to get over. 4 Approaches to Family Work and how to target the most complex needs and focus resources accordingly 5 RiO and a positive story-this team are part of the pilot for remote access using laptops which was reported very favourably by those who had access to the laptop. Being able to input data remotely, as opposed to having to return to the office to do so, was saving time and costs and found to be more flexible for them. We then had some time to have an informal discussion and I certainly picked up views and suggestions about ways we could look at improving communication and engagement with staff which was extremely helpful to hear. So thanks again Ben and the team and I'll call in for coffee again at some point now I know where to locate you! Back to the office and a sandwich lunch with the Monitor team to show my face and say hello and then straight into a telephone conference call with Governor Coordinators where we reviewed the latest round of constituency meetings and started to think about next year, plans for a Governor Development day in a fortnight's time which is the Governors opportunity to hear about strategic direction and have their input and and also what they expect from our next formal Council of Governors meeting with the Trust Board to be held in public in late January. A good productive meeting and I think we will be using telephone conferencing a lot more next year. Various meetings thereafter and got away at 6.30pm for usual trek northbound up the M3. On the boys front, for anyone tracking their sporting careers, Chris's Saturday team got through to the next round of the Hampshire Cup (phew) but the team he plays for on a Sunday only managed a drawer and he played **** apparently (his words) so for those who know the Harry Enfield sketch Kevin was in our house last night! All quiet on the Western front now though. Ollie meanwhile had his Basingstoke Youth team match postponed tonight which is just as well as on Saturday night he and 39 other 18 year olds hired a coach and went to Bournemouth for one of their birthdays and I think he's still recovering from the 4.30am get home time! He'll learn..... More later in the week. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=39 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:42:21 GMT 20101122234221 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:42:21 GMT 20101122234221 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:47:22 GMT 2010112223114722 .....it was a good idea to take an exercise class at 9am on a wet an miserable Saturday morning? But with Stewart playing golf, Ollie and work, Chris playing football I thought I would do something too! So I went to an extra Zumba session which was great fun and I actually rather enjoyed it . Feeling very virtuous now and settling down to process some photographs I took last weekend for a family who came for a portrait shoot. Chris will be in soon and I hope he's won his Hampshire Cup match against an IOW team or it will be an afternoon of "treading on eggshells" as those of you with 14 year olds will know so well. He "beats himself up" and blames himself if they lose but if they win he's on a high so let's hope -can't imagine who he gets that from!! Bye for now Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=38 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:30:23 GMT 20101120123023 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:30:23 GMT 20101120123023 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 12:30:23 GMT 2010112012123023 I spent half a day in the office at Tatchbury Mount yesterday with removal vans and packing crates coming and going between Maples and Sterne buildings. For all the staff who have been affected by the moves.... which are part of a plan to co-locate HPFT teams with HCHC teams....I hope you are safely in your new locations and are settling in ok. Everyone's moved house and office in their life and have had to get used to new neighbours and environments and I do appreciate how unsettling and disruptive things like this can be especially when you're really busy with a thousand and one other things to do. Thanks everyone so much though for accommodating these moves, and to those who have organised everything, and I'll try and come and visit you over the next couple of weeks and find out where you're hiding! It's reminded me of all the other places I visit when around the Trust who have either just moved, or are in the process of moving, or planning to move and I want to take this opportunity of thanking you all who have found yourselves in this position for taking it in your stride and adapting so well. Hope everyone has a good weekend whether at work or home. Take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=37 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:13:42 GMT 20101119161342 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:13:42 GMT 20101119161342 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:13:42 GMT 201011191641342 Had really great day today meeting the people that matter most : our staff, service users and carers and our members. Day started arriving in the pouring rain at Anchor House, CMHT in Totton as I had been invited to spend half a day with the team. Huge thanks to Bernice and all the team for making me feel so welcome and packing so much in. After attending a referral meeting Bernice and I went on a home visit to see someone who has been in our service for some time and who was very prepared to tell their story and experience to me which I appreciated. Then back to base where I spent time alongside Jackie who was the duty officer and saw what she was dealing with that morning and finally to the business meeting with the whole team where a number of topics were covered. It's being party to these discussions that helps me understand much better the challenges and opportunities staff around the Trust face. I came away with much better feel for: 1 how much time and effort needs to go into maintaining good working relationships between all the various teams and services both internally and externally eg with Adult Services, GPs, Learning Disabilities, Perinatal Services, CRHT, AOT and EIP to name a few; 2 Early experiences of IAPT and impact on CMHT's as staff have moved across 3 Liaison with local criminal justice organisations and especially the training of local police officers 4 The disappointment felt that vocational advisers from Solent Mind who have been working effectively within the team were no longer going to be funded by HCC and the impact that would be havingon people 5 RIO-actual experiences of using the system-the good, the "not so good" and the issues being raised with the project by the team. (At this point I think Bernice probably wished I hadn't asked the question as it is a popular subject and everyone had lots to say!!) Key messages I heard were that it is excellent for sharing information and makes it much easier and more instantaneous to track patients as they see/access different people and services and this has to be better. However key things that will need to be worked on include the time required to input (esp CPAs) at the expense of face to face time, the absence of remote access that adds to that time as has to be done back at base, social workers needing to find access to RiO terminals due to different systems, activity that is not captured on the system plus a few other bits!! 6 The Service User Involvement project, led by Andover Mind , that has been set up for the New Forest and TVS based on exisiting groups in Winchester and Eastleigh and Andover. Lots of exciting activity planned which is a great opportunity to hear the voice of the service user. I'm now wanting to find out a lot more though about how this will integrate with any exisiting activities, questionnaires or established groups in the Trust, the work Governors and Members are doing to ensure that the we receive the feedback that will make a difference to the decisions we take to improve thinsg for the service user. I just sense a lot goes on already and know there is lots of really valuable information around the Trust-we just need to channel it properly! So thanks Anchor House........and testing my reversing skills getting out the car park!!! Straight onto the South West's Public Constituency meeting this time held at the Community Centre in Lyndhurst and, not that there's any competition at all between constituencies you understand, they win this round of meetings hands down with over 60 members attending to hear Professor Clive Holmes talk about latest research in dementia and Phyl Taplin from Alzheimers Society talk about the work they do. This led to lots of questions from a very lively audience and I'd like to thank the organisers, governors and all staff present for being there and making my job as Chair of the meeting a lot easier by being on hand to answer questions and provide information. We over ran (blame the Chair!!)but that was down to the interest being shown. So then a very wet drive back to Basingstoke, which took a bit longer than normal as the M27 was very slow around Rownhams Services, and straight into cooking dinner and then listening to Stewart and the boys views on the football on TV (unprintable) and given the final score it's now a very subdued household. That's all for now-back again soon. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=36 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:10:32 GMT 20101117221032 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:10:32 GMT 20101117221032 Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:10:32 GMT 2010111722101032 I thought you may be interested to know how the recruitment for our new CEO is going. As you know Nick Yeo left us at the end of September to take up his new role with the SHA as Director Provider Development and we went to advert in October in the Sunday Times and the HSJ looking for a CEO for the proposed new and exciting organisation that will emerge when we acquire HCHC. Veredus are the search and selection company we are using and they have been speaking to many people over the last few weeks about the role and assessing their level of interest. Some of those who are interested have also taken the opportunity of phoning or meeting with me too as part of their homework to find out more about the position. Yesterday Pam Charlwood, Vice Chair, Mike Petter, Non Executive Director and I met with Melanie and Helene from Veredus to go through the applications that had been received by the closing date of 5th November to see who should be put forward for a first interview. 28 applications had been received in total and amongst them there are some strong candidates. We have asked Veredus to see 14 of these applicants who will now be invited to their offices in London for a competency based interview as part of the the next stage. What will happen then is that Veredus will assess what they hear and find out and will provide us with evidence of these interviews so that on the 6th December Pam, Mike and I will then be in a position to shortlist some candidates probably 4 and maximum of 5. They will then be asked to complete some psychometric profiles and meet with me in advance of a 2 day selection and assessment event to take place on the 16th and 17th December-just in time for Christmas!! The 2 days are now being set up: Day 1 will involve a number of stakeholder groups meeting with the candidates and, if we can get hold of people and they are free, thyey are likely to be: 1 Staff from across HPFT and HCHC and HPFT staff governors so you may get an invite! 2 The HPFT Board (Executive Directors and Non Executive Directors) and Governor Nominations Committee members 3 Service users and carers from HPFT and HCHC and partner organisation Governors 4 External stakeholders eg GPs, Commissioners, LInK representatives etc and partner Governors from statutory organisations These groups will not be asked to make a decision but will be asked to provide their opinions and feedback on the relative strengths of each candidate for the selection panel that then interviews each candidate on the following day. I will chsir this panel and joining me will be Pam Charlwood, Mike Petter, Professor Clive Holmes (University, HPFT Clinician and Governor representative), Lisa Rodrigues as an independent and current CEO of an FT (Sussex Partnership NHS FT) and Debbie Fleming CEO of NHS Hampshire as our main commissioner. Based on everything we hear and receive we then hope to be in a position to make a decision for Trust Board approval and onwards recommendation to the Council of Governors for final approval. This may sound like a long drawn out process but I'm sure you agree that we have to be absolutely sure that we find the right person for the job. I'm really confident we will and if anyone has any questions please ask me. Meanwhile I'm really pleased just how well our interim leadership arrangements we have in place are working and we are forging ahead positively on our journey. More tomorrow as I've just spent a very boring day in Andover Court and not much to therefore report on today's activities!! Have a good evening Carol PS Can I have a new photograph please Comms?-don't know about anyone else but this one not my best!!! PPS Maybe a "before and after" to see if my "Slim and Zumba" class I've just joined has any effect-1 week down and plenty more to go http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=32 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:35:16 GMT 20101116193516 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:35:16 GMT 20101116193516 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:32:25 GMT 201011162193225 Hello everyone I'm back blogging after a little delay for which I'm sorry-totally my fault. Thanks so much to those of you who have made contact and asked me where my updates had got too. Nice to receive the encouragement and know I have some of you out there who find it interesting. There is so much going on at the moment I don't quite know where to start: it's an exciting and challenging time for us all and our performance is really holding up well as the year progresses which is great and that's down to you all so thank you. There's lots of change around too though and that can be really positive but can also be very scary at times and a personal worry. I have all those feelings too believe me…(ask my boys and partner who frequently bear the brunt after a drive back up the M3!!).... and so I'll do all I can to promote the upping of our communication and engagement with you so you get the information and support you deserve. I do hope you like the new style weekly bulletin and watch out for the management briefings around the area which will become a standard feature of the future. Loads going on with the proposed acquisition of HCHC and I'll do another post later in the week on that specifically so if there's anything you would like to know in particular let me know over the next couple of days and I'll include it. Meanwhile a flavour of what I've been up to over the past 2/3 weeks: I've been meeting and talking with a lot of interesting people including staff at Bluebird House and Southfields when I've been Chairing managers' panels, the team at the Allan Gardiner Unit who kindly allowed me to sit in on their MDT monthly meeting, and James Hair to talk and learn more about chaplaincy services in the Trust. There's been keen interest in the advert for the new CEO and I've had conversations with a number of people who are very keen and interested in applying. (Again later in the week I'll put up a post telling you what is happening and timescales) Hampshire County Council are a key partner of ours and Sandy Taylor and I met with Gill Duncan, Director of Adult Services and Cllr Felicity Hindson recently to discuss how we could strengthen our partnership even more. Last week saw me inviting the Mayor and Mayoress of Basingstoke ,Keith and Jennifer Chapman, to visit Parklands which they did and were very impressed with what they saw and want to help spread the good word. Thanks to all the staff at Parklands who took time out of their busy schedules to look after us. We're two Governor public constituency meetings down with two more to go in this latest round. Last Tuesday saw us at a very wet and windy centre in Popley Basingstoke hosting the North event and on Thursday afternoon at Central Hall in Southampton. Topics were the same at each and it's really interesting to note that we had a great turn out from members and the public in Southampton and very few in Basingstoke. We're going to need to work out why that is and so any good ideas to entice more members to meetings would be good to hear. I've attended usual share of meetings: internally the Board meeting and Council of Governors meeting at the end of October; the HCHC Board meeting as a guest to learn and find out for myself more about them; the Non Executive Directors had a development workshop last week in Fareham looking at our future strategy and vision and challenging and testing the thinking to date which came form a workshop Executive Directors attended a couple of weeks ago and the Board as a whole will be having more discussions later this month to pull it all together; in my role as Director on the Foundation Trust Network Board I've been up to London on a couple of occasions for meetings and conferences and have also attended the Mental Health Network Conference where I am able to network with others in my position in other trusts and share experiences and ideas. It all helps to keep my feet on the ground and know that we're on the right track and doing well. I also bring back lots of ideas from other places and the latest I'm talking to people in the Trust about is something the 5 Boroughs Foundation Trust have done successfully in their quest to obtain direct patient feedback-they set up a “Big Brother” video booth and service users and carers have been eager to share their stories by going in it. The video then gets played to the Trust Board, to local staff etc and has proved to be very effective and popular. Finally a few milestones in the Bode household-Ollie is now an adult as he turned 18 in October-funny when your first born reaches that age!! UCAS form completed now and just has to get the grades next year to see if he can get to do the Sports degree he's set his heart on. Chris worries about what I'm putting on here about him so I'll just let you know that I'm really proud of him too as his predicted GCSE grades were great this week-even he was somewhat taken aback! Oh and I was ill for a couple of days which is very unlike me and so sorry to anyone I had to cancel and hope to see you soon. Had 4 days in court and started the Christmas shopping today and that about brings me up to date!!! Thanks for your patience and promise to post again soon. Take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=31 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:27:19 GMT 20101114182719 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 18:27:19 GMT 20101114182719 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 20:39:42 GMT 201011142083942 The advert that kicks off the recruitment for a CEO for the new organisation should be appearing in the Sunday Times tomorrrow and the HSJ next week. We've spent the last few days finalising the final proof and also an information pack that will go to anyone who would like to find out more. If you know of anyone that you think would be interested, or anyone you think we should be talking to, then do let me know. The timetable, if all goes to plan, sees us interviewing shortlisted candidates in the week before Christmas and we'll be involving lots of stakeholders including staff representatives in this. In the meantime we have excellent leadership arrangements in place with Katrina Percy taking over from Nick Yeo as interim CEO and primarily focussed on bringing HPFT and HCHC together and supported by Sandy Taylor as Associate Chief Executive on specific mental health and learning disability matters. I hope you've had the chance to read my special briefing to all staff that came out yesterday afternoon giving a bit more detail about this. I'm really pleased (and relieved) how this arrangement has started and Katrina and Sandy are working extremely well together and things ae moving on at pace!! If you've got any questions or queries about this arrangement though then please again let me know and I'll be happy to explain. I've already received a couple and I hope those who have enquired and commented feel they understand it a bit better now. 3 of us went out for lunch with Nick yesterday to send him on his way-me, Susan Suliman (Trust Secretary) and Sue Clark (PA). We went to the Empress of Blandings just down the road from Tatchbury Mount-the fish and chips were lovely!! Many people have asked me what was happening for Nick's leaving but he really wanted to go quietly and with no fuss and therefore did not want a big meal or party. We felt we had to respect his wishes but he didn't get to go without anything at all!! I have had some people ask me why he is leaving right now in the middle of our deal with HCHC and know there may be more of you who may also be thinking it's an odd time for him to to go. But as you will be aware it's all change at every level of the health system and these new SHA roles of Director Provider Development are only available now and can't wait for 6 months time as they have some really important work to be done immediately. Effectively Nick will now be working with all exisiting NHS Trusts across South Central and helping them decide whether they can become Foundation Trusts by 2014 and if not what happens to them. Those of you who got to know Nick well will know that his skills and expertise absolutely fit this type of work and it is an area he likes working in. It was therefore at the end of the day a decision based on Nick's preference and the Trust balancing the risk to the organisation with risk to the South Central health system. If the role hadn't come up Nick would still be here leading us through our next phase. But it did and I believe we have been able to match the skills and expertise we have within HPFT and HCHC to meet our organisations needs and those of the South Central health system. Teamwork and collaborative working at it's best! What else has happened this week of note? Sandy Taylor and I went to Winchester to meet Gill Duncan, Richard Ellis and Lucy Butler of Hampshire County Council to discuss strengthening our relationship and working more collaboratively in the future. lots of ideas and Gill is speaking at the Trust's Business Development day next Thursday which some of you will be at and that should lead to interesting debate. I chaired a Managers panel (made up of 3 lay people) at Bluebird House on Wednesday followed by one at Southfields. As well as carrying out the role to get assurance that the requirements for detaining someone under section are valid, I get a lot from these as they give me an insight into the service users experiences in terms of what works well and smoothly and what could be better. A lot of work goes into preparing reports by clinicians, social workers and nurses fort hese meetings and it always appreciated by the panel. The young person in Bluebird has made so much progress since Christmas too that was a really positive thing to hear about. My magistrates work has had me at the annual bench AGM at Winchester Crown Court on Wednesday evening (not the most exciting meeting of the year but one you're expected to attend) followed by a day sitting in the Adult Court in Basingstoke on Thursday. I was in the court where people appear for the first time-a busy court with people in and out all the time but I like that and had the opportunity in the afternoon to take the Chair and practice my new skills from the recent training course! Nothing like having to practice for real! Am sitting here having put the first load of washing in with Sky Sports on in the lounge (hence I'm doing this!) after a morning stood on the touch line watching Christopher play football in Hatch Warren. They won 8-1 and luckily the rain staved off. Thinking now about putting together a wedding album for some customers but may have a cup of tea first!! Will let you know how I get on. Hope your weekend's ok. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=30 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:45:55 GMT 20101016164555 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:45:55 GMT 20101016164555 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 16:45:55 GMT 201010161644555 Trying to catch up after those technical hitches but think we're ok to go again. Last week brought great variety again and so vanished before I had time to draw breath!! Monday in Basingstoke briefing recruitment company on requirements for CEO replacement. We're using a company called Veredus and so watch out for advert appearing in Sunday Times this weekend coming and HSJ next week. If all goes to plan we'll be interviewing week before Xmas. Anyone who would like to know more about the type of individual we're looking for do ask me. Tuesday in office for much of the day meeting various people. Had a monthly meeting with the Governors Liaison group. These are the governors who either coordinate their constituency groups or run focus groups. Key issues we discussed included agenda for up coming Council of Governors meeting witht he Trust Board and a proposal for a revised structure for Council when we merge with HCHC. Wenesday saw me up in London attending the Foundation Trust Network Board meeting of which I'm a new member. Peter Griffiths (Chair of the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead) chairs this and Sue Slipman is the Director of the network. Was good to meet new colleagues but think it will take me a bit of time to catch up and understand all the politics at play. (Oh to be the new girl again and have many things go over my head!!) Key things discussed though was the FTN response to the White paper which in my opjnion makes good sensible reading and a proposal for the FTN to move to become an independent organisation away from the NHS Confederation whilst still working with them in an alliance with others. Hot topic and one which some of you will be reading about in the HSJ as not everyone's in agreement. Thursday and had a day in the Youth Court cancelled at short notice. It was scheduled as a trial but obviously got sorted before the day came as many trials do and so it gave me a few hours I wasn't expecting. And how did I use them.............badly!!! All those jobs I have meant to do for ages are still waiting to be done. Stewart left for yet another exhibition at the NEC this time and so won't see him until Sunday night. Not sure he misses me and the boys as much as he will do his golf at weekend but he'd never admit it!! Thursday night saw me in the local village pub with Gill Duncan the Director of Adult Services for Hampshire County Council. We discovered we live a mile apart and thought it would make a change to meet up one evening in a more relaxed envrionment than in the formal office environment. Neither of us had really been to the Old Basing Bolton Arms since it's been renovated and it was rather good. Think this could be a regular thing!!! Had a great chat and was good to get to know her a little better. (Meanwhile Chris at home doing homework and Ollie at work doing a Matalan shift and so didnt feel too guilty for going out!!) Friday saw me at the Audit Committee which Robert Boyle Non Executive Director chairs and which has our external auditors and internal audiotrs in attendance. Its not a meeting I regularly go to but drop in from time to time. It's a really important part of the Trusts governance and assurance regime as a Board sub committee with total oversight over the financial and reporting situation of the Trust. The information and assurance which goes to this committee comes from three sources: internal reporting from Executive colleagues: external reporting from external and internal auditors and independent assurance from others particularly Non Executives. Reports to this committee can be very detailed and not everyone's "cup of tea" but anyone with an interest in this area do talk to me if you'd like to know a bit more. Friday evening saw me in Ascot at Ascot Bar and Grill, just opposite the very new and swish race course stadium ( that would be good for a night out methinks!!) , meeting Sian Thomas who was the former Dierctor of NHS Employers but who now runs her own HR company Synuron. Really good to meet someone with new and fresh ideas and I will be arranging for her to come and meet with Katrina and Sandy to share possible ideas for the future. It took me back a few years meeting at this place as a few years ago its predecessor was a favoured restaurant in my GMAC days!! Saturday did not allow me a much needed lie in as Ollie had me taking him to a University open day at University of Brighton for 9.30 start time! He is interested in doing Sports and Exercise science and so "Chelsea" school which is where he would be is actually in Eastbourne. Tour of the site and then tour of Esatbourne to convince him there are some younger people who live there and we were home by 6pm. Student life in Eastbourne I've discovered centres on the Atlantis Club on the pier and Beachy Head Pub! Sunday saw me meeting a very old friend in Marlborough for lunch whose younger brother had taken his own life a couple of weeks ago completely out of the blue. I think all of us who work here can relate to how she was feeling and I'm glad I was able to be there for her. It also took me back to my teenage years where my own mother tried to take her life on two occasions and how helpless I felt then. Still we had a laugh, reminisced and the sun finally came out as had been promised so a nice day after all. Home to cook dinner for 8pm (as occasionally I can do the domesticated thing belive it or not!!)-Stewart arrived home from the NEC at 7.30pm so "brownie points" there as dinner on table shortly after!!! Phew another week got through!!!!! See you next week Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=29 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:10:32 GMT 20101012211032 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:10:32 GMT 20101012211032 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 21:10:32 GMT 201010122191032 Friday morning and it was off to the Nursing Conference in Winchester Guildhall in the pouring rain, I'm so lucky to be invited to this event and have been now for the past 4 years and enjoy every moment. All the presentations were wonderful and well done and thanks to all of you who found the courage and confidence to do them. The work you are all engaged in is so very useful and the fact that the knowledge and experience can be shared in this way says a lot about how this Trust operates. The stalls in the main hall were informative too and no one was allowed to leave without buying a plant or pot of jam from the Southfields recovery project stall-well done to you all. By the way Southfields I'll be down very shortly with my hanging baskets and pots to be done for winter as promised…as well as not being a good cook any longer I'm not a gardener either and would rather leave it to the experts!! During the conference I managed to find the time to organise for the communications to go out to everyone on the Trust Board decision about HCHC and plans for interim leadership arrangements which I hope everyone got and understood. If you have any queries though do please ask me to explain. After my closing speech which on a Friday afternoon is probably the last thing people wanted it was still raining when I left. On way home got call from Ollie telling me he was broken down on the ring road in Basingstoke waiting for the AA……….second time this has happened and last time I was in Salisbury and so not sure what I could have done then either other than ask stupid questions like “are you safe”?. He was more worried though that this would ruin his plans for Friday might and what he was going to do on Saturday. I think this was probably his way of asking me he needed a lift to Newbury first thing on Saturday morning as Matalan where he has a part time job had asked him to work over there at their new store for the day….he eventually asked me after some prompting!.. Got hone followed, down the road by the AA truck with light flashing towing Ollie-it's well and truly broken!! Chris then wanting a lift to football practice, no food in fridge for dinner and so my weekend started with supermarket shopping in between dropping and collecting Chris to football who got absolutely drenched in the rain and so my car is still drying out. I wonder why I'm tired sometimes!! Take care Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=28 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:59:51 GMT 20101008155951 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:59:51 GMT 20101008155951 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:08:46 GMT 201010081640846 Thursday and the morning of the Trust Board arrived and I woke up early. Since when has it been still dark at 6am in the morning-I hate dark mornings and evenings!! Again checked on boys and then left in good time. “Pea souper” fog on motorway which is the first I've encountered this year so took good care and arrived at Moorgreen hospital by 8am. Our Board meeting was in the seminar room in the Tom Rudd unit this month as I like to make sure we hold these events where we can around the Trust. Fred Mehta was already there bright and early and went in search of coffee for us-thanks Fred!! By 8.30am most NEDs had arrived for our first session-Robert Boyle was making his way from the airport having been scheduled to land on a flight from Malaysia at 5.30am that morning as his other roles frequently take him abroad. A useful discussion ensued and before long Executive Directors arrived for the Trust Board meeting to start at 10am. We tend to follow a standard agenda which starts off with a review of last month's minutes and actions arising, followed by my Chair's report and one from the Chief Executive. After this we move on to discussing the Trust's strategic direction and this month the key issue was around the proposed integration with HCHC. This was crunch time as we all knew that the decision we took today would mean no going back. After many months work we were presented with the business case, the financial case and the commercial case for going ahead and after weighting up all the pros and cons we took the decision to fully commit to this integration as it is in the best interests of our patients and gives us a great opportunity to ensure that they receive more cohesive and joined up services which are easier for them to access. We all felt that this signalled a momentous time in the Trusts' journey and a new era which will be exciting and challenging and which we are fully behind. Next up was a focus on quality in terms of reviewing patient experience, safety and outcomes and each month Huw Stone, Medical Director and Jane Elderfield, DNoS, lead this session in which we look at some of the key indicators and performance in a number of areas. Andy Clapper then presented the integrated performance report for the overall Trust, which is based on a dashboard of the key measures we have chosen to monitor overall performance and Letsie Tilley gave a financial update. Do let me know if anyone would like more information on what we look at each month by contacting me or sending a post. The main thing for a Trust Board is to ensure, from the information we receive, that we are demonstrating and performing good and appropriate governance and control of the organisation and understand any risks to the business. We post a brief summary of the outcomes of the Trust Board meeting each month on the website and so if you'd like to know a little more take a look there. Somewhere in the middle of all of this we broke for a sandwich lunch and I was delighted to welcome a group of staff to come and meet with us and discuss the issues around safeguarding in the organisation. As many of you know I am a firm believer that we can have all the processes and procedures in the world in place but it is what actually goes on that matters and so it was very good for us to be able to hear first hand some of the issues that you all grapple with as it is only by hearing about the reality that anything can be done. A big thank you to Lee Carter-Dyett, Frances Wallace-Watson, Jane Thomson, Dr Colin Gibson, Debbie Hastings and Jo Lappin for being so open and honest with us and I hope you enjoyed the experience and that it helped you see the Trust Board as a group of normal people who are genuinely interested in what you do Every month I invite a different group of staff or service users and carers to come and meet with us and so if you'd like the opportunity just let me know. Board meeting over and the Non Executive Directors then met as the Remuneration Committee to decide on the interim leadership arrangements needed in light of the decisions taken re the integration with HCHC. There were a number of options we could have taken but the one we agreed upon and wholeheartedly support sees Katrina Percy coming in as interim CEO with a focus on leading the transaction and Sandy Taylor as Associate Chief Executive focussed on supporting the MH and LD organisation. Hopefully you have all received my letter informing you of this. I'm really confident we have a winning combination there and fell excited excited about the immediate future. Had a number of phone calls to make following these decisions and left for home at 6.15pm for another trip back up the M3-I think my car can do this drive now on its own!! Rest of evening was a bit of a blur but I think probably caught up on some of the soaps as I've got heaps of episodes piling up on sky plus!! Which should I start with was the decision to make -Eastenders, Corrie Street, Holby City or Casualty? Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=27 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:59:48 GMT 20101008135948 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:59:48 GMT 20101008135948 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:04:57 GMT 201010081640457 It's been over a week since my last post –few technical hitches my end-and what a week it's been. I'm going to give you a flavour of the variety of what I've done and maybe you will see why I love doing this role so much. Rather than subject you to a really lengthy post though, I'll take it day by day and “bombard” you with a number over the next day or so to catch up!! Wednesday last week was an early start in the office after making sure that Ollie and Chris were awake and giving some thought to getting up and out to College….got the usual teenage grunts so assumed all was well!. I met up with Nick first thing to go through a number of issues and then straight into my monthly meeting with Anne Belasco the Lead Governor on our Council of Governors. (As well as being a public governor for the South West region, Anne also runs the education unit at Bluebird House and so some of you will know her from there). We reviewed the past month of governor activities, including the successful Annual Members Meeting we held at St Mary's football stadium in Southampton, and output from various focus groups Governors attend. We then also talked about the coming month for Governors and in particular started preparing for the formal Council of Governors meeting with the Trust Board to be held in public at the end of October. I then met up with Professor Robert Peveler who is the Trust Senior Independent Non Executive Director on the Board as he's just come back from holiday. There was a lot to catch up on in readiness for the Board meeting on Thursday and again gave me a chance to reflect on what was going to be required to make it a successful meeting. 2 consecutive meetings then followed with independent consultants, Chris Martin and Richard Tyler, who have been engaged in Director Development work with HPFT and HCHC and this gave me the opportunity to start to consider what we are might need for the next 6 months. Both are fascinating and engaging characters and I'm sure we'll be seeing more of them. By now it was nearing 1.30pm and so time to grab some lunch with Ros Hartley who will be leaving the Trust very shortly-in fact I bumped into Ros again on Monday which was her last day in the office. I hadn't seen Ros for a few weeks and I enjoyed catching up with her again and hearing about her plans and news. I wish her a very happy and successful future. Back to the office and numerous phone calls to make including to Pam Charlwood, Vice Chair of the Board, and Mike Smith Non Executive Director again in relation to tomorrow's Board meeting and then the Chair of Dorset Healthcare with whom I keep in touch from time to time to see how each others Trust are progressing and discuss areas of mutual interest and areas where we could work more collaboratively. They too are in the midst of taking on community services and so we have a number of similar issues we are both facing. I also put a call out to someone I am working with independently in my own time on my own performance, health and wellbeing and half an hour on the phone with her helped me refocus and see things that had become a little muddled in my mind a bit more clearly which for me is extremely important at this time so I can be as effective as possible. By 5.30pm I was on my way back up the M3 to Basingstoke to a Governors meeting at Costello Technology College where I have been a parent governor. En route I remembered to phone partner Stewart who by now had left the exhibition he had been at in London since Sunday and was now on his way to Belgium for a Sales meeting , Ollie who was on his way to Havant to play football for the Basingstoke Youth team (subsequently called off after they had warmed up due to heavy rain) and Chris to give him instructions on the dinner I had prepared for him at 7am that morning (actually, thrown together is a more apt description) First GB meeting of the academic year is always a long one as we review who's on which committee etc but more importantly the GCSE results and Key stage 3 results. Brilliant results this year which placed us 2nd in the Basingstoke league table (not that I'm at all competitive!!) which is a phenomenal improvement on previous years. It was also decision time on a project I've been leading for the past year aimed at converting the College to a Foundation School and Trust status. After many months work and consultation with staff, local business, education bodies, Local Authority and parents and students it was agreed and so we will now convert from 1st November this year. Relief all round! Got in 8.30pm and caught up with things at home. Grabbed something to eat before checking e mails and replied to some phone messages after which I went to bed to re read the Board papers to refresh my memory for the following day (I know how sad that is!!). Don't tell anyone but I soon fell asleep and then woke up at 1.30am with light still on, glasses still on and file in hand The story continues soon……….. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=26 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:57:02 GMT 20101008135702 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:57:02 GMT 20101008135702 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 13:57:02 GMT 201010081315702 Younger son Chris still not well and so sorted him out for day before leaving for Aldershot Magistrates Court for a Training and Development Committee for which I am an elected member for the North West Bench. (Hope he'll be ok and have told him to phone me) Meeting not the most exciting in the world but we review magistrates appraisals to ensure and sign off competence, appoint to various panels such as the Youth panel, Family panel and Chairs panel and review feedback from training courses such as the Chairs training course I attended recently. Had to leave early to get down to Winchester to attend the public Board meeting of Hampshire Community Health Care. First time I've been and very interesting to see the data and information they receive about community services which helped me learn a little more about the business we are planning to take on.Had really interesting presentation from their Divisional Director for Children's Services and I can already see how our services and theirs may be able to compliment each other once we are one business. Exciting opportunities all round to improve the level of care and service given to young people and their families. Left Winchester in rush hour traffic and headed back north up M3; stopped by opticians to get contact lens solution which ran out 2 nights ago and so eyes now sore and everything a blur!! Since then had hair cut and been on phone most of evening to Trust staff sorting out issues to do with merger plans etc. Looking at diary tomorrow and see full day ahead. Excited by it but slightly wondering how I can fit it all in. Sure it will all come good though and that you must have days like that too!! How do you cope? Will let you know if I do later in week. Carol PS Chris now feeling slightly better and so school here he comes tomorrow! http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=24 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:08:44 GMT 20100928230844 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:08:44 GMT 20100928230844 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:56:52 GMT 201009291315652 Welcome to any new readers as I understand this blog has now gone live to all staff.( Better watch my ps and qs now for real!) Seriously I hope you find this interesting and do let me know what you think at anytime or send ideas. Monday morning feeling Don't you just hate it when the alarm wakes you up........... and since when has it been pitch dark at 6.30am in the morning!! Anyway new week started with day in the office today. I did remember to phone my younger son's school though as he's woken up this morning with a really bad headache, temperature and sore throat. He's not one to miss school either and so think it's genuine. His dad's looking in on him all day and so hope he's ok. Will ring him later and check. Various meetings all morning and also another "sealing of a document" this time for a change of lease to one of our buildings. Always amazes me just how much paperwork has to be signed and copied for relevant parties on these matters. It's an industry in itself!.Lunchtime saw me attend the Investment Committee which is one of the Board's sub committees that meets monthly to look at up and coming opportunities and track tenders etc. I tend to drop into each of the Board sub committees at least once or twice a year to get a flavour of how they are running and issues being discussed. Fred Mehta, Non Executive Director chairs this committee and today he also chose to do a presentation on innovation based on his time with IBM and consultancy firms he has worked for which has sparked of a number of thoughts about the best way to really promote an innovative culture within the organisation. I see so many good ideas around the Trust when I am out and about and would love to find a way of really harnessing them and bringing them to the fore. Certainly something we will be looking at with the staff network and others going forward. Had a meeting with the Executive Directors this afternoon mainly about arrangements we will be putting in place until I recruit a replacement for Nick. Watch out this coming Friday for some announcements following our Board meeting on Thursday. It was great to get some time with them and hear their views, concerns and be able to answer their questions. I sometimes think we forget that it doesn't matter how senior you are in an organisation, we are all human beings and real people and all of us can't help wonder how things will affect us. Caught up with lots of administration too and the recycling bin got filled quite quickly. I can't believe how much information builds up over the space of one week. Left office at 6.15pm to get to appointment in Basingstoke at 7pm. Remembered to check on Chris (younger son) who still sounds poorly which is very unlike him and so we'll check tomorrow morning to see whether a second day off school is in the offing. My Mum always made me go to school no matter what....maybe I'm just getting soft in my old age! Just found out elder son split up with girlfriend today too so will have to pick right moment to try and find out the details in due course as I'm a nosey and embarrassing Mum. Home at 10pm and just checked emails. Stewart is away at an exhibition in London until Thursday and so he's not here nagging me about working late into the evening (phew!). Let's just hope he doesn't read this post at any point! Speak later in the week Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=23 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:25:27 GMT 20100928002527 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:25:27 GMT 20100928002527 Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:25:27 GMT 2010092800122527 Full day to end my week. Attended a fabulous workshop put on by the Learning Disability and Social Care Directorates for some of our Governors to help them understand a little more about what we do in this area and what our plans are. It was also an opportunity for them to provide feedback from our members point of view-essential if we are to deliver services that meet our population needs. Thanks to all who did short sharp presentations. A lot of thought time and effort had obviously gone into making the day successful which is really appreciated. I learnt a lot more myself which was good and applaud some of the innovative and exciting ideas I heard about. What came over strongly to me was the absolute belief and desire by everyone to enable our service users to live as independent and normal lives as possible and stories of clients who have recently moved into their own homes and their response to this was heart warming. Onto Fairways House for a Southampton Adult Mental Health Partnership meeting where I had the opportunity to meet players from our Trust and Southampton City Council who work together to provide the best delivery of care into the City. Performance was reviewed and key issues like how can we together improve quality of care, meet increasing demand whilst working within financial constraints were discussed. Few phone calls afterwards and then a chance to have a chat with some people still left in the office completed my day. Back up the M3 and now just off out with the family to celebrate Stewart's birthday. Elder son is driving us !!!!!!!!!! See you next week. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=22 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:18:31 GMT 20100924191831 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:18:31 GMT 20100924191831 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:43:34 GMT 201009271534334 Best bit of my job is getting to go out and about and meet local teams and this morning I spent time with the perinatal services team based at The Lodge at Tatchbury Mount for their weekly team meeting. Thanks to all for juggling the agenda around for me and for the tea and cake. Wish I could bake as well as that-scrumptious it was! I really learned a lot about little known services in our Trust and the excellent work that is being done by a very small specialist team. The ideas and innovative approaches being taken to improving quality services and developing better care pathways from pre conception onwards, and the external recognition for this work they are getting, was inspiring and great to hear about. It's disappointing to me that within our own Trust awareness isn't so high and I want to find ways of rectifying that. It would also be good to think that across our own Trust we could strive to provide equality of access to such services. With the intended tie up with HCHC, opportunities are there also to really integrate care for children's services and I'd like to see this exploited. Of biggest surprise to me was the statistic ( and hope I've recorded this right) that out of c.6,500 births per year going through SUHT, around 200 per week are linked in some way to some sort of mental health issue-a staggering %- and indication of the need. 17 new referrals this week for the team to consider and I left part way through to attend my next meeting. Managed to fall up the step on my way out but hey what a way to make a dramatic exit!! Then onto Chairing the Transaction Programme Board. Attendees of this today included Chair HCHC Mike Petter, a Non Executive Director from HPFT Fred Mehta and HCHC Steve Cuthill, Programme Director David Robertson and CEO HPFT Nick Yeo. We reviewed last week's combined Board workshop and agreed learning and actions to take forward; we stressed the requirement for a clear plan post 1st October with clear leadership arrangements in place; I talked about the recent two days of briefings that Katrina Percy and I have done around Hampshire- good informative days for anyone who came along but far more HCHC staff turned up to these than HPFT staff which makes me wonder why if I'm honest and is something I need to address especially as I am really tuned into the current myths and speculation in some areas of HPFT about reverse take overs etc. Communication over the coming weeks and months is going to be crucial and I'm going to be taking personal oversight over this in the short term as it will make or break this integration. Any ideas of what works for you please let me know. Then had a couple of planned phone calls with SHA people followed by conversation with Comms team about where to take this blog next having trialled it for a couple of weeks. So who knows very shortly all staff may be seeing this so I shall have to really watch my Ps and Qs then but welcome to any new readers and great to have you on board. Then home by 7pm and straight off to QMC College with Ollie my elder son for tutor consultation now he's into his second year of 6th form college. Reviewed his AS results, plans for A levels and University options. Really proud of how mature he is in approaching his options and just goes to show me how much he is really paying attention and getting to grips with what he has to do...... as for those of you with boys it isn't always that obvious from what you see at home!! Can see a number of trips to open days at Uni coming up though and no doubt there will be last minute requests by him to go here and there............that's my latest challenge accommodating such requests with work commitments but such is the life of a parent eh! England just beaten Pakistan at the Rosebowl to win the series so in a house of 3 sporty males all happy in this house tonight. More news soon Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=21 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:42:25 GMT 20100922214225 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:42:25 GMT 20100922214225 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:40:19 GMT 201009241534019 Yesterday saw Day 2 of the Hampshire tour with Katrina Percy and I visiting locations in Petersfield, Alton, Basingstoke and Andover to meet with both HCHC staff and HPFT to brief them on the proposed merger. It certainly tested my sat nav finding some of the places.........in fact it gave up at one point and kept trying to send me down non existent roads but made it in end and on arrival a good turn out in all locations and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing your views and questions. Personally I don't think you can beat face to face communication and so I hope to see a lot more of these briefings in the future. For those who were able to come along I would really like to hear what you thought about the sessions and whether you feel they are worth continuing. As ever send me a post.Also let me know if you'd like me to visit at anytime to meet with you and your colleagues. Today saw me sitting in the Adult court in Basingstoke. It was time for me to be appraised as a "winger" after 4 years and so had to be extra vigilante. As it was , it was an interesting morning with a lot of variety which tested us all. In the afternoon I was then asked to have a go at taking the Chair for the first time since I was trained a couple of weeks ago. All the training in the world doesn't prepare you for the reality of the day, and telling someone they're remanded in custody or being committed to the crown court for sentence for real is a very different feeling than when you are doing role plays in training. Anyway I got through the afternoon with the help of my colleagues and the Legal Adviser and feel good that I've got the first time under my belt. The thing for me in court is to remember you're part of a team and you're not on your own. Home to catching up with NHS e mails and dinner and signing College forms for the boys and hearing about their days and ....and..........typical night in the Bode household!! Hope yours has been good. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=20 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:19:03 GMT 20100921211903 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:19:03 GMT 20100921211903 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:01:59 GMT 201009241750159 First day of a tour of Hampshire with Katrina Percey (Chief Exec designate of Hampshire Community Health Care) to meet with staff from HPFT and HCHC to talk about the proposed merger and answer any staff questions. Started day at Lymington Hospital and then onto Paulton's Park near Calmore. Good turn out from both organisations at each and really enjoyed meeting everyone. Questions great to hear and have opportunity to answer. I'm a firm believer that whenever you go through a major change tackling the issues head on that are really important to everyone is key and so keep them coming. After a quick "pit stop" at Starbucks at Badgers Farm to grab a sandwich and drink it was then onto Winchester. Unfortunately HPFT staff had been given the wrong address and so were waiting for us elsewhere for which I apologise but thank you to them for hot footing it to where we were and hope it was of value. Final stop was in Fareham where huge turn out from both organisations. As we waited in the car park for the caretaker of the church hall to arrive it became obvious he or she had forgotten. Quick thinking by the comms team saw us walk round the corner to a dental surgery where one of the team used to work where we were able use their waiting room, otherwise we would have been holding an open air briefing. Again good questions from the audience and felt to me hat the day had been worthwhile. If anyone has any ideas and suggestions for how we can best keep you informed and up to date with changes as they happen, please let me know. I'm also keen to hear any myths and rumours out there as if I don't know them I can't answer them. You know where to contact me or send a post here. Have good weekend Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=19 Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:16:39 GMT 20100918171639 Sat, 18 Sep 2010 17:16:39 GMT 20100918171639 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:02:12 GMT 201009241750212 On train to London at 7.45am this morning wondering how I ever managed to commute for 9 years in the past when I worked at Head Offices of Sainsbury's and then the Burton Group. Came to the conclusion it's much easier when you're younger!Met up with the Chair, Chief Executive and Transaction director of Monitor our regulator to update them on what's happening down in Hampshire. Was really useful to talk quite openly about what we are all facing and they are experiencing as many changes as we are. Came out to grab a taxi to go onto the Mental Health network meeting. Barriers being erected everywhere around Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament in preparation for the Papal visit to London tomorrow. Taxi driver was a laugh and had some very strong views about us having to pay for all of this and why should we. He wasn't going to bother coming into London tomorrow for his stint as all roads would be blocked off so was contemplating having to go shopping with the wife instead!! Network meeting useful as ever to hear how other MH/LD Trusts are doing and get uodates on latest thinking on mental health strategy etc. Met up with some familiar faces that I'm getting to know quite well through networking like this which is always useful. Great idea coming out of 5 Boroughs Foundation Trust to capture patient experience which I would love to see happen in our Trust. They have taken "Big Brother" booths around their Trust and service users and their carers have flocked to go into them and tell their stories on video about their experiences which then get played to the Trust Board, put on the web and shown to staff, service user and carer groups etc. Things then change as a result. One idea that I'm definitely bringing back as I'm sure our governors would love to start this sort of thing to find out excatly how users and carers feel about what we do as opposed to ticking boxes on satisfaction questionnaires. Very unlike me but fell asleep on train home and luckily announcement was loud just as pulling into Basingstoke otherwise would have found myself in Salisbury or beyond. Quick sprint down to the bus station before ticket office closed to get younger son an annual bus pass for school and all his other jaunts............£399 later so he is under strict instruction not to lose it. Have to admit then came home to empty house for a change as one at football practice, one at the gym and partyner still travelling up North and so had an hour or so off and caught up with back episodes of Holby City with a glass of wine before turning attention to dinner. Dinner done and now catching uo with emails and so ends another day....or so I was thinking. Elder son just asked me to help him register for UCAS and so maybe here for a bit but hey that's life!! Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=18 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:21:29 GMT 20100916222129 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:21:29 GMT 20100916222129 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:02:23 GMT 201009241750223 Hi All day at St Mary's football stadium in Southampton-sorry to any Pompey fans!! But only after elder son told me at last minute that he needed a note for College (why don't they ever ask the night before?) and I spent 10 minutes searching for "lost" car keys which meant that extra delay time saw me sitting in queues on the Avenueto get to where I needed to be. At that point knew the day could only get better. Once arrived this morning, immediately met up with with Non Executive Directors to discuss interim arrangements whilst we recruit a replacement for Nick Yeo. Lots of things to weigh up: what HPFT needs to run effectively, what Monitor will expect, what implications there are for the proposed merger with HCHC., what's acceptable to all stakeholders. So many views and opinions to weigh up and hoping to be in a position to confirm by end of next week. Then a special Board meeting to review final conclusions about Rivendale and Ellingham units leading into a joint workshop with the Board of Hampshire Community Healthcare and representative Governors to discuss and agree the vision and ambition for a new merged organisation in the full knowledge of the risks, benefits and opportunities it brings. Personally I am still very excited about the potential there is to create something that will give patients more of what they want and need. I love a challenge. Non Execs of both Trusts then took the opportunity to meet and reflect on the output and that worked really well. By now it was nearing 4pm and so I went to visits all the stands set up as part of the Annual Members meeting. The room was buzzing when I went in and it was obvious that many visitors were in deep conversation with trust staff and governors. A big thank you to everyone who made this happen and came along. At 5pm the formal part of the AGM started-quite a feat to get everyone to take a seat as the views over the Solent seemed more attractive but we got going and despite usual problems with technology and microphones all sessions went well. I do wonder sometimes though whether we have to go through all the detail we do and whether there are more innovative ways of providing the information we are bound to do so we can get to questions earlier. Questions received this year were really good and constructive and covered many areas. Also helped towards my fitness as I bounded round the room with the one and only microphone that by now was working. Went to leave at 8pm-why is it that my car park ticket wouldn't let me out I wonder. Don't you just hate that when something doesn't happen quite as you've been told it will but soon escaped and back on the road to Basingstoke with head buzzing. Already thinking about tomorrow morning's meeting wit Monitor in London and how to positoon it. Down to earth with bump though once home..........and straight into getting something to eat for me and boys and hearing about their days. Ollie played for Basingstoke Town Youth team today for first time at Ebsfleet and they won so he's pleased. Chris on other hand is already telling me he's going to fail his GCSE Science as he doesn't understand anything.....only 2 years to go...but he does like to set my expectations!! Closing now as must get some sleep. Until next time Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=17 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:25:53 GMT 20100915232553 Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:25:53 GMT 20100915232553 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:02:55 GMT 201009241750255 It's busy but really loving it at the moment. Started at NHS Hampshire in Eastleigh today with meeting with the CEO Debbie Flemming. Just wanted to reassure her that we have plans developing to cover Nick's departure which hopefully will come to fruition by the end of next week asI don't want our major commissioner worried. Really positive and encouraging meeting and so I left feeling good. Then to Tatchbury and a round of meetings. Last minute checks for the Annual General Meeting tomorrow-sorry to all the Pompey fans that we're holding it at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton!! Hats off to all those who are working frantically behind the scenes to make this another successful event-drinks on me at the end I promise. We're also having a workshop with the Board of HCHC beforehand...........getting close to decision point to fully commit to this and so important we all have a common understanding of what we're trying to do and belive in it. Personally I think we have a very exciting future ahead of us if we do with room for plenty of ideas and innovation. I am very conscious though that any organisational change brings personal worries and I will personally make sure that we lead this well and communicate thoroughly over the next few weeks. Am always open to your comments and questions. MY PA Amanda is doing a fab job at the moment in keeping me together and trying to book in the impossible-never fazed by the long list of actions I arrive in the office with and it really helps me concentrate on what I need to do. She's off on holiday next week-thoroughly deserved and no I'm not envious.......much! Managed to actually catch the sandwich man this lunchtime for a change so a ham roll made a change from the usual apple and stopped the stomach rumbling all afternoon! Home tonight and need to finalise my presentations for tomorrow. Remembered to pick up some milk as younger son drank it all this morning so earned some brownie points there! Just been invaded by elder sons friends and so will have to try and find some food for them all. Oh and PC Fix it man coming later as Chris has managed to pick up a virus on his PC..........too much MSN, Youtube and facebook methinks! Glass of wine here I come to keep me going!! Oh and must ring partner to say hello and hope his trips going well. Have a good evening Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=16 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:52:24 GMT 20100914185224 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:52:24 GMT 20100914185224 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:03:14 GMT 201009241750314 Hi everyone Sorry there wasn't an update last week but the week just flew past!! Personally I was very relieved to be able to let everyone know finally that Nick was moving onto a new and exciting role with the SHA as I have been carrying that around for the past 3 weeks until such a time that all the pieces fell into place which is always a worry that things will get out and leak before you're ready-but they didn't which allowed me the opportunity fo telling you first. I'm sure it came as a suprise to many and really well done to Nick . It leaves me with a big challenge to make sure we get the right interim arrangements in place though and I've been talking to lots of people during the past 2 weeks and am confident that I'll be able to let you know fairly soon what is going to be happening. I love trying to solve problems like this and have a lot of stakeholders to consider and I do not underestimate the need to keep everyone fully updated through this change. I'm just like everyone else-it's natural to want to know how it affects us individually and the jobs we do and so as soon as I know you will know!! Had some very long days in the office last week, Wednesday saw us have an extraordinary Board meeting to discuss specific details about the proposed transaction with HCHC. Crunch time soon at our Board meeting on the 30th September as that is the date we will absolutely decide whether we're fully committed to making this work or not after which we can really crack on with what needs to be done. So important that we thrash out any issues now once and for all so the right decision gets made. Meeting officially finished at 7.45pm and some of us then went to the pub to carry on our discussions. Compass Inn good place to go to although packed on a Wednesday night! Away from the NHS last week saw me undertake 2 days of training to become a Chair of the Bench in a magistrates court. I became a magistrate 4 years ago and for your first years you spend time as a "winger" which means you are part of a team of 3 but you are in a supportive role and do not speak in court as everything goes through the Chairman (difficult for me I know to keep quiet!!). Once you've earned your wings as it were you're then allowed to train to be the Chairman which is what I was doing. Really strange as although you hear what the pronouncements are day in day out in court, it's a bit different if you are the person actually sentencing someone to a community order or prison and having to remember everyhting there is to say. Oh well I'll give it a go. What happens now is that for the next 6-9 months I'm a supervised Chairman and after 6 appraisals in that role (can you believe it!) they might let me loose. I'll keep you informed of my progress. My boys were back to school and 6th form College last week and so trying to get back into a routine. Just trying to work out the days Ollie can give his brother a lift to school in the mornings as I haven't been able to get to the bus station in opening hours yet to get Chris an annual bus pass. Thought they'd be open at least on Saturday morning but no....-Mon-Fri only. How helpful if you work. For once I also had a busy social life too last week as met up with an old family friend from Canada on Tuesday eveing, an ex colleague from the AA on Thursday evening and Friday saw me out with some girlfriends I meet from time to time-we've christened ouselves the witches coven and who knows maybe one day I'll tell you more about that. This week has started as last finished. Long day in office followed by a College Governors meeting in Basingstoke this evening . We've just taken a decision at Costello technolgy College to become a Trust Foundation school and I've been the project manager for the past year on it and so in its final stages now which is good.Then I must decide if I have the time to commit to carrying on with that given all that's happening in the Trust. Home at 8.30pm. Boys wanted some dinner and as my partner's away all week in Scotland with his job was down to me-we're like ships passing in the night at the moment. If anyone knows the secret to how to make 14 and 17 year olds boys fend for themselves do let me know!!!! Ended evening with them asking me to watch the In Betweeners with them-they find it hilarious and thought I should see it. Certainly helped in me keeping up with teen speak and jargon! So great day, busy and enjoyable-just how I like them. More soon. Hope you all have a great week. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=15 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:08:33 GMT 20100914000833 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:08:33 GMT 20100914000833 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:03:28 GMT 201009241750328 Hi everyone Have been reviewing my entries this week and can't help wondering if anyone is reading and tracking them or finding them of any use??? Do send me a post to let me know what's on your mind as I'd be very happy to hear from you. Best wishes Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=14 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:24:53 GMT 20100904222453 Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:24:53 GMT 20100904222453 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:03:47 GMT 201009241750347 Have a glass of wine in hand as I do this-seemed more appealing than a cup of tea! Just before I start on preparing dinner for those who are in (it's getting increasingly difficult keeping track of my two teenagers though-think one's playing football somewhere and the other one at the gym but they'll appear when they're hungry, I thought I'd share aother day . This morning I drove to South Central SHA in Newbury to meet up with the Chair there as I do from time to time. Got to hear about how the recent White Paper is affecting staff there and around the patch and we talked through how the Trust is doing. We have a great reputation with them and are seen as being a really strong and well performing Trust in South Central and have their total support. Isn't that good to hear?!! Then I was on a train again up to London-twice in two days is taking me back to my commuting days when I worked for Sainsbury's Head Office in London and then the Burton Group at Oxford Circus. I don't mind the two or three journeys a month I make to London now but do wonder how I ever did it for 9 years all those years ago............but then I was a lot younger. Met up with a consultancy I have worked with for many years and who are providing me with some mentoring and coaching. I'm someone who is always very keen to learn new stuff and reflect on my own performance and how I can improve and as ever have come away with some fresh throughts and ideas I can think about. Personally I don't think anyone ever stops learning. Remembered to ring my youngest a couple of times as had left him in charge of waiting in for a plumber that I'd phoned this morning to fix the bath that wouldn't unplug last night and a dishwasher that wouldn't work this morning (why do things always happen at the same time?). Quick stop in Tescos Express on the way home to refill the fridge...........last week of the summer holidays for my two and so perhaps next week the food may not be depleted quite as quickly as it seems to be disappearing this week. As for tomorrow I'll think about that later...... Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=13 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:18:17 GMT 20100902191817 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:18:17 GMT 20100902191817 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:03:59 GMT 201009241750359 First day back in office was busy yesterday with meetings scheduled for most of day. I "gatecrashed"the Executive Directors informal together to discuss current priority issues in the Trust needing my attention and also to hear from them how things were going and their latest thoughts on the proposed transaction with HCHC. All looking good! During the day I made the time to then meet with them all individually which is something I like to do from time to time as I think it is important that we all give each other time to reflect and talk about what's on our minds outside of the formality of Board meetings. Sometimes those conversations yield the most important information. Mike Petter the Chair of HCHC and I then caught up to compare notes on how the transaction discussions are going from both our perspectives-we've formed a good and trusting working relationship which I'm finding really helpful. Next was the monthly meeting with the Governors Liaison Group (GLG)-we have started to have these by means of conference calls where we all dial in rather than expect everyone to travel to a set place. To start with it took a bit of getting used to but actually are turning out to be a really effective and efficient way of us keeping in regularal communication. It also keeps the meeting focussed and disciplined and we probably get the through the businesss a lot quicker too!! Yesterday on the agenda included: 1 an update on the proposed HCHC transaction and a request for Governor involvement in certain strands of work e.g. in considering how if we do merge how we can develop the Council of Governors and our membership to be truly representative of a much wider range of services 2 plans for the Annual members meeting and AGM being held on the 15th September at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton which looks to be developing into an exciting and informative afternoon. Just hope we get as big a turn out as we did last year as that would be good 3 update from each of the governor coordinators present on key events in their patch during the month. What I'm thinking is that we can use some of this information in future editions of Partnership Matters or Foundation Focus so that the governors role becomes a bit more understandable. Day finished with an update from the Programme Director for the proposed transaction where we planned the agenda for the next Programme Board and also a special Board meeting we're having next week to review where we are at and then a call with the SHA. Just hope I find the time to follow upon all the actions I took away from the day!! Today I was up in London for my first awayday meeting as a member of the Foundation Trust Network Board which I have recently been elected to in my capacity as Chair of an authorised FT for a 3 year term. I had put my name forward as I felt that it would be really useful to be part of what is going on nationally so that I can bring back anything useful to the Trust......and also I'm nosey and like learning about new things!! I really didn't really know what to expect or what my fellow Board colleagues would be like so really felt like the new girl. After some final reading on the train of the many useful and informative papers that had been sent out in advance I went and met everyone and took it from there. Most of the day was spent concentrating on the implications of the White Paper for provider Trusts and the future role the Foundation Trust Network and NHS Confederation. I think the next few months are going to be a really interesting time to watch how things pan out and for me it's a great time to be joining. Like joining any new team though I'm going to take my time seeing how it works and understanding how people work and also getting used to even more jargon. Steep learning curve coming up for me!! Happy to let you more about the work of this Board once I've got my feet more under the table. Anyway now I'm well and truly back, always happy to hear from anyone so do feel free to send me a post. Hope your week's going well. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=12 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:23:58 GMT 20100901212358 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:23:58 GMT 20100901212358 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:04:13 GMT 201009241750413 Night before I'm due back in the office and like most of you I'm wondering what will greet me. I've taken a look at my e mails to get an idea but need to get in early to catch up with everyone and prioritise. Watch for update this time tomorrow. I had a really good week away in the Algarve with my partner Stewart and my two teenage sons Ollie and Chris-it was lovely to spend some time with them for a change! We stayed in a villa with a pool and a tennis court-they played and I watched!!! Weather superb and therefore bit of a shcok to arrive back at Southampton airport on Thursday evening to the rain and cold. Straight back to another day in court on Friday-this time the Adult video remand court in Basingstoke followed by me doing photgraphs at another wedding on Saturday. Since then my weekend's been mainly getting the washing done and processing the photographs. Hope you all have had a good bank holiday weekend. Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=11 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:47:57 GMT 20100830214757 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:47:57 GMT 20100830214757 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:04:31 GMT 201009241750431 Last day before I go off for 2 weeks on holiday-fly to the Algarve next Thursday with my partner and my two teenage sons and really looking forward to just being able to do nothing!! Few days at home first which will also be good. Met up with Nick Yeo today in Basingstoke to go through the things that need to be progressed in my absence and also catch up with the main things going on in the Trust. He and I meet regularly off site and away from the phones and meetings to swap our experiences and views of what's going on in the Trust and agree the key things that we both need to focus on. When I'm back I'll tell you a bit more about how we work together. Then a visit to the doctors with my younger son who it turns out has an ear infection-poor thing it's been hurting all week apparently and he's suffered in silence but then it's "not cool" at 14 to have your mother making a fuss!The afternoon's been spent catching up on e mails and sorting a few things. One of those is having to think about recruiting a new Non Executive Director. Had a phone call from Mike Smith yesterday whose been on the Trust Board for 18 months to tell me he's been offered a superb job opportunity with a voluntary organisation Livability in London which he wants to take. Unfortunately for us that means he will no longer be able to devote 4 days per month to HPFT as a Non Exec. Really glad for Mike as it sounds a great job but rather sad as he's been a good and supportive member to have on the team. Anyway that's how it goes with Non Execs who all have other jobs and responsibilities alongside their HPFT roles and thinking caps on now and let's hope we can attract a good person to fill his shoes. Just now need to brief Pam Charlwood my Vice Chair on the Board who will be deputising for me about a few things over the weekend and then that's me signing off for 2 weeks. Look forward to carrying on witht he blog when I'm back. Take care all Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=10 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:49:54 GMT 20100814034954 Sat, 14 Aug 2010 03:49:54 GMT 20100814034954 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:04:46 GMT 201009241750446 Not a Trust day today but one for some of the other things I get involved in. I've been sitting in the Youth Court in Basingstoke today as one of my scheduled days as a magistrate. Just hope we've managed to do the right thing to help and support many of the young people we saw to get a better life. Makes me realise the environments that some are having to endure at such a young age and how lucky I have been. The day started really positively though as we heard from someone who has been doing really well on his programme and has changed his life around and is now at College doing really well. Back home late this afternoon to go through my NHS emails that have mounted up during the day and this evening have been working hard on processing the photographs I took at a wedding on Sunday. I run a small photographic business and get assignments for weddings and family portraits which I fit in at weekends and evenings mainly. And that's been my day today! Hope yours has been good too Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=9 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:05:06 GMT 20100811220506 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:05:06 GMT 20100811220506 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:05:10 GMT 201009241750510 Welcome to my new blog site which I have had set up so I can give you all a bit more insight into what I get up to in the Trust and what is on my mind at any time. I intend to post a weekly blog and this is as new for me as it is you and so I am going to need all the help I can get to get it up and running! I would love to hear your comments and views on what you think of it, what you find interesting and what you'd like to hear more about…..or less about …..so do post some please. My future blogs won't be as long as this one I promise but I am so excited to have this opportunity I am going to make the most of it. The last 2 weeks have been busy and enjoyable as I have been able to get out and about to various sites and meet lots of people as well as attend the more formal meetings I am scheduled to do. I really like the variety as I get to understand what is actually going on in the Trust and how staff, together with our service users and their carers are feeling about what they see and hear about them. So I've been judging a gardening competition at Ravenswood where the 5 wards each took part in sprucing up their courtyards-some had done a lot of work and some were still thinking about what they could do, but it was a real fun event and a good opportunity to meet so many staff and patients. Only trouble is that I am not a gardener and so didn't really know my flowers from my weeds from my vegetables so I just went on what it looked like!! I've also visited two of our Social Care teams: CASS at Basepoint House in Southampton and the East Southampton Day Services unit who are providing social care services to people with mental health issues and moderate to severe learning disabilities. The focus everyone has on the individual clients is tremendous and the ideas the teams have for seeking new business opportunities and finding different ways of working was good to hear. I am going to be inviting Councillor Ivan White from Southampton City to pay a visit, in his role as a Governor for the Trust, as I would like him to see the work that it being undertaken for himself. Next was Antelope House, the new AMH inpatient unit in Southampton, which I visited just prior to it opening a few weeks ago and so it was really interesting to see it up and fully running now. It is such a great environment for service users, their carers and staff and such a transformation from the old DoP and I heard how people were adjusting and getting used to their new arrangements. As with any new house you move into there are always a few teething problems which staff talked to me about and I actually experienced as we got temporarily locked into the place of safety unit as the security system regarding doors beds down and everyone gets used to it! Then onto the Eating Disorder Service situated in their fabulous new home in April House in Bitterne where all the rooms are named after spring flowers at the request of service users-what a nice touch. I met all of the team and was then invited to join their monthly clinical governance and team meeting which was a great opportunity for me to hear about the daily challenges and workings of the unit. The Governance and Quality team at Tatchbury Mount then had to put up with me dropping in for a coffee the other morning as I interrupted everyone who was busy working to have a chat and find out a little bit about them and what they thought about the work they do and the Trust, and what they thought I and the Trust Board should know. The information and feedback is so helpful for me doing my job. In the middle of these visits we had our monthly Trust Board meeting which I Chair and this month held it at the Parkway Centre in Havant and so thank you to all the staff based there who allowed themselves to be invaded for the day by us and who were so hospitable. If I had some key points I took away from the day they were these: 1 Just how well our organisation is performing at the moment in every respect. We were able to submit a positive quarterly return to Monitor our regulator on the key indicators they measure us against: quality of services being key, financial sustainability and governance arrangements. I am really proud to be part of well performing Foundation Trust which makes me positive about the future. 2 Talking of the future much of our discussion was about the proposed transaction with Hampshire Community Healthcare and the exciting opportunities that are being identified to effectively combine our two organisations and create a much better healthcare system for the benefit of patients. There is a lot of thinking and work to be done over the next few weeks and when things area little clearer we will definitely be ramping up the communications with you. 3 We've had all of our contracts signed which is a huge relief. 4 This month I extended my Chair's invitation to meet the Trust Board over an informal sandwich lunch to staff governors Anne Prout and Val Woods attended and gave the Board some good feedback including some advice on what we as Trust Board members could be doing more of as we need to hear it. I also invited Caroline West and Jason Brandon who had arrived early for the afternoon meeting to join us too as I am determined that the Trust Board need to hear from staff first hand what's on their minds. 5 In the afternoon we had a presentation and open discussion about the opportunities and need there is to work more closely with the Criminal Justice System in the future. Andy Clapper, Kerry Beakes, Jason Brandon and Chief Inspector Paul Bartolomeo who have committed a lot of effort and hard work led this and there was a lively exchange of views. Again this is one of my personal passions as through my work in the Trust and my role as a magistrate sitting in Basingstoke and Andover courts I see the opportunities and challenges for better joint working from a number of angles. Anyway, I'm on holiday next week and so I'll update you all before I go. Remember to let me know what you think of this and post me back. Best wishes Carol http://www.southernhealth.nhs.uk/hidden/news-and-events/blog/?blogpost=8 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:40:29 GMT 20100810174029 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:40:29 GMT 20100810174029 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:05:23 GMT 201009241750523