Allied Health Professionals from across Elysium recently joined together for a day of learning and sharing best practices. More than 80 of Elysium’s team of Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Dietitians gathered in Birmingham for the conference, entitled ‘Your Identity, Your Voice’.
The day’s first speakers included Sue Denison, Elysium’s Corporate Expert by Experience who shared her experiences and interactions with Social Workers and Allied Health Professionals during her time supported in services.
Sue shared that social workers working within hospitals had played a pivotal role in helping her remain in regular contact with her daughter, both remotely and in person saying: “They bridged the gap between hospital and home.”
Their role in communication was also key. Sue adds: “They enabled communications between my community mental health team and the hospital. This was key, it reassured me that they would be there to co-ordinate care when I was back in the community and it also reassured me that I hadn’t been forgotten.”
Occupational Therapists also played a key role, Sue told delegates. She said: “They provided a range of interesting things to do on a daily basis, some just for pleasure but also to help me prepare for being back home. While I was preparing and practising, I wasn’t feeling fully prepared for the ‘outside world’, sometimes having panic attacks when I was doing my own shopping and cooking. The occupational therapists would set me challenges which helped me face my fears.”
The delegates at the ‘Your Identity, Your Voice’ conferen
ce also heard from a current service user supported at Cefn Carnau, who shared his experiences of working alongside social workers and allied health professionals. When asked if he had any advice for new social workers and AHPs he said: “Be truthful and honest, offer good communication and be human beings. Be trustworthy and communicate. Treat patients how you would like to be treated yourself.”
Attendees then heard from colleagues from each discipline represented by the conference who shared an insight into their roles and how their work impacts the people supported in services. This was followed by opportunities to explore the ‘hot topics’ for each profession.
The day’s Chair, Chief Nursing Officer Jenny Kirkland, said: “The conference was the first of its kind to bring together colleagues from across all of these disciplines and from a range of different services including mental health, neurological and learning disability, into one forum and to share learning, understanding and best practice.
“Hearing from the people we support in services, and from each other, as we did during this important event helps us refine, shape and develop our practice providing the very best support possible for service users across Elysium.”