 An open forum was held on the 8 th of February 2011 where services users were invited to come and explore topics relevant to the future of Mental Health Services In Sutton  The Forum was attend by 46 participants, 23 male 23 female as well as 5 facilitators/supporters  The 3 hour event was structured so that each participant took part in four workshops on the following topics / themes in groups of around 20

 Having a High Quality Acute Inpatient Ward for Sutton Residents  Getting ongoing emotional support after leaving hospital  Better Integration of Local Services  Having a Safe House in Sutton as an alternative to hospital admission  These themes/topics were chosen because they are the most common themes being raised

 40 of the 46 participants would prefer a ward to be located in Sutton The majority said that this was important because friends and families do not need added pressures of travelling, it would be easier to contact home, be easier for visits, for leave, to maintain contact with their community and feel safer as they know the area  The ward does not have to be on the Sutton Hospital site Could a new build be an option?

 Rather then give a definite number, participants felt they need to know what the current and projected demands for beds are. How many people are discharged because of bed pressure or are on general wards. How may people are readmitted after 90 days. Whatever the number of beds, people need individual attention from the range of professionals  There should be separate spaces for those detained and those who are voluntary. Wards should have the right staff to patient ratio

 Only if you pose a risk to yourself or the public, or where the support in the community is not enough to protect you and others, or when there are significant changes to treatment that require monitoring and assessment  Where there is no alternative to admission and no respite  When there is a need for a person to rest and recuperate

 Staff that are respectful and have the skills, competencies, attitude and aptitude to provide a high quality service and are committed to recovery and wellbeing.  Staff who can listen, value your experience and have knowledge of support options in community  A welcome pack to the ward  A clear philosophy of care / purpose for the ward. A programme of activities, therapeutic sessions available during day/evenings  Access to independent intentional peer support and advocacy

 Access to fresh air / open space not an enclosed exercise yard/smoking area  Good food with fruit and fresh vegetables  Ability to communicate with friends, family advocates and support networks via phone, IT, etc  Access to Health Care: physical health  Be involved in the planning of your care  Visitors Space should be private and family friendly  High quality bedrooms, good hygiene and bathing facilities

 Easier access to the recovery college  Ability to access advice and support regarding benefits before discharge  Support to gain employment, voluntary work, education  Debt and Money Advice  There should be an up to date discharge support pack available to all inpatients, that's easy to read and is relevant to the community to which the person is being discharged to  Information and support in relation to Housing and accommodation  Peer Support and information on Sutton 1 in 4 Network  One Stop Shop for mental health information that is independent from the Trust  Access to Talking Treatments

 Support from the floating support scheme with no delay  Access to Respite Care  Peer run Circles of Support in local neighbourhoods  Proper monitoring of medication and its effects  Consistent support and communication to and from Care Co-ordinator  Self help Groups, No Panic, Hearing Voices  People who care  GPs who understand mental illness  Regaining confidence and daily living skills

 Effective and Meaningful Care and Support Plans  Fast Track assessments for Personal Budgets/Direct Payments  Advocacy and Peer Support in Community  Offered Home / Floating Support on discharge.... No waiting  Community drop in services weekend/out of hours services

 A discharge plan should be in place before the person leaves hospital  Support services should be available as long as the individual needs them. Its a false economy to reduce support after a fixed period (2 years)  Support should be tailored to individual needs  Self Referral systems should be in place  Support plans need to be service user led and flexible enough to adjust to peoples individual circumstances

 Recovery needs to be encouraged in hospital, not as an after thought  Being able to access information on local services, support, treatments and how to access them  Recovery college needs to be more open not just to those in touch with the Trust  Care Plans need to be holistic and they should be one unified plan, that can be used as a passport to services  Investment should be redeployed into user led services  A safe house  A complete review of the crisis line, consider merging this function within the safe house functions  Strengthen the provision of independent intentional peer support workers  Better communication and partnership working between provider agencies  Floating support needs to be strengthened

 There needs to be better communication and protocols between agencies so that services users don't have to relate traumatic events and story of distress  Focus should be on the person not just diagnosis  All services need to have active knowledge of community resources and can signpost people  Fund a one stop shop mental health and well being information project in the voluntary sector  Simplify referrals between services

 Due to the pressure on resources, explore the idea of agencies working in partnership. This should not reduce choice  Focus on prevention rather then coping with crisis  Reduce having to repeat our story, over and over  They need to meet the broad range of needs  Working in the best interests and needs of local people  Promote mental health and well-being for all  Share resources, buildings, equipment, reduce overheads

 One stop Shop information, advocacy, peer support, mental health promotion  Supported housing/accommodation  Safe House  Peer led self help groups  Drop In Services/Out of Hours  Advice and support on benefits and debt  Support regarding employment, volunteering education and vocational training  Counselling  Health and fitness and gym  Floating Support Services expanded/ extended  Advocacy  Family Support Services

 GPs should have mental health workers in surgeries. Peer support should be based in Health centres  Resources aimed at prevention  Improved care co-ordination  Unified Care and Support Plans  A One stop shop for Information on Mental illness,  local services, recovery and mental health promotion  A listening centre  Improve ways in which people can influence commissioning decisions  Keeping services local. No return to the old asylum

 Springfield is so far away physical and emotional strain to access, Crocus is scary not feeling safe, not enough privacy,  For people that do not need hospital but are unable to carry on at home  Could be a step down facility  Should be recovery focused  Holistic – mental well being not mental distress  Be part of network of services

 Should have multiagency involvement  Needs to be accountable  Needs to be separate from the Mental Health Trust  Have qualified and competent staff  It could be a charity  Should be a User Led Organisation  Peer Support Workers run it

 People from Sutton with mental distress  People who have had lots of re-admissions to hospital but it has not improved their wellbeing  People who do not want to end up in crisis  People could self refer  Could have day spaces as well as beds  People for whom mental health teams feel it would be a more appropriate option

 More work needed around this as it is important that the safe house does not make people more vulnerable  For as long as crisis lasts but care taken not to promote dependence  No more than 14 days  Promote people to develop their coping skills  Engage people in ongoing discussion  Keep people connected to their homes, communities neighbourhoods

 Develop peer support skills  Help with living skills  Recovery based activities  Help people regain social confidence  Enable people to take control  Refer people on to specialist support/advice  A listening space  A shared meal e.g. Sunday lunch