Welcome to the latest online event. ‘Surinder’ who has become
our new BME rep at the South Warwickshire User Forum,
(SWUF) would like to invite local mental health service users from
BME communities to come forward and leave some comments
regarding local services and what people think or would like to
evolve/ devolve, or if there are any general issues that users may
be facing that need to be expressed.
Surinder will attend the next user rep meeting with SWUF which
will take place on September 16th. He is very keen to represent
the local BME community ‘Voice’ – so please feel free to comment.
All entries will be relayed to Surinder who will be feeding back
online shortly after the date mentioned above.
We look forward to your entries!
19 comments:
A trip to Burton Dasset hills and a chance to reflect by all…
Our local BME service user group met today and felt that there was a general consensus that BME service user’s intelligence was not respected by clinical staff, and at times was ignored.
The group also expressed anxiety about consistency with the footfall of different clinical staff and how there life stories had to be repeated several times, to the point where the will to express was nullified.
The BME users expressed with utmost sincerity that the most helpful interventions that have allowed them to travel along the ‘road to recovery’, have been creative ones involving Arts and expressions with the local Community Arts Workshop and more inventive ways are happening in Warwickshire which is fab… but they need to be sustained with a long term vision!
I hope these comments are helpful Surinder for your meeting next week! Look forward to the feedback
i enjoy attending the ladies mentel health group at satkaar.I look forward to meeting my friends on thursdays.
i enjoy art and craft acvities and listing to guest speakers.
i like to come to satkaar.i like activites and talking to friends and would like longer session
Thank you very much for your comments.
Satkaar is a very exclusive group which runs in Leamington Spa focussing on Asian women and emotional well being.
It has proved to be a huge success in the past and present in engaging Asian ladies and proactively working with them various aspects of their lives such as: Social exclusion, emotional well being, culture, religion, spirituality, arts and creativity.
I hope this will be a good indicator for you Surinder on what platform the ladies comments need to be expressed, that can inform services. Thanks again to the ladies at Satkaar and they can be ensured their comments will be relayed.
thank you for e-mailing, i noticed your points raised and will come back to you after meeting on 16th tuesday.
for the time being have a nice time.
Hi this is surinder feeding back from the user rep meeting:
I raised the points that were left on the blogsite at the SWUF meeting and also discussed these issues at Mid Warwickshire Mind. I found there were no exclusive services for the BME communities; there was also a lack of any commitment from the authorities. I mentioned that the BME communities had specific needs that need to be addressed and mentioned that we now had a platform for a real debate with the BME community via our blogsite.
This was a good start – now at least all the agencies and the authorities know that we have a BME rep (me) who is in touch with the BME community via the blogsite – finally we have a voice. I mentioned the issues raised by the satkaar women and there will be more opportunity to do arts and craft at the’ Open Up’ exhibition at the old library in Leamington Spa – keep your comments coming for the next meeting which will be advertised soon.
I also attended the commissioning meeting for the Alcohol advisory services and what fruited was that there will be an entire review of the services and it will be more community based, reaching actually to the service user, rather than the other way round. Again I found there was a very poor understanding of alcohol and BME issues. I found the discussions very general and raised the point that BME alcohol interventions had to be very specific and tailored to the community needs. A buddy system was discussed for the BME community – before and after care - and hopefully will be introduced in April next year.
Please feel free to add your thoughts and I think it went well considering these were my initial meetings as a BME rep. Please raise any points you feel necessary and I will come back to you re these.
Dear SWUF, members and service users, Hi, I wish you will be fine and here is something new from recent events where \i been. To start with I been to couple of meetings in Coventry, 1. Crisis Team and Performance in Coventry and Warwickshire and the 2nd one was after care plan for patients.
It was found that the crisis team overall is not disastrous. But that is not fit for specifically BME community as it was discussed that and recommendation made to PCT and NHS authorities. The services are ok for general basis and culturally are defective and not sensitive to BME community. There is need for more trained mental health workers who are aware of BME diverse culture for Crisis Team and after care plan; only then the services are going to be effective.
On 3rd Nov 08 I been to Chapel at St, Michael’s Hospital to have a meeting with the Post Graduate students from University of Warwick , where again raised this point there is a need for more BME background knowledge based strategically policy to be effective for the health services. This is so for I will come back next time with more information.
Yours
Surinder
Hi,SWUF members and others I been to SWUF meeting on 18th nov.08 and raised the issue of lack of interpreters for Polish and Portuguese community. We also discussed the report commissined by HUMANA and hope they will come back to us early after DEc.08. The Warwickshire and Coventry PCT and Parternership services will be single point of entry basis and more community based with more trained councillors in ethnic minorities diverse culture and more will be patient oriented rather than other way round.
I hope this will be usuful.
wish you all well.
surinder.
Hi, again this is me Surinder, I been to AGM of SWUF at St. Mary's chrch.
Swuf AGM hels,You will happy to know that this time I am elected to the committee.Where I will be able to discuss more concerned issues to BME 'SWUF' members. The next regular meeting of SWUF will be on 16th Dec at Mid- War MInd.
Please continue to send your comments I will come back to you.
yours sincerely
surinder
Hi Surinder, great to meet you at the SWUF AGM. I just wanted to say that i'd love to run an arts and crafts group at the gallery or the SYDNI centre. I think the Asian and BME communities in general have a wealth of creativity and skill which is mainly hidden at the moment. It's about time that the statutory authorities recognised peoples culture and knowledge intead of prescribing at them!
I think that the arts, crafts and musical talents are largely overlooked and it would be great to have an arts and music festival at the SYDNI centre and the Community gallery.
Hi, this is surinder,I read your comments about your offer to run a arts workshop at Sydni or BME site. I would come to you asap, after finalalising this.
yours surinder
Hi,every one at SWUF, As we are approaching all towards a CHristmas & New year Break. I wish all Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. My haert goes with those, who due to circumstancial reasons or otherwise going to celebtrate or not own their own. I will pray to god for their well being. All the best.
Yours BME REP,
Surinder
Hi,this is your bme rep, surinder, happy n yr, I amm going to attend swuf users meeting and committee meeting on 20th &21stJan09. I wiil be back with more.
yours surinder.
hi,this is your bme rep, surinder.I been to meetings of SWUF & mind, it has been found that mind is going to merge with Springfield and Evrell has finished. about Swuf it has been found that there is presure to merge with voices 4 choies or lose funding scenario.Swuf for the time being has only access to Michael Hospital, as Mid-warks mind closed down for H & Safety reason. your comments are welcome.
with more will be back soon.
surinder
Hi,this is your BME rep, surinder. I have couple of news for you.
First of all it is likely that SWUF will have to find new office premises. There is also pressure from Lead Commissioner that either we merge with voices for choices or there is risk of losing funding for either of one.On 23rd feb09,I attended a conference with Graham in coventry for supporting people. That was o.k.Various stake holder are trying to find a new strategy to find a easy way to help service users. when the new policy will be formed ,I will come back to you.
allthe best.
Thanks for keeping everyone updated.
Hi, SWUF members ,it is anews for you that Graham has a new office seems to be temporarirly at Holy Walk Leamington spa.
I will keep you inform with the latest , al the best so far.
yours.
surinder
dear SWUF members hi, all things are as usual, there has been a meeting of swuf committee and I been to meeting and discuss various issues , e.g. the lease of swuf office is 3 years and break clause of 6months. Most of the jobs are taken by voices 4 choices and GRAham and GEoff will work with them and swuf will keep its name. More likekely this is going to be finanlised in 1st Oct09. Mind is looking for new premises, most likely be on high street next to Kelsey Bar.
See you soon.
Hi, SWUF members, I hope you all will be ingood spirit.Last week I been to Q Award meeting to discuss with other service user groups and staff members of PCT. There were about 100 recommendations and we made our recommendations. If you think any service is outstanding and you want to make a recommendation, I will forward your recommendations to Director of communivcation. OI was very disappointed to see that there was hardly any recommendation for Asian Doctors or staff; although , nearly 20% PCT staff comprise ASains.
If you would like to see or arrange any event BY SWUF or PCT please write so freely.
yours surinder.
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