The role of the NHS West Midlands Regional Development Centre (WMRDC) is to provide a regional resource for improvement and development in health services. We became part of NHS West Midlands (Strategic Health Authority) in April 2009, having been previously known as CSIP West Midlands (part of the Care Services Improvement Partnership) and before that as NIMHE West Midlands (part of the National Institute for Mental Health in England).

Throughout 2009-10 we have been working on a variety of projects determined by regional commissioning groups for Children and Families, Mental Health, and Offender Health and Social Care.

In addition we have supported various SHA Projects. For example supporting the establishment of WMQI, some of the project management for Investing For Health, developing the website, helping to develop the internal newsletter, supporting the adoption of Knoweldge Management, supporting the standardisation of project and programme management and the development and implementation of the Organisational Development strategy.

As we look forwards towards 2010-11 we will be providing support across a range of 'QIPP' priority areas (see below). For further information please contact

Alastair McIntyre, Associate Director, NHSWM RDC, alastair.mcintyre@wmrdc.org.uk.

Go to http://www.wmrdc.org.uk

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QIPP (Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention)

QIPP Story: Innovation

NHS West Midlands RDC have taken our traditions of embracing technological advances and organisational efficiency to new heights with the move to our new premises (in December 09) on Hagley Road in Edgabaston, Birmingham. We have opted not to order the installation of any traditional telephone landlines and instead are going to be using 'Voice Over Internet Protocol' (VOIP) technology.

As well as providing various practical efficiencies, this has resulted immediately in a saving of over £6,000 in installation costs and we are confident of making more savings on ongoing call costs.
See more information on QUIPP from the Department of Health

See more on VOIP technology

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New 'Models of Care' to support Mental Health Commissining

NHS West Midlands RDC has responded with very welcome success to a request from the West Midlands Mental Health Commissioning Group to work with two focus areas (Birmingham and Coventry/Warwickshire) to review their current service specifications with the aim of developing a prioritised suite of specifications to be transferable across the West Midlands commissioning group.

The expected benefits of this include;

A deeper understanding of commissioned services
Services that are more aligned to best practice/evidence bases
The development of activity, outputs/outcomes templates to ensure more effective monitoring of implementation
The improvement of the dialogue during the contracting and negotiation process
Meaningful participation of users and carers in review, improvement and outcome development

For more details, go to http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/modelsofcare

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'Places of Safety' in Healthcare

Places of Safety are facilities where patients can receive mental health support due to them under the Mental Health Act.

NHS West Midlands is working with the Police forces in the region, the Ambulance Service, A&E consultants, PCT commissioners and Mental Health providers to improve the provision of Places of Safety across the region. This group has developed commissioning intentions for a health-based place of safety and protocols for the management of health based facilities.

For more information about this project visit the website at http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/wmrdc/en/offenders/courts-community-and-police#pos, or contact Programme Specialist Gary Holland.

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Third Sector Commissioning

NHS West Midlands RDC has been running a series of organisational development/improvement seminars focused on the needs of organisations in relation to the evolving world of commissioning the Third Sector to deliver Health and Social Care services.

There will have been a total of ten seminars between Sept 09 – March 10, with excellent feedback from the participants. Previous seminars have included the use and importance of gathering statistical information, databases, Full Cost Recovery, Partnerships/consortia/mergers, Social Business Enterprise and organisational governance.

Seminars between January and March 2010 include:

Getting ready for contracting/tendering

'Social Return' on Investment (SROI) and

Marketing in relation to Personalisation.

The seminars are open to Third Sector providers (Including social enterprises) and commissioners.
More information and booking forms can be accessed directly via our website:

http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/mental-health/commissioning/third-sector/upcoming-events

Contact Programme Specialist Paul Dodd.

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Prison Health Improvements

In February 2008, NHS Worcestershire asked us for support in reviewing the prison health provision at their two prisons. The initial result was a report, "The Case for Change" presented to the PCT in April 2008 and endorsed by the PCT board shortly after that.

In September 2009 NHS West Midlands RDC re-audited provision and were satisfied that most recommendations had been apopted, whilst a few remained work in progress. Looking back over the last 18 months, it has been clear to David Williams from the RDC that

"NHS Worcestershire were committed to improving their provision and they invested significant staff time in making sure prison health was mainstreamed into the wider work of the PCT."

For more information about this project contact Programme Consultant David Williams.

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Creating Capable Teams ('CCT') within the Third Sector

WMRDC is currently mid-way through developing a new approach to the delivery of ‘Creating Capable Teams’ within the Third Sector. The Creating Capable Teams Approach (CCTA) is a way of helping teams to reflect on their current and future capabilities and skill mix and so help to deliver new ways of working. CCTA is an ‘off the shelf’, 5-step approach to ultimately improve how teams meet the needs of service users and carers and it was designed to be used in all areas of Mental Health, across Health and Social Care, for all ages, in statutory, voluntary and private sectors.

See http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/
PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_074501.

As far as we are aware this is the first development of this methodology in the country
to focus on the Third Sector.

The work is currently being field-tested within a variety of Third Sector environments and the results and any potential new tools based on the CCTA methodology will follow in Late March 2010….so, 'watch this space'.

Contact Programme Specialists Paul Dodd or Duncan Henderson

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'CAMHS and 'CAPA'

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) team in the RDC held a Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) workshop in October 2009.

The Choice and Partnership Approach is a clinical system that evolved in Richmond CAMHS, with the purpose of service re-design to reduce waiting times and offer families treatment that responds to their needs whilst fully utilising the CAMH team skills.

The West Midlands workshop brought together key stakeholders from CAMHS organisations to showcase good practice from 3 areas within the region where the CAPA model has been used.

Go to: http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/capa

It also included a presentation about the recently-published document ‘Improving Access to CAMHS’ which can be found at http://www.cypf.org.uk/camhs/improving-access-to-camhs.html

The WMRDC CAMHS Team has also now developed a West Midlands CAPA online forum. This enables delegates to share information, ask/pose questions and keep up to date with knowledge in relation to CAPA.

Further information on the Choice and Partnership Approach can be found at www.camhsnetwork.co.uk.

Contact Programme Specialist JoanneTreacy

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Gathering IAPT Success Narratives

WMRDC has offered the opportunity to work alongside local IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) early implementation sites to capture positive evidence of their journey in implementing local IAPT services.

Shropshire, Stoke, North Staffordshire and Wolverhampton have commited to working on the project and we are sure that some wonderful experiences will be shared. The evidence/ narratives collated will be presented at the IAPT conference on the 25th March 2009 and we are certain this material will prove invaluable to emerging services across the West Midlands.

Each area will have 1 full day, the day will offer part team development and part narrative collection. This will be a great opportunity for the local services to develop an action/ developmental plan that is developed and owned from within the team.

Go to: http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/iaptstories
Contact: Kevin Heffernan or Mark Rayne

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Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TAMHS)Project

Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) is a three-year DCSF pathfinder programme aimed at supporting the development of innovative models of therapeutic and holistic support in schools for children and young people aged 5 to 13 at risk of, and/or experiencing, mental-health problems, and their families.

Each pathfinder service has individual delivery plans to provide

capacity building of staff in universal services via e.g. mental health awareness training and consultation,
support for parents and carers through e.g. parenting support groups, information sessions and use of websites, and
targeted interventions to children, young people and their families.

Regional support for Pathfinder is commissioned via the National CAMHS Support Service and delivered through Regional Development Centres and the West Midlands RDC Lead for TAMHS is Sallyann Sutton.

Go to: http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/tamhs

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Transitions for Young People with disabilities

In December 2008 all local areas completed a national self assessment exercise (SAQ 1) to assess local practice in the transition of Young People with disabilities from children’s to adult services.

DCSF has commissioned a National Transitions Support Programme and as part of the regional delivery of this, WMRDC is working with a number of local areas to support them in further developing transition protocols and pathways leading to improved outcomes for young people.

A first regional Transitions Support Workshop was held on 19^th October 2009 and resources from this event are available at: http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/transitions. The Self Assessment process has been repeated (SAQ 2), with local areas expected to complete by 1^st December 2009.

For further information about regional support contact
Programme Specialist Eleri Matthews.

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CAMHS Workforce, Training and Competences

In order to achieve the recommendations outlined in Standard 9 of The Children, Young People and Maternity Services National Service Framework, The National CAMHS Review and The 2020 Children & Young People’s Workforce Strategy, CAMHS Partnership groups need to ensure that their workforce is sufficient, appropriately skilled and well-led.

Members of the National CAMHS Workforce Team have visited the region and will be contacting the Partnerships to request expressions of interest to develop integrated Children's service workforce plans and in the process trialling the revised Workforce Planning Tool. This will be available at www.cypf.org.uk/camhs.html from the end of October.

In January WMRDC-led CAMHS Regional Network we are showcasing the widening range of roles within Specialist CAMHS, focusing on Support Worker Roles (bands 4 and 5) and the skills that they can offer teams. In addition to this we also hope to have representatives from the Foundation Degree CAMHS, this course provides training and skills relevant to those staff in Support Roles.

If you would like any further information please contact Carolyn Gavin, or visit http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/camhswtcmp

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Developing Mental Health Trainers

NHS West Midlands Health Trainer and IAPT programmes have invited West Midlands colleagues working in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies / Primary Care Mental Health Services to participate in the Health Trainer and Mental Health Development package. This package has been developed from work with two participating areas in the West Midlands and provides tried and tested methodologies.

What does the package provide?

* A 2 day development programme where representatives from your HT and IAPT/PCMH Services within two localities are brought together to:

develop ways of working together proactively with agreed principles, tools and approaches, utilising a threshold approach.
get to know each other and understand each other's services and expectations
agree and produce an action plan

* A 1 day consolidation day where representatives from your areas who have participated in the development programme come back together to review progress, share developments and plan next steps.

* Participation in a 2 day Mental Health First Aid awareness-raising programme.

Signing up to the Development Programme will entitle Health Trainer Services to receive free MHFA training. Receiving MHFA training or equivalent will be a requirement for Health Trainer services to participate in the Development programme.

http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/mental-health/health-trainer-and-iapt-developmental-programme

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IAPT Regional Update

IAPT in the West Midlands continues to flourish!

Every PCT will be receiving funding for an IAPT service from April 2010,
NHS West Midlands Regional Development Centre is continuing to support the IAPT sites selected during the last two years and
during the next year we will be enouraging the use of psychological interventions approved by NICE.

There will be new funding from April to provide more new IAPT services and NHS West Midlands, including the Regional Development Centre, will continue to support existing sites.

A regional IAPT network and a Service and Training Course Leads Network meet regularly to share good practice and problems and solutions - contact Programme Specialist Jacqui Miller.

A conference focussed on IAPT and employment issues was organised by the RDC in December and a regional IAPT conference focussing upon sharing success has been arranged for March 25^th - see Our Events below.

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Our Events

For a full list of our events, go to http://www.wmrdc.org.uk/events

CAMHS West Midlands Regional Annual Conference | 11th February 2010 | Central Birmingham:
full details and booking information
Offender Health & Social Care West Midlands Regional Annual Conference | 17th March 2010 | Birmingham:
full details and booking information
IAPT 2010 Regional Conference 'Celebrating Success, Sharing Best Practice' | 25th March 2010 | Wolverhampton Racecourse: more details