My Blog

>I had an early start today to attend the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce http://www.liverpoolchamber.org.uk/ breakfast meeting held at The Mocha Lounge. http://www.themochalounge.co.uk/

The speakers were from Mersey Care NHS Trust.
Christine Hughes
Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications
Mersey Care NHS Trust
http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/learning_zone/Action_Learning_-_Northern_Network.asp

Dr Mandy Chivers
Assistant Chief Executive
Mersey Care NHS Trust
http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/services/corporate/communications/Communications_who_are_we.asp

Programme details read

Mersey Care is the main provider of specialist mental health care for Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby. We also provide medium secure and forensic services for the North West, and high secure services (from Ashworth Hospital) for the people of the North West, West Midlands and Wales. We employ 5400 people and have an income of around 196m per annum.

As new members of the Liverpool Chamber, we want to

share our expertise in understanding mental health issues and their relationship to the world of work and business;

secure your help in challenging stigma attached to mental illness

support the local economy and local businesses ;

share our experiences as leaders in innovation and creativity;

Mandy reminded us that
1. Mental health issues cost British businesses £25 billion!
2. Depression poses the second highest burden of disease.

Leading Edge companies are taking this seriously, a new perspective on health and wellbeing for individuals and organisations is emerging.

Mandy outlined the Five main areas to improve well being, as listed by the New Economics Foundation
ttp://www.neweconomics.org/gen/well-being_fiveways.aspx
1. Connect
2. Be Active
3. Take Notice
4. Keep Learning
5. Give

http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/

Well-being is one of our most important ends, as individuals and as societies. But despite unprecedented economic prosperity we do not necessarily feel better individually or as communities. For example data shows that whilst economic output in the UK has nearly doubled in the last 30 years, happiness levels have remained flat.

The centre for well-being at nef seeks to understand, measure and influence well-being. In particular we ask the question ‘what would policy making and the economy look like if their main aim were to promote well-being?’

Mandy also described the key components of organisational health as:-
1. Interrelationships: Relationships, knowledge flow, social networks
2. Identity: clarity of purpose, shared goals and values
3. Autonomy: capacity to take action
4. Resilience: Flexibility, innovation and problem solving.

These are based on http://www.institute.nhs.uk/quality_and_value/introduction/organisational_health:_a_new_perspective_on_performance_improvement%3F.html
Organisational health – NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

Mersey Care is conducting a formal public consultation on becoming a Foundation Trust equivalent and you are invited to Join in.
The Trust intends to consult widely with members of the public, staff, service users and carers, their partners and other stakeholders.
For full details see http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/foundation_trust/Consultation_meetings.asp

Mandy also suggested links to

http://leaderswedeserve.wordpress.com/
Topical debate from Prof. Tudor Rickards

http://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/learning_zone/knowledge_library_service/home.asp
Action Learning; Northern Network. Merseycare Care website: Learning Zone

Thank you LCC, fellow members, Mandy and Christine for an enjoyable start to the day!

Elaine Hanzak

www.hanzak.com