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I N S I G H TSpring edition
2 Insight
Welcome from Chief Executive
Welcome to this edition of Insight. It’s been a busy few months. Inside you
will find highlights from our staff awards featuring well-deserved winners
from across our services. I’m very grateful to all of our staff for rising to the
challenges of a difficult winter for the NHS and continuing to demonstrate
our values of being caring, safe and excellent in their work.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has begun its annual review of our
services and staff may expect unannounced visits to services between now
and mid-April. We welcome the opportunity for an independent view as
part of our ongoing commitment to improving care. The CQC system
review of Oxfordshire’s older adult services, published in February, highlighted the need for the whole
health and social care system to work together better. It is good that inspectors noted that frontline staff in
Oxfordshire are dedicated and ‘go the extra mile’.
Reducing agency cost is one of the ways we aim to ensure we are making best use of our budget. We are
asking staff to encourage agency workers to come over to our own ‘staffing solutions’ flexible working
bank, especially healthcare assistants, as this will be the basis on which bank staff for those roles will be
provided in the new financial year.
There are some changes to the way our operational directorates are being managed from 1 April, with a
new focus on linking into local healthcare systems in the counties where we operate. This is particularly in
light of the new Integrated Care Service model and about better being able to manage transitions between
child, adult and older people’s services. In Oxfordshire it will
help to support our collaboration with GP federations and
providing care closer to home. I’m also delighted to
announce that Pauline Scully has accepted the role of
Deputy Chief Operating Officer, bringing her experience of
having led two service directorates to the senior team.
We welcome new Board members Aroop Mazumder,
Bernard Galton and Lucy Weston and offer our thanks and
best wishes to Anne Grocock and Mike Bellamy for their
strong contribution to the Board as they step down after
many years’ service. We also congratulate our Director of
Nursing & Quality Ros Alstead OBE on her appointment as
a visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University.
Elections to our Board of Governors are taking place with
nominations from 7 March. Polls open on 27 April. Read
on for further information or find out more on our website.
Thank you all for your continued support for our services.
Stuart Bell CBE, Chief Executive
Contribute to Insight
Would you like a colleague or team to
feature in Insight or do you have an
interesting story that you’d like to share?
Please send ideas to
The deadline for the next edition of Insight is
31 March
Published by:
Communications Team
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Warneford Hospital
Oxford
Tel: 01865 902068
www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Insight is the newsletter of Oxford Health
NHS Foundation Trust, providing news and
updates to our staff, patients, service users
and carers, GPs and the public.
Insight 3 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
A study by an Oxford Health
NHS FT old age psychiatrist is
the first to find signs of clear
Alzheimer’s Disease in a wild
animal.
The study suggests Alzheimer’s
Disease and Type 2 diabetes
may both be the price of a
longer lifespan, with changes in
the body’s insulin function the
common cause.
Professor Simon Lovestone is an
old age psychiatrist at the trust
and a researcher at the Oxford
University Department of
Psychiatry. He is also the
informatics theme lead for the
National Institute for Health
Research (NIHR) Oxford Health
Biomedical Research Centre
(BRC).
He said: “It is very rare to find
signs of full-blown Alzheimer’s
Disease in non-human brains.
This is the first time anyone has
found such clear evidence of
the protein plaques and tangles
associated with Alzheimer’s
Disease in the brain of a wild
animal.”
In the study, published in the
journal Alzheimer’s and
Dementia, researchers tested
the idea that living long after
the end of fertility might be
linked to Alzheimer’s Disease.
Most animals tend to die
shortly after the end of their
fertile years. However dolphins,
like humans, can live long after
having offspring.
The team think humans and
dolphins are near-uniquely
susceptible to Alzheimer’s
Disease because of alterations
in how the hormone insulin
works in these species.
Without studying the behaviour
of dolphins in the wild, it is
difficult to know if older
dolphins have similar memory
problems and confusion as seen
in people with Alzheimer’s
Disease.
However, the research team do
not advocate carrying out tests
on captive dolphins. The team
(which included scientists from
the Universities of St. Andrews
and Edinburgh in Scotland, the
University of Florida in the USA,
and the University of Oxford in
England) looked only at the
brains of dolphins which had
died after washing up ashore on
the Spanish coast.
Dolphin brains show signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
4 Insight
We now have more than 10,500 followers on Twitter, more than 2,000 likes on Facebook, and
more teams across the trust are joining social media. Here is just some of the fantastic feedback
we’ve seen recently.
Rumi Mohideen is one of three of our health care assistants talking about their love for the role and helping others as part of a recruitment drive to encourage more people in Oxfordshire to become care workers. Look out for them in our ‘Make a difference Everyday’ campaign.
Insight 5 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Getting Involved Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
6 Insight
Meet the Team Clockwise from left:
Victoria Taylor, communications and
engagement manager;
James Broadhurst, communications and
engagement officer;
Laura Smith, corporate governance officer;
Donna Mackenzie, patient experience and
involvement manager
Julie Pink, community involvement manager.
Insight 7 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Involvement
8 Insight
Members of Oxford Health NHS FT are everyday people who have taken the step to have a
say in how their local health services are developed.
As a member you can:
· be an important link between your local
community and health services
· shape the future direction of the trust by having
your say
· enjoy a wide range of retail discounts
· fast track to becoming a volunteer or gain work
experience
· keep up to date with news within our trust by
receiving regular Membership Matters bulletins
and future editions of this magazine
· elect existing governors to represent your views
· stand to become a governor
Become a member today!
· Online at www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
· Phone 01865 902068
Members
Insight 9 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Oxford Health Charity enhances the
experience of people and families
receiving care and support from
Oxford Health NHS Foundation
Trust services.
Last year, the charity helped girls and
women affected by, or at risk of,
female genital mutilation (FGM) by
funding an app to support health
professionals enquire about FGM.
It also funded therapeutic activities for
patients at Warneford Meadow at
Warneford Hospital, Oxford, bought
activity equipment for Ashurst Ward,
at Littlemore Mental Health Centre,
and funded personal resilience
training for staff.
Charity
We’re always keen to hear about events and projects we can fund locally. We’re also keen to hear
from anyone who would like to raise money for future projects. Right now we’re working on a
fundraising plan for 2018 and beyond.
In time, we’ll include opportunities for people to jump out of planes or run marathons for the charity,
but for now, we would like to thank all those who have taken part in fundraising activities this year
including the ROSY Walk raising money for Respite nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters)
(ROSY), local bake sales and fetes, sponsored hikes and raffles.
We are also very grateful to have received legacies from members of the community who have sadly
passed away and would like to thank their families for thinking of us at a very difficult time.
To make a request for funding or share a fundraising idea email [email protected].
Find out more about Paul Skott’s (pictured) fundraising antics on page 23.
10 Insight
The Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS) helps
people who need advice or
information on a wide range
of issues relating to the trust
and its services.
The PALS team manages
compliments and complaints,
and also fundraises to create
theme events for people on
inpatient wards across the trust.
Melissa Earnshaw, patient
experience and PALS assistant,
said: “We get the opportunity
to get to know patients,
provide some fun and
relaxation, and enhance their
experience in hospital.
“Last year PALS raised more
than £500 with a tombola at
the Bucks Country Show, held a
remembrance event with the
trust’s Chaplaincy Service on
Amber Ward, held a barbecue
at Woodlands House and a
pamper party on Ruby Ward,
all at the Whiteleaf Centre in
Aylesbury.
“We work with colleagues on
wards to bring together these
events which have had a lot of
positive feedback.”
Find out more: 01865 901985.
Oxford Health is part of
Healthy Abingdon, a
pioneering new way of
improving health and
wellbeing by harnessing the
resources and goodwill that
already exists.
There are over 200 community
groups in Abingdon covering
sports, horticulture, exercising,
music, arts, dance and much
more. There are also groups
which support people with a
range of problems.
Find out more:
www.healthyabingdon.org.uk
Support
Insight 11 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Patients
12 Insight
There are many reasons why
people volunteer with Oxford
Health NHS Foundation Trust.
It could be to give something
back to a service that has cared
or supported them or a family
member. It may be to develop a
skill or to find out if a career is
the right one for them. For
some people it is to simply help
others. And for others it could
just be to get out of the house.
It may even be a combination
of all of the above.
The result is an additional team
of people supporting the staff
and patients.
There are about 70 volunteers
across the trust in roles ranging
from befriending on community
hospital wards to gardening to
supporting the trust’s Patient
Advice and Liaison Service
(PALS) gathering patient
feedback.
And the great work is taking
place across our wide
geographical area of
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire,
Swindon and Wiltshire plus Bath
and North East Somerset.
The volunteering team is made
up of everyone from students
to pensioners and the skills they
bring to the teams they support
are invaluable.
To all our
volunteers,
thank you!
The difference you
make is beyond
measure.
If you would like to volunteer or have any ideas for how volunteers can get involved, please
contact Community Involvement Manager Julie Pink at [email protected].
Volunteering
Insight 13 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Nominations open for election to
the Council of Governors on
Wednesday 7 March 2018.
We will be hosting an Aspirant
Governor Event for anyone
interested in becoming a governor
at the trust.
Join us
Thursday 15 March 2018
6pm to 8pm
Keble Suite, Jury’s Inn, Godstow
Road, Oxford, OX2 8AL.
Alternatively email
Here at Oxford Health we are an
NHS Foundation Trust, which
means we are ultimately
accountable to our members.
Our Council of Governors is made
up of people who have been
elected by their fellow members to
be the voice of the communities
we serve.
They may be patients, carers,
members of the public or staff.
Their role is vital as we set our
priorities and shape our services,
based on their views.
As a foundation trust our
governors play a very
important role in how we are
run by:
· providing an important link
with the local community
· attending local events on
behalf of the trust
· appointing or removing the
chair and other non-executive
directors on our trust board
· approving the appointment
of the chief executive officer
· appointing and removing
the trust auditors
· reviewing the annual
accounts, auditor’s report and
annual report
· presenting views on the
board of directors’ future
plans
· representing the interests
and views of trust members
· representing the interests of
the trust and adhering to its
values
· assisting with member
recruitment, member
communications and
attending events
· holding an AGM
Governors
14 Insight
Every month we reward a team or staff member who has made
a real difference to you or to someone you know.
You are welcome to nominate anyone if they have made a
difference, however large or small.
www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/getting-involved-with-oxford-
health/patient-involvement/awards
Nicola Saunders, Operational Lead for
Getting More Help CAMHS Community
Services, Bucks.
“I have witnessed her working incredibly
long hours and her level of commitment to
providing an excellent service is admirable.”
Claire Webster, Team Lead School Nursing
City Team Oxford.
“She has a great sense of humour but when
we have to knuckle down she will direct us to
get on. Her approach is always to put the
patient first in everything we do .“
Guy Harrison, Head of Spiritual and
Pastoral Care.
“Guy set out to help staff improve their
wellbeing as well as explore the spiritual
aspects of healing and wholeness.”
“His energy and commitment makes him a
role model for hard work and self-motivation.”
Gill Mason, Support
Worker, Wiltshire
Community Eating
Disorders.
“She’d write a poem for
me everyday that she
was not working and
leave them in my room,
her inspirational words
ensuring that I
continued to fight.”
Lizzie Coss, Clinical Development
Lead South West District Nurse
teams.
“A lioness in her team, guarding her cubs, an
excellent role model for us all, with patients
at the centre of everything she does.”
Shiela Montiel –
Healthcare Assistant,
Witney Emergency
Multidisciplinary Unit.
“She has an excellent
manner with patients
and is always keen to
help other team
members but is very
modest about the
positive impact she has
on us all.”
Insight 15 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
The trust celebrated wins for the
older-age adults and telepsychiatry
teams plus a prize for the ‘Medical
Student of the Year’
Oxford Health scoops three Royal College of
Psychiatry awards
The accolades, heralded as the Oscars of the
psychiatry profession, were awarded at the Royal
College of Psychiatry’s annual awards event in
London. The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the
professional medical body responsible for
supporting psychiatrists throughout their careers
and setting and raising standards of psychiatry in
the United Kingdom.
Stuart Bell, Oxford Health’s chief executive, said:
“Congratulations to all the winners – we’re all
incredibly proud of their achievement.
“To receive three awards from the Royal College
of Psychiatry is outstanding. These awards
recognise that these are people working at the
forefront of their profession, tailoring services to
the changing needs of our communities and
nurturing the next generation of psychiatrists to
provide care for local people.”
Our warmest congratulations to our winners:
Psychiatric Team of the Year: Older-age adults:
Older Adult Community Mental Health Team
South Oxfordshire, Oxford Health Foundation
Trust (pictured top).
Psychiatric Team of the Year: Outstanding
Commitment to Sustainable Service Development:
The emergency department psychiatry service in
Oxfordshire for its Technology Assisted Psychiatry
(TAP) project (pictured middle).
Medical Student of the Year: Maxime Taquet,
based at the Whiteleaf Centre in Aylesbury and
from the University of Oxford (pictured bottom).
Also shortlisted was Dr Belinda Lennox, Early
Intervention in Psychosis Service lead.
16 Insight
Physical activity associated with shorter inpatient stays
Courtney Hughes, a healthcare
assistant at Didcot Community
Hospital, recently picked up the
Points of Light award for her six
years of Christmas charity
collections.
Since launching her 'Secret Santa' appeal in 2011 Courtney has delivered £100,000 worth of
Christmas presents to hospitals, hospices and care homes across Oxfordshire.
With the award, which recognises 'outstanding individual volunteers', came a personal letter from
the Prime Minister, Theresa May.
Mrs May said: "Your ‘Secret Santa’ campaign has spread joy to hundreds of elderly and vulnerable
people during the festive period. Due to your tireless commitment, the annual Christmas gift
collection continues to grow in size and scale and is having a hugely positive effect on patients and
vulnerable people across Oxfordshire."
Award for
inspirational
Secret Santa
A study in Psychiatry Research by Joseph Korge, one of our mental
health inpatient psychotherapists, has found that patients who
participated more in patient activity sessions while in our mental
health wards had shorter stays in hospital.
While it is well-known that mental ill-health is associated with poorer
physical health too, but Joseph found there was not much evidence
about how physical activity might affect inpatient mental health services.
He said: “This question is important because hospital admissions are costly, increasingly strained
and unpopular among my patients. So I set about answering it.
“My thesis study showed that people with enduring medical illness, who exercise more, spend less
time admitted to inpatient mental health wards.
“I hope these novel findings will be a catalyst for further research into the link between physical
activity and the use of mental health services.”
Insight 17 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
A three year project is underway to make effective
virtual reality (VR) treatments available to NHS patients.
Patients will be able to access state-of-the-art psychological
therapy from a virtual counsellor in virtual reality.
Professor Daniel Freeman, who is a clinical psychologist at
Oxford Health as well as a researcher at Oxford University’s
Department of Psychiatry is leading the project.
He said: “Our project will see one of the most exciting and
powerful new technologies implemented in the NHS for the
first time.
“Virtual reality treatment can help patients transform their
lives. When people put on our headsets, a virtual coach
takes them into computer-generated simulations of the
situations they find troubling.
“The coach (pictured) guides the patient through these scenarios, helping them practise techniques
to overcome their difficulties. Patients often find it easier to do this work in the virtual world – and
they enjoy using our VR applications – but the beauty is that the benefits transfer to the real
world.”
“Our new treatment is automated – the virtual coach leads the therapy – and it uses inexpensive VR
kit, so it has the potential for widespread use in the NHS. We’re inspired by the opportunity VR
provides to increase dramatically the number of people who can access the most effective
psychological therapies.”
There are three main stages to the project: a design phase to ensure the VR treatment is simple to
use, engaging, and right for patient needs; a large multi-centre clinical trial in NHS trusts across the
country, to demonstrate the benefits of the VR treatment; and making a roadmap to roll out the
treatment across the NHS.
The ground-breaking project brings together a unique team of NHS trusts (including Oxford
Health), universities, a mental health charity, the Royal College of Art, and a University of Oxford
spinout company. It is being funded by a £4 million National Institute of Health Research award.
£4 million project to make VR treatments available to
NHS mental health services
18 Insight
There was a night of celebration as staff from
across the trust turned out to recognise some of
the remarkable work going on here at Oxford
Health at our annual Staff Recognition Awards.
The awards, which were re-launched two years ago,
have become a popular annual event here at Oxford
Health, with this year’s awards seeing more than 170
nominations made across the five counties we serve.
Nominations were mainly open to staff, for them to
nominate their colleagues, in categories that included,
the Delivering Care Award, Safe Award, Recognising
Innovation and Excellence Award, Team Work Award
(clinical), Team Work Award (non-clinical), Living the
Values Award and the Wellbeing Award.
There was also one special award presented on the
night, our Improving Patient Experience Award, which
is only open to patients and their families, friends and
carers to make nominations.
Insight 19 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Chief executive Stuart Bell CBE (pictured right), who hosted the
event and handed out the awards to staff, said he found the
work of those who had been nominated for awards “inspiring”.
He added: “The quality of the nominations for this year’s
awards was very high and I think everyone who was
nominated for an award should be very proud.
“Events like this are important for us as an organisation. These
awards are just a little way for us to recognise all the work that
goes on and say thank you.”
The Delivering Care Award winner was Georgina Little (pictured
left with Stuart Bell and trust Chairman Martin Howell) a primary
mental health support worker, working within our Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) community services
in Wiltshire and Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES).
Her nomination described her as an “inspiration” and someone
that “always goes the extra mile” to support and care for the
children and families she works with.
The nomination went on: “She always considers her client’s feelings and works in a collaborative way to
support them in working towards their goals. She always remembers to ask you how you are and knows
when you need a kind word even when you are busy.”
This year’s Safe Award winner was Zoe Dallow (pictured right
with Martin Howell and Director of Nursing Ros Alstead) an
occupational therapist within our Learning Disabilities Service.
Zoe introduced an epilepsy sensor to health and social care which
has promoted patient safety in the community.
By recognising a gap in the care we provide our clients, Zoe’s work
has seen vitally important information being made available to
clinicians in a way that had previously been hard for the client to do.
20 Insight
This year’s Recognising Innovation and Excellence
Award winner was Jo Preston (pictured right with
Martin Howell and Chief Medical Officer Mark Hancock),
a physiotherapist working witin our Physical Disabilities
Physiotherapy Service.
Jo created an innovative exercise programme pilot
which has demonstrated an improvement both in
physical function and psychological wellbeing in
participants.
Off the back of her work, there are now five Big Bold and Balance programs delivered in Oxfordshire by Age
UK fitness instructors with training provided by the Physical Disabilities Physiotherapy Service.
The winner of the Clinical Team Work Award this year
was the Medicines Information and Clinical
Effectiveness Team (pictured left with Chairman Martin
Howell and Director of Human Resources Tim Boylin).
Their nomination said: “For a small team they have a huge
direct impact on patient care, providing expert advice to
clinical staff and to patients and carers directly.”
The team was also recently rated excellent by the national
professional body for medicines information (UKMI).
This year’s Non-clinical Team Work Award went to the
Dental Referral Bureau who were likened to Google in
their nomination (pictured right with Martin Howell and
Director of Finance Mike McEnaney).
It said: “No matter what the query they go the extra
mile to answer it. The care and compassion shown by
this superb team to our patients, in often emotional
situations, cannot be underestimated.”
Insight 21 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
This year’s winner of the Living the Values Award is Noel
Burke (pictured right with Chairman Martin Howell and Chief
Executive Stuart Bell) a behavioural nurse specialist within
the Learning Disabilities services.
Noel was praised for his caring and supportive approach to
his work and tireless approach to ensuring that those people
who need care and support have it. His nomination summed
it up perfectly saying: “He feels like part of the family.”
Our Wellbeing Award is given to an individual or team
that has encouraged others to live healthier lifestyles.
This year’s winner is Jo Mildenhall (pictured left with
Chairman Martin Howell and Director of Corporate
Affairs Kerry Rogers) an administrator with our
CAMHS Community Services in Wiltshire and BaNES.
Jo’s colleagues described her as a fantastic motivator
who, no matter what her day has been like, is always
available with a kind word.
This year’s Improving Patient Experience Award winner was
Beatrice Anastasiou (pictured right), a speech and language
therapist with our Learning Disability services.
This award is nominated for by people who come into contact
with our services and given to the person who has made a real
difference to their experience of the care we provide.
The family who nominated her said: “She has opened up many
new opportunities we would never have imagined possible for
our daughter. You should be proud that you have such a
fantastic member in your team.”
22 Insight
At Oxford Health, we want to
help break the silence and end
the stigma around mental
health, and support our staff
in seeking the help they need.
One in four of us will experience
a mental health problem. Nine
in ten people who have
experienced a mental health
problem have faced negative
treatment from others as a
result. That’s why we have
signed the Time to Change
Employer Pledge.
Vanessa Odlin, Head of
Oxfordshire Adult Mental Health
Services, said: “We need to be
more open about talking about
our own mental health
experiences with our staff from
senior levels to staff that work
within the more front line
services. We would like to work
harder to create a caring
working environment which
allows staff to do this including
asking for help when they need.
“To enable this, we will be
recruiting Time To Change
Champions to support our
staff’s mental health, create
opportunities for staff to discuss
their mental health issues and
make such discussions part of
our working culture.
“We hope our Action Plan
supports us to promote a
culture of openness and that
this will help combat
discrimination towards people
who experience mental health
problems within both our staff
and patient group.
“Our vision is that no matter
who you are or where you are,
you will tell us that you receive
outstanding care delivered by
outstanding people.”
Time to Change is England’s
biggest programme to
challenge mental health stigma
and discrimination and is run by
the charities Mind and Rethink
Mental Illness.
Help break the
silence around
mental health
A better
experience for
every website visitor
We have added world-leading
digital inclusion software
Browsealoud to our website –
making our content more
accessible with reading and
translation support.
Browsealoud is free. Simply
click on the icon on the website
to hear text read aloud and use
the accessibility functions.
Benefits include:
· text-to-speech
· language translation
· text magnification:
· mp3 generation
· screen mask
· web page simplification
· customisable settings
Insight 23 www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk
Clinical practice educators at the Warneford
Hospital teamed-up with Oxford Brookes
University to host a study day covering the
role of the mental health nurse in the
management of medication.
They examined collaborative approaches to best
benefit service users and put them at the heart of
decisions.
The High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire
Mr Peter Kara, accompanied by Cllr Lin
Hazell cabinet member for Health and
Wellbeing at Buckinghamshire County
Council, visited the Whiteleaf Centre in
Aylesbury.
As part of their visit they met with
representatives of the carers support
team and spent time on Opal adult
rehabilitation ward and at
Buckinghamshire Recovery College. Sheila Mudarikiri (Opal ward manager) Mr Peter Kara, Cllr
Lin Hazell, Nilam Patel (Modern Matron)
Healthcare Assistant Paul Skott, better known as
Greybeard to patients and colleagues, has been
raising funds, awareness and spirits with his beard
decorating antics.
At the heart of the patient-led fundraising effort, Paul
grew his beard and then offered up his facial hair for
decoration by patients at Cotswold House in Oxford.
He said: “For moments like that half an hour or so when
my beard was getting its glittery multi-coloured makeover
there was nothing but fun, laughter and a much needed
escape from the eating disorder bully.”
Paul is fundraising for Oxford Health Charity.
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/
greybeardforcotswoldhouse
Meet the team In this regular feature, Insight talks to teams across the trust about what they
do. This edition, we talked to speech and language therapists with the trust’s
Learning Disability service.
To feature in our next edition contact the communications team
Who are the team?
We are five speech and language therapists who
work within multi-disciplinary teams of
occupational therapists, psychologists,
psychiatrists, learning disability nurses,
behavioural therapists, and physiotherapists.
For clients with various abilities we work with our
intensive interaction specialist and Intensive
Support Team.
What does the team do?
We work with patients who have difficulties with
speech, voice, language and/or swallowing. We
also help their families and carers.
This could be one-to-one therapy, working on
low and hi-tech communication aids, training
staff and service users or indirect work through
the person’s support network.
Speech and language difficulties can lead to
isolation and frustration. It’s one of the most
rewarding aspects of the job to see confidence
grow and people become involved in social
activities. By understanding and responding to
individuals’ needs we can improve people’s
physical and mental wellbeing and marked
improvements can happen quite quickly.
What has the team been involved in?
We run a Total Communication project to support
people to communicate in the most appropriate
way for them.
You can find out more at
www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/oxtc.
We also run Total Communication and dysphagia
awareness training throughout the year for
colleagues at Oxford Health and other services in
the county.
The team organises informal signing groups for
staff teams and puts in place low-tech
communication aids. We also run swallowing
awareness workshops.
How to contact the team?
If you’d like to know more about Learning
Disability speech and language therapy please
call the team local to you.
Oxfordshire north: 01865 903500
Oxford city: 01865 904555
Oxfordshire south: 01865 903100
