July 2020


Dear [firstname]

 

Welcome to the seventh edition of Oxleas Engage. I'd also like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to members who are receiving Engage for the first time having recently updated their member contact details.

 

In these extremely difficult times, we want to update you on what Oxleas is doing in response to the Coronavirus COVID-19.

 

In this edition, you can find an update from our services, information about visiting our sites and attending appointments (outpatient, home visits and virtual). You can find out how you can watch our Board of Directors and Council of Governors meetings which have both moved to online broadcasts. Our governor elections will be starting next month and you can find out what opportunities will be available to stand as a governor. You can nominate a member of staff or team for a Recognition Award. Lastly, there's information for you about a new campaign to support south east Londoners who may be experiencing mental ill-health during the pandemic.

 

As mentioned in the last edition, Our Next Step, a programme of work to develop a new 5 year strategy for the trust has been slowed down due to the pandemic. We are still taking stock of all the feedback you provided together with feedback from other sources including our staff to help inform the strategy. We will let you know the outcome of this work as soon as it is available.

 

I hope you keep safe and well.

 

Jo Mant

Head of Stakeholder Engagement

email: [email protected] / t: 02038 715617

Twitter: @JoMant2

 

General membership enquiries: [email protected] / t: 0300 123 1541


Latest news


Oxleas Chief Executive returns from NHS Nightingale Hospital

Matthew Trainer has returned from his secondment to the NHS Nightingale Hospital. We are working with partners across the South East London Integrated Care System to develop plans to move from the crisis response to COVID-19 to being able to operate a wider range of services whilst maintaining social distancing and adequate safety precautions.

 

As part of this work, Matthew has taken on two new roles within the region - Senior Responsible Officer for London Region – Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery, and Community and Mental Health Services Lead for South East London Integrated Care System.


Our response to COVID-19

 

 

Updates from our services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we've had to change our services to keep staff and patients safe and take account of reduced staffing levels. To find out what our Adult Learning Disability, Bromley Mental Health, Greenwich Mental Health, Greenwich Adult Community, Bexley Community, Bexley Mental Health, Children and Young People's Specialist Services, Universal Services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and our Forensic and Prison Services are doing click here.

 

Visiting & attending outpatient appointments

The Government has announced that from Monday 15 June 2020, all visitors and outpatients should wear face coverings in all health care settings.

 

Please ensure you wear your own face mask or covering when coming onto any of our clinical sites and throughout your visit.

 

If you arrive on the premises without a suitable mask or face covering, one will be provided for you.

 

Some visiting restrictions remain in place for now on our wards but we do have procedures in place, on a case-by-case basis, and virtual technology is being used for regular contact with families by both our staff and patients.

 

For the most up to date information on COVID-19, please visit the NHS Coronavirus (COVID-19) website.

 

Appointments

Some essential clinics and home visits have continued face-to-face but where possible, these services are being offered virtually by phone or video technology.

 

To enable us to continue to treat those patients with long-term conditions or who need continuing care, telephone and video consultation services are now in place for many of our outpatient appointments.

 

Some of our services have developed online sessions and short advice films. You can see what they've been doing here.


Annual Members' Meeting (AMM) update

This year, due to COVID-19, we are planning to hold the AMM in November 2020. Whether it is a face to face meeting or virtual one will be dependent on the pandemic situation at that time and we will work with our Governors on the focus and format. We will update you with a date and more information soon.

 


Council of Governors elections

This year’s governor elections will open on 14 August 2020. If you’re interested in standing as a governor this year, the following Public and Service User/carer constituency vacancies will be available:

 

Public constituency

Bromley x 1 vacancy (3 year term)

Greenwich x 2 vacancies (both 3 year terms)

Rest of England x 1 (1 year term)

 

Service User/Carer constituency

Bromley Adult x 2 vacancies (both 1 year terms)

 

All members in the above constituencies will receive information about the elections when they open.


Our Board of Directors and Council of Governors meetings go virtual

 

 

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, our Board of Directors’ and Council of Governors’ meetings will be held virtually until further notice. However, as we are keen at Oxleas to maintain public access to our meetings and, in the spirit of board and council discussions continuing to be held ‘in public’, we are broadcasting each meeting live. You can either view live or catch up later via the links below. Members are very welcome to watch these meetings.

 

Board of Directors virtual meeting

Our latest Board of Directors virtual meeting was broadcast on Thursday, 2 July 2020. Click here to watch the meeting

 

Council of Governors virtual meeting

If you missed the meeting broadcast on 18 June 2020 but would still like to view it, you can do so here.

 

Have you watched any of our virtual meetings? What did you think? We’d love to hear your views.


Recognition Awards 2020

 

 

Do you know a team or staff member who have gone above and beyond in the past year and deserve special recognition for their outstanding work? This year, more than ever, it is important to recognise the commitment and compassion shown by our colleagues.

 

Nominations are now open for our Recognition Awards 2020. We’d love to hear from patients, carers, members, volunteers, partner organisations and members of staff about the team or individual you think has made an outstanding contribution.

 

There are three categories to choose from:

  • Team of the Year Award  
  • Governors’ Award (to nominate an individual)  
  • Health and Wellbeing Champion Award (individual or team)  
  •  

    To nominate, you can click on this link to complete the online form. You can also find the form in the latest edition of Oxleas Exchange (see right-hand column).

     

    For an Easy Read form call Sharon Rodrigues on 020 8269 3325.

     

    The deadline for nominations is 31 August 2020.


    Looking after mental health has never been so important #Free your mind

    A new campaign to support people living in south east London experiencing mental ill-health during the COVID-19 pandemic launched recently. The ‘Free Your Mind’ campaign will run until 22 August 2020, using an array of digital resources to support south east Londoners better take care of their mental health. It has been initiated by NHS South East London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

     

    The CCG’s clinical lead for mental health, and Southwark GP, Dr Nancy Kuchemann, said: “COVID-19 has had a profound effect on people’s mental health, adding to existing worries and concerns – and magnifying them. Even before the pandemic, many Londoners had to cope with loneliness, isolation and housing and financial worries. But recent weeks have made life even more difficult –affecting many people of all ages, from all walks of life. We want these people to know that the NHS and its partners are here for them. Our ‘Free Your Mind’ campaign will offer practical support, guidance and help and also give much-needed reassurance to those who are having a tough time.”

     


     

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    COVID-19 local responses


    How to volunteer or request help if you're having to self-isolate

    Click on the links below if you would like to volunteer or you need help from a volunteer due to self-isolating

  • Bexley  
  • Bromley    
  • Greenwich  
  •  


    Update from Mind

     

    Bromley, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind

    For the lastest news about the affect of COVID-19 on Mind services in Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich, please click here.

     

    Mind in Bexley

    For the latest news about the affect of COVID-19 on Mind services in Bexley, please click here.


    Samaritans

    Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark

    Bexley and Dartford

    Bromley and Orpington

     

    Call 116 123 free from any phone


    Our websites and social media

     

    To find out more about us and what we do, please visit our websites, follow us on Twitter @OxleasNHS and Facebook and check out our YouTube channel.

     

    Our websites:

    Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

    Bromley Health Visiting Service

    Greenwich 0-19 Service

    Headscape Bexley

    HeadScape Greenwich

    Young Carers

    Queen Mary's, Sidcup


    Oxleas' Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

     

    Got a problem or need advice about our services? Call PALS on 0800 917 7159 (freephone) or email [email protected]

     

    PALS can give you information about our services and the choices available to you, your family, visitors and carers. PALS will listen to your comments, compliments or concerns about our services and help you to resolve any problems you have as quickly as possible. PALS can give you information about our formal complaints process and independent advocacy services


    Don't miss out on Oxleas' news!

     

    Click on the image below to view our latest edition of Oxleas Exchange,   our membership magazine. You can view past and present editions here .

     

     

    Oxleas Engage   - view past editions here .  


    Contact us

     

     

    Anne Marie Hudson (governors) , Jo Mant, Nikki Sandhu (membership)

     

    We look after our members and Council of Governors.

     

    You can contact us or call 0300 123 1541 about membership issues.

     

    Want to contact a governor? Email [email protected]

     

    If you want to find out more about becoming a governor please contact Jo.


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