Therapeutic activities
There is a daily morning meeting held on the wards in the social circle at 9am (10am on weekends and bank holidays). This is a great opportunity for patients and staff to get together and plan the day’s therapeutic activities and any other practical issues that may arise.
Groups
There are a variety of different groups run by the therapy worker, therapy nurse, occupational therapist technician, occupational therapists, pharmacist and vocational workers. A timetable outlining all the groups available can be found on the ward notice board. The groups are part of your treatment and recovery journey, and aim to help you develop skills to manage your mental health problems.
A number of groups help you to develop skills in learning how to express and manage difficult and distressing emotions, and to improve your coping and self-esteem, for example, emotion management, Tai-Chi, mindfulness, arts and crafts, pottery and general wellbeing sessions.
There are vocational clinics to provide you with advice and information about meaningful and purposeful activities you can do when you are discharged, such as information about work, courses or volunteering.
The personal trainer and gentle exercise sessions provide the opportunity to maintain your physical fitness while in hospital. Physical exercise is important in helping to maintain emotional well being.
The hospital Pharmacist provides an opportunity to discuss and ask any questions about your medication on a one-to-one basis.
Individual
Patients are encouraged and supported to spend daily one-to-one time with their primary worker or allocated worker. This time is about review your progress, to talk about any worries or concerns you may have and to work on developing your care plans. Along with group activities the occupational therapists will also work with you on a one-to-one basis, assessing your individual needs, and working with you to improve your practical skills and develop strategies to promote your recovery.
You may also be referred for individual talking therapies with a therapist trained in providing evidence based therapeutic and psychological interventions, such as cognitive behaviour therapy or brief solution focussed therapy.
The work covered in your individual sessions is shared with the rest of your team, written up in your notes, discussed during your weekly clinical review and incorporated into your care plans.
Informal activities
Other more informal activities can also be arranged in the morning meeting, for example, going for a walk in the hospital grounds, visiting the coffee shop, tea and cake on the ward, bowls in the garden or gym activities such as table tennis, badminton or football.
