NETWORK TEA PARTIES

LANCASHIRECARE FOUNDATION TRUST

OLDER PEOPLES MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

NETWORK TEA PARTIES

In order to celebrate National Dignity Action Day on 25th February 2010, both inpatient and community teams were invited to organise parties as awareness raising events to highlight the importance of treating those people in our care with respect and dignity. Invitations differed from area to area and included people who currently use Older Adult Mental Health Services, informal carers, friends and families, private and voluntary care organisations, partner agencies and the public.

During the tea parties guests were asked to participate in helping us learn from their personal experiences when using or caring for someone who uses/used, our services through completing a ‘wish card’ that illustrated

‘what they would like to see done differently today than yesterday’

The event was made personal to the local areas, Some community teams took wish cards with them on their visits either leaving them for people to complete and collecting them in at a later date or giving extra time to their visits for people to complete the wish cards and to have a cup of tea and chat on the day.

Blackburn with Darwen Community Mental Health Team provided lunch for a group of people who use their services and their carers. Lancaster and Morecambe Community Mental Health Team jointly with social care staff organised a tea party to facilitate discussions with past and current services users, informal carers, and private and voluntary care organisations. They invited pupils from Our Lady’s Catholic High School to help welcome guests, served tea andcoffee and also help support guests when completing their wish cards. Guests and helpers had an enjoyable day made all the better with some scrumptious homemade cakes kindly made by a member of staff.

In wards and ward foyers tea and cake was served to patients, carers and families while they completed the wish cards.



Age Concern Enhanced Day Care Centre at Charnley fold celebrated with lunch using the Chinese New Year as their theme. Everyone was encouraged to fill out their “Dignity cookies“ (aka fortune cookies).

A good time was had by all and we now have recruited Dignity champions in most areas.

All the information gathered in from the wish cards will be collated and fed back to the senior management team so that they can see the key priorities that people have identified and wish to see actioned.

Ian Huitson Older Adult Network Director would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for making this day a real success.