SLaM Arts Strategy Consultation Report Staff & providers feedback @ InSpire 13 th March 2012 Content analysis and themes The content analysis was commissioned and undertaken by a team of service user consultants and the arts development manager, mapping and checking the themes with the 4 provisional strategic goals and themes from the Service user consultation report. The team analysed and concluded that the content supported the 4 Strategic goals: Therapeutic value of the arts; Involvement and partnership; Best practice; Promotion, Publicity and Profile. Strategy Questions about/suggestions for and Language and Communication were identified as the major themes within the strategy. More ambitious language that states clearly what is going to be different in x years time required,.using interesting, different, vivid, punch-packing language is step 1 in getting your message across. It seemed as though there was some concern as to the purpose of the arts strategy who is our audience?, is the strategy for adults only or for all age ranges?, SLaM will embrace the arts HOW? What does success look like how to implement. Alongside this there was general sentiment that the end results would need to be specific, measurable, targeted and visual and artistic in order to reach people make the document itself really visual and accessible pictures? Case studies? Positive language? Impact report (not strategy). Different documents for different audiences. Financial It was suggested to try to secure e.g. 1% of teams budgets to the arts and a request that this is on-going financial support rather than one-off funding. Therapeutic Value of the Arts Arts, Meds, Talking with therapists are illustrated as being equal constituent contributors to well being. This was illustrated by a participant as being a triangle. As far as evidence base is concerned, there was mixed sentiment ranging from the very positive to the practical a desire for evidence to be presentable more evidence and proof of therapeutic value. It was said consider how art therapy involves and related to practising art. It was expressed that there should be more emphasis on diversity of art forms and links with new technologies etc.
An OT commented that she had been interested in the breadth of "intervention" the arts can provide; I've noticed how we use the arts as a direct intervention in the anxiety disorders client group (compared to my experience on a ward in the psychosis CAG) i.e. exposure to 'contaminants' - paint on hands / clothes, not doing things 'perfectly' and sense of 'permanence' it provides (i.e. not being able to change a mosaic) plus the use of drama for people with Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Again, this falls under the broad umbrella of 'therapeutic use', but if you ever do want specific case studies the Anxiety Disorder Residential Unit (ADRU Bethlem Hospital) would make an interesting comparison with other settings. Involvement and Partnership Participants comments fell into five categories: the wider perspective, internal SLaM, the Third Sector and Voluntary, Peer Support and Public Sector/Other. Wider Perspective There was a comment to look outwards not inwards and another suggesting making links to groups. This was reinforced by a statement saying that SLaM will engage with a wider range of partners that will lead to more arts activities being available to service users etc. Also that beyond the services that SLaM provides, there are other opportunities to connect with in the outside world and to ensure service users feel able to participate. It was also suggested the mental health staff could work with arts organisations to overcome some of the perceived and real barriers. To provide choice for the way in which personal budgets are spent. Internal SLaM Key Roles: Improvements in roles within SLaM were suggested e.g.: service user rep on commissioning board, links in CMHTs arts therapy reps link and ambassadors role and care co-ordinators also key. There was the suggestion that interventions could be introduced in services to benefit service users e.g. Partnership working and joint bids Councils, volunteer organisations. Where there are key arts workers in local teams, we should explore how we should develop links with them in the future. Third Sector (voluntary) Tie-ins were suggested with Morley College. Also, art workshops, creative training and seminars could be run in the Dragon café to introduce busy professionals to the power of creativity In my view, it is essential for them to have time and space to step back from their own roles, to explore their own creativity and witness that of others. In this way they will be able to include art as a part of their specific work-role. There are resources in the community to be accessed.
Peer Support Peer support could be facilitated and encouraged through group visits. Other Public Sector The question of how to educate GPs as commissioners was raised. Links need to be made within local boroughs and local strategies. It will be useful to understand all the mapping and work that went on as part of Lambeth s Cultural Strategy and also our Well-being and Happiness Programme can be found at http://www.lambethfirst.org.uk/mentalwellbeing SLaM could SLaM have a bit in the strategy to improve mental well being for all by promoting involvement in the arts? There should be more links to primary care, health improvement services and influencing GPs to do social prescribing including the arts. Best Practice Best practice encompasses some important strands. Evidence is required to promote best practice and how to work successfully. It encompasses care pathways and training. There were challenges that were commented on. Challenges From the outside, looking in, it s hard to know how to connect with etc; e.g. because of pressures on ward staff. This linked with comments that care coordinators were besieged overstretched and referrals should be quicker. One concern was that theoretical research will not pathway into real improvements to services. Challenges: Access Participants reported that several barriers currently stand in the way of access. Provision on our (SLaM) wards is irregular and insufficient across the Trust. (Poor) Access to services across CAGs and Boroughs. Access also hinges on logistics and actually getting people to the activities and this was flagged up as essential. [Overall it could be said that the goal of best practice ensures quality assurance. It also was stated that SLaM should attach EQUAL WEIGHT to arts therapies and activities.] Care Pathways
Comments were made that a care pathway for arts is vital (especially with personal budgets) and that there should be an arts representative drawing up the care pathway. Suggestions were that:- Support should be provided along the pathway and questioning if there is a middle ground between grass roots and therapeutic. Training Many comments were made on staff training like:- It would be good for staff to have training in art therapy groups and training on what art is? It was suggested that Arts in health should be embedded in CPD/training, introduced at staff induction and possibly as mandatory training. It was queried what is the minimum qualification and about training in safeguarding. There was a comment about nursing staff being envious of arts therapists having a fun role. The suggestion was that training was needed to overcome this. Evidence There was general agreement that there is a need to provide evidence to support the arts in health. Evidence that was accessible such as those in the NICE guidelines. There is a need to advocate for the arts arguing the cost and mapping the costs of intervention i.e. with case studies and cost effectiveness. There is evidence that experiential learning for staff improves the ward atmosphere through arts therapies. Promotion, Publicity and Profile (Exhibiting) It was felt that there should be a list of key SLaM staff to liaise with and that there should be more clarity in who to speak to in SLaM. In terms of publicising what is available it was seen to be the case that GPs etc (are) also ill-informed about both mental health and arts provision. There was said to be (a lack of) Communication. Movements to ward partnership were suggested Possible use of space with SLaM by outside practitioners... gallery space at SHARP would like to appoint a volunteer curator and would be delighted to host artists and exhibitions. It was noted that SLaM should emphasise resources (promote and protect in the current climate).
APPENDICES Additional comments via subsequent emails from participants after the content was analysised. The Strategy should have more ambitious language and that it should link in more with the feedback from the focus groups. Within the Strategy, I would also like to see some clear objectives that success can be measured against, together with approaches to how these will be monitored and evaluated. I felt that the consultation document concentrated mainly on visual arts practice rather than addressing other art forms. It was also very focused on activities that are currently taking place and being delivered directly by SLAM, rather than exploring future activity and developing partnerships. It would be good to address how SLAM could engage with a wider range of partners and how you might support groups to develop their capacity to work in this field, which in turn could lead to an increased range of arts activities being available to service users and progression routes to further participation outside of SLAM. Also, one of the guiding principles in the consultation states To support contemporary art as a social practice and I m not quite sure what this means within the context of the strategy. The aim to improve wellbeing over all as well as enhance recovery would be a key focus, but it is also important to consider arts in terms of delivering and producing excellence as well as therapy. Suggestions of linking to primary care, health improvement services and influencing GPs to do social prescribing including the arts and think this is an area that could have lots of potential to develop. Linking with other providers and better communication of services and activities that are on offer is also an area that could be explored more fully. Partnership. You have clearly stated that you want SLaM to work in partnership and increase permeability between commissioned/clinical services and community arts provision. I think that idea sometimes got lost in the discussions, which became very focused on OT's and wards. My suggestion is to try to keep the strategy service user focused rather than SLaM focused, this will mean that everybody can buy into it as the service user is everybody's main concern. Structure. A lot of the conversation was also about whom the strategy is for and making it accessible to everybody. The structure can help a lot with this. Vision. This is where you need everybody to buy in to the document. It is the simple overview that is suitable for all stakeholders. It should also be an ambitious statement of intent. Aims. These are specific achievable goals. Not too many and still broad enough for various stakeholders to see they can contribute to. After the aims are stated, they can then be described in more detail, possibly with even examples of good practice.