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Physiotherapy in mental health
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About the service
The physiotherapy in mental health service provides a physiotherapy and exercise service to any adult with mental health problems who is unable to access mainstream services independently.
The multi-skilled team aims to promote wellbeing and independence. This is done by using physical and psychological approaches, discussed with the patient, in order to achieve identified goals.
Staff from the physiotherapy in mental health service have expertise in all elements of wellbeing including; exercise, healthy eating, weight management, stop smoking and management of anxiety and depression.
Staff treat musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, respiratory and neurological conditions. They also help to address the management of chronic pain; effects of eating disorders, cognitive impairment, mobility problems and postural management for people with mental health problems.
The service ensures that individual needs are supported by working closely with families and carers where appropriate.
Why would someone choose the service?
- We ensure carer’s needs are always considered and, where appropriate, are offered the opportunity to participate in activities with the person they care for
- People using the service have been supported to carry out voluntary work with the team to help them access paid employment or further training
- The team is well respected by universities for offering a good experience to students
- Patients are involved in negotiating their own goals of attendance and are reviewed to assess if they are being met
- Facilities are newly decorated and there is a fully equipped, regularly serviced gym for patient use
- Physiotherapy staff enable people to work at their own pace and always respect people’s wishes
An ongoing postal survey of people using the service has shown that:
- 100% had a positive first impression of the service
- 100% felt they were treated with respect
- 100% felt staff understood their concerns
- 99% were offered a choice of appointments
- 100% found their treatment and/or advice helpful
- 100% were satisfied with the service received
Staff you may meet
- Physiotherapists help people to improve their range of movement in order to promote health and well being. This can help people to live more independently.
- We have a range of health workers who all have different specialities. This could be in a certain condition, a therapy or the advice they can give you. Our specialists our highly skilled and trained professionals, ready to offer you help and advice whenever you need it.
Why a professional should choose the service
- The service treats a specific customer base – people with complex mental health issues, often having dual diagnoses and are unable to access mainstream services or public leisure facilities independently – which other services struggle to effectively engage with.
- Specialist physiotherapists and fitness instructors are comfortable working in acute mental health, hospital and community settings. The team works with patients across all adult mental health services including older people’s and substance misuse services.
- Staff responded promptly to requests for assessments and will attend multi-professional care meetings as appropriate.
- All non-urgent referrals for assessment are seen within 14 calendar days, meeting the regional CQUIN indicator 2.
- Service provides access to regular physical exercise sessions which helps to encourage positive mental health and wellbeing as well as helping to reduce instances of violence for inpatients
- Physiotherapy staff are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and of the special interest group Chartered physiotherapists in Mental Health
- The service has close working partnerships with other institutions including Barnsley Premier Leisure, substance misuse services; Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support and the Alzheimer’s Society.
- The team achieves best practice indicators as set out in Essence of Care.
- All team members have completed appropriate mandatory training annually or as required.
- The physiotherapy in mental health service was one of the first in the country to develop and run a weight management programme for people with long-term mental health problems.
Support offered
Physiotherapy may consist of:
- Advice and education
- Applied relaxation
- Individual or group exercise
- Manual therapy
- Mobility/rehabilitation
- Onward referral
- Postural and seating advice
- Support to access community leisure facilities
- Supported use of public facilities
Carers and support workers are involved in therapy sessions if appropriate.
Outcomes
- To make positive lifestyle changes and minimise occurrences of relapse
- Promotion and achievement of the wellbeing and independence of adults with mental health problems. This is achieved through the use of physical and psychological approaches in coordination with other professionals and the person’s carer where appropriate
- To improve physical health in order to impact positively on mental wellbeing
- To enable people to access leisure and community facilities independently
- To offer positive experiences through physical activity for people with complex mental health issues
- To manage deteriorating physical and mental health and support carers in this
Referrals accepted from:
A & E, AHPs, Carers/family, CMHTs, Consultants, Drug/alcohol agencies, GP staff, GPs, Health visitors, Hospital staff, Local authority staff, Other Trust services, Patients(self-referral), Voluntary services
Referrals also accepted from:
Referrals also accepted from the early intervention team, recovery team, assertive outreach team, acute mental health services, mental health liaison team, intensive home treatment team and care homes.
Referral criteria:
- The physiotherapy in mental health team treats people whose mental health problems make it extremely difficult for them to access mainstream physiotherapy or public facilities independently
- Referrals can be made by phone, fax and mail or staff can refer to the service through RiO, the Trust’s reporting system
- Self-referrals from patients are also accepted