DEVELOPING A GOLD STANDARD EARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHOSIS SERVICE WITH CARDIFF AND VALE UHB.
My motivation for undertaking this Florence Nightingale Scholarship was due to my current academic studies that is related to research within early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services – this where mental health services act proactively and provide evidence based interventions with those who may be developing a psychotic illness for the first time. When I successfully obtained scholarship and sponsorship from the General Nursing Council for England and Wales, my first priority was to focus on an area where a large amount of research (200 peer reviewed articles from one clinic) on EIP was generated – Melbourne, Australia and the Open Dialogue Approach within Finland.
Visiting environments where the standards are very high can not only inspire changes within the clinical setting but also inspire a new research direction by providing a novel infusion of ideas. Melbourne and Finland have not disappointed in that vain and I have been inundated with data. This has been in the form of observational experiences within clinical practice – inpatients, crisis teams, community teams and group settings. Along with this I have met a number of senior managers and researchers who have talked to me about their roles and research experience that has helped me in a reflexive capacity regarding my own research and impending thesis.
The recommendations of this work are as follows:
Within an EIP pilot that is currently being undertaken by the mental health clinical board ensure that the fidelity of the interventions are rolled out consistently with best practice with the information gathered from Melbourne:
- a) Ensure that the service is youth (young adult) friendly
- b) There are close partnership working with the third sector
- c) Create dedicated environments, literature and staff attitudes
- d) Ensure that there is a distinct pathway with boundary crossover points which are clearly demarcated
- e) Maximise research into this area
- f) The EIP pilot needs to be a proactive service to meet client needs
- g) Staff need to have sound knowledge of drug and alcohol issues with treatment approaches available to provide a truly integrated service
- h) Effective use of resources (staffing – medical, psychological and highly skilled nursing workforce)
Implement the principles of ODA in a community rehabilitation team through a pilot project associated with research work
- Maintain the vast and varied networks and partnerships I have fostered through the scholarship from across the world
- To dissemination of information and learning from travel scholarship through presentations, conferences and publications.
I would highly recommend anyone who is formulating their research question to look beyond their local communities and expose themselves to wider influence from across the globe.