Situation
To design a new Welcome Pack for families transitioning into a SHSCT shortbreak facility for Adults with a Learning Disability.
Learning Disability Carers Consultants involved families as part of a Carers& Stakeholders work stream this was 1 project/outcome of that group.
Families had relayed to Learning Disability Carer Consultants that previous information given to them was too overwhelming, loose pages stapled together and too much unnecessary text which was unhelpful.
The information families required needed to be easily accessible and contain key messages /visual pictures e.g of the unit what to expect during your stay, what to bring with you, what was provided in terms of the service/laundry/activities/meal times.
The pack was co-produced with Carers and service users involving a multi disciplinary team including SHSCT Speech& Language ,Learning Disability nurses; Shortbreak Team, Woodlawn staff/Manager, Allied Health Professionals and Disability Action from an advocacy perspective.
The project was facilitated by Southern Trust Learning Disability Carer Consultants.
Task
Learning Disability Carer Consultants coordinated a review of existing shortbreak materials and resources
- Facilitated involvement by cascading an Expression of Interest Flyer to all Carers currently know to the service to meet with key trust staff and external agencies
- Contacted Carers to become involved in a focus group
- Contacted Carers to be involved in a Carers & Stakeholders Forum
- Involved speech &language to ensure service users views/experiences were captured
- Built relationships & interfaces with families, LD staff and external advocacy organisations
- Facilitated a better experience of shortbreaks
- Overall responsibility was to reduce stress/anxiety when preparing a loved one for shortbreak and make transitions easier into the unit for all via clear messaging and instructions in an accessible format
Action
Learning Disability Carer Consultants facilitated a Carers Focus Group
- Established a Carers and Stakeholders forum involving wide multidisciplinary team including Carers and advocacy.
- Carers met in person,online and families contacted via telephone.
- An MS form was produced and emailed to all families currently using the unit they were invited to share their views of the existing Welcome pack and bring forward ideas for the design of the new pack.
- Service Users were involved via speech and language using makaton/talking mats and their views/ideas feed into the pack
- Previous welcome pack was sifted through to take out all unnecessary information
- Responses from Carer and Service user engagement was collated and discussed with all until there was holistic agreement of the content and style for new product.
- Learning Disability Carer Consultants met with design team and product was launched late 25 and given to new families on admission.
- Objective was to build relationships with families& staff via Carer/Service User involvement
- Reduce stress when supporting your loved one to prepare for a shortbreak
- Reduce stress of service users so that they know exactly where they are going and what to expect
- Empower families carers and service users to identify the key messages needed when getting ready for a shortbreak
- Design of the pack is wallet style so other useful leaflets/MARS/Flyers can be inserted and kept safely and accessible at all times
- Real pictures of the unit were used in order to reinforce the accessibility of the pack specifically for service users who need objects of reference for transition
Result
- Feedback on the new pack is 100% positive from families and staff resulting in fewer issues and confusion around requirements for shortbreaks
- Reduction of Carer calls to the unit on admission
- Reduction of Carer stress when preparing for shortbreaks
- Reduction of service user stress on admission
- Up to date visual of the property & interior,
- Anticipated important questions answered,
- Useful phone numbers prominent so can prepare better for stay
- Enhanced teamwork
- All helped build improved relationships within the team and the wider staff involved
- Better communication between staff and families
- Project provided staff not familiar with the unit to be better informed with the level and depth of services behind the scenes.
- Importance of the detail within the welcome pack for the safety of service users stay and service delivery.
Other comments
The impact of producing this pack has resulted in a service improvement, enhanced partnership working between carers/service users and stakeholders
- Families have a useful product easily carried/stored and needed
- Relationships have improved with carers and staff
- Created a positive outcome during a time of reduced service across shortbreaks
- Development opportunities for review of other shortbreak information already in discussion
- Opportunity to share involvement/outcome with other trust regions
