Ceredigion Updates
This was the first year for Shon devey the new development Worker following the retirement of Lynette Morgan who had created and developed the post over a 20 year period – a seriously hard act to follow!
The worker was new to the area and to the mental health sector so there was a great deal of learning involved. The focus for the 12 months has been on building relationships, developing networks, understanding mental health services and developing new ideas. During the first 6 months the worker spent a day as a volunteer at each of the Third Sector mental health projects in the county. This gave significant insight into the nature and needs of the projects.
Early on the worker recognised the need to improve service user involvement in the Mental Health Forum and embarked on a process of persuading the forum to alternate their monthly meetings between Organisations and Service Users.
Considerable support was provided for the HUTS project getting them through a period of growth and transition.
Support was also provided for Eich Dewis Chi,helping to develop a new direction for the project. This work will continue for the next 12 months.
The worker has supported a number of new developments during this period. A new project entitled “Steps to mental health” was established in Cardigan providing structured weekly mutual support groups in the area. There have been requests from other parts of the county to expand this service.
Support is being given to a new innovative development of a pilot Surf Therapy programme. Funding for 2 years was sought and obtained from Ceredigion Council, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Agency. During March a group made up of volunteers and surf teachers made a familiarisation visit to a surf therapy project in Newquay, Cornwall as a prelude to establishing a local programme during the Summer of 2012.
The worker has also been involved at a strategic level attending a range of meetings relating to County, Welsh Government and Hywel Dda Health Board plans including a number of consultations and planning sessions on the Mental Health Measure, the Carers Measure and the Clinical Services Review.
Page last modified: Mon 29th October 2012