BAMHAG Transitional Advocacy Project
Client Group
Service users in Bradford and Airedale experiencing a change in their mental health support or environment as part of their recovery journey. For example, people leaving hospital to live in the community or being discharged from Community Mental Health Services to the care of their GP.
Challenge
For people undergoing such transitions there can be many challenges. Mental and physical health issues, unemployment, housing needs, social isolation, familial difficulties, stigma, poverty and adjusting to a new environment may all have to be faced during transition. However, having to cope with such complex and challenging difficulties with a reduced level of support can lead to people feeling overwhelmed, isolated and unsupported. They may become demoralised and mistrustful and not know where to turn for support, which could compromise the success of their transition/recovery.
Aim
We take the approach that our clients are the experts on their lives, the ones who know, and should decide, what they need to achieve and maintain their wellbeing and recovery. Therefore, we aim to empower our clients before, during and after their transition by supporting them to take an active role in their own care and recovery. We will:
· Provide in-depth and detailed support, asking questions and offering reflections to help the person identify their needs, including the appropriate level of care and support during their transition.
· Help the person explore and research options and find solutions that work for them. (For example, identify current support networks and identify potential future support.)
· Provide support to achieve the goals or needs identified by the person. Along with recovery-related goals, such as obtaining support from services, this can include anything that the person considers important such as relationships, activities, hobbies, health, education, training, work, etc.
· Give the person a voice allowing them to have a say in their treatment and care, ease communication and help redress the balance of power between the person and the professionals.
· Work with our clients to identify relapse indicators/triggers and agree actions to take if they occur.
· Help create a clear plan with agreed action points
· Provide accountability to help the person remain focussed and stay on target.
Outcomes:
· Help the person create a sense of hope, control and ownership over their life and future.
· Achieve agreed goals to build a meaningful life and positive future.
· Avoid relapse.
· Avoid or limit effects of crises.
· Reduce isolation.
· Improve quality of life.
· Improve mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Please Note. We support, empower and enable our clients to plan, communicate and acquire the support and services that they have decided upon. We are not a substitute for support workers, CPNs etc. We are not a crisis service. We do not provide advice. We do not form part of any treatment. We do not work outside standard office hours.
For further information, please contact Peter Tytarenko, our Transitional Advocate Telephone: 01274 770118 Email:
Examples of the Type of Questions We Ask
(Inspired by: Empowering People. Coaching for mental health recovery. By Rani Bora - Rethink Mental Illness, March 2012).
Main Questions
What do you think are the main problems/difficulties that you will face?
What could you/we do to solve them?
What kinds of things/behaviour indicate that you are becoming ill/relapsing?
What would you like to happen if you are becoming ill?
What are your current support networks?
What other support would you like?
Questions that identify challenges and solutions
What are you putting up with that you would like to change?
What would you gain/lose by doing/saying that?
If you had no fear, what would you ideally do in this situation?
If you were to take (5%) more responsibility in your life what would you do differently?
What would life be like if you no longer had this problem?
What are you holding on to that you no longer need?
What do you focus your attention and energy on?
How do you think that will affect you and others?
What power does the problem have over you?
Questions to find out about a person’s values
What do you value in life?
What’s important to you?
What else is important to you (e.g. work/relationship/family/health)?
How will having a job/partner/ children/car improve things for you?
What are you currently doing t. achieve/maintain what’s important to you?
What makes you really happy?
Questions that explore hope
What power do you have over your problem?
Can you recall a time when you had hope in the past?
What was it about hope that made a difference?
Questions about leading a meaningful life
What would give your life more meaning?
Tell me more about it/can you be more specific?