Placement Overview
| Placement Title | GMMH – Bolton, Salford & Trafford Community Clozapine Initiation Team |
| Trust | |
| Your Placement Contact | Michael Crook – Send Email |
| Placement City/Town: | Various Locations |
| Placement Phone | 01204 390390 Ext 4549 – Mobile 07919 692233 |
| Your University Contact: | Liz Burns – 0161 295 5277 – Send Email |
About this placement
What is organised for students on commencement of placement?
Students are welcomed and orientated to the Clozapine Team.
Locally developed induction packs are available for new students on arrival and these contain essential information for the student starting on placement.
What are the arrangements for mentors/assessors?
Students are allocated a mentor prior to their start date, however the Clozapine Initiation Team is responsive to students needs and should a change be requested.
Their mentor will satisfy the NMC requirements for mentorship and may be supported by an associate mentor in helping the student meet their learning needs.
Both mentors and associate mentors are required by the Trust to update their knowledge every year by attending training organised by the Trust.
What shift patterns are students allocated for learning?
Shift Notes:
The Clozapine Initiation Team work a combination of Early, Late and split shifts 7 days a week between the hours of 08.00 – 22.00 including weekends and Bank Holidays.
This includes a half hour break for lunch.
What patient care situations are available in this placement?
It is no longer a requirement for service users to be admitted to hospital for clozapine initiation/re-titration.
Clozapine can now be initiated/re-titrated in the community by the .Clozapine Initiation Team.
The Clozapine Initiation Team can also assist the inpatient service for those patients requiring inpatient admission for the purposes of clozapine initiation-re-titration with carrying out baseline physiological observations, baseline bloods, ECG, and registration with CPMS and the corresponding POCHI machine, which reduces the number of bed nights needed for the patient.
The Clozapine Initiation Team can also provide an in-reach service in order to facilitate early discharge for those patients who do not meet the criteria for a home based initiation/re-titration.
What nursing model is used for planning care?
All patients undergoing clozapine initiation/re-titration are on Care Programme Approach (CPA) level of care and therefore have a care co-ordinator who retains overall responsibility for the care of the patient in line with the CPA process.
The Clozapine Initiation Team follow the clozapine home based initiation Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which is available on the intranet, when initiation/re-titrating patients in the community.
What core clinical skills can be learnt?
The Clozapine Initiation Team work exclusively with patients with a diagnosis of treatment resistant schizophrenia and so good knowledge of this patient group will be gained
A good understanding of clozapine and the initiation/re-titration process will also be gained
Due to working across the three district directories, you will gain good knowledge and understanding of multidisciplinary working across different localities within the same Trust. Therefore excellent communication and negotiating skills will be required
Physiological Observations and the reasons why these are carried out for patients taking Clozapine
Monitoring and Management of Side effects, Cross tapering of Medications, blood monitoring, ECG’s
What additional clinical skills can be learnt?
Development and management of therapeutic relationships
Assessment techniques and understanding of various clinical assessment tools
Enhancing recovery in service users who have severe and enduring mental health problems
Pharmacological interventions such as medicine management
Non pharmacological interventions such as psychosocial interventions, enhanced communication skills and techniques
Multi-disciplinary involvement by use of spoke placements and multi-disciplinary meetings
Understanding of both local and national policy development and the impact this has on practice
What resources are available to help students learning?
Extensive clinical experience from a professionally staffed team
Internet access
Journal publications and books are also available
What research and practice development activities are being undertaken?
Promotion of the service
Collaborative working with CMHT’s, Inpatient service, HBTT and community rehab facilities/accommodation
Spoke Placements
Details of spoke placements are included in the Team Induction Packs
Your mentor will assist you in securing spoke placements
Additional Information
Students are expected to wear Uniform on this placement and to wear the Trust ID badge at all times
The nursing staff within the Clozapine Initiation Team view learning and education as important and hope that you enjoy your placement with them.
Please Note:- It is necessary for students to have their own transport due to the nature of this service – Any student allocated to this placement must contact Liz Tudor 6 weeks before placement to confirm that they have safe transport home.
Email:- elizabeth.tudor@gmmh.nhs.uk Telephone:-0161 358 1659
Please refer to the University Policy of Student Nurse and Midwives Visiting Clients in the Community – Guidance for Students and Mentors.
Geographical location of visits must be considered – within ‘safe’ walking distance and students need to be made aware of the route(s). Students may use their own cars for visits if the student holds a full driving licence; the car is roadworthy and is appropriately insured (See local policies). The policy must contain the words “in connection with the businesses of the policyholder,” if the student is not the policyholder they should check with the insurance company that they are covered for travelling between client houses/clinics. Students must produce a copy of their Insurance certificate for the HEI if requested and as appropriate, before commencing placement. Neither the University nor the NHS Trust accepts any liability relating to, or from the use of student’s vehicles. Students must not carry patients as passengers.