Placement Overview
| Placement Title | Isherwood Ward (Lowry Unit) |
| Trust | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) |
| Your Placement Contact | Ben Strong, Anne Mills – Send Email |
| Placement Contact’s Role | Manager – Ben Strong, PEL – Anne Mills |
| Placement Address | Prestwich Hospital, Bury New Rd, Prestwich, M25 3BL |
| Placement City/Town: | Prestwich |
| Placement Phone | 0161 358 2001 |
| Placement Web Site | Low Secure Services | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT |
| Your University Contact: | Sam Roper – Send Email |
About this placement
What is organised for students on commencement of placement?
Learners are encouraged to make contact prior to commencing placement to introduce themselves, discuss start date, shift pattern and expectations. Please wear your uniform.
Local and learner induction/orientation will take place on first day where possible. Key induction will be organised. Learners to comply with safety and security at all times.
Welcome pack/letter will be emailed to the learner in advance of placement where possible.
There is on site parking and all learners are issued with free parking on their NET2 badge. You must ensure you have a GMMH learner ID Badge with you at all times. If you do not have a GMMH learner ID badge, you must contact the PEF asap (details below). You must not attend placement without it.
Introduction to Manager/ PEL and team.
What are the arrangements for mentors/assessors?
Learners are assigned to an assessor and supervisor(s) prior to commencing placement where possible. The Assessor or Supervisor will complete the initial interview during the first week where possible.
Learners will primarily work alongside multiple supervisors who will then provide feedback to the assessor.
The Assessor will meet with the student at mid-point and final-point to provide feedback on development- these meetings will be scheduled in advance where possible.
What shift patterns are students allocated for learning?
Contracted to work 37.5 hours per week in practice which consists of 2 x shorts shifts and 2 x long shifts per week;
- Short shifts are 7am- 3pm or 1pm- 9pm with a 30 min break during the shift as per Trust policy
- Long days are 7am- 7.15pm with a 60 min break during the shift as per Trust policy
- Night shift are 7pm- 7.15am with a 60 min break during the shift as per Trust policy
You are not permitted to take your break at the start or end of the shift.
You are expected to utilise the full 24/7 shift pattern. Shifts can be negotiated if needed
Shifts should be planned in advance. Any changes need to be agreed with the Manager or PEL
If you plan on using your 1 week annual leave during placement, you need to discuss this in advance and with your HEI in agreement
You are not permitted to work in excess of 48 hours per week in total which includes placement, bank work, study days, any other type of work.
What patient care situations are available in this placement?
- Admissions
- Discharges
- Internal transfers
- De escalation
- Procedural and relational security
Health improvement initiatives such as screening, Podiatry, chaplaincy, Physiotherapy, Dentist, Opticians, vaccination and lifestyle improvement support are also included within this service.
We have a Psychology Team and Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs) who also deliver care interventions.
What nursing model is used for planning care?
Recovery Model, CPA
What core clinical skills can be learnt?
- Mental state assessments
- Care Planning
- Risk Assessing
- Risk formulation and management
- Psychiatric/ MDT reviews
- Physical health interventions
- Medication
- 1-1 sessions
- Diverse/Complex mental health issues
- Dual Diagnosis
- IT/ care documentation
- Therapeutic Risk Taking
- Building therapeutic Relationships
- Evaluating Care
- Health and Safety
- Developing communication skills
- Interpersonal relationships
- Engagement and disengagement skills
- Team working
- Record keeping
- Mental state assessments/ triage
What additional clinical skills can be learnt?
- Management of self harm
- Medication Management
- Attending CTM’s (ward rounds) and CPA reviews
- Physical observations
- Taking and presenting handovers
- Management of those with substance misuse difficulties
- Handovers
- Team meetings
- Delegation skills
- Management skills
- Working with outside agencies
- Intensive interventions
What resources are available to help students learning?
- MDT reflective discussions
- Skilled staff
- Learner information booklet and noticeboard (where appropriate)
- Coaching model
- MDT learning
- Trust wide CPD training
- Learning hub
- Information Folders
- Range of spoke opportunities
- Mental Health Act
- Mental Capacity Act
- CPA process
- Internet/Intranet access
- Trust on site library
- Journals articles covering a range of relevant topics
- Current journals
- Library access at the Prestwich site
- Learning packs
- All members of the team are an excellent resource to support you in your learning e-learning programmes
- Study days/in-house training
- Spoke opportunities
What research and practice development activities are being undertaken?
- Edenfield research department
- CQUIN
- Least Restrictive Practice
- My Shared Pathway
Spoke Placements
Learners can access a variety of spokes placements which are highlighted in the student welcome pack.
FAST Team
HMP Prisons (contact PEF to explore)
Learners are expected to complete a spoke placement feedback sheet on PARE to identify what learning outcomes they want to achieve, what they learnt from the spoke experience and a discussion with their assessor of their experience and what further development opportunities would support their learning.
Additional Information
The Low Secure Service comprises of two 15 bed male wards. The two male wards; Isherwood and Delaney are based at the purpose built Lowry Unit.
The service is designed to provide intensive rehabilitation for people with enduring mental health needs and who cannot be safely treated in an open inpatient recovery unit. The services operate within the principles of ‘nothing about me without me’ placing our service users at the centre of their care and supporting recovery and choice where this is clinically appropriate.
Service users have access to a wide range of activities to support their recovery and our facilities include a fully equipped gym, a large sports hall, workshop and classroom environments. Support is available to acquire skills for voluntary or paid employment opportunities. Service users in low secure services are supported to access facilities within the wider community such as local gyms, college and volunteering.
Our staff are on hand to offer service users and their family members and carers information about mental health, recovery and the choices and resources available to them. Carers information packs are available and carers events take place throughout the year.
If you are pregnant, please contact the University Placements Unit as soon as possible as you will not be accepted for a placement in this area.
Sickness: Learners are expected to contact the ward and University absence email if they are not going to be attending placement due to sickness.
Dress Code: Learners are required to wear uniform and appropriate footwear as well as their GMMH ID badge at all times. Learners are expected to maintain a professional image service at all times in and outside clinical areas.
Practice education Facilitator: Lindsey Hodges
Contact details: lindsey.hodges@gmmh.nhs.uk