Placement Overview
| Placement Title | HMP Thorn Cross |
| Trust | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) |
| Your Placement Contact | Ann Aspinall-Smyth PEL Rebecca Yates- Dutton – MH Team Manager Gale Dugan PEL’s for PCT Vicky Culshaw – PCT Manager Tracey Vail – PCT Nurse – Send Email |
| Placement Address | Arley Rd, Appleton Thorn, Warrington, WA4 4RL |
| Placement City/Town: | Warrington |
| Placement Phone | 01925 805071 Primary Care Team 01925 805074 / 5052Mental Health Team 01925 805281 |
About this placement
What is organised for students on commencement of placement?
Learners are encouraged to make contact prior to commencing placement to discuss COVID requirements, uniform policy, start date, shift pattern and expectations.
Local and learner induction/orientation will take place on first day where possible, discussion of expectations and prison tour.
Welcome pack/letter will be emailed to the learner or be available at the start of placement with details about dress code, parking, lunch arrangements, security, Medications, keys etc.
What are the arrangements for assessors/supervisors?
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.
What shift patterns are students allocated for learning?
MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
7.30am – 3.30pm over 3 days
Or
8am – 4pm over 5 days
Any other variations will need to be agreed with Manager/ PEL or assessor.
PRIMARY CARE TEAM
Monday – Friday 7.30am – 5.30pm (30 mins lunch) over 4 days
Weekends
7.15am – 12pm.
Patient Care Situations
Learners can prepare for a prison placement by watching the link below is for a short informational video for what you can expect:
This has been printed to be included in the welcome pack.
Healthcare – Health and Justice services include those normally provided in the community including GPs, CGL (Change Grow Live) Substance Misuse, Offender Managers, Safer Custody (Safeguarding), Probation, Parole Board, Trauma informed counselling, Psychology input.
Health improvement activities such as screening, immunisation, vaccination, and lifestyle improvement support are also included within this service. Health promotion activities for mental wellbeing, i.e., Well-man clinic.
What nursing model is used for planning care?
The MH Team consists of psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Counsellor, Trauma informed and one band 6 CPN, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatrist. The team are responsible for caring for prisoners identified with primary and secondary mental health needs and under the CPA process. Utilising the stepped care model, allowing identification of correct level of care from triage and single point of access MDT meeting.
The MH team work collaboratively with the primary health care team (RGNs, GPs), prison staff and processes ACCT (Assessment Care in Custody and teamwork) assessment and reviews, safer custody meetings), Probation service (parole hearings), substance misuse team (CGL) with dual diagnosis meetings, Safer interventional meetings (SIM.)
As part of the PCT, you will deliver/contribute to the delivery of a wide range of clinical interventions including wound care, assessment, and treatment of LTC’s, medicines management, physical health monitoring.
Working alongside the Mental Health Team, you will be involved in the wellbeing triage, assessment and management of patients with complex Mental Health needs.
Core Clinical Skills
Delivery groups at Step 2, 3 and 4 model of care.
Wellman triage for all new prisoners transferring to Thorncross
Mental Health Comprehensive assessment of need.
Physical health assessments/ triage
Psychiatric/ MDT reviews
Physical health interventions
Medication
1-1 sessions
Diverse/Complex mental health issues
Dual Diagnosis
Varied Skill Mix of Staff
MDT
Resource file
CPD training (Trust wide)
Pre-placement CPD training
Safe custody meetings
Complex Care meetings
Morning meetings
ERM meetings (Enhanced risk management)
SIM meetings (Safety intervention meetings)
Additional Clinical Skills
Triage/screening clinics, single point of access meetings, caseload management, CPA process, ACCT reviews.
Learning Resources
Trust Library
Debrief sessions
MDT reflective discussions
Skilled staff
Student information booklet and noticeboard
MDT learning
Trust wide CPD training
Learning hub
Regular peer/ group supervision
Psychiatrist, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Counsellor, PWP clinics can be shadowed.
Time can be spent with both physical health staff, Mental Health staff and substance misuse team.
Research Development Activities
Ongoing research and activities to improve patient care.
Spoke Placements
Vaccination clinics, Podiatry, Sexual Health, Smoking cessation, Chaplaincy, Blood Borne Virus clinic, Physiotherapy, and Mental Health In-Reach.
Inpatients/Outpatients/MHIT – students can speak across the 3 hub teams.
The Matrons Team (to learn about Quality Improvement, IPD standards, quality of care and staff environments.)
Greater Manchester Liaison and Diversion Team (to find out how people with Mental Health issues are supported through the criminal justice process, as well as to learn about the pre-sentence process. This is for Part 2 learners only.)
Substance Misuse
The substance misuse team run by CGL (Change Grow Live), work with offenders throughout their stay at HMP Thorn Cross. From reception through to discharge they are under the care of nursing and discipline staff who specialise in drug and alcohol misuse.
Group sessions are run and, through liaison with external agencies, the focus is on how prisoners can engage, receive appropriate support and remain abstinent on release.
Additional Information
Client Group – Male convicted prisoner over the age of 18, Category D Prison (Open environment)
Due to security issues, there is restriction on belongings allowed within the prison:
No electronic equipment (mobile phones, laptops, tablets, flash drives etc.)
No glass or aerosols
Photo id required to be shown at point of entry.
Visitors’ car park has ample parking access.
Students can prepare for a prison placement by watching: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/health-and-justice-careers?utm_content=buffer71be7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR0EiDOHLHBsLRGpwhzdGzpc1MSA5lcyOVe_l4yOcoVsHrZLlwCFUlNJAj8