Funded through South East Staffs and Seisdon Peninsula CCG

A Presentation by Natalie Brown IMCA Manager

Today’s talk…

Today will cover:

• Background• Project aims• Challenges• Successes• Case Study

Background….

• Lack of Awareness & Compliance with the Mental Capacity Act (2005) in acute health settings

• Very low referral numbers made to IMCA services

Lack of Awareness….

Mental Capacity Act 2005: ‘depressing’ lack of awareness and ‘blatant disregard’ for the law.

‘…poor implementation of the Act was failing vulnerable adults…’

“…We would like to see more training on the legal framework and practical application of the MCA…"

“…increase awareness so our most vulnerable citizens are not at risk…”

Law Society’s Mental Health and Disability Committee 17 September 2013.

Project Press Coverage….

“Funding Boost for

Advocacy Services in

Burton”

“Local Charity Secures Funding To Launch Pioneering

Hospital Based Pilot”

“Hospital Based Pilot Project to Endorse The Rights of The Most Vulnerable”

Project Planning….

• IMCA’s to be based on site at Queens and Royal Stoke Hospital in Staffordshire

• research and consultation with ward staff

• try out new approaches to raise awareness & improve compliance

Challenge, where to start….

• Recruiting and training team members quickly

• Establishing a base at the hospital

• Honorary Contracts

Step one….

• Ask staff on the wards what they think, what would they find useful

• Use questionnaires to ascertain current levels of awareness of MCA and DoLS

Initial Results….

• Lack of knowledge about basic MCA principles

• Staff wanted less formal training aside from mandatory training already provided

• Staff wanted a tangible resource on the wards

Challenges….

• Hospital staff are busy

• Emergencies come onto the ward, appointments have to be cancelled at last minute

• They do not want to have extra work to do

Step 2: My next patient may lack capacity resource pack

• Resource Pack Available to staff on the Wards

• Key information about the MCA (2005)

• Available online:

www.asist.co.uk

Step 3: Ward Based Awareness Sessions…

  

• Short awareness sessions on the wards

• Small staff numbers

• Flexible

• Staff talked through the pack

• Made aware of its availability on the ward

• Staff able to talk about patients

Over 180 Questionnaires have been completed by staff on the wards so far following awareness

sessions delivered since December 2014

Ward Based Awareness Sessions…

Do you feel that your awareness of the MCA & IMCA role has improved following the session today?

Do you think the ‘my next patient may lack capacity’ pack will be an effective resource to help you to carry out your role on the ward?

IMCA Referrals…

• Significant increase in IMCA referrals from hospitals targeted by the pilot and other community based hospitals in the area

• Although numbers remain small there has been a dramatic increase compared to previous years

Other Publicity….

• Stickers – added to advocacy partners notes to indicate IMCA involvement

• 1+2+3 = IMCA

• Screensavers used on trust PC’s to raise awareness

Strengths….

• allows the team to be more responsive, especially with high demands on services at the moment.

• regular face to face contact with staff on the wards allows the IMCA team to identify issues, tailor the awareness that they deliver and enhance their awareness of issues specific to the Trust in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and DoLS (2009)

• avoids ward staff wasting time making ineligible referrals.

• fresh approach to raising awareness and changing preconceptions about the MCA

Feedback…

(Staff Nurse FEAU): Thank you. Really helped me to understand the process.

Dr: IMCA worked really hard to communicate with my patient and this helped me to understand what he wanted.

CAS Nurse (Ward 78):  Thanks for a quick report. Really helped with discharge.

very informative

well-presented and informative

really interesting

very good session. Need yearly ward group sessions. Please come again

Challenge Funding….

•Initial 1 year funding

•Further 1 year extension

•Since been served with 3 months notice

Any Questions?