Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

On Wednesday, the Becklin Centre celebrated its final big event of the year with a festive Christmas Party! 🎄🎉 The event was filled with holiday cheer, where both service users and staff had a great time making decorations and wreaths, enjoying hot chocolate, and singing along to their favourite Christmas songs. 🎶 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined in to make this celebration memorable. We are grateful for the sense of community we’ve built together throughout the year. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season ahead! 🌟

December Research Hero: Celebrating HEER’s Impact This month, we shine a spotlight on the Help from Experts by Experience for Researchers (HEER) group, which has been making a significant impact on mental health research for the past two decades. This service user and carer involvement group provides invaluable advice, making research more accessible and relevant to those it aims to help. Learn more about HEER - https://orlo.uk/HEER_x6dey HEER members bring fresh perspectives, ensuring studies are user-friendly and patient-centred. From reviewing participant information to advising on recruitment strategies, their input is essential to the success of mental health research. As one researcher put it: "They gave new ideas and ways of looking at research from a different angle." We’re proud to celebrate HEER’s continued dedication to improving research outcomes for service users, carers, and staff. #ResearchHeroes

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the lead provider for perinatal services for the Yorkshire and Humber provider collaborative which goes live in April 2025. In autumn 2025 there will be a further bed expansion to the existing and only mother and baby unit in Yorkshire and Humber, which will allow for inpatient care to be provided for mothers and their infants closer to their home. As part of this exciting expansion of our Mother and Baby Unit at The Mount in Leeds, we are looking for compassionate, dedicated, and skilled professionals to join our dynamic team. As we grow, we aim to continue providing the highest standard of care to mothers and their infants in a supportive and nurturing environment. “Our goal is to work together to improve mental health care for new mums and their families. We want every woman to get the right care, at the right time, in the best place for both her and her baby. By partnering with families and other services, we’re committed to making sure everyone across Yorkshire and Humber has equal access to the support they need.” The recruitment process has started with band 5 staff nurses and the vacancies are now live! Enquiries should be directed to the ward manager Cass Edwards: 01138555505. You can make direct applications via our website.

Breaking barriers in eating disorder treatment: CONNECT's bold step forward! 🌟 We're thrilled to announce a groundbreaking pilot programme from the Adult Eating Disorders Service, CONNECT! 🎉 This initiative updates referral criteria to ensure more people receive the support they need. Traditionally, access to CONNECT’s services depended heavily on BMI thresholds. But many individuals with significant eating disorders didn’t meet these criteria despite clear distress and health risks. Under the new pilot, CONNECT will now consider a 20% weight loss within six months, regardless of BMI. Why It Matters: Earlier intervention: Helps reach individuals before health deteriorates. Reduced stigma: Shifts the focus away from BMI to a holistic view of health. Preventing harm: Eliminates pressure to lose more weight just to qualify for care. This initiative ensures that no one with an eating disorder is turned away based on outdated models. It’s about putting patient wellbeing first and setting a new standard for compassionate care in the NHS. Learn more about CONNECT's transformative work and its impact on people like Jake. Let’s celebrate progress and advocate for better access to essential care! 💙 #EatingDisorderAwareness #HealthcareInnovation #NHS #MentalHealthMatters #CONNECT

Our Chief Exec Dr SARA MUNRO has published her final leadership blog of 2024. Read about: Leeds Recovery College using virtual reality to boost staff wellbeing, Her recent visits to front line services, The arrival of winter – and the five things we can all do to keep well, Reflecting on developments in our ADHD services, Musings on recent national announcements, And her reasons to be proud – see who’s got a shout out on our website.

Our Head of Operations in our Forensic Services Josef Faulkner is a trailblazer in our mental health services, leading our Community Transformation Programme (even before it was a national priority) and working tirelessly to make sure that we are people and outcomes focused. His passion and enthusiasm to make things better for people is second to none. He stepped out of a role he loved and thrived in to lead the turnaround of a service in trouble, working closely with the staff. Josef's achievements have seen him recognised as a finalist for the Proud2bOps Operational Role Model of 2024 - an award celebrating ethical, inclusive leaders, who inspire and motivates others. Reacting to his accolade, Josef said: "To have even been thought of for a possible nomination was honestly a massive surprise and something I would never have thought would happen. All I do is try my best and give my all. Operational management and leadership is a vital part of high-quality healthcare organisations, and therefore to have an opportunity to be their representing Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in this space really does mean a lot." Josef reminds us that he works as part of a team and he rarely acknowledges his part in this. This award is further recognition that his skills as a manager and leader are exceptional.

Exciting News: We’re heading to the OT Show in Birmingham this week! If you’re attending, make sure to come and say hello – we’d love to meet you! We are at stand A29. Occupational Therapy opportunities at LYPFT - https://lnkd.in/egUy8wyu While we’re gearing up for this amazing event, we also wanted to share some inspiring stories from current and apprentice Occupational Therapists (OTs) at our Trust. One of those stories is from James, who took a unique journey into the world of Occupational Therapy through an apprenticeship. Here’s a glimpse into James’ journey: "Since joining Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services in 2020, I’ve worked my way up from a healthcare support worker to an Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2021. It was through this role that I discovered my passion for Occupational Therapy. I was drawn to the person-centred approach and the impact OTs had on helping young people navigate complex mental health challenges. Driven by this passion, I applied for a degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam, supported by my workplace. This opportunity allowed me to combine academic learning with clinical practice, which has been a game changer for me. The apprenticeship pathway has provided invaluable insights into both the profession and myself, and the support I've received has made all the difference. I believe this journey will shape me into a more effective, compassionate clinician." We’re so proud of the incredible work James and other apprentice OTs are doing in the field. If you’re curious about how Occupational Therapy can make a difference or want to learn more about the apprenticeship pathway, stop by our booth at the OT Show! Let’s connect, share stories, and inspire the future of Occupational Therapy. 💡 #OTShow2024 #OccupationalTherapy #OTApprenticeships #LYPFTOT

Two West Yorkshire mums talk on the radio about how, in their own words, our perinatal mental health service saved their lives. https://orlo.uk/RDSbT

Nursing and Health Care Support Workers Day - Reflecting on My Journey as a Health Support Worker at The Mount, Ward 3 I’m Ozioma Jeff Okoli, and since March 2024, I’ve had the privilege of working as a Health Support Worker at The Mount, Ward 3, an older people inpatient service. My passion for healthcare was inspired by caring for my late mother, where I witnessed the profound impact compassionate support workers had on her recovery. Every day in my role offers new opportunities to connect with patients, support their recovery, and make a tangible difference in their lives. Whether it’s helping patients regain independence, providing emotional reassurance, or simply being there to listen, this work is deeply rewarding. The best part? Seeing a patient transition from admission to discharge, ready to reunite with their family—knowing that I played a part in that recovery. I’m grateful for the incredible team I work with at The Mount. Their dedication and teamwork make all the difference, and I look forward to continuing my growth within the Leeds and York Trust Foundation as I develop both personally and professionally. Read the full story here: https://orlo.uk/8PcEt

🌟 Research Heroes: Psychological Professions 🌟 This month, we’re celebrating the incredible contributions of psychological professionals to research at the Trust! Psychologists play vital roles as Co-Applicants, Principal Investigators, supervisors, interventionists, and in a wide range of other research activities. To further support and expand research within the psychological professions, a new Special Interest Group (SIG) has been created. This SIG brings together staff to share ideas, discuss research opportunities, and invite speakers—whether you're experienced or just curious about research, all are welcome to contribute! Phil and Ranil, the SIG founders, highlight that many psychological professionals have untapped research skills and knowledge. This group aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice in a supportive and inclusive space. Thank you to all our psychological professionals for supporting and advancing research! 🙌 Read more about this work on our Research and Development Website - https://lnkd.in/e-5k_utp