Publish date: 9 June 2023
April's Employee of the Month winner is Chelsea Gregory, Clinical Lead, Mental Health Urgent Care Management Team. Chelsea was nominated by Tara Roughley for the value of Support.
Chelsea had finished her 12.5 hour shift at 9pm, as clinical lead for the Urgent Care Crisis line, and was about to leave the office to pick her young child up from childcare.
As she was leaving, a newly qualified mental health practitioner took a crisis call. Chelsea overheard a highly distressed caller who reported current suicidal ideation with a plan. The caller declined to give any personal details to allow the team to identify them and their current location if emergency services was required.
Chelsea intervened to support the difficult call. She was open and honest with the caller, using her communication skills and open questions, gaining the trust of the caller to gather enough information to identify the caller’s name. Chelsea then liaised with the team to enable the team to find the caller on RIO.
Staff contacted 999 for the police and Chelsea remained on the call until the police arrived at the door, and the caller answered it to ensure their safety.
Chelsea’s fast intervention, communication and leadership skills helped the team to identify the extremely distressed, anxious caller who had a suicidal plan and intent to end their life that evening. Without Chelsea’s intervention the caller could have taken his own life in a mental health crisis.
April's Team of the Month winner is Longmoor Green Ward 1. The team was nominated by Kirsty Jones for the value of Respect.
They provided a very high standard of end of life care to a patient. The patient had been an inpatient for six months and delays happened with her nursing home placement due to her needs changing. Unfortunately, due to her health conditions she became end of life on the ward and sadly passed away. Her family were supported throughout this and very grateful and actually said they were so happy that the placement delays had happened, and she spend her final days in Longmoor.
They praised the care they received and support they received. Staff attended the funeral in uniform as a sign of respect and Longmoor Green Ward 1 was spoken about in her eulogy about the care the patient had received, and the families’ heartfelt thanks. Her order of service had a photograph of the patient while in Longmoor. All family members came and spoke to staff at the church and very emotional and grateful for the care delivered. Merseycare values were very much implemented.
This end of life care and thanks has been greatly received by the ward. It has given staff an insight into the impact we have on the patient and family experience. This has had a positive impact on the ward that the care they are delivering is to the highest standard and the reassurance we are giving to families at this sad time. It has made staff very proud of the service we provide to both patients and their families.