OPEN DOOR TEAM MANAGEMENT REPORT 2011/12. Overview of period 1 st August 2011 to 31 st July

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1 OPEN DOOR TEAM MANAGEMENT REPORT 2011/12 Overview of period 1 st August 2011 to 31 st July It has been another busy year for the Open Door Team with a further increase in the number of students seen from 1310 in 2010/11 to 1631 in 2011/12. - We have welcomed a new full time practitioner Stuart Jackson to the team. Stuart s professional background is Occupational Therapy with a special clinical interest in Psychosis. - The Open Door Team was shortlisted for the THE Awards for outstanding support for students and the team was awarded the VC s Gold Award for Outstanding Achievement in promoting inclusivity. - The HMHB scheme is collaboration between the University Sports Centre and Open Door Team, underpinned by evidence suggesting healthy lifestyle choices; particularly exercise may improve mental health and wellbeing. The scheme is generously funded by Alumni and in 2011/12 enabled 16 students to participate. During academic year 2011/12 the scheme provided an opportunity for students with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression to participate in a 12 week programme involving a gym membership, lifestyle, diet and nutrition advice. All the students were mostly or fully satisfied with the process of referral and contact with the Sports Centre via Open Door. All the students indicated the HMHB Scheme had a positive impact on their studies and on life as a student. Some of the comments included: A fantastic program that has certainly helped. While I m not totally cured so to speak, my mood has definitely improved. I received the support I needed from all angles whilst in the scheme and I am extremely pleased. After completing my time the sports centre staff are still in contact and willing to help. The scheme was a good move. In 2012/13 the scheme has evolved to be more tailored to the students needs, introducing pay as you play activities such as swimming and fitness classes. - The Open Door Team has moved location from the Careers Building to Sally Baldwin Block B. We have yet to see what effect this has on student engagement with the service. There has been consistently high feedback from the student questionnaire and we have decided to revisit this document to get feedback on different aspects of the service. 1

2 Academic Registry Steve Director ODT SSO Disability SFSU Anne Manager/ Maureen ODT Receptionist/ Administrator Angie Alison Counsellor/ Practitione r Gemma Stuart 2 Jane / Counsellor Martin Vicky Sue Counsellor

3 Main Areas of Work - Initial Assessment of students who seek help from the service. The number of initial assessments offered to students this year has been 1331 and for the first time we have been able to track figures according to years. First Year U/G 367 Second Year U/G 337 Third Year U/G 282 Fourth Year U/G 18 Postgraduate 288 Not filled 39 TOTAL The number of follow up appointments attended by students was Unfortunately we are not yet able to break these figures down into different types of interventions offered by the team i.e. 1-3 Guided Self Help/Health Education/Emotional Literacy. 1-6 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or Counselling. Case Management. - In the past year there have been significant reductions in the provision of NHS and voluntary sector services for people experiencing mental health difficulties thus there are now few options outside the university for students to access. - There has also been an increase in contacts from Departments, GSA, YUSU and colleges requesting help, guidance and/or education. - The Duty Call Out Hours for the year were 174. These are the hours spent out of the Open Door Team building, working with students who were acutely unwell and/or at risk of harm to themselves or others. - The Improving my Relationship with Food group and PhD Group have both run successfully this year and there are another two groups on the subjects of Assertiveness and Managing Stress which are written and ready to go. 3

4 Equality Matters - Due to the nature of the service we see students from all aspects of the student population. - Further understanding of areas of the student population who are less likely to use the Open Door Team will require data collection via an electronic database so that we can make appropriate developments to the service offered, to better assist students. - The Open Door Team won the VC s Gold Award for inclusivity with reference to the University plan. Challenges - We do not yet know what the impact the relocation of the Open Door Team will be on students use of the service. - The change in service provision external to the university is also a challenge as it is not clear what services students will be able to access at all levels of NHS provision nor the availability of longer term specialist psychological therapies. - The team does not yet have access to an electronic database and so the volume of paperwork is challenging both with regard to keeping track of student cases but also in terms of providing accurate statistical evidence. Opportunities - We do not yet know what the impact of the building move will be on students use of the service as we are now situated at the edge of campus. - Liaison with University Health Centre to improve the student experience and better manage risk situations to attempt to minimise the effects on students. - We are offering our first student placement to a Masters Counselling student. PLANS 2012/13 - To review the branding of the Open Door Team in light of the feedback from the Review of University Welfare Provision (October 2012). This to be done by the end of January To monitor the impact on student numbers and experience of the move from the Careers Building to Sally Baldwin Block B by end of July ) Statistics from Hub and Open Door Team 2) Student questionnaire 4

5 - Continue to improve liaison between the Open Door Team and University Health Centre when this is in the best interests of the students. This is particularly important for students who have complex needs and/or significant risk via 1. Direct phone number to avoid the need to go via reception 2. Monthly meetings between the Manager of Open Door Team and Senior Partner of Health Centre 3. Meeting of Open Door Team and GP staff by 1 st January Case conferences with students, Open Door Team and GPs for students who are in serious medical/psychological/academic difficulty. - The results from the Student Questionnaire which we take in Week 7 of each term, have been consistent for the last 4 years and so the team has decided to review and update the questionnaire to obtain feedback to further develop the service. This to be completed and run by Week 8, Term 2. 5