FACE Forward builds on the strengths of mental health service users through supporting people to achieve educational goals. This builds on peoples confidence and self-esteem and also promotes social inclusion. At the time of writing FACE forward has had over 220 different learners engaged on over 500 courses.
The overall Purpose of FACE Forward is to improve the well-being of our communities & make a positive difference in people’s lives through education and social inclusion, whilst encompassing the Culture of Care 6cs – Care, Compassion, Commitment, Competence, Communication, Courage, and our own 5BP Trust values.
FACE Forward builds on the strengths of mental health service users through supporting people to achieve educational goals. This builds on peoples confidence and self-esteem and also promotes social inclusion. At the time of writing FACE forward has had over 220 different learners engaged on over 500 courses. Learners are then encouraged to progress and have the option to volunteer within their class
Early involvement of partners via discussions, meetings, emails, sharing information led to a clear infrastructure/way of working to be established. This has further enabled clear and simple lines of communication within the project and to stakeholders who may benefit from the project.
Partners/joint arrangements have led to a widening of project knowledge through other stakeholders as well as the identification of missing partners/services/agencies. The involvement of internal and external partners to the organisation has enabled the project to be positioned in strategic Borough wide thinking and plans as well as opened up avenues for wider discussion.
Joint arrangements have opened up access to venues, increased accessibility and widened opportunities. An example of this is a joint research project with Liverpool John Moores University looking at the impact of early years education on later life well-being.
Here is a list of the 25 agencies that FACE Forward works with:
Public Health Lead IAPT, Knowsley Assessment team; Recovery College, Recovery team; Community Mental Health Assessment Team
Specialist Occupational Therapies (Adult Mental Health Services) Knowsley Works Team; Knowsley Housing Trust, ARK, and Villages
Imagine; Open Mind; GPs (and Options Service); Community Integrated Care; Plus Dane; Liverpool John Moores University; State of Mind; Knowsley Disability Concern; Stronger Families Team; Options Service Kirkby; Trinity Church Pagemoss; Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI); Domestic Violence Network; Marston Gardens Huyton; Bluebell Park Huyton; GPs from Bluebell Surgery Huyton; Derby Court Halewood
Avondale Whiston/Prescot.
Co-Production
FACE Forward has already had significant outcomes. Patients involved have reduced their medication and have lost weight and which could have been a consequence of the medication and changes in prescriptions. Education of service users and improved lifestyles has helped support patients outside of services once discharged. One of the group facilitators has turned his sports group into a community interest company which is now available to service users from other areas.
Monthly meetings are held with course facilitators, volunteers and all agencies to ensure maximum support, advice and education. Drug and alcohol, advocacy, physical health, mental health, Psychology, housing support, debt support and direct payments teams and agencies are all involved in FACE Forward.
FACE Forward was given a rating of ‘good’ by OFSTED following a January 2016 inspection. OFSTED stated
” learners with emotional and mental health difficulties benefit significantly from specially designed courses which increase their self-esteem and desire to attend courses regularly. Many join these courses to reduce their isolation as a route for recovery and improve their social and economic well-being”
“managers are particularly successful in obtaining additional funding for, and responding to, the needs of the most vulnerable learners and those with specific needs, such as learners with mental health issues”
“learners significantly enhance their personal skills which help them to improve their life chances, often from a very low base”
Challenges have been linking in with other mental health organisations who have previously worked individually in silos. During a number of meetings, it was agreed that in times of austerity projects need to collaborate and work together more rather than in isolation.
FACE Forward has developed in such a way that we can apply for external funding to keep the project going past August 2017. We have a strong infrastructure of dedicated staff and volunteers who co-produce all courses and subjects we facilitate. Local Commissioning boards and CCG are now aware of our work.
FACE Forward has already had significant outcomes. Patients involved have reduced their medication and have lost weight and which could have been a consequence of the medication and changes in prescriptions. Education of service users and improved lifestyles has helped support patients outside of services once discharged. One of the group facilitators has turned his sports group into a community interest company which is now available to service users from other areas.
Monthly meetings are held with course facilitators, volunteers and all agencies to ensure maximum support, advice and education. Drug and alcohol, advocacy, physical health, mental health, Psychology, housing support, debt support and direct payments teams and agencies are all involved in FACE Forward.
FACE Forward was given a rating of ‘good’ by OFSTED following a January 2016 inspection. OFSTED stated
“learners with emotional and mental health difficulties benefit significantly from specially designed courses which increase their self-esteem and desire to attend courses regularly. Many join these courses to reduce their isolation as a route for recovery and improve their social and economic well-being”
“managers are particularly successful in obtaining additional funding for, and responding to, the needs of the most vulnerable learners and those with specific needs, such as learners with mental health issues”
“learners significantly enhance their personal skills which help them to improve their life chances, often from a very low base”
Dissemination will be through the positive practice guide and through our own directory of services. We are also planning to publish a book of successful learner stories.
