Innovation
Inter-branch child and adolescent mental health workshop (2007-2013)
For the past seven years an inter-branch workshop on child and adolescent mental health (CAMHS) has run as part of the pre-registration nursing programme (Terry et al, 2009; Terry, 2010). I co-ordinate this workshop, which runs across four days during the 2nd and 3rd year timetables, and is delivered in conjunction with local CAMHS clinicians and service users.
The workshop aims to raise awareness about child and adolescent mental health issues, and to promote inter-professional practice, by encouraging both mental health and child branch pre-registration nursing students to network.
Planning the workshop each year with local CAMHS staff and students has ensured the days are interactive, using a variety of learning and teaching methods. It has also been important to ensure that CAMHS practice placements are available for students to develop their clinical skills and knowledge, which has increased in the last three years from three to six placements across South Wales.
Methods used to evaluate the workshop’s effectiveness have been through an evaluation form. The workshop will now be incorporated into the new pre-registration nursing curriculum, for all fields of nursing. I have selected this example as this inter-branch CAMHS workshop has consistently been evaluated positively by students for the past seven years, and they have reported increased knowledge about children’s mental health, local service provision and nursing roles.
What prompted innovation?
- This was developed from an initial idea by myself and a practice colleague in 2007, as student nurses receive sparse CAMHS content in their pre-registration programmes, and may be unprepared to work with this client group.
- A workshop was an ideal way to manage the learning needs of a large student population.This was developed from an initial idea by myself and a practice colleague in 2007, as student nurses receive sparse CAMHS content in their pre-registration programmes, and may be unprepared to work with this client group.
- A workshop was an ideal way to manage the learning needs of a large student population.
What makes innovation different?
- Inter-professional or inter-branch educational initiatives are still relatively sparse, and when a topic relevant for a range of student groups is identified as core learning content, new ways of teaching and learning need consideration.
- An inter-branch workshop is both a cost-effective and resource effective way to meet students’ learning needs.
- A workshop style means that a large number of students will have the opportunity to engage with a range of local CAMHS clinicians and service users at the same time. For example we have participation from Women’s Aid, Ty Hafan children’s hospice, Youth Health staff and Specialist CAMHS nurses from local Health Boards, and a range of voluntary sector agencies.
Changes in practice
Students are more informed about CAMHS issues, have increased practice placements in CAMHS settings now, and far more students request to be placed in CAMHS for their management experience at the end of their third year now.
Impact
Each year student evaluations have been collated, in relation to how they felt the aims of the workshop had been achieved (using Likert scale questions); and qualitative comments regarding their learning and the programme content (an example of the CAMHS workshop report is attached).
Dissemination
- March 2010 – Learning & Teaching Academy conference – Swansea University
- Inter-branch initiative to improve children’s mental health:
- The CAMHS workshop
- June 2009 – RCN Joint Education Forum International Conference – Pre-registration child & adolescent mental health workshop – an inter-professional initiative
And the following publications:
Terry, J. (2010) Shared opportunities. Nursing Standard. Vol 24, No 32, p69
Terry, J, Maunder, E Z, Bowler, N, Williams, D (2009) ‘Inter-branch initiative to improve children’s mental health’ British Journal of Nursing, 2009, 18 (3), 282-287March 2010 – Learning & Teaching Academy conference – Swansea University