Chaddeslode House Annual Report 2003-2004

Clinical
770 referrals.
7668 total attendances for individual and group work. This figure no longer includes figures for CBT therapists, and does not include Art Therapy in Ludlow. The introduction of counsellors within many G.P. practices has reduced the number of people referred here for individual therapy.
The number of people referred specifically for groups remains constant.
The range of groupwork available at the centre has grown, and two members of staff spend the majority of their working week running groups.
Availability of individual and group work has been increased in the evening, and the centre is now open late two evenings a week.
The weekly social group run at The Gateway was disbanded in January 2004, this was at the participating clients request, as they all felt they had moved on sufficiently not to need its support any more.
Currently people have to wait 3 weeks for initial assessment appointment, groupwork places are usually available within 8 weeks, but the wait for individual counselling is up to 8 months.
The couple counselling service continues to be busy.

Staffing & Management
7.13 w.t.e clinical staff work in permanent posts.
In total 17 individuals are involved in working here, nearly all of whom are part time.
A new Specialist Therapist grade has been introduced, to recognise skills and experience.
At present a review of job descriptions is taking place, in readiness for the implementation of Agenda for Change.

Education & Training
Individual staff training needs are discussed at their annual employee development review.
Two members of staff have successfully completed a Certificate in CBT course during the past year.
One more completed Diploma in Counselling training.
Another is entering the second year of this course.
We continue to work closely with the Confide organisation, and members of Chaddeslode staff have contributed significantly to the planning and delivery of Confides’ ongoing counsellor training.
Chaddeslode is a popular placement for Student Nurses, and we have received positive feed back from Staffordshire University regarding their students’ experience.
In addition we have had Occupational Therapy students on placement, as well as Art Therapy students and four trainee counsellors.
Supervision is received by all staff as part of continuing education.

Research & Effectiveness
An outcome measurement tool for groupwork has been adopted in the last 12 months, and there is ongoing evaluation of data.

Service User Involvement
Two service users have been involved in interviewing more than 20 prospective employees.

Primary Care Involvement
Several of the staff here work within primary care settings on behalf of the department, or on their own account.
Because some G.P practices do not have room to accommodate their counsellor we have practice counsellors, who are members of the department, working from Chaddeslode.

The Building
In the past 18 months new offices have been built at Chaddeslode in the former kitchen area, and a corridor has been put in place by the Art Therapy Room.
This means that for the first time ever the art therapists can conduct their work without fear of interruption, and other staff can pass from one side of the upstairs to the other without going outside.
We have also re-located the waiting room, and this seems to be approved of by most clients and staff.
The expansion of the CBT service has resulted in further pressure on room usage.
Currently building works are taking place on the former workshop, this to provide office space for staff from the Memory Clinic, part of Services for Older People.

A survey of fire precautions and signs within the building has recently been completed, with the result that upgrading is scheduled to take place.