slam rc autumn 2014 spring 2015 prospectus final

8/12/2019 SLaM RC Autumn 2014 Spring 2015 Prospectus Final

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South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

autumn/spring coursesseptember 2014 – march 2015



“I’m so happy I came today. It is a very good project. Thank you so

much to both of the trainers. They helped me to feel so welcome and

they ran it great! Thanks.”

“I felt the course inspired me. The group aspectalso enabled me to feel a part of something andI was sharing the experience with others andlistening to their stories.”

‘Brilliant! It was open and relaxed

with no one judging you.’



Carers Communicating for Change 31That’s Not What I Meant! How to build bettercommunication and understanding in your relationships 31Online Health Information: A Hands-On Taster Session 32How to Use Social Media to Find A Job 32

Introduction to the ‘myhealthlocker’ website 33Introduction to Coaching Techniques for Recovery 33

Getting involved 34Train the Trainers 34Getting Involved in Peer Support 35Volunteering and Recovery 35Introduction to Service User Involvement 35

Help! I’ve Been Invited to a Meeting 36Using Your Lived Experience in Health Research:The C4C Project 37

How to enrol 38

Timetables and venues 39

Student charter 40

Need our help in any way? 42



Art Room Bethlem OT

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Welcome to the SLaM Recovery College

Thanks to the support of South London and Maudsley NHS

Foundation Trust and the Maudsley Charity, 2014 has beenan exciting and busy year for everybody involved with SLaM

Recovery College.

Our rst full term has only just concluded. The college offered 38

courses and workshops across 8 venues in Croydon, Lewisham,

Lambeth and Southwark and at the Bethlem Royal Hospital.

Demand for places on the courses has been incredible, with 320

people enrolling and booking over 800 course places. The increase

in people wanting to learn about recovery, self-management and

mental health has been mirrored by the positive feedback the college

team has received from the students at the end of each course.

Many students have told us about the positive impact the stories of

the peer recovery trainers (and those of their fellow students) have

had on their understanding of recovery. Students have said this hasgiven them hope and evidence that they, or the people they care

for, or the people they work alongside, can and do recover from



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mental health difculties and lead lives that feel meaningful and

full of opportunity. We have learned that informal peer support inthe classroom is an important third element in the co-production

of our courses. We would like to thank all of our students for the

way they have shared their own experiences and knowledge with us.

The generosity of the trainers who have volunteered precious

time from their busy lives to use their expertise to support the

development and delivery of courses has been outstanding. Thank

you to all of the people who approached the college team with

enthusiasm about sharing their stories, knowledge and interests.

We thank all our trainers for the way they have embraced the

concept of co-production. Whilst very rewarding for all, co-

production can be a new and sometimes challenging (but exciting)

way of working.

Co-production remains at the heart of all the Recovery Collegeactivities and underpins all of the work we do. As a team, the

college staff have been able to experience and demonstrate the

value of people with lived experience of mental ill-health or distress

and health professionals working together to offer educationwhich supports the clinical treatment and care provided by South

London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

As the Autumn term approaches, SLaM Recovery College will be

offering many new workshops and courses into the new year and

beyond and I want to take this opportunity to extend thanks to

the students, to those who supported the students to enrol and

attend, to the staff of our host venues and the 57 peer and staff

trainers who embraced the opportunity to get involved.

On behalf of the SLaM Recovery College team I look forward to

seeing you at workshops and courses in the near future. We hope

that you will nd something in the prospectus that inspires you to

study with us and improves your understanding or experience of

mental health recovery.

Kirsty GilesManager, SLaM Recovery College, July 2014



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“The experience brought a new dimension

to the teaching model. User-led discussionwas very enlightening.”

“Brilliant and satisfying.”

Recovery is about a personal journey towards a meaningful

and satisfying life, towards living as well as possible, whateversymptoms or difculties are present. The workshops and courses

we run aim to provide the tools to make this happen, to help you

become an expert in your own recovery or that of someone you

care for.

Our college offers a learning approach that complements the

existing services provided by the Trust.

Co-production is at the heart of everything we do. Every course

and workshop we offer is co-designed and co-run by trainers who

have experienced mental health difculties working alongside

trainers from the mental health professions.

About the college



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“It’s always great to connect withpeople who are ‘walking their talk’.It was an empowering reminder ofthe power of telling your story.”

Our courses are free of charge and open to:•

People who use SLaM services• Supporters (carers, family and friends) of the above• People who have been discharged from SLaM services within

the last six months• Supporters (carers, family and friends) of the above• Volunteers and peer supporters working with SLaM• SLaM staff (not students)

Please note that you also need to be aged 16 or over to come to

any of our courses.

At the moment we aren’t able to offer the opportunity to enrol to

anyone who isn’t included in the above categories.

No one needs a referral to enrol at the college and it’s up to you

how few or how many courses you sign up for. All we’d ask is that,if you do put your name down for a course, you make every effort

to attend. At the very least, please let us know as soon as possible

if you can’t make it, so we can offer your place to someone else

– our courses are in high demand and it would be a shame forplaces to go to waste.

Please see page 38 to nd out how to enrol.

Who are our courses for?



Understanding Psychosis

2.5 Hour workshop

The experience of psychosis, for example hearing voices or

experiencing altered perceptions, is surprisingly common.

Being diagnosed with psychosis can be a frightening and life

changing event. There are a lot of misconceptions and stigma

regarding psychosis which can make coming to terms with it

even harder.

This workshop looks at a variety of treatment and self-help options

and personal experiences of psychosis. It also focuses on the ways

people have managed their experiences so that they can get on

with living their lives.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Half-day workshop

Bipolar is a mood disorder characterised by extreme changes in

mood. Although we all have mood swings, in bipolar disorder

these can become unmanageable and overwhelming - individuals

can experience severe and/or rapid mood swings that can last

several weeks or months, far beyond the normal ups and downs.

The aim of this course is to explore the facts and realities of bipolar

disorder, how it is diagnosed and treated, how you can manage it,

and how you can support someone that you care about.

Understanding Depression

Half-day workshop

Depression is a word which is often used to explain periods whenwe are feeling ‘low’, ‘sad’ or a bit ‘blue’. ‘Feeling low’ is something

most people experience from time to time and is a natural part of

human experience.

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Understanding mental health difculties and treatment



However, when these feelings become more severe, begin to take

hold of your life and just won’t go away, it may be something

more serious like ‘depression’.

Depression is a common condition and as such we now know a lot

about its effect physically and mentally and how you can manage

it. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment

of depression is the rst step to overcoming the problem. The

workshop aims to explore the facts about depression, how it is

diagnosed and what it might feel like to have depression. It also

aims to provide you a safe and comfortable environment where

speaking about your experiences could unburden you or possibly

help others with their depression.

Understanding Anxiety

Half-day workshop

Anxiety is something we all experience from time to time. Most

people can relate to those anxious, buttery feelings when doing

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something which feels uncertain or feeling fearful about sitting

exams, having a medical, going to the dentist.

It is a natural feeling and can be useful, as it warns us when we

need to take action, when we may be in danger or can even help

us to perform better.

However, anxiety can change from something everyone

experiences in mild forms, to something which is persistent,

excessive or over-whelming. It can begin to interfere with many

aspects of your life – from condence, to physical wellbeing and

engagement in basic or complex activities of living.

The aim of this course is to explore the facts about anxiety,

making a distinction between common anxiety and anxiety

disorders, exploring the possible causes and considering how to

face it head on.



Understanding Panic Disorder

Half-day workshop

NEW FOR AUTUMN 2014!

Most of us will have a panic attack at some point in our lives. It is a

sudden rush of anxiety that seems to come out of the blue and is

characterised by many body sensations, such as feeling dizzy, heart

racing, feeling hot or feeling nauseous. Understandably people

usually feel scared during a panic attack and fear that something

terrible is going to happen, such as they might pass out, losecontrol or even have a heart attack and die.

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where people have recurrent

panic attacks. Individuals with panic disorder typically change

the things they do and the places they go as their main fear is

having further panic attacks. While people with other anxiety

disorders may experience panic attacks, for example someonewith social anxiety might have a panic attack when having to give

a presentation, this is not the same as panic disorder because the

individual is more likely to fear the social situation itself rather than

the panic attack, although they will undoubtedly nd it unpleasant.

This workshop aims to explore and understand what panic disorder

is in more depth and the different forms it may take. We will then

discuss a range of coping methods and strategies that people

might nd useful and in particular what cognitive behavioural

treatments are available and how they can help.

The course has been designed in collaboration with staff from theCentre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) and people who

have used their services.

Understanding Personality Disorder

Half-day workshop

Personality disorder is a phrase used to describe a group ofcommon, long-lasting conditions that affect how people view and

manage their emotions and how they relate to other people.

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This course explores what is meant by personality disorder in

general and how it can affect other aspects of a person’s mental

and physical health.

We will also discuss specic treatments and how people can help

themselves to regain a measure of control in their lives.

Understanding Eating Disorders

Half-day workshop

Eating disorders have both biological and psychological causes and

can affect any of us regardless of age, gender or ethnicity. But

they are treatable. Recovery is possible, but because of the stigma

or misperceptions, some people may not get the help they need.

It is important for people to understand what eating disorders are

and what they are not.

This workshop aims to remove the mystery surrounding this group

of conditions and explore support options, giving participants

better understanding about recovery from eating disorders.

Understanding Self Harm

Half-day workshop

Please note: this workshop will only be offered during the

Spring Term.

Rates of self-harm in the UK have increased over the past decade

and are amongst the highest in Europe. However, it still remains a

much misunderstood issue.

This workshop will look at what comes under the umbrella of ‘self-

harm’ and we will explore some of the many possible reasons why

some people harm themselves.

We will explore the role of professionals and services, discuss how

someone who self-harms can reduce the risks, and look at thetypes of support which are useful.

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Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Half-day workshop

NEW FOR Autumn 2014!

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a surprisingly common

anxiety disorder and there are lots of different types. At its worst it

can be extremely debilitating.

The good news is there is help available. This introductory

workshop covers essential information about OCD, how it isdiagnosed and how it can affect different people. Together we will

explore the signs and symptoms of OCD and what it might feel like

to suffer from it.• This workshop will cover:• What is OCD? – facts and ction• What are the different types of OCD?•

How is OCD diagnosed?• When OCD becomes a problem and what keeps it going• The possible causes of OCD

• What are intrusive thoughts and what are the different ways

people respond to them?• The different support and treatment options and where to nd

out more• How friends and families can help

The course has been designed in collaboration with staff from the

Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) and people who

have used their services.

Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

2.5 hour workshop

NEW FOR Autumn 2014!

Please note: It may be helpful to have attended the workshop

‘Understanding OCD’ rst, although this is not a requirement.

A workshop aimed at furthering understanding of OCD, offering asupportive space to ask questions and learn from each other.

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meaning and impact on the person experiencing them.

The voices and experience can be distressing for the person who

hears voices and for those offering care and support. Often those

offering support (both as a carer and a worker) may feel unsure

what to do to help someone who is hearing voices.

This workshop is for anyone who wants to learn about the experience

of hearing voices.

Living with Memory Problems

Two-week course | Two-hour workshop each week

Please note: this course is for people who have been recently

diagnosed with dementia only. If you are a carer of someone who

has recently received a diagnosis, please take a look at our course

for carers ‘If Only I’d Known.’Developed and delivered by people with dementia alongside staff

from SLaM’s memory services, this course is specically designed

for people who have recently received a diagnosis of dementia and

would like to know more about it, how it affects people and how

you can manage the impact of it. Topics covered include:• Being given a diagnosis of dementia• Understanding dementia• The varying experiences of people with dementia• Ways of learning to live with having dementia• Ways of dealing with difculties• Relationships & communication• Looking towards the future

If Only I’d Known: Caring for Someone with Dementia

Six different | Two-hour workshops

Six workshops for carers of people who have already received a recent

diagnosis of dementia or people who think someone they care about

may have dementia, co-produced by carers and ex-carers of peoplewith dementia and staff from our memory services.

Each session covers a different topic and you can enrol on one,

several or all of the workshops – it’s up to you.

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• Workshop 1: Signs to look for if you think someone may

have dementia• Workshop 2: How to get a diagnosis if you are worried

someone may have dementia• Workshop 3: Dealing with social care• Workshop 4: Health of the person with dementia – physical

and emotional• Workshop 5: Care for the carer• Workshop 6: The money side of things

Introduction to Psychological Therapies

One-day workshop

NEW FOR SPRING 2015!


Spring Term.

What are psychological or talking therapies?

The morning session of this one-day workshop will explore how

psychological therapies can help people, the potential risks and

things to take into account when considering them. Students willget a general overview of how therapies can be accessed including

referral and assessment processes.

During the afternoon session we will explore and explain the

different types of psychological approaches that are available in

secondary care, primary care and in the voluntary sector, and what

you can expect from taking part in these types of therapies.

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Introduction to Recovery

One-day workshop

Many people nd being diagnosed with mental health difculties

devastating. Too often people feel that their life is over and that

they will never be able to full their dreams and ambitions or lead

a satisfying and valued life.

But it does not have to be this way. Whatever age a person is,

whether they have only recently been diagnosed, or whether theyhave had a diagnosis for some time, recovery is possible, no matter

how serious the person’s difculties. It is possible for people to

rebuild a meaningful, valued and satisfying life.

This introductory workshop explores the impact of mental health

difculties on people’s lives, what helps people to grow within and

beyond what has happened, and how they can rebuild their lives.

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Rebuilding your life

‘The atmosphere of the sessions wasvery relaxed and working with peoplewith lived experience is something

that I personally nd inspiring.’

“It was a boost to mypersonal development

and gave me a sense ofwho and where I am.”



Introduction to Recovery & Support Planning

One-day workshop

This course aims to promote self-management techniques via

recovery and support planning.

Recovery and support planning is an instrument that helps people

on a day to day basis, supports self-recognition of early warning

signs, explores the use of strategies that reduce the chance of

relapse, helps people make plans for what to do if a crisis occursand helps formulate goals that focus on moving forward.

The course will introduce recovery and support plans and enable

you to discover how to use the different components as a part of a

wellness toolkit.

Mental Health Awareness

One-day workshop

This course aims to increase understanding of what inuences

our mental health, including the causes of, and the impact of

stigma on, mental distress.

The session will explore the importance of verbal and non-verbal

communication skills and how we can use these skills to support

one another.

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“I learnt how to understand theidea of recovery.”



Making Changes: Where To Start and How to Maintain

Two-week course | One-day workshop each week

The aim of this workshop is to enable participants to explore,

embrace and prepare for the challenges involved when embarking

on a change of lifestyle.

We will look at decision making and managing and

maintaining the process of recovery as it applies, for example,

to relapse prevention.

Staying Well & Making Plans

Two Week Course | One-day workshop each week

For many people it can feel as if their mental health difculties

are completely beyond their control. Treatment and support

from mental health professionals can be helpful but everyperson with mental health problems can become an expert in

their own self-management.

Along with mental health difculties, things like divorce, death

of a loved one, losing your job and serious physical illness can

affect anyone. Whatever challenges you face, recovery involves

nding the personal resourcefulness and resilience to take back

control over your life and what happens to you.

This two-week course aims to support people to develop and use

personal recovery plans that focus on what keeps you well, how to

manage the ups and downs, how to cope in a crisis and what gets

you back on track.

This course is for anyone who wishes to learn about planning for a

life beyond services.

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Condence in Social Situations

One Day Workshop

This workshop will offer you the opportunity to identify situations in

your own life where you would like to be more condent. You will

then be able to explore and consider ways of managing challenging

social situations in a warm and supportive environment.

Topics covered will include understanding condence, how

our behaviour and thinking can affect condence, the role ofbody language, and practical strategies to be condent in social

situations. This course doesn’t involve role play unless students

want it to. It instead focuses on self-awareness and group

discussion to build up condence and share experiences to feel

less isolated.

By the end of the session, students will be able to set a personalgoal around increasing their condence.

Mental Health: Disclosure and Your Rights at Work

Half-day workshop

Please note: this workshop will only be offered during the Spring Term.

The aim of this workshop is to help participants gain a better

understanding of their rights with regards to disclosure of their

mental health condition to employers.

This is an area that people often feel very confused about and it

is hoped by the end of the workshop participants will feel moreequipped to make an informed choice as to whether to disclose

their condition or not.

The workshop will cover the advantages and the disadvantages of

disclosure, how to disclose, and the role of the Equality Act (2010)

and how it can protect the individual if they choose to disclose.

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Understanding and Challenging Stigma

One-day workshop

For people with mental health difculties, stigma can be a

huge barrier to recovery. It can also affect those around them,

particularly carers, family members and friends.

During this workshop we will explore:• The many ways that stigma can impact on our lives• The dilemma of disclosing to employers, colleagues, family,

friends and others• Why many people feel compelled to keep their mental health

problems a secret• What mental health professionals can do, and what you would

like them to do, to help challenge the negative impact of stigma

Wellbeing for Older Adults

Various Workshops


Please note: this workshop will only be offered during the Spring Term.

In preparation for our Spring Term 2015, service users of our older

adult services are working alongside staff to develop a series of

stand-alone workshops aimed at exploring mental health and

wellbeing for older adults.

The workshops will address a range of topics relevant for older

adults and their carers’. Topics include staying active, living with

bereavement, stretching your pension, beating the health services,

getting involved and more.

Students are welcome to sign up for as many or as few of the

sessions as they like. Details of the individual workshops, along withdates and locations, will be published on our website later this year.

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The Mindful Way to Wellbeing

Two-hour workshop

Please note: attending this course is strongly recommended for

students considering enrolling for the ve-week ‘Introduction to

Mindfulness’ course.

The aim of this interactive session is to provide an introduction to

the principles and practice of mindfulness. The session includes

three short, seated meditations.

Introduction to Mindfulness

Five-week course | Two-hour workshop each week

Please note: this is a highly popular course and priority will be

given to students who have previously attended the introductory

‘The Mindful Way to Wellbeing’ workshop.

This interactive ve-week course gives students an opportunity tolearn about mindfulness and begin to develop a personal practice

aimed at enhancing wellbeing. Practicing mindfulness enables

us to be in the present moment more of the time which can help

us notice unhelpful habits of thinking and behaviour and, with

practice, respond to difculty with greater skill.

During each session students learn through taking part in guided

meditations and exploring together the experience of doing so

through group discussion. Students are encouraged to use guided

meditations to practice at home between classes.

Students must be able to attend all ve of these sessions.

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Introduction to the Wheel of Well-being

One-day workshop


This introductory workshop will explain how to use the Wheel

of Well-being and its resources to identify and keep track of the

practical things you can do every day to ‘WoW Yourself’ and

improve your wellbeing.

The concept has been developed into a dynamic website andtoolkits which anyone can use to help improve their health and

happiness. The Wheel places emphasis on six key factors that can

enhance our sense of well-being: Body, Mind, Spirit, People, Place

and Planet.

The Wheel of Wellbeing was designed by SLaM’s Mental Health

Promotion Team in 2008 as part of Big Lottery Well London’sprogramme and is currently supported by the Maudsley Charity.

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind

Four-week course | 1.5 hour workshop each week

(N.B. Involves physical activity)

“To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not

be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” - Buddha

Are you looking to become more physically healthy? Have you

been thinking about how to become tter, but don’t know where

to start? This course offers you the opportunity to kick start yourphysical health and reconnect with your body.

The course will allow you to explore different ways of exercising,

being physically active and nding realistic ways to keep your body

in check.

The four workshops will take place in the onsite gym at TheMaudsley where you will be able to experiment and learn of

different ways to be more physically healthy.

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Go Smoke Free the Stress-less Way

Ten-week course | Half-day workshop each week


Imagine how much extra money you could have if you were able

to stop smoking. You could be a lot healthier too.

Quitting smoking may seem impossible because many people rely

on smoking to help them cope with their problems. However, with

the right support you can become a non-smoker for good and theextra resources you will have will help you to move forward in your

recovery in many other ways. If you want to stop smoking and

live a happier, healthier life then this course can help you. We will

support you and give you advice to help prepare you to quit, stop

smoking and stay on track.

All we ask is that you come to the course wanting to quit and areprepared to give it a go. We will help you explore and overcome

the barriers to stopping smoking. You don’t have to have the

know-how or the condence at this stage – that’s what the course

aims to help you with.

This course is being run in collaboration with the CNWL

Recovery College.

Food and Mood

One-day workshop

Can food really affect your mental health? We have all heard thesaying ‘you are what you eat’. There is now growing evidence

to show that what you eat can affect both your emotional and

mental wellbeing.

This workshop will explore the links between food and maintaining

your mental health and explore self-management tools that may

help you make changes to your lifestyle.

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Although we will, during the course of the day, look at the latest

(often confusing and conicting) dietary advice, this is not a

workshop with a primarily nutritional focus. It is more about how

eating good, fresh and affordable food can help improve your

sense of wellbeing, and how to eat well on a budget.

During the day you will also have a chance to:• Visit the Bethlem’s Occupational Therapy Garden to see food

growing and pick seasonal produce• Prepare a simple meal in the OT kitchen

Spirituality and Wellbeing

Half day workshop

Using a variety of methods, this course will focus on a gentle

exploration of participants’ spiritual values, world views and

guiding philosophies. It will look at how these are important for,and connected to, a sense of wellbeing.

Participants will be encouraged to reect on those elements that

give meaning to their lives, and the ways that can be found to

express what is of ultimate importance to them.

The workshop will open up discussion on the relationship between

spirituality and mental health as it is experienced in people’s

everyday lives, and how this can contribute to recovery and healing.

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“A very structured explanation of what I’ve been goingthrough. Now it all makes sense; I can now work onmy recovery condently and positively.”

“I enjoyed the course facilitators’ laid-back,

understanding and exible approach.”



How To Get A Good Night’s Sleep

Half-day workshop

Do you have difculty getting to sleep at night? Do you wake up

early in the morning? Do you spend most of the night tossing

and turning?

This workshop looks at how much sleep we actually need; the

different types of sleep, the common causes of sleep problems and

ways of overcoming sleeping difculties.

It will aim to help you to understand the nature of sleep and

provide ways of dealing with your sleep problems.

Telling Your Story

Six-week course | 2.5 hour workshop each week

Mental health challenges may affect a person’s condence and

even their sense of identity. This course helps students start to

take back ownership of experiences and recover a sense of self

alongside, or even despite, the difculties faced.

Students will use a range of creative approaches, methods and

media to help explore aspects of life that are important to them,express themselves on their own terms, and celebrate their unique

experiences and qualities.

No previous formal experience of writing or creativity is required, as

students will be encouraged to nd their voice and have it heard.

Students will have the opportunity to share their stories at the end

of the course.

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How to Complete a Limited Capability for Work

Questionnaire (ESA50)

Half-day workshop


To qualify for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) the DWP

have to decide that you are too unwell to work. They do this by

asking you to complete a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).

You will be sent an ESA50 questionnaire which asks you questionsabout how you manage everyday tasks and it is obviously of crucial

importance that you ll this in with correct information.

This workshop looks at:• The overall conditions for claiming ESA• When an ESA50 will be issued and why it must be completed,

whether you are a new claimant or an Income Support/ Incapacity Benet claimant who is being migrated

• How to complete the questionnaire

• How to obtain supporting evidence• What happens at the DWP assessment centre (medical)• What to do if you are found t for work

By the end of the session, you should feel condent completing

an ESA50

Personal Independence Payment Explained

Half-day workshop

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the replacement for

Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

This session explores both the similarities and the differences

between the two benet schemes and how these might affect

you. We will look at when you will need to migrate to PIP if you

are already on DLA, take you through the claim process in detail,and explain how to tell your story.

We will also look at the decision-making and dispute process and

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Developing knowledge and skills



signpost you to the help and guidance you will need.

How to Find a Flat and Maintain a Tenancy

Six-week course | Two-hour workshop each week


Please note: people being supported by Croydon Council’s SNAP

Team will be given priority to enrol in this course.

This six week course has been designed in collaboration with

Croydon Council’s SNAP team to assist people currently livingin supported accommodation to learn and develop skills to help

maintain a home and tenancy in the future. People providing care

and support to individuals living in supported accommodation can

also enrol.

The sessions will focus on:•

Understanding the different types of housing options (council,housing association, private rentals), tenancy agreements and

your rights as a tenant

• How to search for a property and use the Croydon Rent In

Advance Scheme• Furnishing a property, insuring your belongings, how to get

your utilities connected and pay for them and looking after

your new home• Living on a budget, managing your nances, debt management

and where to access help and advice about money• Healthy living on a budget• Returning to work – the options, nancial issues and nding

support to look for a job

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Carers Communicating for Change

Two hour workshop

Please note: this workshop is specically for carers

This workshop focuses on the importance of communication

within the caring role.

Sharing experiences and increased knowledge of mental health

issues can help to reduce anxiety for both the carer and person

experiencing mental health difculties.

That’s Not What I Meant! How to build better

communication and understanding in your relationships

Half-day workshop


Spring Term.

Communicating is more than just what we say. It is how we saythings and what we understand from what is said to us.

Sometimes it can be difcult to know how to communicate

with the people around us, especially when you need to discuss

something unpleasant, or there is a power imbalance in the

relationship, or you are from different social backgrounds, or the

language and terms being used are not familiar to us.

This workshop will explore active listening skills and the barriers

which impact on the way we communicate with the aim of

reducing misunderstanding and conict.

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“I got lots more than I expected. Some really useful andup-to-date information. Excellent preparation and verydetailed content.”

“Presenters were so open, honest and friendly.Thank you.”



Online Health Information: A Hands-On Taster Session

Half-day workshop


There is a wealth of health information online but how do you nd

the information that’s most relevant to you? And how do you make

some sense of what you’ve found?

This hands-on workshop will give you some practical tips about using

the web to nd health information and assess the quality and impactof what you’re reading. We’ll also look at some social media tools for

keeping up-to-date and staying connected. The session will include

time for one-to-one support to help you get the most out of your

searching. Learners will also have the option to stay on for a further

hour after the formal session to do further searching with the help of

the tutors.

This course is for anyone wanting to nd health information online. It’s

suitable for people with a wide range of IT skills from beginners onwards.

How to Use Social Media to Find A Job

Half-day workshop


Spring Term.

There is a wide variety of social media, ranging from social sharing

sites such as YouTube, Pinterest and Flickr through to social

networks such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. This workshop

will explore the power of using social media when searching for

a job.

We will look at how to set up social media accounts and how they

can benet you in nding paid employment.

We will also cover the importance of managing security settings

and we’ll highlight the ways in which employers use social media

during their recruitment process.

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Introduction to the ‘myhealthlocker’ website

Two-hour workshop

It’s an exciting time for digital health. Apps on smartphones &

tablets are allowing us to interact with our health and healthcare

records in ways that it would have been difcult to imagine a few

years ago.

Myhealthlocker is a new website that connects you to your health

information and allows you to more actively participate in yourcare. You can access your care plan and also see results from your

GP such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose levels, if

your GP is a part of one of our participating GP practices.

Myhealthlocker also allows you access to self-assessment measures

and the Rate My Day journal online. This can help you to monitor

your mood, negative thoughts, anxiety, sleep, exercise or anything

else relevant to your health on a daily/weekly basis, with the aim

of increasing self-reection and self-management. You can choose

to share this and all other data captured in myhealthlocker with

whoever you wish to.

Introduction to Coaching Techniques for Recovery

Two-week course | One-day workshop each week

Coaching is a way of opening up spaces for personal reection,

helping people become aware of their strengths and resourcefulness

and supporting them to achieve their goals. Coaching is a series

of conversations between a coach and another person aimed atbringing out the best in the person being coached.

Whether we are mental health professionals, people who use

services, or carers and supporters, we all know that the quality

of the relationships and the conversations we have are very

important. Coaching tools and techniques can support people’s

recovery by helping them tackle the challenges and everyday

stresses of life.

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Train the Trainers

Three-week course | One-day workshop each week

Please note: due to popular demand for places, a selection process

will be applied to this course. Students must be able to attend all

three days.

This course aims to teach individuals how to effectively deliver

courses as a co-trainer at the SLaM Recovery College using

principles of co-production.

The course incorporates learning theories together with expertise

on presenting skills. There is an expectation that students will

deliver their own micro-teaching session on day three of the course.

Getting involved

34

“The experience is empowering. I feelthis is the way forward.”

“It is great to have courses co-designed and co-deliveredby staff and service users. It increases empathy andgreater learning.”

“The trainers were lovely, down-to-earth and understanding.”



Getting Involved in Peer Support

2.5 hour workshop

What is peer support? Who are our peers? What is going on in

our area? What is meant by lived experience? How can we use our

lived experience as an asset to support someone else? How does

sharing ideas about recovery support both parties?

This workshop is aimed at anyone interested in becoming involved

as a peer supporter or as a member of a team implementingrecovery through peer support.

Volunteering and Recovery

Half-day workshop

This workshop looks at how volunteering can be an important part

of recovery – by boosting condence, by offering a valued role

within the community and by opening up possibilities for the future.

We’ll hear volunteers’ stories and we’ll explore the different

opportunities to volunteer that are available.

The workshop will also explore the benets to be gained by

volunteering, how and why people volunteer, the barriers that can

exist and what your rights as a volunteer are.

Introduction to Service User Involvement

One-day workshop



Spring Term.

This workshop will give students a general introduction to service

user involvement both within SLaM and in the wider South

London community.

You’ll learn about the opportunities and choices available and how

to get involved to enhance your own recovery journey or those of

people you offer care and support to.

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The workshop will cover:• SLaM NHS Foundation Trust – the organisation, its operations,

mission statement and Public and Patient Involvement strategies• Opportunities with local and national third sector and public

sector organisations• What we mean by involvement and what the benets are in

getting involved• How to manage “working” relationships, personal choice,

professionalism and difcult situations• The various communication skills that will help you in your role• Condentiality - looking after your own and other people’s

information and why it matters• A code of conduct for people who take up and offer

involvement opportunities• How to look after your wellbeing and how to get the support

you need• Your next steps: how to get started

Help! I’ve Been Invited to a Meeting

One-day workshop

It can be quite intimidating if you’re invited to a meeting, even if

you have some experience of them.

So here’s a fun one-day course which starts from the basics - what

a meeting is, what paperwork there might be, who does what,

and how to prepare.

Following on from this, we will further explore the challenges of

making meetings productive and how you can make the most of

your contribution.

The session aims to be both dynamic and thought-provoking.

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Using Your Lived Experience in Health Research: The C4C Project

Half-Day Workshop

Please note: this workshop is only for people who are current users

of SLaM services. Whether you sign up for the C4C project or not,

your care will not be affected in any way.

This workshop focuses on both paid and voluntary opportunities

to use your lived experience to contribute to health research within

the Biomedical Research Centre (a partnership between SLaM and

the Institute of Psychiatry).

C4C (Consent for Contact) is a project for people with lived

experience who would be willing for researchers to contact them

to ask if they would like to take part in current or future research

projects that interest them.

You will learn about how to get involved and how the BRC

research ndings are used to make improvements in health for

people with mental health difculties.

37

“I met some lovely people in a really nice setting!”

“I had some really important realizationsabout myself. I heard some beautifulstories and experiences of others. It wasa very safe and comfortable group to bea part of.”

“I am delighted with all the courses I have been toat the Recovery College; The trainers are great!”



Before lling out the form, please see page 8 to nd out if

you are eligible to enrol at the college.

Online

The easiest way to enrol is online via our website: (http://www.

slamrecoverycollege.co.uk/enrol)

Download

Download the form from the website as a llable pdf (i.e. there

is no need to print it out, you can ll it in on your computer) andemail it to us at [email protected]

Email/Post

Let us know if you would like us to send you a copy of the

enrolment form (either by email or post).

Email: [email protected]

How to enrol

SLaM Recovery College Enrolments

1st Floor Administration Building

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ

Phone

Alternatively, we will happily to ll out the form for you over the

phone if you’d prefer.

Telephone: 020 3228 3643

Cancellations

In the event that you are unable to attend a course or workshop

for which you have enrolled, please let us know as soon as

possible.

Please give as much notice as you can, so we can offer your place

to another student.

38



Timetables

We will be publishing separate timetables – one for the Autumn

Term and one for the Spring Term.

The Autumn Term runs from September 15th to December 12th

and the Spring Term runs from January 19th to 27th March.

If the current timetable isn’t included with your copy of the

prospectus, you can view/download it from our website, or get in

touch and we will send you one.

“It was a great experience, especially listening to

the peer trainer’s story.”

39

Timetables and Venues

Venues

Our courses are run at a variety of venues in Southwark, Lambeth,

Lewisham, Croydon and our Bethlem site.

Venue addresses can be found in the timetable and, along with

directions and maps, on our website.

We will also send venue details to you with your conrmation

letter/email.



Student Charter

When you study at SLaM Recovery College…

You can expect us to:• Efciently manage your enquires and assist you with the

enrolment process if you need support• Always communicate in a friendly and professional manner• Provide information about our courses , workshops, prospectus

and timetable• Ask during the enrolment process if there are any issues which

might make attending the course difcult for you. We willmake reasonable adjustments to support your mental and

physical health and ability to learn - providing you inform us at

the time of enrolment• Provide a warm, professional, healthy and safe learning

environment and work with you to make learning enjoyable

and accessible• Deliver high quality courses and workshops which promote

recovery and social inclusion, and offer you hope, control

and opportunity

• Respect your personal beliefs, life choices, faith and cultural

practices and traditions making it an environment free from

sigma and discrimination• Give you time and space within and outside the classroom to

provide feedback about the Recovery College, its services and

staff without fear of recrimination.

We expect you to:• Provide relevant information such as your contact details, an

emergency contact and information about SLaM services you,or the person you support, may be using, are supported by or

are working in• Inform us of any difculties or challenges that would make it

difcult to attend• Attend courses on time or, if you are running late, inform the

college ofce• Contact the college ofce if you can no longer attend a course

or workshop so we can offer your place to another student• Adhere to wthe SLaM Recovery College Code of Conduct

40



‘I felt that I was able to express mythoughts and ideas openly withoutany prejudice or judgement.’

“Very well done to the trainers. I

came in feeling slightly anxious butsoon felt at ease.”

41

“I realised that lived experience is an asset. I

made positive connections.”

“It was condenceboosting that peers

could lead in this way.”

“I really enjoyed it, I’mso glad I came.”

• Be respectful of the rights of all students and staff of the college• Ask the college staff questions if you are not sure about anything.

d h l



Need our help in any way?

Additional support

If you feel that you need additional help in getting to a class or in

fully taking part,

please let us know in the space provided on the enrolment form.

We understand there can be things which make getting to and

participating in education more difcult such as:

• Feeling worried or stressed about being in groups and talking• Having difculty getting to places on time or using public

transport• Problems with concentration• Dyslexia or other learning challenges• Vision or hearing impairments• Mobility difculties or pain that prevents you from sitting

comfortably

We will do our best to make it as easy as possible for you to

take part.

Volunteer travel buddies may be available to support you to attend

our workshops and courses.

Course materials

Please tell us in advance if you will require course materials

in a more accessible format (i.e. in large print, on a coloured

background or in a particular font you nd easy to read) and we

will do our best to meet your request.

Disabled access

We try to ensure that the venues we use for courses andworkshops are fully accessible and have disabled toilet facilities.

If you have more specic access requirements, please tell us in the

space provided on the enrolment form.

Can a carer, friend, or family member come to the course to

support me?

Absolutely, but we would ask that they take an active part and

book onto the course by enrolling as a student too.

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Do you provide refreshments?

Like any other college, we do not provide students with free food

and drink.

Most, if not all, of the venues we use offer tea and coffee,

although sometimes this may need to be purchased (depending on

the venue’s facilities).

We are not able to provide lunch, and it is advisable that you bring

something with you if the course lasts all day – just in case theshops are a distance away from the venue.

Remember: our courses are free of charge!

Will you pay my travel costs?

Similarly we cannot reimburse you for your travel costs.

I still have questions. Is there someone I can talk to?

Of course! If you would like to chat to us about these or any other

issues, please call our ofce on 020 3228 3643.

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Hope: sometimes it is difcult to live

hopefully in the face of what can seem like

overwhelming odds. Hope, believing that

a meaningful life is possible, is essential to

recovery

Control: making decisions about what

you want to do in life, over the path your

journey takes, the challenges you face and

the help you receive

Opportunity: the chance to do the things

that you want to do, to do the things that

make life worthwhile, and to have access

to the roles, relationships and activities

which are important to you

www.slamrecoverycollege.co.uk

SLaM Recovery College

1st Floor Administration Building

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 8AZ

Telephone: 020 3228 3643

Email: [email protected]

slam rc autumn 2014 spring 2015 prospectus final

Documents