Youth Workers Bring Vital Support to Children's Ward for Mental Health Safety and Emotional Support
In an important initiative aimed at providing comprehensive care to young people experiencing mental and emotional health challenges, Youth Workers from the Young Gloucestershire charity are now being integrated into the children's ward at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
These specialised professionals are equipped to offer essential support and guidance to young people aged 11-16 years who are admitted for their safety due to mental health concerns.
In common with other regions, Gloucestershire has seen an increase in mental health issues among young people, which can be attributed to a combination of factors, including societal, environmental and individual influences.
Working in partnership with staff on the unit and mental health colleagues from MHLT/ CAMHS, the Youth Workers support young patients with mental health and emotional needs, allowing them to feel heard and supported during their admission and beyond. The inclusion of Youth Workers on the children's ward ensures that these young patients receive not only the necessary medical care but also emotional and psychological support. By focusing on the specific needs of young individuals, the Young Gloucestershire youth workers help create a more nurturing and understanding environment.
This partnership initiative also significantly supports clinical staff on the ward. The Youth Workers provide support that is based on individual needs, whether this means engaging with the young people through therapeutic and recreational activities, providing much-needed emotional support or simply being there as a trusted ally through the young person’s journey.
Karen Pudge, Divisional Director of Quality & Nursing for the Women & Children’s division highlights the positive impact of this initiative:
"Integrating Youth Workers into our team has been a transformative step. They bring a unique set of skills and a compassionate approach that helps our young patients with mental health challenges feel more comfortable and understood. This, in turn, allows our clinical staff to concentrate on medical treatments and procedures, knowing that our patients are in good hands holistically.
“This comprehensive approach allows clinical staff to focus on the medical care of our diverse patient group, knowing that the psychosocial aspects of these young people’s well-being are being attentively addressed.”
Watch below to find out more about how the Youth Workers and Children's Centre team are working together to support young people.
"Young Gloucestershire Youth Workers are making a difference to the lives of young people and their families."
Helen Ford, Deputy Director, Integrated Commissioning at NHS Gloucestershire ICB
Helen Ford, Deputy Director, Integrated Commissioning at NHS Gloucestershire ICB who commissioned the project comments:
“The health community in Gloucestershire and charities like Young Gloucestershire are working together to support the mental health and wellbeing of our young people”
“We know that mental health issues can be scary and confusing for some young people and their families. We also know there has been an increase in things like anxiety, depression and other conditions in the past few years. Being in hospital can also be unsettling for anyone, so this initiative is important to support young people who need that extra help with emotional support whether it is friendly face to talk or someone to help with coping strategies.
“Supporting our young people, from early intervention, through education and with community-based initiatives is something we are focused on and we know the Young Gloucestershire Youth Workers are making a difference to the lives of young people and their families, we have already seen a decrease in re-admissions in young people supported by this project.”
Ione Sime, Senior Manager at Young Gloucestershire said:
“Young people today face numerous stressors and pressures, including academic expectations, peer relationships, family dynamics and concerns about the future. We aim to support young people to make sense of their feelings and our Youth Workers work with them to find a path that will allow them to get on track for their future.”
As part of a broader commitment to enhancing patient care, this partnership initiative underscores the importance of addressing the mental health needs of young people who are admitted to hospital. The Children’s Centre continues to seek innovative ways to support the mental and emotional well-being of its patients and the recent addition of Young Gloucestershire Youth Workers is a significant step in this direction.