Connecting services across Dorset
PODD connects services across the whole Access Wellbeing model. It is already widely used across Dorset, and is now expanding into North and West Dorset. In addition, the approach is being trialled in older people’s mental health services in Dorset and being used more routinely in eight community mental health teams.
In the last 18 months, over 100 colleagues have undertaken PODD training in Dorset, spanning both the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and NHS. This unique training programme is led by Dorset HealthCare and delivered in partnership with specialist accredited open dialogue trainers.
Daniel Hallett is the lead for PODD at Dorset HealthCare. He explains:
“It’s been wonderful to bring colleagues from the VCS and NHS together through the open dialogue training, giving them an opportunity to not only develop their practice, but connect with one another and build key relationships. The PODD approach empowers people to become actively involved in their own care and here in Dorset, we’re passionate about expanding that further. Open dialogue network meetings now take place regularly within Access Wellbeing and the principles and techniques that underpin the approach are becoming embedded in practice in other ways too, helping us to align support across services.”
What does PODD training involve?
Training has been delivered through a mix of options, including a residential course run by the ODDESSI trial lead in Cambridge and an in-house course in Dorset run by three trainers specialising in NHS transformation. Dorset also offers a ‘train the trainers’ programme and a developing mentorship pathway, which allows staff to be trained in-house through a rolling programme that supports the wider community transformation work.
All courses follow a similar format and are designed to create a learning environment that allows practitioners to start developing the practice in their place of work. Central to this is the idea of working as a community or practice, rather than isolated individuals in one service.
Louise Welsh, Team Leader for the Purbeck Community Mental Health Team, said:
“PODD training for our team was a breath of fresh air – it allowed us as clinicians to take us back to why we came into nursing and to remind ourselves of the importance of listening, being comfortable with silences and to empower people to be their own problem solver alongside their network.
“The PODD model has been introduced to the wider team and incorporated into the MDT each week for referral consideration and for us to facilitate conversations with patients to create a positive discharge plan from secondary care back to primary care provision. Working closely with our Access Wellbeing colleagues, PODD has created a network of support for all people in our community to benefit from in regards to their health and wellbeing.”
Dorset’s ‘train the trainers’ have undertaken a reciprocal training programme in collaboration with Central and North West London Partnership.
Useful links
Peer Open Dialogue Dorset A5 leaflet
Peer Open Dialogue infographic by Annie Rickart-Strauss
UCL Open Dialogue: Development and Evaluation of a Social Network Intervention for Severe Mental Illness (ODESSI) Trial
