PPN NW Blog – September 2024 Edition

Hi, everyone and welcome to the September PPN NW Experts by Experience blog.

Listen to the Blog video Here:  (14.98 MB)

I am for one keeping my fingers crossed for spending some time to support my mental health in nature as the signs of Autumn appear in parks, gardens, fields, and hedgerows and hopefully to enjoy some Autumn sunshine too.

This month I am delighted to introduce Phil Gooden, as the recently appointed Programme Lead for the Psychological Professions Network within the Northwest. In his own words, Phil outlines some of the priorities for the PPN NW and explains why Experts by Experience (EbE) are so important not just to the network but in the delivery of Health and Care. All of us at the EbE Steering Group are excited to have Phil with us and there is a palpable sense of energy and innovation within the group in planning next steps which we will share more on in October as this blog finds a new home as part of the PPN NW newsletter.

*My story by Phil Gooden

I arrived at the network having been something of a journeyman throughout the NHS.

I started out within NHS Talking Therapy Services as PWP then CBT Therapist and eventually Service Manager across Lancashire.

Following on from this I managed a variety of Physical Health Services within Central Lancashire as well as a secondment with Learning Disability and Autism Services. Most recently I spent two years at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals as Head of Transformation.

Ever curious as to how systems of care and health operate, these experiences provided me with an invaluable pathway. This enhanced my understanding of the unique pressures within in each of these services and how leadership and innovation develops in response. Primarily, I am privileged to have worked with such fantastic and diverse workforces.

I realised throughout this period that my true passions remained in psychological approaches to care.

I am a strong advocate for longer term planning and prevention, something that can often be overlooked in times of significant day-to-day pressures, and the opportunity to work for the PPN within the Workforce Training and Education Directorate was too good to overlook.

The network

It is incredible to see the growth of the PPN and how it has developed over the past ten years.

Established here in the Northwest the PPN now covers all seven regions of the NHS England footprint. This growth is credit to everyone who has worked for and with the network over the past 10 years.

Special mention needs to be made of Clare Baguley, the former Programme Lead (whose giant-sized boots I have the daunting task of trying to fill), and Gita Bhutani, PPN NW’s current Co-Chair. Both have worked tirelessly, spinning multiple plates, with the aim of raising the profile and increasing the voice of all things PPN.

Joining the network also coincides with significant organisational change. The PPN now forms part of NHS England following the merger of a number of different NHS organisations including Health Education England as part of the New NHS England Programme.

PPN NW Priorities

Since beginning in post here at PPN NW, we have refreshed our priorities. These can be categorised under three main headings:

• Increase PPN Impact
• Workforce Development
• Communities of Practice

Sitting underneath each one of these priority headings are various project plans and workstreams.

Wrapped around all three priorities are Equality Diversity & Inclusion, Marketing and Communications, and Experts by Experience.

Taken as a whole, all elements are closely linked to the PPN Vision and also the aims of the Long Term Workforce Plan.

Experts by Experience

An Expert by Experience (EBE) is often known by different titles across different organisations such as Peer Leaders, Co-producers or Lived Experience Partners. Patient and Public Voice (PPV), Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Public Advisor (PA) are also frequently used terms.

The role of an EbE may vary across different organisations but the essence, as outlined in the NHS Constitution for England is that they support the patient to be at the heart of everything we do. It is important also to note that this is the aim not just for NHS organisations but also for the many wonderful NHS commissioned third and voluntary sector organisations and the fabulous work they do.

There is no underestimating the impact EbEs can have on the design and delivery of training courses and services. Further, involvement can have a transformatory impact on those undertaking EbE roles, as Ali Bryant, one of the EbEs here at PPN NW will testify:

My involvement as an Expert by Experience has empowered me knowing that sharing my lived experience has real impact through informing, enabling, and influencing training, services, and systems to shape better experiences for service users and services in the future.

Since joining the PPN I have been very impressed to see Experts by Experience embedded into the network with an established Steering Group. This is made up of a talented and passionate group keen to improve services and the quality of training at every turn. If you haven’t already seen it there is an excellent animation about EBEs that can be found here.

You may have seen in some of our recent newsletters that we are looking to further expand EbE involvement in PPN NW. This is so we have EbE representation of having worked with the wider taxonomy of Psychological Professions whether that be through accessing services, experience of the therapeutic alliance or within training and research.

If you have experience of working with a Psychological Therapist, a Counsellor or with some of the excellent Practitioner roles within the Psychological Professions and are interested in shaping future plans with the PPN NW please do get in touch.

We want Experts by Experience embedded into everything that we do. In practice, this means involvement at every stage: from training course curriculum and service design, commissioning, recruitment, and active roles in the way that services are delivered.

The Ladder of Participation is an excellent way of articulating our network aims here, aspirational and achievable ideals of “Doing with” in an equal and reciprocal partnership.   

Communications

PPN NW is also about to refresh its communication approach and increase the reach of the network. As part of this refresh, we are exploring different ways of communication. This may include new forms of communicating across different types of media such as launching a podcast about all things Psychological Professions to broaden our access and engage with a wider demographic.

Another key area of focus for the new approach will be increasing our reach to aspiring Psychological Professionals including those still in school or college. This, alongside celebrating our shared identity as Psychological Professions will be one of the themes of our Annual conference in November this year. Make sure you have signed  up to our regular newsletter to hear more.

I look forward to building on the momentum of these first few months in the role and hope to meet some of you in person at the conference in November. If you have suggestions or ideas to share, please contact me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

*It was wonderful that we were able to have Phil contribute his story to the final standalone EbE blog this month and a point too for reflection for me on past content and also great anticipation knowing that the blog has a new home embedded in the PPN NW newsletter from October.

Coming in October

Psychological Professions Week 24 from the 11^th-15^{th of} November 2024 and details about our exciting Regional Conference Event.

Also:

Introducing Wijnand Van Tilburg and his innovative work and research which is opening up exciting possibilities and applications for psychology.

If you are not yet a member of the Psychological Professions Network, it is free to join us and receive a PPN NW newsletter to inform you about what is happening in our region.

If we, at the PPN NW EbE Steering Group, can support you or your training courses, or offer any advice, please get in touch:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Until October, please take the very best care of yourselves.

Ali Bryant- PPN NW EbE Steering Group.