Sharing the Vision A Mental Health Policy For Everyone

ONMSD Digital Roadmap for Nursing and Midwifery 2019-2024

Introducing After Action Review (AAR) Guidance For Services 

After Action Review - Overview

The HSE’s Incident Management Framework 2020 (IMF) recognises the importance of having in place a proportionate and graduated approach to the review of incidents. To support this, the IMF introduced a more adaptive approach to the use of systems analysis and in addition introduced the concept of After Action Review (AAR). In this context the ARR has been identified as a methodology for a concise approach to incident review and as a mechanism to de-brief with staff following a Category 1 incident for which a Comprehensive review is planned.

An After Action Review (AAR) is a structured review process which seeks to rapidly identify and reinvest learning for improvement. The AAR discussion focuses on 4 questions which seek to ascertain what staff expected would happen, what actually happened, why was there a difference between these and what the service can learn from the event.

AAR works best in situations where there is a positive, psychologically safe, multidisciplinary team dynamic and an openness to discuss the event.

Since the introduction of AAR in 2018, it has been noted that apart from its use in the review of incidents, services have also found that the four questions can also be used in other situations. Most commonly cited is the use of AAR on an informal basis by both individuals and teams within the context of their working day to review their practice so as to identify learning and improve their individual and team performance.

Finally it can be used as part of a planning tool for a future event  where it is used to define plans and expectations, outline critical steps and expected results, ask “what if?” questions in order to confirm a shared understanding of the planned event.

In summary, the use of AAR can assist both individuals and teams to improve their performance and consequently their ability to deliver safer, better patient care and improved service user and staff experience.

Temporary Higher Appointments

Annual Leave during COVID-19 22/12/2020

Special Leave with Pay

COVID Stakeholder Communications - Resilience and Wellbeing 'Keep Well' Campaign

The new National Forensic Mental Health Services in Portrane is due to be completed and handed over to the HSE next month.

St Vincent’s Hospital, Fairview, a Section 38 provider, has commenced the process in relation the transfer of services to the HSE.

St John of God, a Section 38 Provider for Community Mental Health Services and Intellectual Disability Services are to be transferred to the HSE over the next 12 months to be concluded by 30^th September 2021.

I meet the criteria for the enhanced nurse contract however there has been a lot of talk amongst colleagues about the possible impact on pension entitlements- will my pension entitlements change or be negatively impacted? 

No this is not the case. The HSE have confirmed that psychiatric staff nurses who take up the enhanced nurse contract will not be moved from their existing pension scheme. The HSE have also confirmed that the status of eligible psychiatric staff nurses who are currently on pre 2004 contracts will not change. If you have queries or concerns in regards to superannuation and the enhanced nurse contract please contact your local representative or PNA Head Office at 045 852300. (LINK TO CIRCULAR??) 

I recently suffered a bereavement, do I have access to any special leave?

Yes you do. The PNA, amongst other unions, brought the issue of bereavement leave to the Labour Court to seek improvements in the arrangements that employees are entitled to in the event of a bereavement. Significant improvements in leave were achieved;

• An increase from 5 days to 20 days bereavement leave for the death of a spouse, partner or a child (including adopted and ‘in loco parentis’)

• An increase from 3 days to 5 days for the death of a father, mother, brother, sister, father in law or mother in law
• Where the employee must travel for funeral arrangements in the event of a death of a relative as outlined above, special leave with pay in excess to the above limits can be granted at the discretion of the employer.  
• In exceptional circumstances, 3 days can be granted for the death of a more distant relative.

Please find an update following further engagement with the Department of Health

 • The Department of Health have committed to proposals on two reviews. The first review will look at the immediate need for financial support given the context of COVID-19 for student nurses in years 1—4. Both the Department of Health and the PNA will make oral and written submissions to an independent party, Professor Tom Collins. The review must be completed on or before the 31st of December 2020, so that the recommendations can be implemented in January 2021 if accepted.

• The Department of Health have committed to a second separate review beginning early in the new year with regard to looking at the general issue of clinical placement allowances for supernumerary students and the situation for internship students for the longer term. There will be engagement with the PNA in relation to the terms of reference, this review will also include an independent third party. If those recommendations are accepted, they will be implemented in September 2021.

 Nurses have demonstrated exceptional commitment, courage, compassion and selflessness as they worked to provide care to patients and their families, in the face of overwhelming circumstances. In this serious and difficult COVID 19  situation, we all need to share comfort and support  with colleagues, friends and the people we care for and reflect on what is important .Although life as we know it may have changed, the core character of nurses has not. 

A New Year Blessing

John O’ Donohue Benedictus

On the day when

The weight deadens

On your shoulders

And you stumble,

May the clay dance

To balance you.

And when your eyes

Freeze behind

The grey window

And the ghost of loss

Gets in to you,

May a flock of colours,

Indigo, red, green,

And azure blue,

Come to awaken in you

A meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays

In the currach of thought

And a stain of ocean

Blackens beneath you,

May there come across the waters

A path of yellow moonlight

To bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,

May the clarity of light be yours,

May the fluency of the ocean be yours,

May the protection of the ancestors be yours.

And so may a slow

Wind work these words

Of love around you,

An invisible cloak

To mind your life.

The current series offered a range of programmes which included: Dual Diagnosis - Mental Health and Addictions, Frailty and Mental Health in Older People, Embedding Trauma Informed Care into Mental Health Nursing Practice, Psychosocial Interventions, Mental Health Assessment, Metabolic Syndrome, Chronic Disease Management and Mental Health and Physical Health Screening for People with Mental Illness. The delivery of the collaboration’s programmes by clinical experts is a key feature of this initiative, with the majority of classes delivered by PNA members and Associates. The current series has proven to be extremely popular with numerous requests for follow up and large attendances at the live sessions with up to 65 attendees recently. 

Aisling has joined the Advisory Board of the European Centre of Excellence for Research in Continuing Professional Development” launched in February 2020 in RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. The launch of the Centre of Excellence is an important step in developing the evidence base through cross-disciplinary collaborative research activity and knowledge exchange. The Centre currently has members from over 20 countries including Albania, Belgium, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania. Indeed as General Secretary of Horatio Aisling has brought with her a wealth of experience and contacts through her networks whereby the European Centre will act as a catalyst for new ideas and guide future standards in digital pedagogies, the economic impact of CPD and its impact to the professions.

In referring to Horatio, unfortunately, Horatio had to make the sad decision to cancel its Berlin conference in May. This was a big disappointment to those registered to attend and indeed for the Board of Horatio. I know from my discussions with the German Nurses Association  who worked  hard for a successful conference it was a difficult but the correct decision and colleagues are hoping that they can somehow utilise all that work and experiences toward future Horatio events. So, watch this space!

We also wish to draw your attention to the recent Horatio Publication 

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT THE COVID19 PANDEMIC AND PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING 

Dear Colleagues

As a way of saying thank you to all of the amazing frontline workers Cornmarket are currently offering the opportunity to apply for 6 months FREE Salary Protection to all members who are in a Union & who have not been in the scheme before, however applicants must have submitted their application before 31st December hence why we are trying to spread the word. Because we are unable to present in the workplaces this alternative might help.

The webinar contains the following information:

• How Covid 19 has changed the way we think about our finances
• How your employer sick leave entitlements work
• How salary protection works and the difference between private income protection and group income protection
• We answered questions at the end which may be helpful.

To view Cornmarket's salary protection webinar please highlight right click on the below link and select ‘open hyperlink’.

*6 Months’ FREE Salary Protection Offer*6 Months’ FREE Salary Protection Offer

https://youtu.be/o8hBaTq8ApY

If any member would like further information or to arrange a consultation through MS Teams they can click on the below link and enter ‘ABY’ beside their name:

https://www.cornmarket.ie/my-one-to-one/

We have also included a flyer for your attention:

Salary Protection 1

Salary Protection 2

This initiative a PNA first was written by Mr Niall O’Muiri, a former PNA member and branch official. The play originated in Co Wexford, with the support of Wexford Mental Health Association and was co-created with service-users. The play authentically depicted the lived experiences of service users living with mental illness and themes of isolation, despair, loneliness, depression, hope, comfort, respite and recovery had the audience transfixed. Two performances of the play were staged, with an afternoon performance for local schools and an evening performance for the general public. The Faculty generously offered this event free of charge to all attendees.