RCN Improving Physical and Mental Health Outcomes

During a worldwide pandemic mental and physical health has never been so intertwined into our current working and personal lives. This programme explores the impact of meeting (or not) the mental and physical health needs of patients and staff when working in new ways and with new emotional, psychological and physical pressures. 

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have designed this programme to suit virtual delivery.   

Are you looking to:

• consider the impact of COVID-19 on patients and staff. Exploring new ways of working and the impact this has had on physical and mental health and general well being
• improve the quality of life for people with complex physical and mental health needs
• create health environments to support people to get the best outcome for their physical and mental health
• improve someone’s day to day experience when accessing health services
• help people access support within their community e.g. through social prescribing.

This programme builds on the RCN’s Parity of Esteem Programme and has never been more relevant in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Its primary focus is to improve nurse’s awareness and understanding of people’s physical and mental health needs. It is open to all those working in clinical settings that treat people with physical and/ or mental health needs. It would also be of interest to clinical leads and service managers who want to better meet the complex needs of their patients in an inclusive way. It has been designed to benefit from the skill and experience mix offered by registered nurses from Adult (RGN), Mental Health (RMN) and Learning Disability (RNLD) specialities.

The participant will be able to:

• explore ‘Parity of Esteem’ work and application of the learning to their current contexts
• explore the impact of Covid-19 on patient experience and physical and mental health outcomes
• explore the impact of inequality in care provision with those who have experience either as providers of care or as patients  
• explore the overlap between mental and physical health for nurses
• develop an understanding of change management processes, working across professional and organisational barriers
• apply your learning through the development of a service improvement project in your local area, implementing evidence-based practice to improve standards for the benefit of patients, the public, health care workers and employers
• reflect on the impact on service users experience – family and service user.

January - March 2021

Three half days of individual online learning: 13 January, 17 February, 17 March 2021
Three half days of live virtual delivery: 14 January, 18 February, 18 March 2021

May - July 2021

Three half days of individual online learning: 19 May, 16 June, 14 July 2021
Three half days of live virtual delivery: 20 May, 17 June, 15 July 2021

The programme is delivered virtually and includes:

• three half days of live virtual delivery 
• three half days of pre-recorded teaching and podcasts 
• wrap-around online learning; discussion forum 
• one to one telephone coaching sessions 
• e-portfolio and a workbook to reflect on learning and skill development
• up to three experience days to assist with project development as needed by the delegate (optional, to be organised by the participant).  

Total study time: 200 hours

The programme delivery will consider the training needs and organisational responses about the following issues:

• Critical appraisal and exploration of current healthcare provision and outcomes including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; national policy, frameworks and guidance; considering the obstacles and barriers to healthcare equality and ‘parity of esteem’ in the local and national context
• The individual practitioner’s role in addressing inequalities in access to holistic healthcare, such as the mortality gap for those with serious mental illness (SMI) 
• Considering organisational culture and ways of working in relation to physical and mental healthcare provision, unmet need, service gaps and opportunities for change 
• Opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences and discuss the areas of clinical skills overlap, including self-harm and wound care, assessment of the deteriorating patient and assessment and promotion of mental wellbeing
• Exploration around the development of responsive services for current and future populations
• Implementing change in practice including demonstrating the value of the change to patients, staff and your organisation through a learning action plan and a service improvement project.

Service Improvement Project that will enable you to improve practice within your own setting.

Cost is £1,100 + VAT