The importance of neuro-affirmative practices for psychological professionals across Coventry and Warwickshire
At Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT) person-centred, neuro-affirmative, trauma informed and recovery focussed care is a top priority. For Psychological Professions Week (Monday 10 to Friday 14 November), CWPT and system partners reflected on the significant role psychological professionals play, and the importance of how neuro-affirmative language can support the communities of Coventry and Warwickshire.
Led by the Psychological Professions Network, Psychological Professions Week aims to celebrate the contribution and impact psychological professionals make to the excellent delivery of care. This year, CWPT, along with colleagues from across the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board, came together for a collaborative, inclusive, and energising event focused on the importance of neuro-affirmative practice and how to best support the neurodiverse community they serve and the neurodiverse workforce.
Everyone should have access to mental health care and workplace opportunities that celebrate and nurture differences. This vision was clearly on display at the event, along with a significant amount of passion and dedication.
From presentations about ensuring psychological therapies are adapted to suit the needs of autistic adults, understanding sensory needs and supporting our neurodivergent workforce, to workshop sessions for staff on a range of clinical issues, there was something for everyone. The event also showcased how the psychological professional workforce across the system have empowered patients, families and staff to make positive changes in their lives and work.
Across the week, the psychological professionals have also been reflecting on how they can help deliver the NHS 3 left shifts: hospital to community, analogue to digital and from only treating ill health to prevention.
Dr Richard Onyon, Chief Medical Officer at CWPT, said: Psychological Professions Week is a great opportunity to highlight the successes of the community of psychological professions here at CWPT. Our people are always the driving force at CWPT, and the event was a great opportunity to think about how we ensure neuro-affirmative practices across our services and provide care that is personalised to individuals. Events this like always make me feel proud of the incredible workforce for their dedication to high quality care.
Dr Su Thrift, Director of Psychological Professions and Services at CWPT, said: Psychological professions are a growing and diversifying workforce across both the nation and CWPT. We play a central role in delivering and shaping psychologically informed health care, which includes supporting the NHS to achieve its 3 'left shifts.' The event was a great opportunity to reflect and learn about how psychological professionals can best support neurodiverse people and to recognise some of the great work taking place across the Trust and the system.
Jane Everett and Hannah Seabrook, Joint Acting Heads of Psychological Professions at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, said: Psychological Professions Week has given us the opportunity to come together as psychological professionals across the whole of Coventry and Warwickshire, to understand how we can better support our neurodiverse patients and colleagues and create psychologically safe spaces for people with neurodiversity.
Dr Becci Dow, Head of Psychological Professions and Services at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This week offered an excellent opportunity to work across the system and integrate our ideas to promote good psychological practices. It reinforced the need to consider neuro-affirmative practices across acute and community settings to the benefit of our staff and patients.