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There is so much good work going on across WISMS and this entry will be where I will keep us all up to date on service developments and clinical matters. WISMS is a place bursting with commitment energy and skills channelled into making a positive difference to people with substance misuse issues. Therefore being its Clinical Director is about the best job you can have if you are passionate about working and fostering innovation in this field.
Every month I produce a Clinical Director’s report for the Substance Misuse Joint Commissioning Team which will be posted here, alongside the most recent minutes of our monthly Senior Management Forum. You will also be able to read the latest Clinical Director's update to the Prison Joint Commissioning Forum detailing the work of the Substance Misuse Unit at HMP New Hall. This month has been an extraordinary one for me both as Clinical Director, and lead for the WISMS application to become a Department of Health Social Enterprise Pathfinder (more on this in the article “Journey to Pathfinder”). Thank you to all staff that have supported me and taken time out to be involved in the consultation. With the decision to pursue pathfinder status came the idea to design and launch the WISMS website a feat requiring superhuman efforts in order to meet what at first sight seemed impossible deadlines. If that were not enough to be getting on with, team leaders have been working hard to find a new IT solution for WISMS and contributing to a number of high profile local conferences. It is a credit to all of us that we have been able to take on so many new and important challenges and maintain the high standards of service that people have come to expect of Wakefield Integrated Substance Misuse Service. At the recent six month review meeting with the NTA, we received positive feedback on our performance across the majority of key measures and I am pleased to report that we are now consistently exceeding national waiting times and retention targets and are one of the highest performing DATs in this respect. The last month also saw the HMP New Hall Substance Misuse Unit receive the HMPS Yorkshire and Humber Multidisciplinary Prison Healthcare Team of the Year Award. Congratulations to Gail Coupland Clinical Nurse Specialist in Substance Misuse and her team. It’s an extremely busy time, one where I know many of you are working over and above the call of duty. That said as I walk around the services and bump into team members in corridors and offices I see highly motivated individuals and smiling faces. I believe we are on the right track and have every confidence in us achieving our service aims and objectives in the future. It’s a privilege to work with such high achieving teams and I hope by making as much information available as possible on the work we do we can capture yours and others’ views on the way forward. Don’t miss the series of presentations from the recent WISMS Service Improvement Celebration Event held at the Orangery. This year saw contributions from 4 service users and one parent. The event provides a snapshot of the excellent work going on across the different teams Finally – to those of you who have contributed to the website a HUGE and heartfelt. THANK YOU. Please post any concerns, thoughts, comment and messages to me either through my PA Ursula Kennett: 01924 780882 or by the E-mail feedback form. All the best for another month.
Dr Linda Harris
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