The Recovery In-Sight Centre is a social enterprise

How attending a Recovery In-Sight self-help group helps your recovery

The team — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:00:30 +0000

Group members were asked in 2009 and again recently in 2012 about if, and how, attending the bipolar self-help groups was helpful for them in their recovery.

The feedback from these self-report questionnaires completed by group members in Stevenage (2009) and in Watford (2012) has now been analysed. Astonishingly, members report that attending the groups has helped them in their recovery across a number of topics. Indeed, the level of satisfaction appears to be on the increase. Please note that these groups are facilitated by trained and experienced Recovery In-Sight trainers.

Click here to download the report summary (2 pages) group-feedback-questionnaires-stevenage-watford

Thanks to all the 31 members who completed these questionnaires!

Meta-analysis on past 10 In-Sight courses

The team — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:00:46 +0000

Dr Heather Straughan, Director and Dr Jan Wallcraft, Senior Researcher at The Recovery In-Sight Centre have completed their meticulous analysis of all 10 In-Sight courses that have been delivered in Hertfordshire from September 2008 - February 2012. Trainees completed questionnaires before and after each course and took part in focus groups talking about their hopes, fears and expectations about the course, and how the course helped them in their recovery. 113 people have now accessed the In-Sight training, with 93 people completing the 48-hour University-accredited training programme.

Please click on these links to download 2 pages of the self-report questionnaire analysis 10-cohorts-recovery-in-sight-training-sept-08-feb-12

10-cohorts-recovery-in-sight-quality-questionnaire-sept-08-feb-12

The meta-analysis from the focus groups is reaching data saturation i.e. no new information is emerging from this analysis so it is clear that conclusions can be drawn about the usefulness of the In-Sight training in recovery for both people using mental health services and for their family member carers. The last course to be analysed will be the 11th course (April - June 2012). At the end of which over 100 people will have been trained.

A special event - the Recovery In-Sight Training Awards celebration day - will be held at the Old Free School in Watford on 23rd June to mark the achievements of those 100 trainees who will have completed the programme. A fervent supporter of Recovery In-Sight, consultant psychiatrist and Recovery lead for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Glenn Roberts will be presenting the awards. Dr Wallcraft and fellow user-consultant and Chair of the European Network of Users/Survivors, Mary Nettle will also be present.

click here to download the full focus group report (26 pages) jans-meta-analysis-march-2012-10-cohorts

An article is to be published later this year with details of how the Recovery In-Sight trial took place over the last four years, and conclusions that can be drawn from this study about the usefulness of the training in aiding recovery.

Advisory services

The team — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:00:26 +0000

Recovery In-Sight … its advisory services

The Recovery In-Sight team is able to draw from its wealth of experience to offer a complete range of advisory services regarding the development and conception of new mental health services, undertaking consultations, developing involvement strategy, valuing policies - our team members, all of whom have experience of mental health issues and long-standing involvement in mental health service development, are fully equipped to cater for your needs.

In addition to this, and based upon extensive experience in business, post-graduate commercial qualifications, and multiple awards in the business sector, Dr Heather Straughan is also able to offer business consultancy to new service user groups, social enterprises and charities as they establish themselves to shape and deliver mental health services. Services such as: business planning, financial management, marketing and selling. One new Community Interest Company has been set up following Heather’s business advice (SpeakUp CIC based in Kent).

Dr Heather Straughan is able to offer advice to people affected by mental health challenges who are looking to return to work. This includes managing a health problem whilst in work, as well as CV writing, covering letters, interview techniques and job-searching (and job-finding!). Having worked through a recession before in the 1990’s and having found work in a new geographical area after moving, Heather will be able to advise you on how best to proceed to find the job you want.

If you need to brush up your job-skills before re-entering employment e.g. using various IT software, then contact Heather to find out about the job-skills training that may interest you. Having enabled many volunteers and paid workers to brush up their office skills and job-related skills, Heather will be able to ensure that your skills meet the standards that employers are looking for.

Just email Dr Straughan with details of your request and she will get back to you with an approximate cost for the advice or support you require.