Trust Matters August 2025 edition

Welcome from our Chair Kathryn Lavery

I was delighted to read about the changes to the clozapine pathway, initially in Rotherham. Real practical quality improvement work which is the heart of promise 13 to move care into our communities and into people’s homes where we can. Many thanks to Emma and Jack for their work. These innovations are crucial to us, and we will be moving to community based provision later this year across all three places in which we work.

This patient has benefitted from the transfer of clozapine care from an inpatient to a community setting. Very much in line with promise 13 but also reflecting the spirit of rapid innovation we will need as a trust in the coming months.

I know similar projects exist in other parts of Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) and that is one reason why the quality improvement (QI) poster contest, with its top prize of £5,000, is something we want to support as a board.

Many congratulations to everyone involved in the trust receiving a Gold Award for our veterans’ awareness work. Promise 11 is important to many local people, and to colleagues inside RDaSH who have served. We have more to do to ensure great access for veterans and their households, and to work with local peer-led groups to ensure that our services are shaped by people’s needs. Even so, the award is a recognition of hard work and determination, with Steph Pinnell and Dr Susanah Parker spearheading our efforts.

On August 8, we closed nominations for our annual awards. More nominations than ever before have come in, with over 500 submitted. I have had the pleasure of making choices about Shining Star Awards, recognising those whose work best reflects our values. Not an easy set of choices to make from among such excellence, and I would encourage everyone to continue to make it tough by nominating people into our localised award systems. Every year in the staff survey we debate whether people’s hard work is recognised, and I know that that is about a suite of different things. But I hope the profile of recognition and acknowledgement in the trust is high and getting higher.

We are almost half-way through the public sector financial year. At the time of writing the trust is meeting its financial duties. That matters because doing that gives us the freedom to make choices. Whether that is about headsets (see your right to be heard) or in investing more into training and development. October’s launch of the High Dependency Unit and the launch of the North Lincolnshire community rehabilitation service this September are great examples of projects that both spend and save money, and put quality, equality, and safety first.

I have the privilege of chairing appointment panels for consultant staff recruited into the trust. When I started here at the end of 2022, we had over 25 vacancies, and as you know relied heavily on expensive agency locums. Over the last two years, we have recruited brilliantly. I was thrilled to support appointments in the last few weeks to roles in community mental health, eating disorders, and older adult services. Less than half a dozen vacancies remain, and our mission to address inequalities, and to work differently with our communities, is attractive to medical colleagues joining us from our training scheme and from outside.

Thank you for being part of that mission. Trust Matters is full of reasons to be proud.

Kind regards,

Kathryn

Fun day and annual members meeting goes down a storm

It was all the fun of the fair, with well over 700 colleagues, families and Scunthorpe residents turning out in force to our annual fun day.

Held at Brumby Hall Sports and Social Club in July, besides the fun fair stalls, staff and community groups took part in an It’s a Knock-Out competition, quick cricket, and an abseil, which raised money for our charity Your Hearts and Minds.

Meanwhile, indoors our Distinguished Service Awards took place honouring our colleagues who have served at our trust for 10, 20 and 30 years.

Young people took part in our Bright Futures event, throwing challenging questions to the board of directors. The day was rounded off with our annual members’ meeting where Roberta Radcliffe-Birds, Director of Psychological Therapies for the Children’s Care Group, presented the progress they have made in reducing the waiting time for our Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to 4 weeks.

See all the pictures from the day on Facebook.

Making brighter futures

Young people who live in Rotherham and Doncaster put some of our Board members to the test, by asking them a range of questions, a national news journalist would be proud of.

The young people, who are our Children’s Care Group’s Young Advisors, designed our Bright Futures event.

And here are just a handful of the tough questions they challenged our board members with:

• since we left the EU what changes have been made in the NHS that was claimed would happen?
• is your organisation prejudiced?
• I talk to my mum about my mental health, who do you talk to about yours?
• as young governors, we are here to hold you accountable, how can we do that effectively and it’s not just a one off today?

Great questions, don’t you think?

Toby Lewis, Chief Executive, said:

“It’s important that children and young people have a voice in the trust, not just in the children’s care group. We also wanted to be responsive to how they wanted the event to run, taking their ideas forward on the day. It was an excellent event, and I want to thank all the young people involved who really challenged us with their questions.”

Now that the young people have challenged us, what comes next?

Earlier this month they met with our chief executive to plan the next steps, which involved a young people’s “takeover” of one of our council of governors meetings.

Fun day feedback

Got any feedback or ideas for our future fun days which will be in Doncaster next year? If so, drop us an email at rdash.rdashcommunications@nhs.net.

Our Shining Stars

Our first Shining Star Award winners have received their accolades.

Three times a year, our Shining Star Awards are chosen by our Chair Kathryn Lavery, on behalf of the wider board, from all the colleagues who have received awards in any of our six groups, including care and backbone services. Kathryn goes through all the entries looking for evidence of living our values. She then decides on the best of the best, with one winning person or team for each of our six values.

August’s award winners were:

The team received fantastic praise on Care Opinion from the family of a former patient, saying that they;

“Had never met a more caring, dedicated, professional, and supportive team. You made a world of difference to my brother, mother and me, and restored our faith in mental health services. You believed my brother was worth the effort and has left him feeling respected, seen and heard, something he hasn’t felt before.”

Matthew’s enthusiasm, dedication, inspiring curiosity for learning and genuine care for patients has made him a valuable asset to the team. Positive patient feedback is a testament to the impact he has made in such a short time.

A general nurse by profession, Faith has embraced every opportunity to learn, develop and flourish. She is growing from strength to strength, and her knowledge and skills in learning disability nursing are really beginning to show through and shine.

They received this award for going above and beyond in providing a consistent service to both patients and staff. Always willing to help and travel across locations to keep areas covered. This has not gone unnoticed, and domestic services has received thank you messages for their support, hard work and making a clear difference in cleanliness standards.

Each winner was visited by Kathryn in their workplaces and presented with a hamper, certificate and trophy to celebrate their contributions to the trust.

We have another three Shining Stars yet to receive their awards. Look out on social media and the next edition of Trust Matters for them. They are:

We will have more Shining Stars in the October edition.

Have you a colleague you want to enter for a care or backbone group award? Simply go to our staff portal, look for questionnaires, look for the category in the drop-down box and get your entry in.

Not sure where to look? Call the Communications team on 03000 212 100.

Déjà flu 3000 again

It’s déjà flu 3000 again, as we gear up for our staff flu vaccination campaign. Launching on Monday 22 September, this season’s campaign is being supported by two well-known personalities in the field of cricket and football.

So, let’s knock flu for six by the end of the Ashes. And play the game and protect your squad from flu. All will be revealed soon.

Over the coming weeks and throughout our campaign we will be sharing heartfelt stories from our colleagues who have experienced the impact that flu has had on their loved ones. Please remember that flu is not a just a cold. It is a very serious virus which can cause complications for your vulnerable family members and loved ones. Protect those around you by having your flu vaccine. It really is the best defence we have.

Steve Forsyth, Chief Nurse, said:

“A massive thank you to everyone who took up the offer of their flu vaccine last year. Together with your support again, I know we can reduce the impact of flu on you, our patients, your families and our communities.

“You can have flu without any signs or symptoms and unwittingly pass it on to those you meet. Please get your flu vaccine when offered. It will go a long way towards protecting you, your loved ones and vulnerable family members and from a very serious virus.”

Who is eligible for flu vaccine at our trust?

All trust colleagues, students, bank staff and volunteers will be eligible to have their flu vaccine here at the trust. Our aim is to ensure that all colleagues with direct patient contact take up the offer of the flu vaccine.

Ways to get your flu vaccine

Staff portal

You can book via the Staff Portal on the intranet (we will let you know when you can do this via the app and intranet news). We know that not all of you are able to get onto the Staff Portal, especially colleagues who work in estates and facilities, so planned clinic sessions will be shared with your line managers who will then let you know.

Roving vaccinators

To make it easy to get your flu vaccine, there will be roving flu vaccinators going into services, work bases, and attending trust meetings.

Attending your flu vaccination

Make sure your upper arm is exposed or easily accessible. Avoid wearing long sleeved garments or tight sleeves that cannot be rolled to the top of your arm as there are no private areas in which to partially undress in these locations.

If you have your flu vaccine elsewhere, please tell us

If you have your flu vaccine at your GP, a pharmacy or a previous employer then please tell us so that we have a record of colleagues who are vaccinated. You will be able to record this on the Staff Portal (when it goes live). If you have a health condition and are eligible for a free flu jab from your GP, you should have this because you are more at risk of becoming seriously ill with flu.

Frequently asked questions

Am I eligible for the free vaccination?

Yes, all trust colleagues including bank staff, students and volunteers are eligible to receive a free flu vaccination. All colleagues and students on placements in the trust who want to receive a flu vaccination should be able to have it. Ideally, we need a mentor or colleague from their placement area to verify they are with the trust during the campaign.

I had the flu vaccine last year. Do I need it again?

Yes, it is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu before. Immunity fades over time and flu viruses change each year. The vaccine gives you extra protection to that gained from previous infections.

Can the flu vaccine cause flu?

There are several types of injected flu vaccine. None of them contain live viruses so they cannot give you flu. Some people may experience some mild and short-lived side effects.

I am pregnant or breastfeeding, should I get the flu vaccine?

Yes, you should have the flu vaccine to protect your baby and you. Flu can be serious during pregnancy for both mum and baby increasing the chances of pregnant women and their babies needing intensive care. It can be serious for unborn and newborn babies and can lead to premature birth, low birth weight, stillborn or death in the first weeks of life. Pregnant women also have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, especially in the later stages of pregnancy. Women who have had the flu vaccine while pregnant also pass on some protection to their babies, protecting them in their first few months of life.

Is the flu vaccine safe and effective?

The flu vaccine has a good safety and effectiveness record. It can provide protection to those who are most likely to become seriously ill from flu and help reduce the spread of flu in the population.

Volunteering with us

Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet people, get yourself noticed and get onto the career ladder.

Wherever volunteering takes you, one thing is for sure, you won’t look back. It has never been so easy to volunteer in the NHS and there are many different roles and places to volunteer here at our trust.

In this edition, we have included James who shares his volunteer story:

I’m James and I’m the Patient, Carer, and Communities Volunteer in the Patient Safety, Carer and Communities team.

I have been volunteering in the trust for about 2 years, initially as a patient safety partner and then in my current role.

I volunteer alongside studying for a Master of Public Health at the University of Manchester where I have specialised in epidemiology and health data science. I am fascinated by data, in particular how we can leverage huge amounts of data to improve patient care and experience through machine learning and artificial intelligence. I fear I have done a poor job at disguising my geekiness and so I will acknowledge it with pride. In fact, I can barely contain Star Trek references, but I will spare you from that for now.

At present, I am part of the ongoing membership deal project, and I produced a report on the views of currently active members on incentives, barriers, and the future direction of membership. Most recently, I’ve been involved in the Radar system rollout, assisting in adding staff to the database and ensuring the correct permissions are applied so that all features are functional. Wherever possible, I point things out from a neurodiversity perspective, as this is a perspective which is not always heard or seen.

How I’ve found the experience

I’ve greatly enjoyed my experience at the trust. It has helped me develop my self-confidence and social interaction skills, neither of which come naturally to me. As an autistic person, social interaction is not always easy, but I’ve been able to develop new social connections with some very kind and supportive people in a safe environment. In fact, I am part of regular team meetings, half day learning, and other projects in the trust. I also recently sat on an interview panel. This was a new experience for me. I appreciated that my views on the trust were taken on board. It’s also a valuable experience for when I go in for interviews.

Going forward, I’m looking to do work through NHS Professionals and after finishing my postgraduate degree, I’d like to work in the NHS in a data scientist analyst capacity.

Contact the volunteer team

If you want to find out more about having a volunteer in your team or know someone who is thinking of volunteering, then please contact the Volunteer team on:

• Phone: 03000 214 427
• Email: rdash.volunteers@nhs.net

Proof we’re committed to the real living wage

You may have heard at our annual members’ meeting or can read about in Toby’s last word in Trust Matters that we are now a Living Wage employer. We meet Promise 25.

Our living wage commitment sees our lowest paid colleagues receive a minimum hourly wage of £12, significantly higher than the government minimum for people aged over 21, which currently stands at £11.44 per hour.

The real living wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum. Since 2011 the living wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 460,000 people and put £3,000,000,000 extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

Toby Lewis, our Chief Executive, said:

“This step reflects something we should all be proud of within Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH). No-one working for the NHS should take home a wage which does meet life’s essentials, and the Real Living Wage best reflects that. Accreditation demonstrates our long-term commitment to meeting that standards, not only paying people what is needed but also making sure we only buy from companies able to make the same pledge.”

Katherine Chapman, Director, Living Wage Foundation said:

“We’re delighted that RDASH has joined the movement of over 14,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on.

“They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays, Everton Football Club and many more. These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they, like RDaSH, believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay.”

New translation and interpretation service starts 2 September

We have worked with other trusts to commission translation and interpretation services, and it was agreed that an organisation called Language Empire will provide these services.

Language Empire specialise in providing face-to-face interpreting, remote interpreting, document translation, and localisation services across. They work in various sectors, including healthcare, legal, education, and government.

For interpreting, depending upon the person’s need this will be provided via telephone, video, or in person. Our services will be able to book using a unique code or login, with training on how to do so being provided.

We care into the future

Colleagues were flying the allied health professionals’ flag at the “We care into the future” careers event this July.

Held at The Dome on 4 July, the event attracted hundreds of students from across the borough to find out about the range of NHS careers to choose from.

Our podiatry foot protection service, dietetics, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy were present on the day to talk to the students and encourage them to consider a health professional career.

The day provided local students with a realistic understanding of the rewards and challenges of working in the health and social care field, the qualifications needed for specialist roles in the health service. Organised by Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals the event has been running for a couple of years and informed thousands of children about the many diverse roles available within the health and social care sector.

Here are some of the comments from the students:

“It’s fascinating to hear how professionals chose their career pathway, often inspired by a chance contact such as this.”

“Going along with grandma to her foot health appointment as a young 8-year-old and the podiatrist letting them pass the instruments needed to carry out the care.”

“Having an ingrown toenail treated at the age of 16, liked the idea of instantly making people better.”

“Had a sports injury at age 14, visited a podiatrist who sorted the issue out quickly with a combination of exercises and insoles, was curious how these random things in my shoes could mean I could go back to playing my sport without pain and wanted to know how and why.”

“My parents neighbour who was a podiatrist working in the NHS planted the seed in my head about becoming a podiatrist at the age of 15 years old. I checked out other roles too but loved the autonomy of being able to diagnose, treat, advise and empower patients to care for themselves safely.”

The event helped to inspire our young people to meet the challenges the NHS will continue to face well into the future.

North Lincolnshire news

Scunthorpe Pride

It was a great turn out for Scunthorpe Pride, the sun shone and the crowds followed.

From drag acts to cheerleaders, everyone attending had a great time.

And our colleagues were there representing the trust, mainly for our charity Your Hearts and Minds, Talking Therapies and With Me In Mind, our children’s service which supports school aged children with their mental health, spreading the message of our services and the support we can give.

Here’s a selection of photos from the day.

Money and debt advice for our patients

One of our strategic promises focuses on poverty proofing to help those who are less well-off when they access our services.

We know that money issues and debt can affect people’s mental health and their ability to access our services. We also know that our own colleagues may experience challenges with money and debt too.

As part of promise 6, we have made money and debt advice part of our patient pathway. This means that that anyone who uses our services or is employed by the trust can access their local Citizens Advice by direct referrals by our staff.

The Citizens Advice organisations in North Lincolnshire, Doncaster and Rotherham are also providing dedicated time at our trust, including appointments on sites across the trust.

In the 3 months since working with Citizens Advice 74 people have been supported, benefitting from a collective rise in income of over £94,000.

Here in this edition is a first in a series of stories about how people have been supported by Citizens Advice (names have been changed to protect their identity).

Case study

Bob, a 25-year-old white British male, was referred to Citizens Advice North Lincolnshire (CANL) by our talking therapies service. Bob was living with complex and ongoing mental health challenges, which had significantly affected his ability to maintain employment and led to unstable income and growing debts.

Over several appointments with CANL, Bob received comprehensive support, starting with a full benefits check which found that he could be entitled to:

• Universal Credit (UC)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Council Tax Support (CTS)
• Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
• Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA).

With guidance from the advisor, he successfully submitted claims for all the above. His projected annual income, based on successful claims, is about £19,082.20. While decisions on PIP and LCWRA are still pending (with an expected processing time of 4 to 6 months due to Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) backlogs), securing UC and other support has already started to stabilise his financial situation.

Bob also received energy advice and was issued fuel vouchers worth £30 per meter, helping him stay on top of essential utility costs during a difficult period. In parallel, Bob is now being supported by the CANL Debt Advice team to begin addressing and resolving his outstanding debts.

Bob told us that he felt supported and listened to throughout the process. While his mental health continues to fluctuate, he shared that he feels there has been real progress. He is thankful for the service and the support provided.

Meet Shaz from North Lincolnshire Citizens Advice

My name is Shaz. I’m 32 years old and of South Asian background. I’ve been part of Citizens Advice North Lincolnshire for over 11 years and currently work as a full-time senior advisor and part-time supervisor. I support clients across a wide range of issues including debt, money, benefits, housing, employment, and consumer matters. My role involves carrying out benefit checks, helping to maximise income, completing applications, and supporting clients through appeals. I also respond to a variety of other client enquiries and hand many of the day-to-day responsibilities that come with a busy advice service.

I am fluent in Bengali and being able to speak in other languages such as Urdu, and Punjabi. I’m passionate about making advice accessible to everyone in our diverse community. I find working in this environment incredibly rewarding. The organisation’s values of fairness, inclusion, and empowerment truly resonate with me. Known for being approachable, friendly, and a team player, I always aim to create a welcoming and supportive space for both clients and colleagues.

Citizens Advice sessions and information for colleagues

During 2025 and 2026, Citizens Advice is also holding money and debt sessions for our colleagues as part of the learning half days. This will cover things such as key benefits, eligibility and how to access for patients, for example pensioner credits and universal credits. Keep checking the app and intranet for more details.

How to refer a patient to Citizens Advice

When you speak to a patient or carer, for example at referral stage, assessment, review of appointment or care, discharge planning as part of the multi-disciplinary team you need to see if they have any household money or debt problems. If they have, you can refer the person to North Lincolnshire Citizens Advice directly.

This will then be followed up direct with the person, or with someone else where this is requested. You will need to record in the patient’s record that a referral has been made and ask how this has gone in any follow-up appointment. Please make sure you have the person’s consent for sharing their information, and record this on their patient record (see below where to record).

Where to record on SystmOne

• Generic Information template. This is available trust wide, which can be found within the red triangle, patients’ details, please see below.
• Mental Health Assessment template. This can be found in the Personalised Care Launch Pad (orange triangle), under DIALOG+ section, within the “RDaSH Mental Health Assessment and Review”, under financial Situation, please see below.

Patients in Rotherham and Doncaster can also be referred directly to Citizens Advice via the following links:

• Doncaster Citizens Advice
• Rotherham Citizens Advice

Remember this service is also available for all trust colleagues. You can make a self-referral or be referred by your manager using the same links as above.

To know more about this work, please contact Ray Hennessy via email ray.hennessy@nhs.net.

10-year health plan launched

In July, the Department of Health And Social Care launched its plan for the longer-term future of the NHS. An implementation plan will be published later in 2025. Work to redesign Social Care is awaited, linked to the latest review of the future led by Dame Louise Casey.

The basics of the plan are organised around 3 shifts in delivery, which reflect the report last year by Lord Ara Darzi. Those shifts are:

• from hospital to community,
• from analogue to digital
• from treatment to prevention

You can read the plan on the Government’s website.

Supporting the launch, the NHS Chief Executive, Sir Jim Mackey, has written an open letter to all NHS staff which can be read on our intranet by searching NHS 10-year plan staff letter.

You can also watch a video called We’re making the NHS fit for the future.

You may have already seen that the plan covers initiatives including bringing services closer to communities, neighbourhood working, more digital innovation, prevention of illnesses and most importantly how we listen to the voice of our communities. These are all elements that you, our colleagues, are already working on as these areas and many more are in our trust strategy and the 28 Promises made to the communities we serve.

Toby Lewis, our Chief Executive, explained that the clinical leadership executive, and the board of directors, will take some time before October to explore the actions outlined in the plan. He emphasised the congruence of the plan with our 2023 to 2028 strategy.

Toby said:

“The devil will be in the detail of implementation. It is exciting, I think, to see a transition to very local neighbourhoods put at the heart of a plan that aims to tackle inequalities. But let’s work through how money will follow this plan and think through how we adapt our work in a way that is clinically relevant and meaningful, what we must not do is simply label everything as neighbourhood health and not adjust.

“The plan is intended to mark a departure from a centralising top-down NHS. Locally, we need to work with patients and with partners, perhaps especially in primary care, to make the changes this plan supports. It is a direction of travel, a compass, not a to-do list, and we need to be imaginative in bringing the best of the NHS to life round here.”

Celebrating a thousand stories

We started rolling out Care Opinion across our trust as our main way of seeking feedback from patients and carers in May 2024.

Gaining meaningful feedback is an important way to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our patients and carers. It also supports us to identify and spread good practice and more importantly learn from our mistakes.

We are celebrating receiving over a thousand stories from patients and carers through Care Opinion. In addition, those stories have been read over 50,000 times and have led to a number of changes in our services.

We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has shared their feedback. Also thank you to our teams that have embraced Care Opinion, responding to every story with prompt and compassionate feedback.

We still have some services where more stories and feedback are needed from patients and carers, and we are working towards improving this.

A new service has been launched which offers urgent mental health support by text message to people in South Yorkshire

The service, a partnership between NHS South Yorkshire and innovative digital service Shout, which is powered by the charity Mental Health Innovations, offers free, confidential, 24 hour 7 days a week text support for anyone struggling to cope.

Anyone in the area experiencing anxiety, stress, loneliness, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health challenges can use the service by texting the word “EYUP” to 85258 at any time of day or night.

The text service is designed to provide anonymous support for people who need urgent mental health assistance. The service ensures patients can access help, day or night, without having to wait to speak to someone face to face or on the telephone. As well as providing support to members of the public, it also helps ease pressures on mental health services.

Simply start a conversation:

1. text the word “EYUP” to 85258
2. you’ll receive four automated messages before being connected to one of Shout’s qualified mental health professionals
3. once connected, the mental health professional will listen empathetically, provide support and signpost to local services where appropriate

The Shout service is free, anonymous, and does not appear on phone bills. Users do not need to register, download an app, or use mobile data.

Apprenticeships helping you take the next steps

As an organisation we know how apprenticeships support people and teams to develop.

Creating opportunities and encouraging people from all walks of life to take up an apprenticeship with us is the focus of promise 9.

If you are thinking about learning a new skill, then an apprenticeship could be the way to help you achieve it.

Here are some of our colleagues who have gained success from being an apprentice:

Award for apprentice

Congratulations to Sarah Reeder, Trainee Clinical Associate Psychologist, who has scooped the Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year award in the East Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards.

The role of clinical associate psychologist (CAP) fills a gap in skillset between assistant psychologists and Health and Care Professions Council registered practitioner psychologists and provides greater access to psychologically informed mental health and wellbeing services.

Sarah’s role as a clinical associate psychologist supports the delivery of neurodevelopmental diagnostic assessments for children and young people up to the age of 18 years old. Her role provides much needed therapeutic intervention for young people who have been diagnosed as autistic and or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

If you are interested to know more about the various psychological professional apprenticeship pathways, please contact rdash.apprenticeships@nhs.net.

My journey, apprenticeships, and why learning never stops

Hi, I’m Morag and if you’ve heard me say: “If you need help, I’ll sort it,” you already know a bit about me.

I’ve worked in the NHS for 36 years, but my journey started at 13 when I told my parents I wanted to support people with learning disabilities, despite never having met anyone with a disability. They laughed but signed me up to volunteer at a local care home. From then on, my path was set.

As a teenager, I was already involved in the Red Cross Lynx, volunteering at camps, and gaining hands-on experience. I left school at 16, spent time in a canning factory lab, then trained the traditional nursing way, full time on wards, without a diploma or degree. I qualified at 20, became a senior staff nurse in Leeds, and eventually moved to Doncaster where I’ve now lived for nearly 30 years.

I joined Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) in 2002 as a senior charge nurse in learning disability services. On day one, I discovered we had a gym and trained in fitness, so clients could use it safely. That’s how I’ve always worked, spot a gap, learn what’s needed and fill it.

I did a level 4 in management course, then a level 5 apprenticeship in operations management. It wasn’t easy, I studied during COVID, but I passed with distinction. In 2021, I was declined access to a professional nurse advocacy course because I lacked a degree. That made me determined, so in 2023 I enrolled in a level 6-degree apprenticeship in health and social care management, alongside the Mary Seacole programme and chartered manager status. It was hard with full-time work, study, and compressed hours but with support from colleagues and my team in the Diamond Activity and Therapeutic Service, I passed my end point assessment with distinction.

At 53, I graduated in July. Not bad for a “traditional” nurse. Outside work, I volunteer at the South Yorkshire Air Museum, play bass in Dodworth Colliery Brass Band, make cakes and jams and co-run a cancer support group. Life’s busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. If you think apprenticeships aren’t for you, that you’re too old, too busy, too anything then think again.

Places are available on the next intake of leadership apprenticeships please contact rdash.apprenticeships@nhs.net to register your interest.

Celebrating nursing associates and apprenticeships

One of our nursing associates Rachel Atkinson shares her apprenticeship journey and the value that apprenticeships and partner working bring.

Rachel who currently works in the continuous service improvement team in Rotherham started in the trust in 2020 and did her apprenticeship together with the trust and the University of Sheffield. On graduating she moved into learning and development overseeing the student nursing associates and supporting them through their apprenticeship.

Although not able to directly supervise the students after 15-months due to being on a fixed term she kept in touch. She supported them by answering questions or just be there for pastoral support which helped so many of them.

Rachel was invited by The University of Sheffield after working with them as a partnership (firstly with the trust and then during a secondment with NHS England) to attend the newly qualified nursing associates’ graduation ceremony.

Rachel said:

“Essentially, I watched the nursing associates start, progress, struggle, progress again and then finish. It was an amazing event, and I am very proud of every one of them. The look on their faces when they saw me standing there was the best feeling. It just goes to show that the relationships built with external partners during these times are so beneficial.”

Discover your next step: fully funded apprenticeships at the trust

Want to grow your career, learn new skills?

Our fully funded apprenticeships give you the chance to do just that. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, leadership, sustainability, data, IT, or another area, there’s something for all roles starting from entry level to master’s level qualifications.

Worried about not having Maths or English qualifications? Don’t be. National rules have recently changed, and there’s now greater flexibility. If you’ve completed higher-level qualifications in the past, lost old certificates, or are applying for a lower-level course, we may still be able to support your application. In many cases, you can complete functional skills in maths and English alongside your apprenticeship, after your apprenticeships or in some case have exemption (where the provider allows).

So, if you’ve been putting it off, now’s the time to take another look.

To explore the full list of apprenticeship opportunities or chat about what might be right for you, contact Jade or Liam at rdash.apprenticeships@nhs.net.

Important: changes to master’s level apprenticeships

From January 2026, the government is making changes to apprenticeship funding. After this date, we’ll only be able to fund level 7 (master’s level) apprenticeships for people aged 21 and under.

If you’re aged 22 or over and thinking about a fully funded master’s qualification through the apprenticeship levy, you’ll need to start your course before January 2026 to be eligible.

Don’t miss out, talk to Jade or Liam as soon as possible to make sure you are enrolled in time on email rdash.apprenticeships@nhs.net.

New names for our wards

We are renaming 2 of our wards.

Glade and The Brambles at The Woodlands in Rotherham will merge and be called The Willows, while the former Coral Lodge in Doncaster will be known as Phoenix.

Our visiting times are changing from 1 September

Visitors will be able to call to see loved ones and friends who are being cared for on our wards from:

• 10am to midday
• 1pm to 5pm
• 6pm to 9pm

If a carer or family member would like to come in and support their loved one at mealtimes, please talk to the nurse in charge.

Calling all colleagues, logged into Radar yet?

Please make sure you have logged in to Radar so that you are set up and ready to record incidents and other events when they occur.

You will need to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) the first time that you log into Radar. The guide on the intranet provides step-by-step instructions to support you with this.

If you need any support logging in, please speak to your manager in the first instance or contact information technology (IT) support.

Once you have logged in to Radar, please contact rdash.radar@nhs.net if you need any support with your profile or access to specific modules.

Retirement of Father Andy

Earlier this month a much respected member of the Spiritual Care team, Father Andy retired.

Friends and colleagues from across the trust gathered to wish him well in his retirement. Father Andy first started working in the NHS since 1988, and then with the trust from 1997. It is amazing how many people’s lives have been touched throughout his years working in the NHS, and he is still recognised wherever he goes.

Here are some reflections from Father Andy:

“I have met many wonderful people over the years, some still with us and some not. I thank them all for their love, support, and friendship.

“We have been innovative in finding ways of delivering spiritual and religious care to all.

“One of my greatest achievements was my special interest in staff development.

“I initiated the self-awareness course for staff where they could engage in a residential experience of self-discovery. From 2000 to 2010 there have been over 400 members of staff who have benefited from this experience, and I was proud to receive the Chairman’s award in 2006 for this work.

“A special place for me was the hospice, and it is the happiest place I have worked in. Not long ago, a patient said to me: ‘I have never heard a patient who is dying say, I wish I had spent more time in the office.’

“This echoes my belief that life should be lived in the present because that is all that we have got.

“I am sad to leave the trust after all the years, but I have my parish at Dinnington where I will continue to serve the good people of St Joseph’s.

“May God bless you all, thank you for all of your cards, gifts and best wishes.”

June Rutherford, Chaplain, said:

“Father Andy has taught me many things about human nature and helped me to make sense of situations when I thought there was no sense there.

“His philosophy that we are all equal works perfectly; he also taught me the circle mentality by which our team works. Anyone can join a circle, it is much more difficult to find where to stand in a line. He will be sadly missed in our team, but the words of wisdom will stay with us.”

Nutritional screening a ‘MUST’

Around 1,300,000 people in the UK over the age of 65 are malnourished, and over 90% are living in our communities. Malnutrition screening is essential.

National guidance tells us all patients should be screened for risk of malnutrition on admission or at their first appointment, (National Institute of Clinical Excellence clinical guidance 32 (CG32) and quality standard 24 (QS24)).

To support trust wide screening, the malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) SystmOne template has been updated.

The new and improved layout on one page is designed to help colleagues to fully complete the screening tool, from step 1, body mass index calculation, through to step 5, nutrition action plan.

For patients too unwell to be weighed, a new score box has been added page 3 MUST weight taking options to help you identify the appropriate nutrition action plan.

The Dietetic team offer regular MUST training for both inpatient and community colleagues. This can be booked directly through the Learning and Development team. Bespoke training for teams is also available on request.

Rotherham news

Successful community clozapine pilot

Colleagues in our Home Treatment team in Rotherham have successfully piloted a new way to treat and care for patients who are prescribed clozapine.

The community clozapine titration pilot has helped its first patient to stay at home without the need to be admitted to hospital.

Clozapine can cause side effects which need close monitoring. Until recently, this would have meant a person being admitted to hospital. The pilot has ensured that the patient was fully supported and monitored throughout the clozapine administered in the community.

The success of this pilot means that more patients can benefit from receiving this personalised medication to keep their symptoms under control in the community, close to their homes.

The pilot was managed by Jack Rowley, Home Liaison Treatment team manager, and Emma Atherton, Quality Improvement Lead.

Jack Rowley said:

“We are very pleased with the successful outcome of this pilot. People prescribed clozapine need structured monitoring to ensure that their dosage is tailored to the correct amount to effectively manage their symptoms. This is usually done in a hospital setting, but the team has managed to deliver this in the community closer to the patient’s home. In facilitating the titration between The Woodlands and the patient’s home it allowed for family to be present throughout the entirety of the titration.”

Emma Atherton said:

“We are always looking at new ways to improve the quality of care for our patients. This is a great example of what can be achieved to provide patients safe and effective care, considering least-restrictive practice.”

Feedback from the patient

The staff have made sure I was always comfortable and informed. Jack and Emma were excellent in their work and very professional, and very good company on the days I had to be at the hospital. Providing transport for me to get to and from the hospital made it less stressful for me. The home visits were very good, always on time and very friendly, which also put me at ease. Overall, the experience was 100% better than having to be admitted to hospital for the treatment, the only bag thing about it all is that it has come to an end.

Based on the success of this pilot, a business case is being put together for see if this could become an established service in Rotherham.

Skills Street visit

Our Chair Kathryn Lavery has been to visit the new Rotherham-based immersive learning destination, called Skills Street, to see how young people can find out about careers in the NHS.

The new Skills Street experience, located at Gulliver’s Valley theme park, has opened its doors and has already welcomed more than 600 school-aged visitors.

Skills Street community interest company (CIC) is a new education and training environment designed to revolutionise how young people engage with careers and skills development, including with our trust.

Rachel Atkinson, a project officer in our Rotherham Care Group, has been responsible for our trust’s input into this exciting project and the NHS area covers a GP consultation room, different uniforms of the NHS professions, a Yorkshire Ambulance Service Land Rover, ambulance, and blood bank motorbike, there’s a mocked-up emergency room, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) dummies and so much more.

Kathryn said:

“I went to see how Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust is involved. There’s an amazing health room, created jointly by us and the Rotherham Foundation Trust. I want to thank Rachel for her incredibly hard work in making this part of the project happen. It’s a great way of young people finding out about health careers, which are so varied and offer great opportunities for career progression. It’s such a brilliant facility to have on our doorstep in Rotherham to help young people make career choices.”

Besides health, among the highlights is a newly launched “FlyMe@Skills” Street aviation experience, which offers students and visitors a full airport simulation from check-in to boarding a real Boeing 737 fuselage and flying an industry-standard simulator. Visitors can also explore historic Rolls-Royce and Vulcan aircraft engines and learn about careers in aviation, engineering, travel, and tourism. Skills Street is part of a wider £20,000,000 investment by Rotherham Council to boost skills and leisure opportunities in the region. Anyone wanting more information about Skills Street should contact:

• Phone: 07301 215 566
• Email: info@skills-street.co.uk

Trust wide news

New electric vehicle chargers funding awarded

The Department for Transport and the Department for Health and Social Care have given us a share of the NHS Chargepoint Accelerator scheme.

The whole scheme is an investment of £8,000,000 from Office for Zero Emission Vehicles for the installation of on-site electric vehicle charge points to support electrification of the NHS fleet.

As part of this, we have been awarded £33,340 to install additional electrical vehicle charge points at our trust.

Investing in electrical charge points will deliver reductions in fuel and maintenance costs that can be redirected into front line care. This investment will deliver savings of £130,000,000 for the NHS over the next 25 years, with an estimated average return on investment in just four years. The wider social benefits from reduce emissions and improved air quality are valued at a further £93,000,000.

Jo McDonough, Director of Strategic Development, who leads our Green Plan work at the trust, said:

“This funding is very welcome. It means we can increase the number of charging points at our trust, meaning we can be greener and help to protect our environment and save more money to invest into patient care.”

Praise at quality improvement webinar

Two of our colleagues received praise for their work to improve patient experience and prevent the use of restrictive practice in our trust at a regional quality improvement webinar hosted by NHS England.

Rachel Millard, Interim Director of Nursing Backbone Services, and Chris Pym, Matron Practice Development Reducing Restrictive Interventions, were personally thanked by James McLean MBE, Regional Chief Nurse for the North West and senior responsible officer for the Enhanced Therapeutic Observations and Care Programme.

In a letter to both James said:

“Your enthusiasm for improving patient experience within your trust was visible throughout. A particular highlight was hearing how you have developed and championed positive behaviour support. It is clear you are putting the patient at the heart of all the improvement work you are doing.”

If you want to find out more this improvement work, please contact:

• Email Rachel: rachel.millard7@nhs.net
• Email Chris: chris.pym@nhs.net

Recovery Games at the beach

Join the fun or volunteer

This exciting community event recognises the achievements of people in recovery while highlighting the support Aspire drug and alcohol service provides to families and individuals.

This year’s theme is “At the Beach”, so bring your family and enjoy a packed day of fun. Activities include circus skills, an inflatable play park, treasure hunts and live music. Meet the Star Wars cosplay troupe Mos Eisley Misfits and cheer on the teams competing in giant inflatable obstacle courses on land and water. Don’t miss the Recovery Games challenges and the colourful festival finale!

Live music and DJ sets from:

• SlipMatt, Godfather of Rave
• Karen Parry, Voice of clubland anthem “Shooting Stars”
• Drywave

We are also recruiting volunteers to help make the event a success. Volunteers will:

• welcome and direct participants
• assist with setup and logistics
• support activities and help create a positive atmosphere

Flexible scheduling is available, and no experience is needed, just enthusiasm! The trust and The Alcohol and Drug service colleagues will receive a day off in lieu.  Please sign up by 5 September 2025.

For information, contact Neil Firbank at:

• Phone: 07833 401 035
• Email: neil.firbank@nhs.net

Event organiser Neil Firbank said:

“The Recovery Games is very much a family fun day. These games celebrate that recovery is possible with the right support in place.”

Tim Young, Chief Executive of the Alcohol and Drug Service, added:

“The Games remind us of the positive change recovery brings, not just or individuals but for families and communities.”

Learn more about the Recovery Games.

Doncaster news

Naloxone successfully administered to a person suffering a drug overdose in Doncaster

Naloxone, a life-saving nasal spray, was administered by a sergeant to a person suffering a drug overdose.

After a man presented at Doncaster’s College Road Police Station to report a crime, he suddenly fell ill and collapsed on the floor. With his condition deteriorating, an urgent call was put out to any officers in the vicinity carrying Naloxone. Doncaster Central Neighbourhood Policing team Sergeant Martin Maw responded to the call, assessed the man and administered one single spray of Naloxone shortly after the other officers had started administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the advice of the ambulance service.

Within a few minutes, the man’s breathing became much deeper, and he became more responsive. No further CPR was required, and the man was conveyed to hospital for further medical assessments.

Rolled out by South Yorkshire Police in December 2024, Naloxone works to reverse the impact of opioids such as heroin, methadone and opium. All police officers and operational staff must complete mandatory training before they are allowed to carry it and the decision to carry it is optional.

Anyone aged over 18 with a drug or alcohol addiction who lives in Doncaster can get help by calling Aspire drug and alcohol service on:

• Phone: 03000 213 900
• Email: rdash.aspirereferrals@nhs.net

Big thank you to Rachel Hodson, volunteer writer, for doing this article.

Join Doncaster’s Big Neighbourhoods conversation

Live in Doncaster and like to share what you think about where you live?

Then take part in the “Big Neighbourhoods Conversation”.

The results of the consultation will feed into a halfway point refresh of Team Doncaster’s 10-year borough strategy Doncaster Delivering Together, Team Doncaster, and decisions about future investment in and around Doncaster’s neighbourhoods.

It also follows hot on the heels of the recent City Centre Conversation which attracted thousands of responses with improvements underway based on what people asked for.

Doncaster’s Big Neighbourhoods Conversation will run until September 14.

You can join the conversation by taking part in the online survey at Doncaster’s Big Neighbourhoods Conversation.

For assistance completing the online conversation you can also visit the Council’s One-Stop Shop, at Civic Building, Waterdale Doncaster, DN1 3BU and speak to the Customer Services team or phone 01302 736 999 and the team can complete the survey with you over the telephone.

Home Educated Health Day

Friday 11 July was Home Educated Health Day. Our Zone 5 to 19 Doncaster children and young people’s health and wellbeing service marked the day by holding an event for home educated families and professionals.

The aim of the event was to provide home educated families with the opportunity to meet with the services, to increase their awareness of the services available to them, and to promote physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

At the heart of Home Educated Health Day is a commitment to breaking down barriers, it is recognised that not all families engage with traditional systems in the same way.

The event created a safe space where everyone felt seen, supported and welcomed, and most importantly the voices of the families, parents and carers and young people were listened to. The event also gave professionals an opportunity to use it as a networking event and to gain awareness of what other services have to offer.

Zone 5 to 19 Doncaster is looking forward to building relationships with home educated communities, and moving forward they are looking to strengthen these connections at future events.

The event was a great success and received lots of positive feedback from the home educated families and the professionals:

“I’m really pleased with this event. It’s been amazing to speak to professionals face to face and to know we don’t have to struggle as we don’t attend a school. Thank you.”

“I’m really pleased with this event. It’s been amazing to speak to professional face to face and to know we don’t have to struggle as we don’t attend a school. Thank you.”

“Very useful, chatted with staff at the different stands and gained some helpful advice and information.”

“Lovely day. Nice to network and talk about what we do and also what I do. Events team was amazing. All the school nurse team were fab and very helpful.”

“Fantastic day. Great information. Got info I didn’t know was available without today. All staff approachable and friendly.”

The pride of Doncaster

Our teams proudly championed equality and inclusion at Doncaster Pride 2025 on 9 August.

Many colleagues took part in the Pride march from Doncaster city centre to Town Fields showing their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Among our services flying the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) flag and offering advice were our NHS Talking Therapies, With Me In Mind children’s school service, Zone 5 to 19 Doncaster health and wellbeing service, Aspire drug and alcohol, and colleagues from our learning disability team.

Roving among the crowds were colleagues from our Your Hearts and Minds charity raising funds for the newly launched Therapy Pool Appeal and for St John’s Hospice.

A big thank you to everyone who came along and chatted to our teams.

Gold award for local health organisation

We are going to be presented with a gold award for our commitment to support armed forces’ veterans, reservists and their families.

We already hold the silver award but have just been judged as reaching the top ‘gold’ standard by the government’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The award is an acknowledgement of our efforts to be a forces-friendly employer.

Chair Kathryn Lavery said:

“This is a great achievement for RDaSH. We have worked incredibly hard and it’s brilliant to get recognised for our efforts. More importantly this highlights that we are forces-friendly, supporting the employment of reservists, armed forces veterans, including the wounded and injured, cadet instructors and military partners. I’d encourage armed forces veterans or those in the process of leaving the armed forces to look at our job opportunities as we strive to do all that we can to positively support transition into civilian roles, recognising the value of their skills and experience to the NHS.”

The government’s Defence Employer Recognition Scheme is supported across the region by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association for Yorkshire and The Humber.

To achieve gold, employers must:

• provide at least 10 days’ additional paid leave for Reservists
• implement human resources policies for veterans and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers
• advocate for defence across their networks and sectors
• demonstrate sustained commitment well beyond the minimum requirements.

Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month

During South Asian Heritage Month in August, we took the opportunity to celebrate our South Asian colleagues.

The theme this year was roots to routes showcasing the stories of resilience, adaptation and triumph that define our vibrant South Asian communities.

Members of our Race, Equality and Cultural Heritage staff network encouraged colleagues to share reflections of their journeys, ancestral origins, the paths they have taken and their experiences which shape their identities today.

There was also a chance to sample some great food with a dedicated South Asian menu in our Food and Drink Café.

In the menu was red lentil dahl with sweet potato and butternut squash, butter chicken, both served with rice and naan bread plus mango cheesecake.

The food proved a big hit with everyone.

Board of directors’ changes this autumn

In October, Izaaz Mohammed, our Director of Finance and Estates, leaves us to take up his new role in Manchester. Izaaz told Trust Matters about his time at the trust and what he will miss.

He said:

“I’m going to miss the kind and talented colleagues that I’ve had the privilege of working with over the past 3 years. I’m proud to have been an RDaSHian and part of an organisation that has delivered promise 25, paying the Real Living Wage, is spending more of the RDaSH money on frontline patient care than it did 3 years ago, and is on track to deliver recurrent financial balance by 2026.

“I’d like to thank colleagues across the trust for the support they’ve shown me during my time at RDaSH, I wish you all the best for the future and hope our paths cross again someday.”

After external recruitment, Simon Sheppard has been selected to replace Izaaz, and he will join us later this year. A profile of Simon will feature in our December Trust Matters.

Carlene Holden has now been confirmed as the trust’s Director of People and Organisational Development. Carlene was selected after an external recruitment process, having acted into the role over the past year. She told us about her plans for the role and her leadership within the trust’s board.

Carlene said:

“I’m delighted to be continuing in the role of Director of People and Organisational Development on a substantive basis. Building on some of the strong work to date, I’m keen that we create environments for our colleagues where all individuals feel valued, empowered and supported to thrive in the trust whilst positively improving patient care.

“We spend a large proportion of our time at work. Focusing on staff development and progression, with the full utilisation of our protected training budget and the apprenticeship levy, to enhance career opportunities or to excel in current roles. All colleagues have a voice within the trust and I’m keen to hear your voice and feedback, together we can achieve more.”

Learn more about our board of directors.

Help with prescription and transport costs

You may be eligible for help with some of the cost incurred towards healthcare.

Find out about when you need to pay, and the help available when someone is on universal credit, NHS Low Income Scheme, and personal health budgets. Help could include travel, prescriptions, and fabric supports.

Learn more about our help with health cost.

Charity news

Therapy pool appeal has launched

We’ve launched a major new fundraising appeal, to totally transform a therapy pool into a fully functional sensory space, helping to boost the health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities and special needs across the region.

The ambitious £250,000 therapy pool appeal was officially launched in June at the Diamond Activity and Therapeutic in Doncaster, as part of Learning Disability Week in partnership with representatives from Choice for All Doncaster (CHaD), who are working in partnership with the charity to co-design the new pool area.

Installed in 1996, the current pool no longer meets the needs of the people it was originally designed for. The new fundraising appeal aims to see a total revamp of the current pool and its surroundings. The pool will be made bigger so that more people will be able to benefit from its water based therapeutic exercises and sensory environment. The changing area will see a total makeover, including facilities which are fully equipped for wheelchair users and those with low mobility.

Jenny Baynham, Fundraising Manager from Your Hearts and Minds charity, said:

“This appeal marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the people of Doncaster and beyond. Every penny raised will go towards supporting those who have a disability and the wider special needs community helping them to enjoy the benefits of water therapy activities, in a safe and welcoming environment.

“A big thank you to Choice for All Doncaster, a local group which supports and speaks up for adults who have a learning disability for helping us in launching our charity appeal.

“They are working with clients and families to ensure the new pool and surroundings will ensure it will meet the needs of people with learning disabilities for the next chapter in its history.”

Morag McKay-Ellison, Team Manager at the Diamond Activity and Therapeutic Services, said:

“Water therapy is a vital part of the treatments we offer. The calming effect of the warm water eases pain, strengthens muscles, improves fitness, and promotes wellbeing. Having a thoroughly modern new pool and enriched sensory environment will greatly help us to provide a wider range of therapeutic support to a larger number of clients, their families and to the wider community.”

Community grants update

In April, we allocated grants worth £77,000 to 30 voluntary community and social enterprises, who are working in collaboration with trust colleagues to support projects across Rotherham, Doncaster and North Lincolnshire, which make a real difference to those in need, and may not benefit from mainstream support.

Each of the projects aligns with our five key charity missions:

• a good start (children and young people)
• our best self (mental wellbeing of patients and staff)
• trust research
• learning and development
• a good death

Here’s a look at how some of them are progressing and how they’re helping people in our local communities…

Raising awareness of grief in North Lincolnshire

A £3,000 Your Hearts and Minds Community Grant is supporting people struggling with grief in North Lincolnshire.

Long waiting lists for bereavement counselling in the area have led people experiencing loss and grief to have increased anxiety and stress, but thanks to our funding, Oatridge Coaching has been able to continue to provide a monthly Grief Café, which was initially piloted in 2024, as well as places on a day-long Grief Awareness course for local people.

We recently visited the Grief Café, which runs on the first Wednesday of every month at Oasis Community Space on Avenue Vivian in Scunthorpe and offers a relaxed, welcoming environment with its own café and library in the heart of the Crosby area of the town. We were welcomed by Grief Coach Jonathan Oatridge and Alistair, who attend the monthly café.

Alistair told us:

“I attended the Grief Awareness Course and started coming to the café after losing my wife last September.

“I’ve found it so helpful to chat with other people, particularly Jonathan, just to understand that what I’m feeling is completely normal, and that there’s no right or wrong way of coping, everyone grieves differently.

“It feels like a safe space to discuss how I’m feeling and I’m able to really open up and be totally honest. It’s helped me more than anyone will ever know and I’m so grateful to Jonathan for the support.”

The café and awareness courses are open to patients, carers, and health staff to increase their confidence and remove some of the barriers in talking about death and dying. They also help people to build greater personal resilience as they support patients and loved ones, as well as providing tools for navigating difficult conversations. Jonathan said:

“For many people death is still a taboo subject they don’t feel comfortable talking openly about.

“When a loved one dies, grief affects the people left behind in many different ways, and at the Grief Café and in the awareness sessions we take the time to talk about what factors might affect the way someone is grieving, and what the process might look like.

“We talk in a group setting about everyone’s individual experiences and share tips and advice on coping, it’s so important to have the opportunity to talk openly, and many people feel a real relief that they’re able to share their feelings with others who are going through similar experiences.”

Grant funded places to the Grief Awareness sessions are available to trust colleagues, patients, peers and carers and full details on the future dates are available on our staff app, or at Oatridge Coaching.

The Grief Café runs on the first Wednesday of each month (although check the website for confirmed dates), from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Oasis Community Space, contact details and a map is available on the Live Well North Lincolnshire.

Children choose kindness and bring happiness in their local community

We’ve also provided £2,520 funding to Lakeside Community Group’s Choose Kindness Art Club, and the scheme is already spreading happiness in the local community, while benefitting children with their emotional health and wellbeing.

The Club supports children aged between five and 12 who are experiencing anxiety by encouraging them to express themselves through arts activities. Meeting on a weekly basis, they explore the theme of “choose kindness” to create small craft items and art projects to share in the local community, to spread some happiness.

While they are crafting, the children are encouraged to express their emotions and thoughts, helping them to develop a sense of self-awareness and self-esteem.

The arts and craft items that are made are already being donated to various community groups, such as local care homes and homeless charities, members of the community who may be socially isolated and vulnerable groups to encourage the children to develop a sense of pride in their local community.

Lakeside Community Group Chair Sally Smith said:

“The Hearts and Minds Community Grant has allowed us to support children to see the value in creating a positive impact in our community, through the Choose Kindness Art Club.

“This has helped to reduce social isolation, create community cohesion and educate our future generations about the difference kindness and inclusion can make.

“We are truly grateful for the funding we received to allow us this opportunity and can already see the impact the club has made on both those children attending and the community they are reaching with their gifts and visits.”

Sally added:

“Recently one of the Art Club members and her mum visited a neighbour in her street with their gift.

“They hadn’t ever spoken before, but the gift was the icebreaker that was needed for them to knock on the neighbour’s door. Since then, they’ve developed a friendship, which is a perfect example of what we’re hoping to achieve.

“Thank you for your support.”

Mentoring young people to achieve their potential

Another community grant is providing funding to continue a mentoring project which provides early intervention to young students in Stainforth and Thorne who are demonstrating signs of anxiety and worry, which is negatively impacting their mental health and school experience.

The mentoring support is provided by charity Worth Unlimited into Long Toft Primary, Holy Family Primary, Kirton Primary, Ash Hill and Trinity Academy, and has been running for three years. After the initial funding from the council ended, the project has been relying on grant funding to continue, and our community grant of £3,000 will pay for 16 young people to receive one-to-one mentoring over 12 sessions lasting 30 minutes over the next 12 months.

We visited Holy Family Primary to talk to Worth Unlimited Mentor Carol Parker-Cowan and school Safeguarding Manager Margery Courtney to hear about how this support is making such a difference there.

Margery said:

“For many families in our local community it’s not been the norm to talk about how they’re feeling.

“Poor behaviour can be a symptom of anxiety in young people, so having the opportunity to intervene at an early stage and refer them to Carol means we can avoid them spiralling into a place whereby they’re unable to function in school or their day-to-day lives.”

She added:

“Giving them access to the mentoring programme means they have time and space to understand what it is that’s affecting their mental health and come up with strategies to help them move forward and flourish.

“I really can’t stress what a difference this mentoring makes, every child who’s taken part has been helped. We’ve seen their confidence and self-esteem increase and even their grades improve.”

Carol has become a well-loved and trusted person by the children, and their families, helping them to talk openly about their anxiety and worries and understand the triggers.

She said:

“Social media, exam stress and even moving from one key stage to the next are just some of the issues that come up in our conversations, so we develop strategies to overcome these.

“We help the young people to develop a good understanding of mental health and that it’s just as important as physical health.

“We work together to recognise that ‘it’s okay to not be okay’, but not for too long, so we create a ‘first aid kit’ they can use when they need it.”

She added:

“We never give up on a young person. If, at the end of the 12 weeks they need more support, we make sure they receive it.

“This funding means we can continue to empower them to achieve their potential.”

Could your pet pooch bring therapy to our patients?

We’re working in partnership with Therapy Dogs Nationwide with our community grants to expand its volunteer base in the trust to enhance patient wellbeing and mental health.

Therapy dog visits provide comfort, companionship, and emotional support to patients, staff, and visitors.

Currently, therapy dog visits in our inpatient settings are limited due to a lack of volunteers. Our goal is to recruit and train 20 new volunteers within 12 months, ensuring regular weekly visits. This initiative will specifically target wards such as intermediate care, hospice, mental health and brain injury units, where therapy dogs can have the most impact.

Do you have a dog with the right temperament, and are you interested in volunteering your time? Please email enquiries@tdn.org.uk.

Diamond Centre Summer Fayre fundraiser

Thanks to everyone who attended our Diamond Summer Fayre in Balby on Saturday 16 August which raised £842 funds for our Therapy Pool Appeal.

Morag McKay-Ellison said:

“We’ve had over 20 stalls with something for everyone, including handmade crafts, plants, books, clothing, food and drink, art and prints, as well as pet products, so thanks to everyone who came and supported us.”

Skydivers raise thousands for our charity

We held our first charity Skydive on Saturday 7 June at Skydive Hibaldstow and we’d like to say a huge thank you to all our fundraisers, who’ve collectively raised £8,441.

The jump was originally planned for 8am, but poor weather saw us sitting around waiting for a break in the rain clouds over the day. Our brave skydivers and their supporters showed great camaraderie, and we are so proud of everything they all achieved.

Fundraising Manager Jenny Baynham said:

“Thank you to everyone for their support.

“Some of our skydivers were diving in memory of a loved one and others were ticking off their bucket list. It was lovely to meet everyone to hear about why they wanted to raise funds for our charity.

“The rain meant that everyone jumped at different times but everyone who took part said they would do it all over again, so we’re so pleased that everyone had an enjoyable experience.”

Read more about some of skydiver’s individual stories on Your Hearts and Minds.

Thanks to our Young Advisory Group

A huge thank you to our Young Advisory Group for arranging a fundraising event on our Doncaster site.

They held a variety of tabletop stalls with lots of handcrafted gifts; we really appreciate the support.

Good luck to our Great North runners

We’d like to wish our 10 charity runners, some of them trust and Aspire colleagues. The very best of luck in this year’s Great North Run on Sunday 7 September. We’ll bring more news on how they did in the next edition of Trust Matters.

Hospice news

Braithwell man takes on 1,000-mile cycle challenge for charity

A huge thank you to Braithwell business owner Jeff Lockhart who took on a monthlong 1,000-mile cycling challenge, raising £2,477.

Jeff, plays a major role in the Braithwell community, running his company Yorkshire Water Features, as well as overseeing the day-to-day running of the Ruddle Centre community hub. So, when friends and colleagues at the centre heard about his mission, they rallied round to give him their support.

Jeff said:

“When I told the team what I was planning, they worked out the distance was roughly the same distance as cycling from Braithwell to Benidorm, so they created posters and Facebook posts to help me with sponsorship.

“Then at the end of the challenge, they organised a Benidorm-themed party, along with a raffle, and a special cake to welcome home on my final ride. So, a huge thank you to Kath Horsfield, Megan Downey, Matt and Evie Fox and everyone at the Ruddle Centre for their amazing support.”

Jeff chose St John’s Hospice, as he helped transform its charity-funded garden in a major revamp, complete with water feature in 2018, and his late mum Anne Evans was President of the Rotary Club of St George’s that same year for the garden furniture.

Jeff added:

“While we were working at St John’s, we saw what a fantastic place it is for patients and families, so we’re so pleased to be able to donate so much money to such an important local cause.”

Summer raffle and coffee morning success

Thank you to everyone who bought and sold tickets and donated prizes in our Summer Raffle. You helped us raise £2,239.

Also, thanks to all the bakers, volunteers, staff, stallholders and helpers who made our summer coffee morning another great success, the total raised on the morning was £1,153. Jeff Lockhart on his final return to the Ruddle Centre after his 1,000-mile cycle challenge.

£2,500 boost from major mobility company

Our hospice charity has been given a £2,500 boost thanks to a community grant from a major mobility company.

The generous funding was granted by Enterprise Mobility after Team Member Shirley Donald, who works in the Business Management team supporting Enterprise Rent-a-Car, nominated St John’s hospice.

Shirley said:

“Enterprise Mobility invites colleagues to nominate local charities which support the communities where team members live and work.

“I nominated St John’s Hospice because I’ve experienced first-hand the wonderful care and support provided there, as they cared for both my father-in-law Roy Donald and best friend Andrea Ashton.”

She added:

“My family does as much as possible to raise funds for the hospice charity to ensure it continues to provide the best possible palliative care and support, not just for the patient, but for the whole family, so I’m very grateful to Enterprise Mobility for granting this funding.”

Students support with artwork project

Students in years 7 to 10 from Sir Thomas Wharton Academy have created over 150 dragonfly designs inspired by the logo for St John’s Hospice, as part of the school’s Character Education Programme and the 10 winning designs will be featured on greetings cards to raise funds for charity.

St John’s Hospice Activities Coordinator Richard Smith said:

“Our dragonfly logo is well-recognised by our local community.

“So, when Miss Gerrard contacted us to discuss ideas for getting the pupils involved, we decided it would be fantastic for them to create designs for a greeting card collection, and we’re delighted with the results!”

Miss Gerrard from Sir Thomas Wharton added:

“This is the second creative challenge we’ve completed for St John’s Hospice.

“Last year students created stories about Hospice mascot John the Bear for young visitors to enjoy.

“This year they have created beautiful artwork over the summer term, and once again we are very proud of the way they have embraced the challenge.”

The 10 winning students visited St John’s Hospice for a thank-you reception to hear how their designs will contribute to its charitable fundraising, and were presented with thank you certificates.

Richard Smith said:

“On behalf of everyone at St John’s Hospice, I’d like to say a massive thank you to Miss Gerrard and all the staff and students, we are very grateful to them for their continued support.”

Thanks to fundraising fishermen from the Cefco Group

A group of 55 fundraising fishermen have raised £1,100 in their annual competition for St John’s Hospice.

The Cefco Group Fishing Competition, which is arranged by Regional Sales Manager Paul Finney, was held this year on Friday 4 July at Lodge Farm Fisheries at Scooby Top in North Nottinghamshire. It’s held in support of NHS and Cancer Support units as well as CEF Cares.

Paul said:

“We’ve been holding our fishing competitions for more than 13 years now.”

“We started donating money to the hospice nine years ago in memory of Divisional Manager Mark Dunning’s father Ron, who spent a week there in 2016, and we’ve raised over £8,000 for the St John’s in that time.”

Paul added:

“Colleagues, friends, and family come from all over the UK, and as far afield as Wales to take part.”

“We always have a great time and there are lots of laughs despite the competition, and my dad ‘Pappa Finney’ always plays a big part on the day.”

This year’s winner was Mark Fox with a catch weighing in at an incredible 170lb.

Mark said:

“Well done and thank you to everyone. We’re grateful to everyone for their support and for all the raffle prizes that help us raise funds throughout the day.”

“This year Wera Tools sponsored the event by paying for the lake for the day as a contribution to the fundraising event.”

St John’s Hospice Fundraiser Tracey Gaughan said:

“Thanks to Paul, Mark, and the Cefco team for their amazing ongoing support for our charity.”

Garden party boosts hospice funds

A dedicated fundraiser has raised a further £420 for Doncaster’s hospice, bringing the total raised to £11,202.

Roger Smith, of Bentley, started fundraising in 2016 after the death of his partner of 10 years, Cheryl, who spent her last days being cared for at St John’s Hospice, Balby.

Roger, who owns local company Fencing 4 U, said:

“The care and compassion Cheryl received was fantastic. I can’t thank or repay the entire St John’s team for what they did for Cheryl and me.”

Over the last 9 years Roger has carried out a sponsored swim, garden parties, Northern Soul nights, raffles, tombola, and supports the hospice in many other ways.

St John’s Hospice Fundraiser Jenny Baynham said:

“We are so grateful for every penny Roger has raised for our hospice. He is such a devoted fundraiser for St John’s and each year he raises amazing amounts for us. Every penny raised for the hospice goes into delivering the best care possible to our patients and their families, at a time when they really need care and support.”

Your right to be heard

This is where you can get in touch about topics of interest, either work related or something else. Here are the latest questions people have sent in.

I work on a reception and need a headset to help me do my job. Unfortunately, we don’t have a budget to buy this item, which costs about £10 to £15. I then see the photos from the free fun day, which must have cost thousands of pounds to put on. Why are we running fun days when we can’t afford cheap basic equipment for frontline staff?

We can afford basic, and other equipment for staff, so this question probably doesn’t arise, but great question though. The fun day is a key part of our wellbeing offer and our community development work. In terms of £15 headsets, reception teams are part of directorates which typically have budgets of about £15,000,000 a year. Worth chatting to your service manager about what can and cannot be spent to help, as essential equipment is something we will always fund.

Izaaz Mohammed, Director of Finance and Estates

Does the new 10-year plan for health in England mean that our strategy will change?

The short answer is no. Not least because our promises on integrated neighbourhood teams, or on community first, are parts of our strategy that are also reflected in the government’s plans. Later this year, the implementation detail behind the 10-year plan will be published. At that point it will be simpler to connect our work with what will happen next year and afterwards to take forward that NHS 10-year plan. We also need to recognise that health is not just the NHS, and so our work to respond to policies like Families First, or to support public health work locally, are also important to delivering our strategy. Toby Lewis, Chief Executive.

Can we improve the signage at the Tickhill Road site because our patients say they keep getting lost and worried about being late for their appointments?

We certainly can. Of course, the Tickhill Road site may change quite a lot over coming years, but that is all the more reason to help people to navigate it as it does. It will also help if we make sure that the locations we quote on our letters and the signage use the same words wherever possible. We will add this ambition to work we are doing to make appointments booking and Do Not Attend rates a priority.

Victoria Takel, Deputy Chief Operating Officer.

The Food and Drink Café on Tickhill Road site now seems to be permanently using disposable knives, forks and containers to serve food to be eaten in instead of plates and proper cutlery. Why is that? From a green perspective it is creating a lot of unnecessary waste.

The Catering team has been working differently over the past months and running without a full complement of staff due to internal change processes in the directorate. This included not having a pot washer for the retail element of the service. We are near the end of this process. Our aim is to be back to business as usual with crockery and cutlery available for customers who dine in by the end of August.

Lisa Grandcourt, Head of Facilities.

Toby’s last word… promises and plans

I was hesitant what to write about this time. Sometimes I meet colleagues who describe how I “only” talk about promises. Others tell me that that focus is important, directional, and inspiring. Both views have validity, I think. I am going to explore that here, and in my video log on Friday 29 August, I will talk to this column in more detail.

This summer tests us on promises. As I outline below, we have our first one delivered. There are more due very, very soon. We have signed a contract now with our host Integrated Care Board (South Yorkshire) which makes those promises not just ours, but theirs too. That’s a big vote of confidence by our commissioners, a brave, transformational, strategic step. At the same time, we have a 10-year plan for the NHS. No plan yet for social care. And the SEND “override” extended. If you do not know what that means, in simple terms it is the cost of meeting genuine need among local kids and some adults continues to be off-balance sheet for this country’s government. A multi-billion-pound issue that many of us see in our daily lives as parents or cousins, in-laws or relatives. There are some issues, I guess, hoving into view that may mean a 10-year plan for the NHS is interim and not final.

But that plan tests us on promises too. Do we weave and bend to the latest directive? Or do we stick to what we agreed with local patients, carers, and communities in 2022 and 2023. The board met in July and the view we took is blunt. It is promises or bust, consistent with the government’s commitment to locally led, neighbourhood health. It is clear every time I listen to new inductees at our week-long induction that it is the clarity and ambition of our promises which draws people into the trust. I was thrilled to see that the latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into the trust speaks to cultural improvement, welcome for the promises, and an improved sense of well-led. In this case in acute mental health services. Many congratulations to our 3 acute directorates.

One down 27 to go

Most Board members spoke at our annual members’ meeting to their pride in us paying decent wages. Not only have we ended the 4-year saga of band 2 and band 3 pay parity, but we have helped 600 or more RDaSHians to be paid what our economy needs, in terms of rent, heat, housing or childcare. Paying the Real Living Wage is one big part of promise 25, with Jill Savoury, Lynne Beedle, Izaaz Mohammed, and others who have worked to shift spend more locally. That work continues and our friends at Rotherham Council will work with us to advance that social value switch, which makes such a difference to local businesses. Investing our apprentice levy with local voluntary sector groups, under promise 9, is another such move.

Next step, promise 3 on volunteers

I devoted a whole column to this here in April. I won’t repeat my point again about why it matters so much. To quote a song lyric, “If you don’t know by now…”. When you read October’s Trust Matters look out for inspiring examples of volunteers changing their own lives, but also for instances of volunteers in services really altering what we do and how we work. Look out for October’s Voice of RDaSH speaking to that too. At this time of writing, we are almost at 300. Our 6 groups are getting on for 50 each, with some catching up to do in 1 or 2 spaces. Volunteering is now on electronic staff record (ESR), that is how official it is, and I want to thank everyone involving in mentoring or supporting a volunteer. I will put a paper to the board of directors in January 2026 about how we might support anyone who works inside RDaSH to devote paid time next year to volunteering in our local community, fingers crossed.

Every day, every night, tackling out of area placements

Promise 19 was not about inappropriate out of area mental health placements. That is “NHS-speak” for looking after people miles away. Instead, it asked us to end completely the provision of care away from our communities, whether for secondary care or for complex care. With the opening of our first High Dependency Unit, Phoenix, at Tickhill Road this October, we are now living that promise, resuscitating good ideas from 2019, that went into the too-difficult box. Alongside the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board funded community rehabilitation team in North Lincolnshire, we want to change the boundary of “what we do”. As a collaborative working across South Yorkshire, and indeed North Lincolnshire, we want to end the tyranny of profit that funds expensive private sector provision for people for months, or years on end, outside our NHS. Huge shout out to Matt Thomas, the Patient Flow team, our care groups, Richard Chillery, and Steve Forsyth, among many others, for their work every week to stop us placing people out of sight, and sometimes, being frank, out of mind.

Four weeks: next year your trust will lead the NHS

It is increasingly clear that we can do this. In 2023 it seemed, well, ridiculous. The NHS struggles to meet the 18-week target I helped draft 20 years ago. The national narrative is of huge waits and disregard for mental health, children’s services, or complex community services like Parkinson’s, falls, or cardiac rehabilitation. But in July 2025, the board considered papers from our 5 care groups which show the April 2026 promise as tantalisingly close. That speaks to work to re-design services. To introduce new disciplines into how we look after every patient sent our way. That duality is the reality of delivery. We need to help clinicians to spend more of every day and every hour on direct patient care. And we need to pay attention to data quality and integrity, to the point where the chief operating officer, or chief executive, are interested in the personal journey of anyone who waits more than 28 days. If that does not speak to a trust focused on equality, quality, and safety, I don’t know what does. So, you can now find our waits on the trust website (thanks Cheryl, thanks Niall). If your neighbour, your colleague, or anyone else feels forgotten, reach out. This wait promise is not about public relations. It is about a genuine sectoral shift. To “punch our weight” in the local care system we have to show that we can meet promises, and that the anxiety, fear, and concern of waiting is something we take every bit as seriously as local cancer services or surgical colleagues. I want to pay tribute to each team leader, service manager, matron, deputy care group director and many others who are literally going line by line through what we do. It is worth it.

I am not ignoring promise 28 on research, promise 24 on education, the Care Opinion movement at promise 4, or our work to poverty proof the whole trust at promise 6. Our promises are about a movement of work, and focus, not a simple programme. The 4 examples above testify to a change in what we now see as the “day job”. I think this year is a tipping point. To be part of this trust you need to accept the reality of these promises, the fear, maybe better trepidation, they create about delivery, and the accountability they establish with local communities. Thank you to so many people for embracing this change.

Page last reviewed: October 28, 2025
Next review due: October 28, 2026

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