Start is an evidence-led arts-based mental health service within
the Trust that enables service users to engage with their own
recovery to acquire skills and outlooks that can help to shape
their future.
The team of artists, an Occupational Therapist, and
a horticulturalist use art and horticultural activity to help
service users to build creative abilities, knowledge, life skills
and transferable skills. The creative programmes at Start are goal
focused, designed to help people reach their potential.
Start has won both regional and international awards for its
service. Most notably, in August 2008 the NHS Institute for
Innovation and Improvement chose Start as one of 10 best practice
examples of innovative work across the NHS in their '10 reasons to
be proud' publication.
The team will soon be launching the Start2 website.
The site is a creative wellbeing tool with a number of
creative courses available to boost wellbeing and broaden
minds.
You can register for updates, try out a sample course and watch
a 2 minute animation on the website at www.start2.co.uk.
Start is a service that puts the service user at the centre of
care, and quality at the heart of that care.
All who use the service are treated as people with unique
potential to be invested in, and, importantly, people of whom
achievement is expected.
A great deal of support is offered so that service users can
succeed in their chosen activities and throughout their time at
Start service users are encouraged to reflect on their progress so
that they can clearly see the skills and gains they are making.
Anyone wishing to be referred to Start should talk to their care
co-ordinator, who can make a referral on their behalf if
appropriate.
Once referred to Start service users will have an initial
interview with an Occupational Therapist at which abilities, needs
and aspirations will be discussed.
If
offered a place at Start, service users will begin with a 12 week
course in one studio, after which there will be a review.
Additional time may be offered based on need and aspiration.
People using Start may attend up to four 12 week rotations in
four studios, punctuated by reviews. They can then negotiate
further time in studios if required.
Service users are encouraged to think, from day one, about
moving on from the service, and Start offers support to people in
finding future opportunities and moving on to them
successfully.
Sessions have strong wellbeing themes and are particularly
focussed on the Five Ways to Wellbeing named in the Foresight
Report (2008). These are Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Notice,
and Give.
Here is what some service users say about
Start:
"The way I benefited [from my Start course] was that I think
I lived up to the challenge so that felt pleasing. I felt different
in myself, after the course, different in a good way. It was
important to me to get out, to go somewhere new. I felt less shut
in."
"Coming to Start has made me more confident to use my hands
to tackle practical jobs in the house that I wouldn't normally take
on."
"Having new ideas is my favourite thing about Start. I like
coming because I get interesting ideas, different to what I
normally have myself. It makes me more understandable in public
life in that I talk more sense - it's a constructive idea that
orders the brain."
"My family think it's important [that I come to Start]. My
confidence is helped as I can say I'm pleased about something I did
at Start to my sister when she phones. It makes her feel more
secure knowing that I do constructive things away from
home."
Start helps people to connect with their own
recovery by enabling them to learn to use their own skills and
strengths to support themselves. The service does this by
giving constructive and engaging training in creative activity
coupled with wellbeing strategies that can be used over and over
again.
What happens when a service user leaves Start is up to them.
Some of those who use the service go on to college or voluntary
work, whilst others leave saying that they simply have more and
better choices in their lives. Because service users set their own
goals, the future is their choice. Start supports service users to
meet those choices and aspirations.
You can read much more about Start at www.startmc.org.uk
Contact details
Telephone: 0161 257 0675 / 0161 257 0696
Fax: 0161 225 9410
Address:
Start (Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust)
High Elms
Upper Park Road
Victoria Park
Manchester
M14 5RU
View Map
Opening hours:
The centre is open Mon-Fri 9-5, and group hours vary according
to each studio.