Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), in collaboration with Southend, Essex and Thurrock health, social care and third sector partners, were shortlisted as finalists at the recent Health Service Journal Awards 2024, presented on 21 November.
They received recognition for their work to transform the Essex Community Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service, in response to the NHS Long Term Plan, and were finalists in the Place-based Partnership & Integrated Care Award category.
The Perinatal Mental Health Service provides community-based treatment and support for mums, mums-to-be and their families. The service is available to women or birthing parents during the perinatal period, which is during pregnancy and up to the baby’s first birthday. When therapeutically appropriate, the team extend their support after the first year.
One colleague said of the team’s achievements: “Looking back on how far we’ve come since developing the service, I am immensely proud of the dedication, passion and hard work demonstrated by our exceptional colleagues and partners.
“Their unwavering commitment to transforming the service has enabled us to deliver the highest standard of care, providing compassionate support to women and birthing parents during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.”
The aim of the transformation was to provide safe and high quality healthcare services across five maternity hospital areas in Essex, while addressing health inequalities.
The transformation, led by EPUT, involved joint working with professionals and those with lived experience, ensuring that the service is patient-led and designed. The team also worked with five maternity units, health visiting services, the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), GPs, Talking Therapies, universities and third-sector organisations.
The service utilises Lived Experience Ambassadors (LEAs) at EPUT for support with service development, as well as interview panel involvement. ‘Hope stories’ written by LEAs are central to recovery and sharing words of encouragement from peers has helped birthing parents with their recovery.
The transformation was supported by Parents 1st, a charity who come together to share what works across the UK during pregnancy, birth and beyond. They provide peer support for birthing parents and their partners and work closely with the clinical service to ensure holistic care is appropriate to families across Essex.
A Lived Experience Ambassador and Perinatal Peer Support Link Worker from Parents 1st said: “It’s an honour to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to the Perinatal Mental Health Service as an LEA, to give something back to the team that supported me in the hardest time of my life.
“As a peer support worker, it is so rewarding to be able to support other mums and walk beside them on their own journey.”
Through receiving peer support, 92% of patients who completed a screening tool demonstrated improvements related to feeling better prepared for labour and birth, many of whom reported feeling more confident about parenting, emotional wellbeing and bonding with their baby, whilst having easier access to services, improved social networks and improved physical health.
As part of the transformation, the capacity of the service has grown to accommodate demand, and it is now one of the largest specialist perinatal mental health community services in the UK.
Health inequalities have been addressed by developing an assisted referral pathway, which allows third sector organisations to advocate for those who may struggle to engage, but would benefit from assessment or support.
Access to psychological therapies has been expanded, with parent-infant support available, as well as a mental health family group conferencing approach.
Essex has a complex health and social care system, with multiple providers and commissioners, as well as geographical and demographical variation in provision. The model of developing team hubs around local maternity services has provided a local focus for inter-organisational relationships and pathways tailored to local need.
There has been a focus on the importance of system working to provide the best care to the birthing parent and infant. A specialist system wide multi-disciplinary team was introduced, as well as a stepped care and therapeutic, trauma informed model, which enables the team to meet people’s needs in a safe, collaborative and compassionate manner.
System wide training within GP practices has also taken place, and many colleagues across the system have undertaken training titled ‘Saving Mother’s Lives’. Bespoke training is also offered to professionals across the health and social care system including primary care networks, student midwives, student nurses, student social workers, student psychiatrists and therapists.
Additionally, as part of the transformation, a new service was developed, called By Your Side. This service supports birthing parents who have experienced a perinatal loss, such as a stillbirth or miscarriage, and have been significantly affected by the loss.
Patient feedback highlights the impact the service transformation has had on those who have used it:
“I found this therapy more beneficial then I could have ever imagined. Every session I was left feeling hopeful and positive about the future ahead. I always felt listened to and the strategies given to me to manage my anxiety I really found helpful. I had such a positive experience with my therapy that I will always seek professional help if I ever need it again in the future.”