Safety rights and advocacy

The door on Oaktrees is locked for your safety. Staff are able to open the door to let people on and off the ward. You may be able to leave the ward depending on your presentation, needs and legal status. You may require support from family/friends/carers or staff when leaving the ward environment.

You have your own bedroom on the ward. In your room you have a lockable draw with a key for the safe storage of valuables. You are able to lock your bedroom door from the inside, should you wish to have your bedroom door locked when you are not in there you can ask a member of staff to do so.

You may bring mobile phones to Oaktrees, however staff are not responsible for the safety of these. Mobile phones may not be used for the purpose of taking photographs, or making video and/or audio recordings of other patients visitors or staff. We do have CCTV cameras in communal areas of Springview for everyone’s safety.

We understand that social media is widely used today and that platforms can be very helpful or unhelpful to our patients. Whilst on the ward we will aim to work with you around your social media use and how this can impact your mental health and identify more positive outlets.

IIf you or family/friends/carers feel unhappy or physically, sexually or emotionally unsafe on Oaktrees, please discuss this with staff. You can also contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (“PALS”); further information about PALS can be found on page 43 of this leaflet.

Oaktrees is a mixed sex ward and we have procedures in place to preserve the dignity of all genders on the ward.

Safeguarding
As healthcare providers we have a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. We take any allegations of abuse seriously and will refer these to the appropriate authorities.

CWP have a designated safeguarding adults and safeguarding children's team, if you have any concerns you would like to highlight to these teams please speak to a member of staff.

Gender
CWP is committed to providing you with same-sex accommodation to safeguard your privacy and dignity when in hospital. This means providing same-sex sleeping areas, bathrooms and toilet facilities.

All bedrooms are single occupancy to protect your privacy and dignity. We also have separate lounge areas for males and females should you wish to use them.

You have a right to maintain confidentiality about your treatment whilst you are on the ward and staff can only share information about you if you have given permission for this.

Staff do encourage and promote the involvement of family/friends/carers and if permission is not given, they will revisit this decision on a regular basis with you and promote the benefits of family/friends/carers being involved. Staff will be able to share information without consent if they believe this will act in your best interest, although this decision will be carefully considered, with the full team’s agreement.

Sometimes, in order to provide effective assessment and treatment, it may be necessary to share information with other agencies.

Sometimes due to your illness you may be unable to give informed consent. If this is the case, staff will liaise with people who know you well and work within best interest principles. All information shared will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Information may be passed on to other professionals within the care team. All information provided will remain confidential.

For further information regarding confidentiality, and protecting and sharing information held by CWP, there is an information leaflet available on the ward entitled ‘Information We Hold’. Please speak to staff if you would like a copy of this. 

Legal status
Sometimes due to the nature of a person’s illness, they may be admitted under a section of the Mental Health Act.

If a patient is detained under a section of the Mental Health Act, a member of staff will inform the  patient and their nearest relative what this means and what their rights are under the Act.

A nearest relative is a legally defined term within the Mental Health Act, which is different to next of kin.

Capacity
When you have capacity to make certain decisions, you will be provided with the appropriate information to make these decisions, e.g. regarding treatment and discharge planning.

However if a patient is  assessed as lacking capacity to make these decisions, these will be made under the best interests principles of the Mental Capacity Act. An assessment of a person’s capacity is based on a particular decision at a certain time, therefore some people may have capacity to make certain decisions but not others, and this may also change over time.

If you know that a patient has made an Advanced Statement or an Advanced Decision, please inform a member of staff.

You may not have the capacity to make some decisions and may not have capacity to sign important paperwork, e.g. regarding finances and accommodation. Please speak to staff or a member of the advocacy team before completing important documents.

Advocacy is available to support people who have difficulty expressing their views or wishes effectively. An advocate can represent the views of a person at meetings to ensure each patient’s rights and views are respected and listened to. An advocacy referral can be made following admission to Oaktrees.

The Wirral Advocacy Hub offers a single point of contact for all  advocacy enquiries in the area. The Hub will perform advocacy triage by offering an information, signposting and referral service for all health and social care related advocacy enquiries.

The types of advocacy  support available via the Wirral Advocacy Hub are: 

• Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy
• Care Act Advocacy
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy
• General Advocacy

Advocacy is independent, free and confidential. It supports you’ voices and safeguards you’ rights.

To access advocacy, please contact as follows:

Telephone: 0300 2000 083

E-mail: referral@wirraladvocacyhub.net

Website: www.ncompassnorthwest.co.uk

There is a leaflet available on the ward with further information about the Wirral Advocacy Hub. Please speak to a member of staff if you would like a copy of this.

Safety & What You Can Expect On Our Wards

What can I do if I am not OK with something during my stay on the ward?

• Talk to a member of staff and let them know you do not feel safe
  
  Or
• Ask to speak to the Ward Manager or Matron
  
  Or
• Call the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALs) for free on 0800 195 4462
  you can also write to them at
  PALS FREEPOST RRBA UEGB AZJA
  Redesmere
  Countess of Chester Health Park
  Liverpool Road,
  Chester
  CH2 1BQ
  Email: cwp.pals@nhs.net
  PALs deal with problems quickly and confidentially and can help you to make a complaint if this is what you want to happen. Ward staff can also help you to speak with PALs.
  
  Or
• Contact independent Advocacy their number is available on the ward.

What can I expect when I am staying on this ward?

• To meet staff who are friendly and approachable
• To have staff I can speak to if I do not feel safe & know they will do something about it
• To feel physically, sexually and emotionally safe
• To be respected and to respect other people
• To get help when I need it
• To have a chance to discuss any needs I have as part of my care plan

What things should NOT happen when I am staying on this ward?

• Feel unsafe, physically, sexually or emotionally
• Feel that I cannot speak with someone if I feel unsafe
• Feeling disrespected or disrespect other people
• Feel I have not received the right help when I asked for it
• Feel my wishes about my care have not been respected
• Be treated differently if or when I say I am not OK with something