Join Star Wards

Why join Star Wards?

"This has been the easiest initiative I have ever had to implement and has been extremely positively received by patients, staff and visitors alike."

Staff and patients enjoy taking part. Become a member of a dynamic community of mental health wards. Share your best practice and challenges with other members of the network. Learn from others' best practice and challenges. Get (and contribute to!) the regular e-newsletter. Healthcare assistants are eligible for the Star Awards achievement scheme. Make the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission happy. Make your finance people happy - it's free to join!

FAQs

What difference have members found that Star Wards has made?
Here's what members have said:
The impact on the wards ranges from reduction in incidents and use of PRN medication to service users leading groups and activities

Created tidal wave effect amongst staff and patients to develop ideas further.

Better client feedback, increased staff satisfaction, less aggression and violence, more therapeutic contact

No management instructions!!!!

What do we need to do to join?
Just email Marion: marion@brightplace.org.uk

What does it cost?
Nothing! Star Wards is (appreciatively!) funded by charitable trusts - John Ellerman Foundation, Allen Lane Foundation, Comic Relief

What do we have to do once we've joined?
There are no requirements from us. We hope that you'll want to reciprocate the openness and generosity of Star Wards' members, by sharing your best practice examples, challenges and resources such as benchmarking tools, and guidelines.

There are 75 ideas. Where do we start??
Most members have firstly set up a Star Wards' steering group, with nursing and other staff (including from the domestic and catering teams) and service users. And most have chosen to carry out a benchmarking exercise. This sounds rather heavy-duty but has invariably been found to be a really morale-boosting exercise for staff, as it shows how much good practice is already taking place. Members have created some great benchmarking tools, all available from our website.

Our advice would be to go for some quick wins at first, as this is a great way of making a real difference and raising team spirits.

What level of management support do we need?
Technically, none, although outright opposition would be tricky. But seriously improbable as there's nothing to lose by joining Star Wards. Almost all members have found that managers at all levels are deeply enthusiastic about Star Wards as it makes such an impact on patients' and staff experiences. And is free! It seems that the key members of staff whose support to ward managers helps implement Star Wards are nurse consultants and modern matrons.

Is Star Wards a nursing initiative?
Not exactly, although in practice it's mainly nurses who are implementing it on the wards. One of the positive outcomes that members have found is that it

We've got more than enough change going on. Isn't it over-ambitious to try to introduce Star Wards as well?
Members have found that Star Wards has been very valuable when there are major changes happening, such as opening a new unit and trust mergers.

Please can you tell me as much as possible about Buddy?
Oh, okay. Buddy is Marion's dog. (Marion set up Star Wards following her stint as a detained in-patient.) Buddy is a Tibetan Terrier with a keen sense of social justice. Her websites are www.buddyjanner.org and www.justgiving.com/buddyjanner