The value of partnership working is often discussed in meeting rooms and strategy documents. However, at the Houldsworth Centre in Wishaw, it can be seen in the daily work of staff helping people manage complex mental health needs, rebuild their confidence and remain part of their communities.
The Board’s Chair Katharina Kasper recently visited the centre as part of a Board walkround along with Lesley McDonald. They met some of the Wishaw Community Mental Health and Older Adults Community Mental Health teams to hear about their work and understand the pressures they face.
Katharina and Lesley also heard directly from a service user with lived experience about the support they’re receiving and the difference it’s making to her life.
Katharina praised the warmth she saw in the staff, and their determination to provide compassionate, person-centred care, despite sustained demand and increasingly complex needs.
She said: “I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Houldsworth Centre and meeting the staff who support people in Wishaw and our surrounding communities.
“It’s so good, and encouraging, to see real partnership working in action. Health staff, social care colleagues and partner organisations are bringing their different skills and experience together around the needs of each person.
“It’s very clear to me that the staff are dedicated to the people they support. Their compassion, knowledge and commitment came through in every conversation we had.”
The Community Mental Health Team assesses, treats and supports adults experiencing conditions including anxiety, depression, psychosis and complex trauma. Its multidisciplinary staff include nurses, allied health professionals, psychiatrists, psychologists and support colleagues. The team works closely with primary care, acute services, social work and third-sector partners, with an emphasis on recovery, early intervention and avoiding unnecessary hospital admission.
The Older Adults Community Mental Health Team supports people experiencing conditions including dementia, delirium and depression in later life. Its work often involves people with complex physical and cognitive needs, with a strong focus on maintaining independence, supporting carers and helping people remain at home wherever possible.
While both teams are responding to sustained demand and increasingly complex presentations. they continue to strengthen early-intervention pathways, improve multidisciplinary working and look for ways to improve the experience of patients and carers.
Katharina added: “What was particularly encouraging was the staff’s commitment to keep learning and improving. They are prepared to explore different ways of working to make sure we’re Getting It Right for Everyone.
“Everyone we met is clearly listening carefully to what matters to each person, involving the right people at the right time and making support feel joined-up rather than fragmented.
“The dedication I saw at the Houldsworth Centre was inspiring. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to speak with us so openly about their successes, the challenges they face and their ambitions for the future.”
The walkround was designed to strengthen Board visibility, support direct engagement with staff and give Board members a clearer understanding of services. It also created space to recognise the successes of teams whose work is frequently carried out quietly, one conversation and one relationship at a time.
