This campaign has now closed
Engaging the most isolated people with mental health issues back into the community through the power of ICT.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
The project's aim is to actively promote social inclusion and independent living skills to adults with enduring mental health problems, using ICT skills as a tool. This is done by taking IT equipment to service users, in a variety of settings such as acute psychiatric units and day service centres. It will consist of three parts: 1) Appropriately trained staff will take 6 networked Internet ready laptops into a variety of settings to work with people with varying levels of mental health problems. Main objectives: - helping people on acute psychiatric units communicate and connect with people in the outside world - using recovery orientated websites to help them get relevant information and understand the choices in front of them (ie. self help programme, computerised cognitive behaviour therapy) - offer opportunities to work creatively with a digital camera and appropriate software - use internet to introduce what progression routes are available to assist with their recovery; introduce/reintroduce areas of personal interest; access information about local social/leisure opportunities - offer vocational aspirations to usesr through ICT - support individuals in care homes/community to use IT to aid their recovery -offer individuals the chance to take accredited ICT qualifications in various settings, not necessarily a classroom. The project is accredited by OCR and NCFE . The project's staff are all qualified IT tutors. Two staff have been trained to assess, verify and observe. One tutor is an e-guider. 2) In collaboration with Hampshire Partnerships Trust, our staff will lead smaller groups or focused 1:1 sessions to help people with mental health problems to integrate/reintegrate with their local community through education or social links. WRAP will be integrated wherever appropriate. All staff are trained to IAG level 3. 3) Take a lead in national policy development around internet access in sheltered settings.