MENTAL HEALTH EMPLOYMENT NETWORK

MINUTES OF 3rd September 2003 COMMITTEE MEETING

Held at St Bernards Hospital Southall Road Uxbridge, Middx UB1 3EU

PRESENT

JR: Jonas Roberts (St James' House, acting chair

DM: David Marsden (Redford Studios,)

MS: Margaret Smith (Work Rehab, West London MH Trust)

TH Tony Heyes (O'Hara Charitable Trust)

1. APOLOGIES

Mike Frost (Wokingham Community Resource Service)

Patience Seebohm (Sainsbury Centre)

2. MINUTES (3rd July 02003)

There were no corrections to the minutes, which were therefore accepted.

3. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES

"Location of members" map - TH had not had time to prepare this, which was needed to find alternative convenient places for meetings. Carried forward (TH).

Pro tem chair - This matter was carried forward.

November event - discussed below

2003 subscriptions TH had included a request in the emailed August Working Notes 3 and would follow up by post.

Bank account Abbey National was still proving troublesome. Carried forward (TH).

Host for 2004 meeting TH had included a request in the emailed August Working Notes 3. No offers as yet.

4. NOVEMBER CONFERENCE "LIFE AFTER REHAB"

The Venue MS had booked the Trust HQ at St Bernard's Hospital for the event. The room would take 30 to 40 people. As yet no-one had confirmed. It was expected, sadly, that as usual only London members would be keen to come. MS observed that the map TH had put on the web site did not display bus information as clearly as she would like. This was important since car parking was problematic both in the Hospital and in neighbouring streets.

Action: TH will improve the car parking advice.

Speakers Mike Frost and Nick Davies of Wokingham CRS had volunteered to contribute a talk. Another main speaker was required, perhaps an employer?

Case Studies It was suggested the workshops should take the form of group discussions of a number of case studies such as consideration of options for anonymous or fictional individuals in rehab who had particular issues (eg long stay, or special skills) or complex aspirations. This was agreed and MS, JR and DM would prepare some. Each group would make notes on the workshops on flip chart paper and would report to the final full session. It was agreed that some one should be found to write up these conclusions for the newsletter.

Action: DM (as Newsletter Editor) to pursue this

User Interview MS suggested, and it was agreed, that one session should be an interview of one of her users or one of DM's users to bring out experiences and issues. A user in work would be good, but would they be able to take time off work?

Notice Board We would display attendees' contact details to promote networking of attendees, who should be asked to bring to the event their project's literature and a list of their 'top ten links', eg places their people had moved on to.. This could be a useful ice-breaker.

Employer TH, DM and JR would each try to get an employer to come.

Budget It was agreed that MS could spend £25 on refreshments which MHEN would reimburse.

Promotion MS and JR would devise a 'flier' for which TH would do an email and supply mailing labels to St James House. The 20 most likely attendees would be followed up by telephone by DM.

Review meeting In case of unexpected circumstances a review would take place on Thursday October 23rd at 4.30 at St James House. But the flier would not wait for this.

6. NEXT NEWSLETTER

DM had been announced as next editor in the August Working Notes but as yet no offers of material had been received.

7. MEMBER INVOLVEMENT

It surprised no-one that attendance at the planning meetings was low (especially since for this one the invitation had gone out late!) but the key to attracting interest was to continue with good events and to publish the results. It was agreed that TH should email selected organisations from a large employment project database he had been sent, to enlarge our mailing list and/or membership.

8. NEXT MEETINGS

Event Planning 23rd October - 4.30pm St James House 15-20 Bruges Place Baynes Street London NW1 0TF see map on web site

"Life after Rehab" 10th November St Bernard's Hospital 1pm

Committee meeting Jan/Feb 2004 venue to be decided

The meeting was closed at 18.15 .