January 2010

Hello, welcome to 2010.

January was a disappointing month for those on leave who stayed in Wellington and wanted to sit in the sun but I hope that, despite the weather, people had a good break and enjoyed their time off.

It has been a quiet month for the service as a whole.  Behind the scenes Ngaire Cook and the Clinical Practice Group have been working away finalising the review of the Te Korowai-Whāriki Operations Manual and this should be available on SilentOne in the next month or so.

We have the Certification Survey next month, from the 9th to the 11th February.  The team leaders, clinical nurse specialists and the quality team are working hard to check on outstanding issues and compliance to be ready for the audit, however it is up to all staff to be aware of policies, procedures and guidelines for the service and to be alert for any issues especially related to health and safety.

I would like to remind you that the Visiting Chad Buckle Fellow, Professor Nav Kapur, will be visiting to provide a range of lectures from the 22nd to 25th March. Professor Kapur is the head of research at the Centre for Suicide Prevention at the University of Manchester.

We have new staff to welcome - Danny Irshad (Accounts Receivable Clerk), Elizabeth Salanoa, (Administrator), Daniel Aluni, Inakura Tengaru, Lanijane Tuhoro (MH Support Workers) Louise Haward and Debbie Sweet (Registered Nurses) and welcome back Sally Hyde and Murray Gordon.  The first Mental Health Service Directorate orientation for the year is on 22 & 23 March 2010.  All staff who have not attended orientation at some time can book by emailing selma.ripley   "at" ccdhb.org.nz.  Attending Orientation is compulsory for all staff and no other training is approved until it is completed.

Congratulations to Blair Leslie who competed in the Yarrows Cycle Challenge in Taranaki on Saturday coming 11th overall and second in his class in a time of 3 hours 52.32 minutes - not a bad time for 150 kms!!  There were over 1600 competitors in the event.

 Regards

Nigel Fairley, Operations Director