Combinations is the new Podcast from Combined Healthcare. Click on the icon below to visit the Podcast on Soundcloud.
You can listen to an introduction to the Podcast by clicking on the blue “Play” button below and listen to new episodes as they appear week by week at the bottom of this page.
Combinations Episode 28 – Jenny’s story – life as a trans woman
Jenny Harvey is our Chair of Staff Side and attends the Trust Board. In this story, first broadcast as part of our contribution to Pride 2020, Jenny talks of her journey to transitioning to live her life openly as a trans woman, including difficult details of some of the attacks and abuse she has experienced...
Combinations Episode 27 – Coronavirus – the frontline story
In our most powerful and important episode to date, Dr Becky Chubb, Consultant and Older Person's Lead at Combined Healthcare tells the story of life on the NHS frontline during Covid. This testimony was originally delivered as a contribution via Microsoft Teams to our People, Culture and Development Committee on 7th May 2020.
Combinations Episode 26 – Cristian Montaño tells fans “it’s ok not to be ok”
On the eve of the biggest game of his life, as Port Vale prepare to take on Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, one of the Vale's biggest stars, Cristian Montaño, talks candidly about the pressures of the game and how he overcame his own issues with mental health by being brave enough to talk...
Combinations Episode 25 – Thea’s Story
In November 2013, Thea attempted to end her life. She planned to die after years of being subjected to domestic abuse and to escape the unbearable pressures of her secret, mounting debts. Thea is an exceptional human being who has experienced much adversity, conflict and abuse throughout her life, but never lost her integrity and...
Combinations Episode 24 – Freedom to Speak Up Champions
To sign off national Speak Up Month 2019, we hold a conversation with Zoe Grant, our Freedom to Speak up Guardian and our Freedom to Speak Up Champions.
Combinations Episode 23 – Matt Johnson and the Trust’s vision for Psychology
Matt Johnson, the Trust's Head of Psychology talks about our plans for psychological services, the vital role our psychological professions play across the whole of Combined Healthcare, our valuable and valued partnership with Staffordshire University and our vision for the future.
Combinations Episode 22 – Talking about suicide – World Mental Health Day 2019
This year, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has decided to make “suicide prevention” the main theme of World Mental Health Day.
Combined Healthcare is proud to lead co-ordination of work on suicide prevention across the whole of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent STP.
Combinations Episode 21 – BBC Radio Stoke reports on the opening of our new Crisis Care Centre
We were delighted to welcome Stuart George from BBC Radio Stoke to our Open Day preceding the official opening of our new £1.1 million Crisis Care Centre. This is his piece first broadcast on 7th October 2019, featuring interviews with Jonathan O'Brien, Executive Director of Operations and Joanne Willis, newly appointed Service Manager for the...
Combinations Episode 20 – The new £1.1 million Crisis Care Centre
In October 2019, Combined Healthcare was proud to hold Open Days for its brand new £1.1 million Mental Health Crisis Centre, based at the Harplands Hospital, Hilton Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6TH .
Combinations Episode 19 – World Alzheimer’s Month
We celebrate and raise awareness of World Alzheimer’s Month by speaking to our Memory Clinics Service about the invaluable work they do
Combinations Episode 18 – The Darwin Centre Family Room gets a makeover
A local Nation Citizen Service group kindly volunteered to completely decorate and update the family room at The Darwin Centre. In just 3 days, the group of young people transformed the room into a tranquil and engaging space for the young people staying at The Darwin Centre to spend valuable time with their families.
Combinations Episode 17 – The Wellbeing Academy
The Wellbeing Academy offers, together with our partners, a wide range of courses, workshops and activities to support people to discover interests and develop their skills on their mental health recovery journey.
Combinations Episode 16 – Volunteer Peer Mentor Scheme
The Volunteer Peer Mentor Scheme is for anyone with a lived experience of mental health issues who can use their personal experiences to develop meaningful and trusting relationships with people, acting as a mentor and role model
Combinations Episode 15 – Stress Management Tips and Techniques
In conversation with Fiona Campbell, Sarah Toombs from the Combined Healthcare Staff Counselling Service discusses stress and how it manifests itself, plus offers hints, tips and techniques for understanding, recognising and dealing with stress.
Combinations Episode 14 – Staff Nurse Story
One of our most important priorities is improving the support for our BAME workforce. One very brave nurse who worked in our services has shared her story with us which a local poet has interpreted – it makes very powerful listening.
Combinations Episode 13 – The Talk and Change Group
To mark Learning Disability Week 2019, this episode features the Talk and Change Group a service user group aligned with our Learning Disability Team
Combinations Episode 12 – Maria and Jack’s Story
Maria tells the tale of a lifetime of engagement with our CAMHS service, supporting her and her 18 year old son Jack, who has autism and epilepsy, and who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy aged 8 months.
Combinations Episode 11 – Suicide Awareness Training and Learning Disability
Individuals with a Learning Disability have a much higher rate of risk factors associated with suicide, suicidal thoughts and suicidal behaviours. But research and general understanding of suicide and its impact on this group is lacking
Combinations Episode 10 – Ramadan Mubarak
To mark the start of Ramadan 2019, a group of Muslim members of our staff discuss the fundamentals of Ramadan, how it fits with the wider pillars of the Islamic Faith and how non-Muslim staff can show their support to their colleagues during this special time for them.
Combinations Episode 9 – Self-managed Relaxation Session
A Relaxation Session, provided by Staff Counsellor and Support Officer, Sarah Tombs, available for anyone to use as a free resource and as part of our overall mission to promote good mental health and wellbeing for all.
Combinations Episode 8 – The Parkinsons Social Club
Lorraine, Vice Chair of the Parkinson's Social Club, and Elke Henson, specialist neuro-psychiatry nurse, chat about the disease, how it affects people and the work the club does to support local people with Parkinsons.
Combinations Episode 7 – World Autism Week – Jackie and Mathew’s Story
Jackie describes the care and support she and her son Mathew - who has autism and severe learning disabilities - have received from our Assessment and Treatment Unit at Harplands Hospital.
Combinations Episode 6 – The Ward 4 Family Group
The Family Group is a support group set up by staff on Ward 4 who wanted to ensure that family members of patients also received support that they need.
Combinations Episode 5 – Marcella’s Story
Marcella tells her story of alcoholism, recovery and hope. Her story includes support given to her by our services One Recovery and the Edward Myers Unit.
Combinations Episode 4 – National Apprenticeships Week
Apprentices and those supporting and delivering their training and education discuss their successes, what apprenticeships bring to them and where others can go to find out more.
Combinations Episode 3 – The Jam Factory
The Jam Factory based at the Observatory in Hanley Stoke-on-Trent is a group collective welcoming individuals of all different abilities who have experience of mental ill health.
Combinations Episode 2 – Mental Health Nurses Day
Our mental health nurses talk to us about how they came to be mental health nurses, the care they provide, the rewards it brings and how much they love what they do
Combinations Episode 1 – CAMHS
The CAMHS team talk about their nationally leading service, new investment, new staff, new services, partnership with schools and being a NHS Long Term Plan CAMHS Trailblazer and a NHS Digital Exemplar.