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First West Yorkshire Family Ambassador appointed

Posted on: 4 October 2023

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, Tania Webb has become the first West Yorkshire Mental Health Family Ambassador, supporting the families of young people aged 13-18 admitted to mental health inpatient care. The Family Ambassador role is new, and part of a national programme developed by the NHS England Quality Improvement Taskforce. Tania is one of many Family Ambassadors across England, working with families in the run up to admission, throughout a young person’s stay, and up to four weeks after they leave hospital.

Tania Webb 2.jpg Tania Webb

Tania said:

“As someone who is a parent of a young person who has received inpatient care for their mental health, I would say that I am passionate about the value of lived experience, and the positive impact it can have, as well as the role of parents as full partners in their young person’s care and support.

I offer listening support, provide useful information and resources, and help parents and carers to understand and fully participate in the processes and meetings that are part of an inpatient stay.”

Tim Richardson, West Yorkshire Provider Collaborative Lead, Children and Young People's Mental Health said:

Tim R 2.jpg Tim Richardson

“The Family Ambassador post was designed with parents and carers fully in mind. Meaningful involvement of parents, carers and wider family members in the care and treatment of their children leads to better and more sustainable outcomes for young people. This is a new service that was developed by a Parent Council working with and supported by the NHS.

“Having a child or young person in hospital can be stressful, challenging and confusing.  The Family Ambassador is a role designed to support families and to focus on their needs and wishes, from advising on the best local coffee shops to unpicking the wide range of medical jargon and acronyms!

“For the Family Ambassador post to be effective, the Family Ambassador needs to work closely with, but be separate from, the Clinical Team. This allows the Family Ambassador to be independent and fully family focussed.  

“The involvement of the Family Ambassador begins at admission and continues beyond the hospital stay.

“To ensure easy access for families, the Family Ambassador is based at Red Kite View, the child and adolescent mental health inpatient unit for West Yorkshire situated in Armley, Leeds.

“Tania’s lived experience as a parent is of enormous value as we establish the role in West Yorkshire.  Her knowledge, skills and empathetic approach will be highly valued by the families that she will be supporting.” 

For further information about the Family Ambassador role please click the links below:

 

 

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