Inpatient Care Forum
This forum focuses on issues which face people who become inpatients on psychiatric wards.
It is open to all members, and meets on a roughly bi-monthly basis at University of Birmingham. Reasonable travel expenses are paid to members who live in the Midlands, subject to a maximum of £10.
Over the years members have initiated and taken part in educational and research projects. As described on our Education Resources page, the group was involved in producing a number of video and written resources with the Centre for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health:
Digital Stories
These videos contain personal narratives and viewpoints of members and other survivors, which can be used as resources in education and training:
The impact of medication
Service users recounted their experiences of using psychiatric medication. The videos can be viewed here. You can read more about how these resources were been made and used here: Service User Involvement in Training Ward Staff
Experiences of inpatient care
Another set of Digital Stories exhibit service users recounting their personal experiences of becoming inpatients in mental health hospitals. They are available here.
Research and service development
Over the years, members have been involved in various projects in mental health research and service development:
The Tidal Model
This model promoted the view that the key task of nurses was the creation of a therapeutic relationship with patients. The IPCF was involved in the writing of a Tidal Model Handbook for staff, as well as creating accompanying videos in which Suresearch members discuss the principles of the Tidal Model. These resources are available from here.
Spirituality Research
One of our members has been leading research focusing on the part that spirituality plays in mental health recovery. further information on this is available under our Education Resources pages and our Research Resources pages.
Other Projects and activities
Other project and activities have including members’ involvement in the University of Birmingham Preceptorship training for newly qualified mental health nurses, led by Maureen Smojkis, advising service providers on aspects of inpatient care and crisis care, delivering presentations at a World Mental Health day event. For further information on these and others, see the history of the IPCF listed below.
A Short History of the Inpatient Care Forum (IPCF)
For a more detailed account of the origins, history, and activities of the Inpatient Care Forum, see this account, written by Alex Davis on our History of IPCF page