Celebrating Deal’s Own Justine Norris MBE

At the Queen’s New Year Honours list for 2021, Deal’s own Justine Norris was recognised with an MBE for her contribution to mental health services with the NHS during COVID-19.

 

As an Occupational Therapist, Justine Norris recognised on the first night of lockdown last March that the necessary government restrictions would have a considerable negative impact on mental health service users.

Taking immediate action, Justine pulled together a range of resources that was shared across Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) to support patients who needed to stay at home.

The resources include tips covering diet, routine, activity and staying connected. Sections also include mood, anxiety management, stress relief, sleep and exercise.

CommunityAd caught up with Justine to find out more about her incredible work over the past 14 months…

 

When did you realise you had a passion for Occupational Therapy?

The first time that I decided that I would like to become an Occupational Therapist was when my Mum was poorly from cancer. An OT came round to adapt the house to make it easier for us to support her at home. I never forgot how kind and supportive she was and what a difference she made to my Mum’s quality of life. She was easy to talk to and very understanding in terms of how we were managing and how it was affecting us as a family.

I had never heard of OTs before and instantly thought that that was a role that I wished that I studied for years ago, but being 40 never thought that it would happen. My friend then encouraged me to apply as this was a career that she would like to pursue herself. My life then changed instantly and I shocked and excited when we both got a place at Canterbury Christ Church University. I am now lucky to work for the North East Crisis Team, Kent and Medway Partnership Trust which is an amazing supportive team. I have worked for the Crisis Team for just over a year after being employed on an inpatient ward from being qualified 6 years ago.

 

What kickstarted your initial idea of creating a resource pack and what type of positive impact did these have on patients?

I remember it was the night when the first lockdown was announced and my immediate reaction was ‘how are people going to cope not being able to see anyone, lack of human contact, periods of not going to work, support and activity groups stopping, being scared of what’s going to happen?’

I then thought I have to do something, so I developed and wrote a pack on ways to manage your mental health during isolation. This pack included information on sleep, exercise, goal setting, a journal, anxiety management and various other advice to help support people with the big changes that were about to happen in everyone’s lives. As well as giving the pack out to patients that were under the Crisis Team, it was used by other NHS Trusts and services. When it was shared on an OT Facebook page that was when it went viral resulting in me getting requests from all over the world, which I am still getting now. I was then chatting to other OTs over email which was amazing as this is something that wouldn’t normally happen. The feedback was really positive and I received many emails of OTs informing me how helpful their patients found it. I was truly overwhelmed and had no idea it would have such a positive impact.

I have also developed ‘Self Soothe Bags’ which have been given to patients to help them manage their symptoms of ‘anxiety’. This includes practical items, such as stress balls, putty, lavender cushions, word searches, mandala colouring books, coloured pens and self care items. These bags have been received very positively as we have definitely seen a rise in people suffering from anxiety since the start of the pandemic.

 

What was your first reaction to being awarded with an MBE for your work for services to the NHS during COVID-19?

I didn’t believe it at first and just cried. I then messaged my Manager Lorna Henderson as I was in shock to check that it was true! I was nominated by Claire Collins and Will Carter who were managers in the team. I was very grateful and overwhelmed that they had taken the time to nominate me but I always put across that if you work in a supportive team who are open to using your ideas it helps you to grow and gain confidence within your role. I definitely owe a lot to all of them for their encouragement and support.

 

As well as your brilliant work being mentioned in the House of Commons, your resources have been requested all over the world; how proud are you of this incredible achievement, knowing that thousands of people all over the world are benefitting from your ideas?

I was actually really shocked by this and spent most of my days off sending them to places all over the world from Hong Kong, Australia, Malta, America, Norway, Bangladesh and many more to mention. It was very overwhelming and exciting and also a great opportunity to liaise and share ideas with other OTs which doesn’t normally tend to happen.

 

Your daughter will also be following in your footsteps, training to become an Occupational Therapist this September. What do you enjoy most about your role and is it fair to say this has been your calling having made such an incredible impact as an Occupational Therapist?

I am so excited that my daughter Olivia has chosen to study Occupational Therapy, we are bouncing ideas off each other already which is great! I absolutely love my job with the Crisis Team and feel privileged to have been able to still go out and visit people in their homes throughout the pandemic. The Crisis Teams have worked hard to make sure that people are supported even though it has been difficult at times due to staff sickness, staff having to shield, staff’s own uncertainties and worries and changing the way we work to adapt to the restrictions. When we see patients on visits we might be the only people they see so it is important that we can continue to support people in their homes and help them through this difficult time.

 

Has there been feedback or news from a particular patient that sticks with you and has been the most heart-warming since you started the resources?

I received a message from an OT who works for a Veterans Complex Treatment Service in the UK, she shared the resources with some veterans who were struggling because all their usual groups had stopped. I was so blown away by the message and feedback that was given and it was one that has always stuck in my mind:

“Thank you for the pack, I found it incredibly useful for our veterans, so much so that I passed it on to my own team at work, many of whom are currently working in isolation themselves. I asked for some feedback and everyone felt it was an excellent document and by far one of the best they had seen to date. It is so good it has also been shared with senior management.”

 

CommunityAd commends Justine Norris for her amazing work and well-deserved MBE! To find out more about the support offered by the Kent and Medway Partnership Trust, you can visit their website.

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