Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust is launching a new podcast series that shares the real stories and experiences behind people’s health and care journeys.
The Trust, which provides mental health, learning disability and community services across Hull, East Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, has recorded two launch episodes that feature conversations with staff and people who use services about their experiences of care, recovery and support.
In the first episode, colleagues from across the organisation discuss why understanding people’s experiences matters and how it can influence the way care is delivered. Drawing on their professional and lived experience, they discuss why understanding a person’s story can help build trust, reduce distress and improve experiences of care.
In the second episode, Nikki, a former patient and now Trust staff member, speaks to Rachel, a clinician from the Trust’s Complex Emotional Needs Service about how mental health care has evolved. By reflecting on her own journey through using services, Nikki shares the difficulties she faced previously accessing care and how these experiences influenced the way she engaged with support. Rachel discusses how trauma-informed care has changed the way support is delivered within mental health services.
Nikki said: “It’s important that we continue to learn from people’s experiences and use that learning to shape the way services are delivered. Bringing my lived experience into my role is a real privilege and shapes how I approach my role by keeping me grounded in the realities of accessing care. It means I can help influence positive change and contribute to care that is compassionate, respectful and centred around the person. At the heart of it all is remembering that every person has a story and being curious about that. When we take the time to understand that story, we can build better relationships, provide better support and help people feel truly seen and heard.”
Hear the Story is part of the Trust’s See the Story campaign, which encourages people to look beyond immediate circumstances and better understand the experiences that shape people’s lives. The series is intended to support learning and reflection for anyone working in health, care and community services.
See the Story is available on YouTube (Episode 1 and Episode 2) as well as Spotify.