"Arnold Lodge Health & Wellbeing Programme Forensic Services "

‘It’s not about what you can lose, but about what you can gain’

Mike Cooke our Chief executive agreed to allocate a budget to drive healthy living at Arnold Lodge in 2009. In 2010 we became a Community of Interest for Health & Well-Being.

‘As part of our Community of Interest Health & Well-being group we run activity sessions for patients at Arnold Lodge. The purpose of the activity is to encourage making healthier choices

Managing weight, Education, Activity and Support over a 12 week programme.

Patients shared some of their thoughts about the activity sessions.

‘It’s brilliant – I give it a’10 out of 10!’

It keeps you feeling well and good about yourself

‘It helps when you are feeling sluggish’.

‘I like being in the fresh air, it warms you up and give you enthusiasm and breaks down barriers’

The work has brought about so many benefits for Arnold Lodge and is sponsored by Ruth Hawkins our executive director for finance & performance

The programme covers lots of things such as:

· Individual/Group sessions

● Educational workshops

● Cognitive Behaviour Therapies

● Exploring Barriers

● Introduction to fun physical activities

● Physical/Fitness assessments

● Review Diaries

● Nutritional Education

● Healthy Cooking Workshops

Plans for extending the benefits include:

Sharing good practice across the Trust and rolling it out in other services within the Trust.

Adapt the Health and Wellbeing Programme for staff wellbeing and market its success to outside agencies such as County Health Partnerships and Offender healthcare.

James Routen & Nicky Mistry

Health & Well-Being programme

East Midlands Centre for Forensic Mental Health

Arnold Lodge

Leicester