The treatment programme on S3

This happens on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning and is a forum for service users to explore and express their feelings within a safe environment. It also proves a safe environment for exploring and discussing interpersonal issues related to living in such a community.

This happens on a Wednesday and provides a forum for service users to make suggestions and raise any issues relating to the community and the running of the ward.

A group run by occupational therapist or dietitian. Service users prepare a nutritionally balanced sandwich to eat at tea time on the ward. This group allows service users to:

• Practise and further develop communication skills, in particular assertiveness, negotiation and expression of anxiety.
• Challenge ‘difficult foods’ and manage associated anxiety
• Practise and further develop decision-making skills
• Practise and further develop practical skills such as shopping for food and preparing food

Run by the dietitian or occupational therapist, one-to-one or group meal preparation sessions in which service users can develop their skills and confidence with purchasing food items in supermarkets, preparing the food and eating meals. Explores appropriate portion sizing and nutritional advice. Allows service users to:

• Increase confidence in own abilities enabling independence in everyday life.
• Challenge ‘difficult foods’ and manage associated anxiety
• Practise and further develop decision-making skills
• Practise and further develop practical skills such as shopping for food and preparing food

A sixth-form college art teacher runs this group weekly. Service users are able to use a range of media and are able to choose their own activities or work with others. This group allows service users to:

• Acquire or develop creative skills whilst re-engaging in or exploring potential new leisure interests.

• Practise and further develop communication skills
   
• Development of self-esteem through social contacts, development of skills and rewarding end product
  • Opportunity to engage in enjoyable activity

Occupational therapy and/or nursing staff facilitate this group in which service users are able to engage in different self-care activities that promote wellbeing and self-esteem. This group allows service users to:

• Consider and nurture their bodies and general wellbeing through activities unrelated to weight and shape.

• Develop self esteem through relaxing and pleasant self care activities

• Opportunity to explore different ways to promote confidence and pride in ones appearance.

• Opportunity to engage in enjoyable activity

• Opportunity to socialise in relaxed environment.

A course of sessions based on the Loughborough Exercise and Activity Programme (LEAP manual) facilitated by physiotherapist, psychologist and occupational therapist. Using a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy approach, the link between eating disorders and compulsive exercise is explored, the different functions of exercise and techniques to reduce compulsive exercise. This group allows service users to:

• Expand knowledge base around exercise and eating disorders

• Understand the different functions of exercise and complete exercise profile which outlines exercise behaviours for the individual

• Expand knowledge base regarding impact of exercise at low BMI
   
• Expand knowledge base regarding healthy occupational routine and how compulsive exercise may impact upon the individuals' daily living
   
• Expand knowledge base regarding techniques to reduce exercise. Opportunity to practise, feedback and review

A psychological group run by a clinical psychologist and the occupational therapist. The client group choose a topic which they would like to cover, such as; anxiety management, managing sleep, assertiveness, self esteem, etc. The group generally includes a discussion and exercises aimed to increase knowledge and equip service users with skills to improve specific psychological challenges. This group allows service users to:

• Expand knowledge base regarding challenges and techniques to explore

• Opportunity to share and listen to others experiences, with encouragement to challenge and support each other in a safe environment
• Opportunity to practise techniques, review and overcome stumbling blocks

Run by the occupational therapist. This is a goal-setting group. Enables the service user to review the positives and challenges from the previous week, whether goals have been achieved before setting goals for upcoming week. This group allows service users to:

• Review week, acknowledging positives and challenges

• Review if goals have been met and consider reasoning for this and how this leave them feeling
   
• Set goals for the coming week. Encourage use of SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely
   
• Share experiences with one another

Run by occupational therapist with input from members of the team. A group that aims to increase knowledge relating to the effects of eating disorders and enable service users to make plans in order to reduce risk to themselves. This group allows service users to:

• Expand knowledge on risks and consequences of eating disorder behaviours
• Opportunity to share and listen to peers experience
• Opportunity to devise plans to reduce risk to themselves – Keep Myself Safer Plans.

A group run clinical psychologist or occupational therapist to support individual’s recovery. Service users are invited to make suggestions for the running of the group, and have previously included ex service users giving a talk on their recovery, completing recovery plans such as The Whole Life Plan or the Recovery Star, discussions and devising crisis plans, or psycho-educational lead talks. This group allows service users to:

• Raise topics pertinent to their own recovery and explore within discussion, gaining knowledge from peers and facilitator
• Consider psychological and practical strengths and barriers in recovery.
• Develop recovery plans and crisis plans

The occupational therapist and physiotherapist run the body image group. This is a "time-limited, closed" group and focuses on self-perception of the body and improving this.

A group facilitated by occupational therapy or nursing staff which supports service users in engaging in leisure and restful activities and those that promote social interaction and confidence within social situations. This group allows service users to:

• Develop sense of self through exploring and trying different activities
• Develop confidence in social situations
• Development of independence in choosing and directing own activities.

A group facilitated by occupational therapy or nursing staff which provides a protected environment in which service users can discuss topics of their choosing. This group allows service users to:

• Develop sense of sense
• Practice expressing thoughts and feelings and increase confidence in being able to do so.

Sessions run by physiotherapy instructor. This involves gentle body stretches followed by guided relaxation.

Sessions run by the physiotherapy department. Course of six sessions aimed to strengthen back, hips and wrist muscles, to manage and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. To improve posture and core stability and to raise awareness of the impact of poor core strength, altered posture, and increased risk of osteoporosis, resulting from a low body weight.