How can we make transitions seamless and person-centred - 5th Quality Summit: Improving Adult Eating Disorder Services Together
In September, the South London Mental Health and Community Partnership (SLP) held the fifth annual quality summit for improving adult eating disorders.
Joined by more than 90 people, we explored together the theme of transitions, looking at the critical moments when people with eating disorders move between services, ages groups, or stages of care – and the impact these transitions have not only on the person with an eating disorder, but also on their families, carers and communities too.
The event was co-produced by people with lived experience and health and care staff, ensuring that the voices of those directly impacted were at the heart of the discussions. We heard powerful presentations from services users and carers, which highlighted the emotional and practical challenges of navigating transitions, and the importance of person-centred, timely and equitable support.
We were also joined by experts in eating disorder care and research to understand how services are currently working to improve transitions, including:
- Professor Ulrike Schmidt OBE, Professor of Eating Disorders and Director of the Centre of Research on Eating and Weight Disorders at King’s College London
- Umairah Malik, Clinical and Co-Production Manager at Beat
- Nikola Kern, consultant psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Clinical Director, South London Partnership Adult Eating Disorders Provider Collaborative
- Jennifer Walker, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Kirsty Manning, Highly Specialist Counselling Psychologist at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
At the end of the summit, attendees were invited to make a personal pledge to improve transitions in their own work. Some of these included:
- Personalising transitions by listening deeply to individuals and adapting care to their unique circumstances.
- Exploring transitions into other services, such as mental health support or physical health services, to ensure continuity of care.
- Advocating for young people and carers during the move to adult services.
- Making transitions a key priority for the South London Partnership Adult Eating Disorder Programme, by working with stakeholders to improve transitions for our south London communities over the coming year.
- Keeping the discussion going by putting transitions on the agenda for the next adult eating disorder service user and carer advisory group.
- Creating an action plan as a result of the summit to track progress on people’s commitments and report back at next year’s event.
The summit was a timely reminder of the power of collaboration, co-production, and shared learning. As one attendee put it: “We know how to treat eating disorders. I pledge to keep using my voice to ensure better treatment for those who have momentarily lost theirs.”
For more information about the event contact Alvin Kinch at alvin.kinch@slam.nhs.uk.
Download the slides
