Ex-nurse's solo protest at every Priory Branch (From Croydon Guardian)

This is a person who has been (and maybe still is?) employed by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (known as SLaM). They have used her to work in Croydon mental health resource centres to run therapy groups for people with mental health issues, including myself. On the basis of my experiences, I think I should keep my opinions to myself, except to ask two questions:

Firstly, looking at the second photo here, she seems to believe that this is about her being black. Really? Why?

Secondly, the article states that she is a former nurse and that she lost her job after failing to meet the requirements of a junior post nurse. Yet she has been employed by SLaM to provide therapy for service users. I am totally bewildered about this - is she a qualified mental health therapist and, if not, what on earth was SLaM doing employing her as a therapist?

Date: 6th November 2012-11-06
Re: Mrs M J Maher.



To whomever it may concern.

I am writing in support for
Mrs MJ Maher who over the years has become a trusted colleague/supervisor
.
Mrs Maher holds a strong work ethic and is held in high regard both by her professional groups and her clients. For many years Mrs Maher has held many complex and challenging psychotherapy groups, often in quite isolating circumstances. Equally I have witnessed her on many occasions, sensitively handle emotive and particularly explosive situations, such as child protection /risk issues and racism upon herself with a high level of professionalism and competency.
I very much value Mrs Maher's input, knowledge, diverse experience and her ability to stay grounded ensuring that client centred care is her highest priority. I feel both sad and angry about how even in this day and age professionals can be treated so appallingly. I feel Mrs Maher’s points are valid and very much a result of institutionalised bullying, which insidiously affects the individuals level of confidence and esteem, by disempowering and silencing them, rather than enabling the employee to pursue their rightful entitlements. Institutional bullying of staff members needs urgent further investigation. Commissioners surely should be informed of how their money is invested and how mental health forensic setting, staff members are particularly vulnerable to the power dynamics at play from within the management structure.
I wish Mrs Maher the very best with her protest and really do help things can change as a result.
NT

Thank you for covering my story. The initial plan was to stage a one-woman protest at all the Priory hospitals and on Monday 29th October 2012 I was at Farmfield Hospital, which is where I worked. This protest resulted in a meeting with the Priory senior managers, who have decided to carry out an independent investigation into my concerns. Therefore, for the time being I will not be protesting or involving myself in any further public debate about this. I wish to allow the process a fair chance.
However, I would like to clarify a few things so as to avoid confusion and misconceptions. I qualified as a mental health nurse in 1991 and worked for two NHS Trusts based in Epsom and Sutton. My last full time nursing job was as a charge nurse for six years.
I trained as a psychodynamic counsellor, then as a group analyst and I worked for SLAM as a group psychotherapist, but I carried on working as a bank nurse because I enjoy nursing as much as I enjoy being a group psychotherapist. Here are my qualifications:
MSc Psychology
Dip. Group Analysis
BA (Hons) Counselling
Dip. Psychodynamic Counselling
Cert. Counselling Skills
Cert Supervision
Registered Mental Health Nurse
I am a registered member of Nurse & Midwifery Council (NMC); Institute of Group Analysis (IGA) and United Kingdom for Psychotherapy (UKCP).
Tamworth Road Resource Centre in Croydon remains one of the most supportive and creative team I have ever worked with. Our focus was always the patients and I was able to give my best because I was well supported by the whole team. However, in 2011 I retired to start my own private practice in London Bridge, Purley and Bletchingley. This is when I decided to work for the Priory while building my private practice.
I understand that it might be difficult for some white people to know how painful it is to be treated unfairly because of one’s skin. I have lived in the UK long enough to understand what racism is: I have been to an employment tribunal representing myself with no witnesses to support me and no legal guide, doing my own cross examinations, and won 8 out of the 13 incidents I had listed as racial discrimination and racial victimization. As a result of such experiences I wrote a 431 paged book published by Karnac titled: Racism and Cultural Diversity: Cultivating Racial Harmony through Counselling, Group Analysis and Psychotherapy.
Its back cover blub reads: 'Herself a group analyst, the author experienced at first hand racial discrimination within the system but, rather than succumb to it, she has instead produced an enduring and proficient work that draws heavily on personal experience. Combining years of counselling skill with a natural compassion, she makes the subject of racism approachable, thus motivating all those wanting to explore the issues.'
There is a lot of racism in the health services, but unlike the footballers who are fighting to tackle this problem, us in the caring profession, like sheep to the slaughter, maintain our silence. There is a lot of self-sacrifice which is not good for anyone as it destroys one’s self esteem and patients lose out.
As far as my treatment at the Priory is concerned I believe that my being a nurse who is also a psychotherapist might have more to do with how I was treated than the fact that I am black or a woman.
However, starting my protest during the Black History Month was very significant for me because it gave me the strength to believe in my cause and in the fact that a one-woman protest would be productive if it is for a good cause, so I did not feel alone. Many people have commented on how lonely I looked, but I felt well supported. People of all races hooting their cars as they drove past uplifted my spirit. I believed that I was standing up for my patients and all the nurses who would like to make a difference for their patients but feel they dare not cut through the red tape. Some managers welcome challenges but other will sacrifice the challenger.
I am old enough and experienced enough to know that taking issues into the racial arena stops people from thinking about the real issues being put forward, as people become defensive and protective of their own race. So for me, as far as this cause is concerned, addressing the issues I am raising is more important than looking at why they happened.
There have to be good reasons for a grandmother of four to go on a one-woman protest on a cold and rainy day. The burning of the injustice in my chest kept me heated up. My desire to do my best for my patients led to this injustice. Nursing is no longer how we knew it when I trained: surely you can see that?
I am available to comment on any confusion or misconceptions that may arise from this complex topic, however I will not be able to comment on issues raised with the Priory until they have completed their investigation into my concerns.
MJ Maher

From: SHARON C
To: MJ
Sent: Thursday, 25 October 2012, 17:17
Subject: Go get em

Dear MJ,

I have known you for 14 years at least. I think your professional conduct as I know you is impecable. You were one of the mental health nurses responsible for my care whilst I was a residential patient at Green Banks Rehabilitation Centre, Epsom. I was an inpatient for 4 months, an out patient for 9 month on follow up for 18 months and a weekly attendee of the Saturday support group. The programme consisted of Group Psychodynamic Counselling, regular one to one sessions, and massive support for the clients. Although you were not my named nurse I knew that I could rely on you fully for support on any level at any time. That included talking which is a major part patient care. What I remember about the staff there is that they were a TEAM with good supportive management and every one staff and clients alike felt safe and secure.

Any nurse who is working hard to make a difference for their patients should be praised and encouraged. If any work place is having a high turn over of staff it should come up on the radar for investigation by those on the Board. This is not something that should have to be high lighted by an employee and of course this is going to have an enormous impact on the patients under minding there trust and security. I am frankly shocked that you were put through the humiliation af having the very member of staff that you made a complaint about deal with the case. What is going on? That alone tells me that there is something very wrong with the management THE SYSTEM NEEDS TO CHANGE persons who are not doing there jobs properly need to be accountable.

Let me say that you are doing the right thing speaking out. Let us not forget that it should be the patients welfare that comes first. I know FACT that you deliver your very best and I know FACT that you are truly amazing at what you do

Lastly I say this in eternal gratitude. With out the specialist care of the staff at the Green Banks Rehabilitation Center (including you ) who worked as a close knit functional team with good supportive management I wouldn't be here to write this letter of support for you.

Keep doing what you do best MJ. You are amazing. I will never forget you.

I wish you all the best with your much needed protest.

Sharon C

What really gets to me is that my sister, MJ Maher, is a member of a trade union, UNITE. She told me that she contacted them before she was fired to say that she was having problems and she was sent from one office to another six times before establishing who should take her case. After that she was asked to leave her contact details for someone to come back to her and no-one did. A few days after she was fired she wrote to UNITE asking for support but again there was no response. When she got the Priory’s review of her appeal in which she was told that she had no right to appeal she contacted UNITE again. This time someone phoned her to say that there is nothing they could do because she was out of time to contact the employment tribunal. The woman was going to send her a letter confirming this and MJ asked her to include a name she could write to to complain but to date nobody has been in touch with her. Why is she paying all that money to a union that is not there for her?

Now that she has sailed solo to achieve a new investigation is it not time that UNITE comes in to support her and make sure that she is treated fairly? Someone has to stand for this poor woman who is always there for others.

Right from the beginning MJ wanted this to be settled in-house so when she was fired she was told that she had five days to appeal then she was told that they needed 20 days to investigate after which they asked for more days. At the end of it all they came back to say that she had no right to appeal because she was on probation. Why did the Priory HR tell her that she could appeal? To waste time so that it is too late for her to ask for external intervention through the employment tribunal, surelly this is unfair?

I have received a lot of messages of concern for me by my friends and colleagues that by making a stand to redress the injustice I suffered I might be committing a career suicide as people might conclude that I may have lost my umojo. Why is it difficult to believe that with my vast clinical experience and skilled training I could be anything but one of the best? If I were someone else this society stereotypes as privileged such doubts would not exist. Working for the Priory I never diluted my high standard of working and my commitment to my patients. Here is an example of what those who worked with me at the Priory thought of me - written exactly one month one day before I was fired for failing to meet the minimum requirements of a junior nurse post:
‘To whom it concerns,
I have worked with Ms Maher since she started her role as a Staff Nurse at Farmfield Hospital, in my capacity as an Associate Specialist Psychiatrist. I feel I am qualified to comment on Ms Maher’s attributes because she was part of our Multidisciplinary Team on C… Ward and presented feedback on patients during our MDT ward rounds. I have also consulted her on an individual level about the wellbeing and management of our patients, in particular patients (so and so) for whom she fulfilled the role of primary nurse. Ms Maher and I also conducted joint interviews with one of these patients.
I thought that she possessed excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a good understanding of the care programme approach and the general rehabilitation of her patients in C… Ward. She is highly motivated and focussed on patient-centred care, which included the Recovery Model. I thought that she possessed a considerable holistic knowledge of mental health. I saw her engage proactively with clients in a sensitive, approachable and caring manner and I noticed that her patients responded very favourably to her. She was professional and sincere in her approach at work and managed the patient’s care effectively.
Ms Maher and I interviewed a patient who was experiencing acute distress. Afterwards we discussed this patient and I felt she made the correct assessment of this patient. She created a comprehensive management and care plan for this patient. She asked the patient pertinent questions and demonstrated a good understanding of the patient’s illness and his care needs. She shared a good rapport with this patient and this resulted in the patient being confident enough to trust her and open up to her. I felt that her interaction with the patient was of significant therapeutic value to them.
She conveyed information about the patients clearly, accurately and concisely. This was evidenced in her record keeping – she regularly wrote highly informative notes about her patients …. I valued the information that she provided me with. When she conducted an MDT ward round she gave an astute and relevant summary of each patient in the ward, without going into unnecessary detail. I can recall the social worker, sitting next to me at the ward round, commenting that Staff Nurse Maher had conducted an excellent presentation.
I think that Ms Maher has sufficient knowledge of her role and responsibilities under Mental Health Act 1993 and can apply this in practice. I found her to be a very competent staff nurse.’
It can only happen in this society where people are willing to disregard my training, experience, skills and evidence of my professional work and believe in the nonsense that I could not meet the minimum requirements of a junior nurse without questioning the truth of the situation. The worst is when I say ‘Ouch!’ to this unfairness I am then seen as the trouble maker no one wants to employ. What a society I work in!!!
Two Shona proverbs from me to you:
a) ‘Mwana asingachemi anofira mumbereko’ which translates ‘a baby who does not cry on it’s mother’s back will die on the back.’ Being on it’s mother’s back is very comforting but when hungry it better cries otherwise it would be forgotten and starves, so I am screaming to be heard because I do not want to commit a career suicide as I have slaved hard to be who I am today.

b) ‘Mbudzi kuberekera pane vanhu hunzi itandirwe imbwa’ which translates ‘When a goat gives birth in the presence of people it is asking for the dogs to be chased away (asking for protection)’, so by going public I am hoping that the dogs will be chased away. I am a group analyst and believe in the group’s power and support - it never fails me or my patients.

This is a ridiculous.
I am a former patient and was treated in group therapy by MJ.
Thanks to her compassion, care and dedication I am no longer a patient being treated under any mental health services after having relied on these services for 15 years.

I have had many therapists and have experienced a range of attitudes and types of therapists. None of them were even close to being as professional, dedicated, caring and effective as MJ. NONE.

Who is in charge of these decision?

I am really surprised at any person who not jump at the chance to hire MJ and I question if these decisions are being made by people who are looking at the best interest of patients because this behaviour clearly indicated that they are not.

It really shows that they are clearly no longer in touch with what patients need nor are they at all up to date with the shoddy state of the mental health service and the suffering of thousands of people who given half the change can benefit a great deal from an experienced well qualified therapist.

I really cant find enough words to praise MJ. She gave me so much and this has not only benefited me but it has a knock on effect of improving the life of my husband and 4 kids who depend on me to be a strong and healthy member of the family.

I am still in touch with several of my fellow patients from group therapy and all of them have experienced dramatic improvements after having the honor of being part of MJ's group therapy.

This is a really strange world that we live in where an experienced, well respected and EXTRAORDINARY therapist is not considered qualified enough for a psychiatric nurse role. No wonder so many people are developing mental health issues.

Now how do I put this without sounding over the top? Difficult as I feel so strongly about this issue.

In 2006 I had been through the therapy "mill", had seen all sorts of professionals for all sorts of reasons. I was 26 at the time and even my own mother had trouble picturing me past 30 years of age.

Eventually, I was put forward for one of MJ's groups. My life didn't change immediately - it was a slow and painful process for all involved but it DID change.

It would be easy for you reading this to think that perhaps I am an isolated case but this is not so - there is an army of minds out here who have been healed and nurtured through MJ's skill, professionalism and dedication.

The "job" that MJ does is a culmination of so many disciplines it's hard to count them. I say "job" as it never seems like work to her. Her warmth has stayed with me 4 and half years after ending my treatment. I take her wisdom and guidance with me wherever I go.

I sit here in my safe and stable home with my wedding ring gleaming in the moonlight and my beautiful baby daughter sleeping upstairs and I am totally assured that not only can I handle all of this but that I am doing a great job. Let me tell you categorically that this would not be the case had I not found MJ.

The Priory can spout whatever nonsense they wish but take it from someone who ACTUALLY knows - this woman deserves respect and reverence. Anything less would be a "whitewash".

Yes, my pun was funny but not as funny as the idea that institutional rascism is a thing of the past.

Y.M.

"This woman has saved more lives than a paramedic"


a quote from another service user who wishes to remain anonymous

I wholly agree.

That MJ is in this position comes as a surprise to me as she is far beyond the requirements for that job. It's to her credit that she is not in it for the money and shows to anyone that she is dedicated.
She was the catalyst for my recovery, I was stagnating for a decade and not making any progress. I was simply stuck until I began attending her young adults user group, it was very hard work and MJ was like no therapist I'd worked with to that point, she challenged me in a consturctive way and I learned so much from her and my fellow group members. By the time I left I'd actually started to manage my issues and was set to go further down the road of recovery, I cannot thank Mj I enough for her help and I can say I wouldn't be the person I am today, a much healthier person, one who now costs the NHS less money than if I hadn't had the opportunity to work with her.
I hope to meet her again one day to let her know how much she helped me and my inner circle.

nickitaylor8 wrote:
Date: 6th November 2012-11-06
Re: Mrs M J Maher.



To whomever it may concern.

I am writing in support for
Mrs MJ Maher who over the years has become a trusted colleague/supervisor

.
Mrs Maher holds a strong work ethic and is held in high regard both by her professional groups and her clients. For many years Mrs Maher has held many complex and challenging psychotherapy groups, often in quite isolating circumstances. Equally I have witnessed her on many occasions, sensitively handle emotive and particularly explosive situations, such as child protection /risk issues and racism upon herself with a high level of professionalism and competency.
I very much value Mrs Maher's input, knowledge, diverse experience and her ability to stay grounded ensuring that client centred care is her highest priority. I feel both sad and angry about how even in this day and age professionals can be treated so appallingly. I feel Mrs Maher’s points are valid and very much a result of institutionalised bullying, which insidiously affects the individuals level of confidence and esteem, by disempowering and silencing them, rather than enabling the employee to pursue their rightful entitlements. Institutional bullying of staff members needs urgent further investigation. Commissioners surely should be informed of how their money is invested and how mental health forensic setting, staff members are particularly vulnerable to the power dynamics at play from within the management structure.
I wish Mrs Maher the very best with her protest and really do help things can change as a result.
NT

Susan K

I have never met MJ, however she changed my life because she helped my daughter to climb from the morass of misery, pain and self harm which was escalating so that I feared for her life.

This is a person who should be celebrated, instead she seems to have fallen foul of those in charge of her at the Priory.

I hope she succeeds in her quest for justice. She is brave and kind.

Thank you MJ.