The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

The first Waller Fellow (then referred to as Waller Lecturer) was appointed in April 2002. His name was Dr. Paul Walters BSc MRC Psych and he was based with Professor Andre Tylee at the Institute of Psychiatry, London. His work was divided into four parts: -
Helping to organise and coordinate Trailblazer courses (then known as Teach the Teachers throughout England based on the NIMHE regions
Organising Mental Health Skills Masterclasses
Lecturing to primary care professionals, users and carers
Disseminating educative information to primary care professionals via publications in relevant papers, journals and books.

Dr. Walters resigned as the Waller Fellow in September 2003 in order to take up a Medical Research Council Fellowship.
The Trustees decided that the resources allocated to the Waller Fellow would be better used by recruiting two part-time Fellows, each covering four NIMHE regions with one based in London and the other in Leeds. As a result of recruitment: -

Aislinn Enright BSc HND was appointed to the post in London in December 2003.

Aileen Moore MA CQSW was appointed to the post in Leeds in May 2004 based on the North-East, Yorkshire and Humber Mental Health Development Centre.

If you would like to know more about the activities, please refer to their regular reports and articles in previous newsletters.

Following the resignation of Aislinn Enright in August 2004 to join Eli Lily, the Trustees and Professor Andre Tylee have been considering how best to continue and extend the work of Waller Fellows in particular, but not exclusively, in support of the Trailblazer programme. The Trustees have agreed in principle to fund four part-time Waller Fellows pending a review of the Trailblazer programme and the drafting of a business plan laying down revised aims and objectives.

The Project Director and the Waller Fellow (North) continue to work on the Business Plan for Trailblazers. The plan will be presented to a meeting of Trailblazer tutors in Peterborough on 6th October 2005.

The first Trailblazer course has been held in the area covered by the South East Development Centre of NIMHE. The Project Director is a member of the Steering Group which is in the process of defining the content and evaluation of future courses.

The Waller Fellow (North) ran a Masterclass in Harrogate on 5th May 2005. A total of 67 people attended including 28 GPs; 18 Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners; 2 Counsellors; 2 Community Psychiatric Nurses and 3 Graduate PCMHWs. More Masterclasses are being planned.

Agreement has been reached with the South East Development Centre to employ a Waller Fellow based in Basingstoke with the remit to assist with the organisation of two Trailblazer courses and six Masterclasses each year. It is anticipated that the Waller Fellow will co-operate with those running similar courses in the South West.

Julie Sharp started a one year secondment from her post as a Team Leader / Primary Care Mental Health Practitioner on the Isle of Wight on 28th November 2005 under the partnership agreement with the South East Development Centre.

As reported in our Newsletter Aileen Moore and Julie Sharp are continuing their excellent work supporting Trailblazer Courses, Master classes and, increasingly, the raising of awareness of depression in schools.
In order to reflect the way in which these appointments have developed, their title has been changed to Waller Mental Health Trainer.
Soon we hope to have more Trainers.  We have just (25.01.07) reached agreement with the London Development centre to jointly fund a trainer over a period of at least 2 years.  The details are still being worked out. 
In addition we have been in discussions with the Scottish Development Centre with a view to appointing a Trainer in Scotland linked to the setting up of a regional CWMT branch.  The initial meeting with SDC was most encouraging. 
Finally we are also in discussion with the Eastern Development Centre and Changing Minds in Northampton (for East Midlands and West Midlands) about the funding of training in their respective areas.

The Trustees have confirmed that their top priority is to recruit more Waller Mental Health Trainers. Proposals from the London Development Centre, Changing Minds on behalf of East Midlands and the Eastern Development Centres (a change from the February 2007 update) and from the Scottish Development Centre are promised within the next week or so. In addition discussions with Denise Fisher at the Liverpool John Moore University have started with a view to appointing a trainer in the North West.

We are delighted to announce that the Trust has signed partnership agreements with Liverpool John Moore's University and the London Development Centre covering the appointment of Waller MH Trainers within the North West and London respectively.
The post at LJMU has been filled as from 1st October 2007 by Denise Fisher a senior lecturer in the School of Applied Social and Community Studies. She will split her time between the School and CWMT. Her professional and academic qualifications are numerous and include PGCE, BA (Hons) Community Mental Health, RMN, DipCPN and a Certificate in Counselling. She is a graduate of an early Trailblazers Course.
The post within the London Development Centre is linked to Young London Matters. Recruitment has started . It is hoped to hold final interviews towards the end of this Month.

London Development Centre. We are delighted to announce that Gill Allen has been appointed as the Trainer based within the London Development Centre. She will take up her appointment on 4th February 2008.
Gill is eminently well suited to the post having a Diploma in Occupational Therapy,an Advanced Drama Therapy Diploma and an MA in Consultation and Organisation amongst other professional qualifications. She is currently employed as the Early Intervention Manager for CAMHS in Croydon,South London and Maudsley NHS Trust.
CSIP/South East Development Centre. Sadly Julie Sharp resigned as the Trainer based with CSIP/SEDC as from 31st December 2007. In part her decision was due to the uncertain future of CSIP/Development Centres in particular within the SE area which includes two Strategic Health Authorities. In addition Julie was invited to return to a full time post in the Isle of Wight. Julie achieved a great deal within the SE and will be greatly missed.
Although CSIP/Development Centres continue to be funded for the time being albeit more being closely linked to respective SHAs, the SEDC is not currently in a position to host a replacement for Julie. An alternative partner organisation within the SE is being sought.

East Midlands. We are delighted to welcome Claire Poole who started as the Waller Mental Health Trainer in the East Midlands on 7 July 2008. Clare previously combined two roles: one as a Community Psychiatric Nurse with Milton Keynes PCT and the other as a Lecturer/Practitioner in the University of Northampton within the Mental Health and Learning Disability Division. Her qualifications include a MSc in Mental Health, a Postgraduate Diploma in Effective Community Care and a Diploma of Higher Education Mental Health as well as numerous others. She will be based with Changing Minds in Northampton.