Our trauma navigator pilot team, known by all of us as BLOSM, are celebrating one year since they started at CHFT.

BLOSM supports people who have presented with complex social issues, giving colleagues the training and tools to identify these concerns and make appropriate referrals into community services. It uses the principles of trauma-informed care to create multi-agency support service across Emergency Departments at CHFT, delivering patient-centred care to help reduce health inequalities.

The first part of the service is the youth navigator pilot, which supports young people aged between 11-25. BLOSM youth workers are on site seven-days-a-week, supporting vulnerable young people who have attended with complex social issues. 

Over the course of the past year, BLOSM has had more than 700 interactions supporting 641 young people in and beyond A&E. 

13-year-old Maya* was one of the young people supported by the service. In a podcast recorded at the end of last year, Maya was joined by her mum, and support worker, Beth (pictured centre), and described how CHFT's BLOSM service helped support her through a difficult time. In the recording, she says: "The BLOSM service has really helped me with my mental health. They've helped the schools and other services listen to me and to what I was saying and feeling." 

BLOSM Service Lead, Alistair Christie (pictured second from left), said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the work of the BLOSM team over the past twelve months. It’s not always been easy, but I know that the service has had a real impact on people’s lives, as well as on our A&E departments.

"The national praise the service has received has been amazing, but the real reward is knowing that we’ve helped so many people access the help they need.”

BLOSM stands for:

• Bridging the gap
• Leading a change in culture
• Overcoming adversity
• Supporting vulnerable people
• Motivating independence and confidence

*Maya's name has been changed to protect her identity