Sheringham Medial Practice Mind Team

Mental Health Social Prescriber – Claire Hawkes
Claire Hawkes is based at Sheringham Medical Practice once a week on a Thursday. Claire is a mental health social prescribing link worker employed by Norfolk and Waveney MIND. Claire role is to support people experiencing difficulties that affect their overall wellbeing including anxiety, low mood, loneliness and isolation, stress, social problems, and bereavement. Claire can help individuals explore a wide range of support and services including community groups, charities, counselling and other talking therapies and self-help resources. Claire is available on a Thursday, initial appointments are 45 minutes long, usually with 1-4 follow up appointments of 15-30 minutes depending on the individual.

Mental Health Case Worker – Sharone Stilgoe
Sharon Stilgoe is based at Sheringham Medical Practice, 4 days per week on a Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Friday. Sharon is a Mental Health Caseworker employed by Norfolk and Waveney Mind; Sharon is also a fully qualified experienced Person-centered counsellor.

Sharon’s role is to offer support and guidance and further signposting as required, Sharon can help with a range of Mental Health issues for people suffering with Mental ill Health, including Anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement and loss, trauma, domestic abuse, eating disorders and more offering a safe place for patients to explore their feelings through empathetic listening, also offering guidance and support, coping strategies and distraction techniques. Sharon can also signpost/refer to Wellbeing, REST, Mind low-cost counselling, social prescribing, a much more, and longer-term support if needed.

Telephone and Face to face appointments available, 1-hour Initial consultation and follow up appointments.

Support is designed to be short term; however, support will be guided by individual patient needs and circumstances. “Sheringham Medical Practice -Primary Care Network Team

Parish Nurse – Nia Heycock
Nia qualified as a nurse in 2002 at the University of Wales, Bangor. She has worked in many NHS Trusts including Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. In November 2021 she became a Parish Nurse working for the Salvation Army Corps in Sheringham.

As a Parish Nurse Nia offers personal health advice, advocacy support, health education, assistance with blue badge forms and she also helps run support groups in Sheringham, including a Bereavement Care group held at the Salvation Army Hall on Friday mornings. Nia is also able to seek support for people in the community that may require more assistance within their own homes. Nia works closely with local agencies and can make referrals when required.

Nia runs a clinic at the GP surgery every Tuesday morning from 09:15-12:15.

First Point Physiotherapist – Gary Beauchamp
Gary is a First Contact physiotherapist and is based at Sheringham Medical practice. Gary works in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and alternate Fridays. Gary competed his honours degree in Physiotherapy at the University of East Anglia and graduated in 1998. He completed his junior grade physiotherapy rotations at the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston and after a spell in Ascot returned to Norfolk in 2001. Specialising in Musculoskeletal out-patients and he has worked in North Norfolk for over 20 years developing my skills.

The First contact Physiotherapist role offers fast access to a Physiotherapist with expertise in Musculoskeletal conditions. They will offer a comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, advice and education on how to manage your condition and if specialist services are necessary? (Orthopaedics, Rheumatology) refer onto these. 20-25% of Sheringham patients attend the practice with Musculoskeletal conditions that do not require being seen by a GP. First contact Physiotherapy offers fast access to expert advice locally to the patient.

Clinical Pharmacist – Sarah Mapes
Sarah qualified as a pharmacist in 2002 following a 5year Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and work experience in NNUH and community pharmacies. Sarah’s first job was managing what was then Moss Pharmacy in Sheringham for 7 years before starting a Teacher Practitioner Role at UEA, completing a Clinical Pharmacy Diploma, and moving into Primary Care work across all 19 North Norfolk Practices for 13 years. During this time, she completed the Independent Prescribing Course, Asthma and COPD diplomas. In February 2020 Sarah moved into a PCN role with Fakenham, Holt, Sheringham and Wells and in December 2021 she completed an 18-month training pathway to develop further new skills and knowledge for working in general practice.

As a Clinical Pharmacist Sarah is now based only at Sheringham she brings a range of new skills including expert knowledge of medicines, supporting the practice team from GPs to dispensary. It is a varied role, still in development but an average day involves providing advice to clinicians and dispensary, speaking to patients by phone or face to face to resolve problems, reviewing medication and optimising it particularly for patients on lots of medication, carrying out medication audits, checking medication monitoring, visiting care homes, liaising with community pharmacies and hospitals, sharing research and safety updates with the practice team.

Sarah works in practice on alternate Tuesdays and every Thursday and Friday.

Social Prescriber – Maya Starr
Social Prescribing Link workers give people time (one hour appointment slot), focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Areas covered:

• Abuse/exploitation
• Blue Badge applications
• Benefit Advice – support with claims (AA, PIP, DLA)
• Care support
• Carer’s support
• Common Mental Health Problems
• Community groups
• Dementia/memory loss
• Employment/learning
• Debt/budgeting advice
• Health
• Home adaptation/assistive technology
• Housing
• Local opportunities for leisure interests
• Low level legal advice
• Long term condition management/support
• New to the area
• Social Isolation
• Substance misuse
• Support in parenting/childcare
• Transport
• Volunteering opportunities
• Wellbeing