Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Site Implementation

Description

A four week Social & Therapeutic Horticulture Project (HT) was piloted in CHEast across 5 different sites in 2022. The sites included service users from older persons, disabilities and mental health. The aim was that the sites would benefit from the program and participants would increase their well-being through caring and working with plants. An evaluation piece took place in order to review the sustainability and impact of the project. The evaluation, learnings and outcome of the pilot program helped shape and scale for a bigger HT programme in 2023.

Aim of Initiative

The overall aim was to implement a four week HT programme in 5 sites across CHEast (Disability Older Persons and Mental Health). Objectives:
• Engage with a company to provide HT programme for identified sites
• Implement HT programme in each nominated site
• Set up communication & engagement plan
• Secure funding for the project
• Support the implementation of relevant actions in the HSE Mental Health Promotion plan locally – Action 12 Support the implementation of community-wide mental health promotion initiatives based on the principles of empowerment, inclusion, and co-production
• Evaluate the sustainability and impact of the pilot

Who is it aimed at

Older person, disability and mental health services

3 Steps critical to success

1. Engage with a company to provide HT programme for identified sites
2. Establish a implementation programme of the HT program in each nominated site
3. Implement relevant actions in the HSE Mental Health Promotion plan locally – Action 12 Support the implementation of community-wide mental health promotion initiatives based on the principles of empowerment, inclusion, and co-production

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Competing work demands for clinical staff in sites
2. Service user engagement/capacity
3. Service user engagement/capacity

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. Measurable outcomes included: enable mechanisms for project evaluation and feasibility for future projects, project report, project sustainability plan and lessons learned log, survey for staff of each site and survey for each participant.
   Looking at how the project made the service better, I have taken examples from our policy priority/strategy:
   • Planning for the needs of increasing, changing and/or ageing population & Strengthen Service Re-Design and/or Delivery- HT is beneficial for the aging population and promotes social inclusion. HT strengthens the delivery of programmes to service users

2. Improving the Health and Wellbeing of the population and local communities- HT promotes and improves overall health & wellbeing for service users within CH East
3. • Addressing Health Inequalities – towards Universal Healthcare (population-based health service design and delivery achieving universal eligibility)- HT programme is population based within the community – Groups targeted at risk of isolation