Patient Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF)

Tola, co-production lead

I would like to say how excited I am to be working on such a monumental project. When I was asked to join this team it was too good an opportunity to turn down.

I have spent almost 20 years in institutions, mainly prison, but I have also been sectioned, briefly. Through participating in various different types of therapy, I have found that it's been largely a case of being misunderstood.

I've suffered with addiction for over 30 years and am one of the 'missed' autism sufferers. I finally got a diagnosis when I was over 40. This was only as a result of a judge ordering it because a mental health nurse in prison wrote a report to the parole board stating she thought I was a psychopath and required a psychopathy checklist revised (PCLR).

I have had many years of experience with intuitions who are sadly just not educated well enough around different cultures and ethnicities. Some of my previous work has involved working with clients who have a range of issues including:

• Substance misuse
• Housing
• Mental health conditions, both diagnosed and undiagnosed.

It would help if their mental health care was a primary concern, but it often came last, if at all.

I welcome this opportunity to be part of change.

Self – Assessment Checklist - Opportunities to improve the six national organisational competencies