Support worker Review

I am a mental health support worker, I work in a psychiatric hospital in pontypridd. I support patients who have been sectioned by the courts, for safety of themselves or others, to live day to day. It is a secure unit therefore things are limited. I provide physical and emotion support.

I have a much larger understanding of mental health and mental health illness such as, BPD, PD, Bipolar and many more. I have the skills to verbally and physically de-escalate a patient who is in crisis and can provide the emotional support they need at that time. I have a much greater understand of secure units.

I enjoy the programme a lot. I have time to socialise while being on shift and while also keeping professional. I have developed many friendships within my role to whom I will appreciate. I get to see patients join and develop themselves till they are feeling well and fit for community.

The programme is very structured. As it is a secure unit, it is vital that many things go as planned or as needed. It is important to remain structured to ensure the patients have an understanding of their care while also have an understanding of why we use best interest decisions.

I receive some support of my employer. It depends on the situation I’m requiring support on. We have employee programmes to which you can call a number and receive help on your situation, whatever that may be, there’s also councilling sessions available to employees if needed also. H

I have received a lot of support from my trainer since joining the programme. I have much more understanding of what I am doing and what I will be doing in the coming months. My trainer has support me with both coursework and personal. She is very approachable and I find it easy to talk to her.

I feel it has developed me as an individual as I have much more understanding on what my role is and how important the health care section is. It has helped me develop both my my ants and English skills and also small but some words in the welsh language.

We don’t have any extra activities but as a unit inside the hospital we make it a priority to organise monthly outgoings to keep the team moral going. Whether that be a night on or a meal or even some event that is happening local to the team members.

Yes

I would recommend the company as I have worked there for 2 and a half years and I have learned more about mental health than I ever thought I would and learned a lot about myself through the job and also my co workers. It has helped me in many ways.

Be goal focused on what you want and also have a basic understanding of what the job is. Full training is provide but it will work in their favour if they was to do some small research about mental health if they are unsure on what mental health involves. M