Thanks to everyone who took part:
Amy Wilby Senior Staff Nurse, Gledholt Mews and Coach House
Sarah Bidwell Clinical Team Leader, Learning Disability Nurse, Cygnet Hospital Colchester
Ali Curtis CAMHS Lead Nurse, Cygnet Hospital Sheffield
Kelly Curtis Team Leader, Cygnet Hospital Appletree
Josh Clarke Nurse Associate, Cygnet Nield House
Emma Mortimer Team Leader, Support Worker Health Care, Cygnet Appletree
What made you decide to work in mental health?
Amy: Over the years I have worked predominantly within the mental health sector. I have worked with a number of individuals with a dual diagnosis and I found that I enjoyed working in a mental health setting as I got the best of both worlds.
There continues to be stigma around mental illness and services that are provided. If someone is diagnosed with a mental illness then they should be offered the same opportunities as others.
We all, at some point in our own lives, will experience mental illness; whether this is ourselves or a friend or family member. You never know what life will throw at you, and your life can change in a moment, through no fault of your own.
We should not judge or discriminate others and every one of us should be treated with respect and as equals, mental health diagnosis or not. People need a voice, they need people to advocate for them.
It is so easy to judge someone if they are ‘acting outside the norm’. If I can make a difference to one person by supporting them or directing them to get the correct support, then I have achieved something.
Working as a Learning Disability Nurse I was aware of the health inequalities within the learning disability/mental health sector. Individuals with enduring mental health conditions are unable to get the help they need and are not listened to.
One of the reasons I wanted to continue working within mental health services is because I have a voice and am able to advocate on others’ behalf in getting the services that they require.
Ali: Both my parents have physical disabilities and are wheelchair users, my mum also has learning disabilities and mental health issues. Growing up I saw both the best and worst practice from services and I wanted to make a difference using my own lived experience.
Kelly: I wanted to work in mental health because I believe people with mental health issues aren’t always treated respectfully or taken seriously. Some individuals are led to believe mental health disorders are something to be ashamed of, and often do not seek help due to stigma or fear that they will be rejected from family and friends.
I wanted to work in mental health to empower, educate others, raise awareness, change attitudes, and reduce the stigma attached.
How did you become a Mental Health Nurse?
Amy: I have always voiced that I wanted to be a nurse, however, life takes over at times. After working in the retail and catering sectors for a number of years I took on a job at a local school as a lunch time supervisor, supporting a child with a learning disability.
I enjoyed this role and decided that I wanted to do something more with my career. My own children were growing up, so it was now my time to start my own journey and train to be a nurse. I was unsure what branch of nursing
I wanted to study – though I did know I did not want to be a General Nurse.
I chose Learning Disability Nursing due to my experience within the school setting and I knew that I would spend more time with individuals.
I returned to college and completed an access to higher education course and then applied for university. I trained as a Learning Disability Nurse at the University of York, qualifying in 2008. Since qualifying I have worked in a number of different services – mental health forensic wards, low secure, and male and female adult rehabilitation wards.
Sarah: I initially started a Business Studies Course at University but quickly learnt that this was not the right direction for me. I therefore left university and started working in an elderly home as a Support Worker for approximately six months. During this time I found an interest in supporting patients who were finding it difficult to communicate verbally.
This led me to enrol at Anglia Ruskin University and I completed my Learning Disability Nurse training between 2000 – 2003.
During my final management module at university, I volunteered as a student nurse at a hospital in Croatia for a month where I supported individuals with learning disabilities. This was a huge eye-opener, to see the difference in how another country provided care with extremely limited resources.
Having this opportunity so early on in my career changed my perspective in the care I deliver to individuals with a learning disability and encouraged me to research and access the available resources within this country.
I have also been fortunate enough to be able to access additional university modules since qualifying as a Learning Disability Nurse, such as becoming a Mentor for students and completing a Mental Health Module which has provided insight into understanding individuals with a dual diagnosis with Learning Disability and Mental Health needs.
Ali: I qualified as a Learning Disability Nurse in 2010 then gained a further degree in Mental Health Care in 2012. I started my nursing career in male adult forensic low and medium secure hospitals, before starting management roles in female locked rehab hospitals and duel diagnosis services.
I then moved to children’s services and managed secure children’s homes before joining Cygnet as CAMHS Ward Manager.
Kelly: Before I qualified as a Mental Health Nurse I had various jobs ranging from factory work to housekeeping. I then accepted a job in supported living, supporting children and adults with challenging behaviour. I thoroughly enjoyed this role and therefore applied for Mental Health Nursing at Northumbria University.
Can you describe a typical day at work?
Sarah: A typical day is never the same on Larch Court. I always attend to duty with an open mind and ready to think outside the box.
There are, of course, regular daily nursing duties to undertake and routines to support our individuals to achieve; however, Learning Disability Nurses are part of a multi-disciplinary team, so I work closely with a number of professions including Psychiatrists, Speciality Doctors, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
I also liaise with GPs, families, commissioners and social workers. We always work in a person-centred and individualised way and ensure that the needs of the person with learning disabilities dictate who is involved.
At the start of the shift, I will initially check on the individuals in our care and then receive a handover, which includes the individual’s current risks and care plans. An allocation is completed which takes into consideration the staffing team skill mix and who will be supporting which individual throughout the course of the day.
Part of my nursing responsibilities is to administer medication, attend ward rounds, CPA meetings and manager meetings. I am involved with supervising staff and providing induction training for new starters.
Throughout the day, I will be on the ‘shop floor’ and provide 1:1 key sessions for the individuals within our care. There may be occasions where the individuals in our care can present with complex behaviours and I am responsible for ensuring the safety of these individuals and staff during such times.
Ali: Every day is so different for me! I’m mainly at Cygnet Hospital Sheffield or I could be at Cygnet Hospital Bury or Cygnet Hospital Joyce Parker, as I visit the CAMHS services. At Sheffield I am part of the Senior Management Team, so I support the CAMHS Ward Managers with all aspects of their role. I also deliver training, support student nurses and work with the quality team on improvement projects or co-production projects.
Kelly: A typical day involves administering medication, chairing morning meetings, completing actions from morning meeting, organising the shift plan, facilitating any appointments for our service users, attending meetings, preparing for admissions/discharges, advocating for and comforting individuals, assessing mood and mental state and ensuring the level of observation and access to items/areas are least restrictive. Documentation is checked throughout the day to ensure accuracy.
Josh: My shift typically starts at 07:45. We attend the boardroom for handover from the previous shift. We then go on the ward to start and have a walk around to check the environment and see any patients that are awake.
Following this, one Nurse starts the medications round and the other prepares for morning meeting with the MDT. The patients engage with the therapy programme until lunchtime. We spend a lot of time with the patients on the ward throughout the day, playing board games, doing quizzes, helping with education and supporting them to help in their recovery.
What is the best part of your job?
Emma: The best part of being a Support Worker is that no two days are ever the same and the satisfaction you get when a patient becomes well and moves on. I would also say speaking with the patients’ families, as they are the ones who usually deal with the patient 24/7 in the community and they are so grateful to finally receive help and support themselves.
Amy: The best part of my role is supporting the individuals day to day. Supporting them to achieve everyday tasks that they thought were not achievable. To be part of someone’s journey, I feel, is a privilege and during my career I have had the opportunity to be part of a lot of journeys.
One in particular that stands out is supporting a resident’s family to inform their brother that their mum had sadly passed away. I had worked closely with the individual for a number of years and I had built up a very good therapeutic relationship with the resident and the family.
When mum had passed I took the call and they asked me if I could be there when they informed their brother. I agreed to be there without giving it a second thought. These moments, even though they are not the happy moments, stay with you. I felt privileged that the family respected and trusted me to be part of this moment with their brother.
I enjoy everything about my job. I have yet to have that feeling when I wake on a morning that I don’t want to go to work.
Each day is different and you never know what is waiting for you when you get to work. There are ups and downs, as with every, job. However, I am working with individuals who want to do well and achieve. Yes, there are days when you have your head in your hands and wonder what you are going to be faced with next. Then, there are days when you laugh so much you are unable to stop laughing.
Some of the best moments of my job are when I see someone smile because they have achieved something, no matter how big or small it may be, someone having the respect for me so that they are able to speak with me about how they are feeling, anxieties, and concerns they have, or what has gone well for them.
It is rewarding when someone is able to recognise what they have achieved, knowing how much this means to them. Not everyone works at the same speed and it may take someone longer to achieve a goal than others. Seeing someone achieve what they thought they would not achieve makes all the hard work worthwhile.
When a resident comes to find you to speak with you to let you know things have gone well for them, these are the moments in my job I enjoy the most.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Emma: The most challenging part of the role would be getting to know “triggers” and general background information about a patient, especially if they are not well known to services.
Ali: Everything needs to be done yesterday! When working with such unwell young people, it can be difficult to keep on top of everything and get things actioned quickly.
Sarah: The word “challenging” gets used a lot in Learning Disability Nursing. People we support may present with what may be considered “challenging behaviours”.
Individuals may experience a breakdown within their community placement which leads to their admission within our service, and at times these individuals are in a crisis situation and present with complex behaviours when initially admitted.
Although these challenges can sometimes be seen as uncomfortable, they are often challenges we want to accept, as they provide the opportunity for incredible achievements. Challenging behaviour provides an opportunity to grow a deeper understanding about how people communicate and express their needs.
Helping individuals in our care to find alternative and more positive ways in which to express themselves, whether this is verbal or non-verbal, can take time, but to support an individual through their care pathway from admission through to discharge is in incredible part of being a Learning Disability Nurse.
Why should people consider a career as a mental health nurse?
Sarah: Being a Learning Disability Nurse is unique and a specialist role. I believe it to be a position of trust that gives a family the confidence to delegate the care of their loved one to someone else who will understand the unique needs of their loved one and their family as a whole.
I believe strongly that the fact that a person cannot understand or express their needs in the usual fashion does not diminish their opinion. I want to support and encourage them to make their own choices and help others learn to make adjustments to accommodate their needs.
To become a Learning Disability Nurse involves empathy, sensitivity and compassion when working with individuals and their families. It often requires flexibility, patience and creativity in difficult circumstances because positive results may take a long time to achieve.
If you are assertive, self-aware, have good communication skills and have the ability to advocate for people with learning disabilities, I would strongly recommend considering a career as a Learning Disability Nurse to support the individuals in our society who are overlooked to achieve their potential.
Josh: People should consider working in mental health as it is a very rewarding career and does not feel like any other job. Supporting patients in their time of need and helping them learn about their condition takes a special person.
Ali: It’s incredibly rewarding, seeing young people make such progress and being discharged from hospital to go on and live happy successful lives. It’s amazing. I honestly couldn’t do anything else!
Kelly: A career as a Mental Health Nurse is so rewarding. Mental Health Nursing gives you the chance to make a real difference to those suffering from mental health disorders. You get to meet people from all walks of life and learn so much from patients and staff.
Amy: One in four people will experience some form of mental health in their lifetime – there is a shortage of Mental Health Nurses nationally. There is a high demand for trained Nurses so opportunities are there, you just need to take them.
Training to be a Mental Health Nurse gives you the skills to support individuals through the various stages of recovery. There are opportunities to work in a number of different settings supporting children, adults and the elderly.
My advice would be, if you’re interested, to and go see for yourself what it has to offer. There are endless opportunities out there as Mental Health Nurses. It is diverse and there are various roles under the ‘umbrella’ of Mental Health Nurse – community, prison, forensic, rehabilitation, the list is endless. If you want to, and feel that you can make a difference, then what is stopping you? Go on and give it a try.