the role of a support worker

[HONEYSWEET]

does any1 know

asking as i had 1 and the psycho psychologist took her away and now ive been told theres no role for a support worker!?

 

[nickh]

Did you have a CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse)? What did the previous support worker do for you honeysweet? Different Trusts can mean somewhat different things by the term I would imagine.

Nick.

 

[keepsafe]

Sheesh - I want to put yet again
WHATS ONE OF THOSE - I am fed up to the back teeth of waiting for more help - but really I don;t know what I am expecting a magic wand to make it all better?? It is going to be a let down isn;t it whatever it is. I am still on a waiting list for more pyschological therapy and I am going to get assigned a worker - when, when - when I have tried too many times to kill myself. What does it take.
Oh am I CATASTROPHISING - YEAH GUESS I MUST BE.
DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH

 

[unlucky]

Deep breaths keepsafe!!
I'm the same, been promised a cpn for a year and a half!! It really depends where you live I think.

 

[GrizzlyBear]

I'm still waiting for mine too. I was assessed for need...and she said she'd arrange support for when my son comes home. But....well.....now would be good.

I think that I got bumped up the waiting list (for the appointments with the psychologist) after my third stay in hospital KS....so....my stay there seemed useless at the time....but it was B & B and art therapy with the added bonus of a jump forward in the queue for therapy?

 

[keepsafe]

Its funny isn;t it - no support.

 

[keepsafe]

I meant a C.P.N anyway - not a support worker or anything would be good. I was told that it might muddy the waters when I was having my therapy sessions and they didn;t want to do that the crisis care team - pah care.
I don;t know what I think they should do though really - so instead I have a cocktail of drugs to take everyday and the 10mg diasepam tabs that i keep chucking down my throat yeah this is living - yeah I am so grateful and happy.
Sorry I am so negative
I just want some help

I should take this off this thread sorry

 

[ramboghettouk]

My support worker closed my case, i said i wanted someone to be there for me and she said her job was rehab for independent living, ironically because she isn't supporting me in independent living i sometimes feel like going into more supportive accomodation were i'd be more dependent.

With the cuts in public spending i don't expect a support worker back

 

[HONEYSWEET]

my support worker went places with me talked about stuff gave me ideas and cared she listened to

 

[*Sapphire*]

Arrgh! This predicament really gets my goat! Why do we have a postcode lottery when it comes to the treatment of people suffering from mental illness, surely as past or future tax payers, or being related to taxpayers we should all have equal rights to equal treatment. What level or quality of care you get should be assessed on your mental health needs rather than on the budgets of a badly or well run council or authority.

Anyway i now step down from my soapbox!

I had a CPN, but was then allocated an approved social worker. In reality for me their roles do not differ and i have been fortunate that they have both offered the same level of care and commitment to me. The reason they gave for swapping me to an approved social worker was that my CPN had a huge caseload and was changing roles, which i thought was quite valid as it would have been awful if i required a higher level of support which she couldn't deliver.

However on paper their roles are quite different.

Everyone who is under the mental health services needs a Keyworker or care coordinator, however this can be undertaken by a psychologist, CPN or social worker. Your psychologist MAY have undertaken that role therefore (in their eyes) negating your need for your support worker, IF that was the role they were fulfilling for you.

HOWEVER the role of the keyworker is to act as the co-ordinator of the mental health services needed by their patients. The keyworker has a responsibility to regularly review the progress of their patients and assess if all of their needs are being addressed. This involves gaining feedback from the patients about what they think about the help and support they are getting from the mental health team.

If you feel that your psychologist is not adequately addressing all of your needs, be it about employment, socialising, putting you in touch with groups etc then i would try to ask for another nominated keyworker or for another support worker, as on paper a support workers role is to work in the community as part of the mental health team. They supplement the work by CPNs, eg by helping a patient to socialise more by taking them out or helping them with their shopping and one or more of the community mental health team members, such as a CPN, regularly supervise their work.

If you take a look at this link it describes in detail what each role of each professional does:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/depression/mentalhealthprofessionals_000358.htm

It may be the case that THEY have made a decision that you no longer meet their criteria for having a support worker, if that is the case and you feel that you do need their support, as quoted earlier the role of your keyworker whoever it may be is to "regularly review the progress of their patients and assess if all of their needs are being addressed. This involves gaining feedback from the patients about what they think about the help and support they are getting from the mental health team"

I would put your point of view across to them and get them to reassess your needs.

I am lucky for three reasons,
1. I have access to excellent services in the area, this county is by far the best county i have lived in for supplying mental health services
2. Because I have lived in two other counties with sub-standard mental health services I have learned to be vocal and clear about my needs, and I actively research what is available in the area and ask for it even if it isn't initially offered to me. If i am unwell and unable to do that i see no shame in asking family to act on my behalf. I have also acted as an advocate for learning disabilities and mental health users which gave me a good grounding for pursuing my rights.
3. Absurdley because I have been on section (even though it was two years ago) that section now acts as a section to the mental health sevices in the area, in that as they sectioned me they are now legally bound to give me some level of support as long as a i feel i need it. The one and only good thing to come out of my section -yey!

Although my county offers great services, every person i know who suffers with a mental illness in the area receive a different level of care, either because - their Keyworker has a larger/smaller caseload, each keyworker seems to have a poorer/richer knowledge of different services offered, budgetary constraints or they are not vocal about getting their needs met - when really services offered should be based on the individuals needs. This is a terrible predicament and one I hope the government addresses in the near future.

I hope that helps

 

[nickh]

Thats a valuable post and excellent link - thanks sapphire.

Nick.

 

[quality factor]

My CMHT have a 'referral meeting' every Wednesday morning, when different 'clients' are discussed by the whole team from the Consultant through to the OT people, it is a 'grand gathering'!! Here new cases are made familiar with the team and existing cllients who are struggling may be discussed and offered help.

I have been allocated a support worker for twelve months (coming to the end now) she has helped me with domestic issues , finances and sometimes we have done coffee to overcome anxiety in public places.

I also have another support worker specifically for dealing with social isolation...we go in groups to swimming and of late we have begun Tai Chi.

I have a CPN who sees me every week when I'm in crisis , otherwise it is a fortnightly visit.

Services provided are assessed on the individual's level of need,and are gradually withdrawn as things improve. It is usually a team decision,following indivual staffs' recommendation.

From what I can gather, this 'care in the community' approach is not taken up by many service users on the recreation side.

My CPN told me she had a caseload of 30 severe and enduring mentally ill clients at the moment, some of whom are 'ticking over quite well', and others who need constant support.

Having had experience of two other CMHT's over the years, this is a good set-up and I suppose compared to other folks' comments about their support, I am one of the fortunate ones.

QF.

 

[ramboghettouk]

I have downgraded him from enhanced to standard CPA which means he no longer has a care co ordinator and his progress will be monitored in outpatients only

Since got an advocate and written the shrink a letter, the advocate came round today, i'm a bit worried that as i've bought up bad halth the meds will be changed, anyway the advocate said "you've been compliant with meds for 30yrs if anyone has a right to come off them it's you"

Feel people are pushing their own agendas on me, alll i want is a quiet life, remember saying to one friend "i just want to be left alone" she said "thats exactly what they are doing".

 

[HONEYSWEET]

hi thanks for replying i will look at that link as well

QUALITY FACTOR is yr support worker katrina by any chance?

xx

 

[quality factor]

hi thanks for replying i will look at that link as well

QUALITY FACTOR is yr support worker katrina by any chance?

xx

Hi, no it's a lady called Lorna and another lady called Marilyn.
Are you on Saturn in Flintshire by any chance??!!
QF.