It’s been really long time since I’ve written regularly on Word-Press. I started a new job at the beginning of April and it’s been putting me through my paces, mentally and emotionally, and consequently I haven’t had the time or energy to focus upon anything else. I’m working for a homeless charity called St Mungo’s,…… Continue reading Update- I’m still here, haven’t been banged up yet.
I woke up this morning on a new mattress. I ordered it just before Christmas, it arrived on Wednesday afternoon and the last three night’s sleep have been blissful. I wasn’t sure whether I’d notice a difference in the morning straight away; my last mattress was eleven years old and had cost about £150 when…… Continue reading The times, they are a’changing..
I have just arrived at a new job, quite literally- I just walked through the door to the building five minutes ago. I’m sitting in the waiting room now, because I got here a bit early and my new manager is still on the phone. I’m fairly nervous, although reasonably, I know that there’s no…… Continue reading Starting a new role at work, managing nerves and other distractions.
In learning how deeply entrenched and rigid my own ideas of support work and Social Work were, I came to accept that there are other ways of approaching these roles, and other ways to approach the task of helping a client reach independence and higher levels of resilience. I also came to accept that when…… Continue reading Nine months as a Support Worker, and a fairly steep learning curve (part 4)
I’ve spent the last nine months working with a great team of people. We make up a floating support team in South West London who work with people at risk of homelessness, but who are currently maintaining tenancies. Many of my colleagues have done this job for years: they were out and about helping homeless…… Continue reading Nine months as a Support Worker, and a fairly steep learning curve (part 2)
Thirteen years ago I was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia and hospitalised. I was assigned a social worker and a community psychiatric nurse, who then worked with me for about five years. They were part of the Early Intervention in Psychosis unit, and shouldn’t have worked with me for longer than about a year, but because…… Continue reading Nine months as a Support Worker, and a fairly steep learning curve
I started a new job back in August of last year. I had been volunteering for a homelessness charity for about six months, and when a short term position came up my boss suggested I go for it. It was kind of a dream come true for me- after thirteen years of unemployment and long…… Continue reading Full time work, after a 13 year battle with severe mental illness..
So- I have had a very long absense from WordPress. I started a full time job as a support worker at a homelessness charity back in August and consequently my extra curicular activities have been somewhat side-lined. I’m gradually getting used to the new pace of life though, and so hope to get back into…… Continue reading Check in- Wednesday 1st November 2017
Another Monday morning, and another day at work. Sounds a tad dreary, but actually so far the whole experience has been pretty good! I am enjoying the routine, and the early morning starts haven’t been too taxing either. I was worried that after many years of unemployment, these first few weeks might kill me, but…… Continue reading Monday check in; looking forward to the week ahead!
I have finally started my new job, and at the end of my first Monday, my feelings are… overwhelming good, tinged with a strange bittersweet desire to look to the past. I’m so bloody lucky that the position opened up, in a role which I’d already volunteered at for six months, and therefore had an…… Continue reading Musings on full-time employment- day 1
Mad new world 