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Mrs Bigsurfer is very interested in mental health and helping people. She fancies a change of career currently she is a self employed carer/domestic cleaner. In the past she has run a successful sign writing business. The main thing is she would like some sort of approach that doesn't need 5 years training. Obviously training will be required but if some of it could be on the job that would be great. Money isn't the biggest concern. She does need to earn but we are trying to find a more fulfilling job possible for her last 10 or 15 years of her working life. Any advice greatly received.
I might be wrong but I don't think this is possible.
(Based on couple of friends who are in mental health - and there's a lot of training)
Sharkbait, you may well be correct. Mrs Bigsurfer was chatting to some paramedics the other day and it turned out that one of them was basically doing full on the job training to be a paramedic starting from pretty much nothing. It just started us thinking. Some sort of assistant type position would be perfect to get a better idea of the exact type of work she may want to train for.
There are various part time / distance learning/ type schemes for nursing. Takes longer than full time study tho probably 5 years+ to get a diploma
She could do a counseling qualification perhaps in a shorter time but working in the mental health field will require qualifications mainly unless you want to work as a care assistant in a dementia home
Mental Health Nursing? 3 year degree programme with placement learning whilst studying? NHS LSF currently providing a £5k grant per year that will go towards degree costs?
Mrs P began a counselling course in her early 50s before sadly her own physical health halted everything. After a (tough) year and a half she was making ready to begin core practitioner training. She had a background working in care and crisis centres which she reckons helped a lot with Stage 2.
https://www.bacp.co.uk/careers/careers-in-counselling/training/
Even quicker way in would be care worker or special needs teaching assistant at SLD residential school, maybe with older pupils or transitional?
Such schools tend to encourage/demand and offer a good selection of vocational training. As the latter in another life I worked alongside psychotherapists, behavioural therapists, speech therapists, music therapists, art therapists etc.. and trained in the TEACCH approach, among others. Can be hugely rewarding. Some of the best years of my life were spent working with some incredible human beans, staff and clients alike.
crystals.
counselling, as above. though there was talk a few years ago about upping the minimum qualifications required to work in this field.
occupational therapy may also be of interest. there used to be nhs bursaries available, not sure if this is still the case. may also be hampered by where the courses are run
Mrs Bigsurfer was chatting to some paramedics the other day and it turned out that one of them was basically doing full on the job training to be a paramedic starting from pretty much nothing.
Very few trusts offer this now. @p20 did it like this 10+ years ago working up from the bottom, but it’s now the exception. Most now require a 4 year degree with 1 year on the job as part of it.
occupational therapy may also be of interest. there used to be nhs bursaries available, not sure if this is still the case.
Yes there is funding for various NHS areas including occ health, paramedic science etc https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund
mental health charities,as a volunteer to see if its what you want, be a good listener have a sence of humour, be kind and sometimes firm. Training can be done in work,
Its a great feeling when you help someone, some say thanks some dont,also if in the nhs expect lots of grades and demarcations eg its your job not mine etc.
Worked in mental health for 6 years, patients where great management and some staff where a bit difficult.
Two year apprentiship, paid over £18,000 a year. Band 4, (over £20,000) once qualified.
Train and study whilst working on a ward.
A great course, I graduated earlier this year.
You're not tied to any particular speciality but I work in Mental Health, in a medium secure foresnsic environment.
You can take a further 18 month course to top up to a full Band 5 nursing qualification once
you're registered with the RCN as a Nursing Associate.
The only things you can't do is run the ward on your own or be the dispenser of controlled drugs.
It's fantastic.
Earn whilst you learn. Everyone's a winner.
Saved me about £50,000 compared to the cost of doing a 3 year nursing degree.
Drop us a line if you want any further info!
Become a teacher and you will also be a full time councilor, full time carer, and full time therapist, and you will have to deal with the parents who expect you to know everything about mental health too.
How about volunteering for the Samaritans or similar first, would give her an idea of what its all about and whether she would want to pursue a career from it.
just start as a Band 2/3 depending on the area, they are crying out for staff in most places, or get a bank contract, there's loads of them at the moment, and pick and choose and work around the different types of wards to find your place, you have acute, rehab, mens, women's, slow stream last port before community stuff, crisis, alsorts
I had zero training, zero experience and managed to get my self a band 2 post on an acute ward 13 or so years ago, switched jobs to a band 3 elsewhere, been in the same role years now, you can do £25k on band 3 doing night shifts no worries, depends how much money your after, I learnt early that the nursing staff are desk jockeys for not a huge amount more money, I go to work, do all the hands on stuff without having to worry about reports and paperwork
as someone whose been there a while, is there much "caring for people"? maybe from where they have come from, but its very very rare you get a success story sadly, and its a revolving door, and it its a slow process moving through the system, most consultants won't take risks, and housing them takes ages, and if they are on a home office section, its years
Get in touch with your local authority or overall health care provider. There is at the moment a huge drive to get people in to the care sector and mental health is a part of this.
I am running an LA project with the last bit of European funding over three years encouraging routes in. They are crying out for people and really trying to open up routes through on the job training or simple skill up courses, and a key audience are those looking for a career change.
dirtyrider
I learnt early that the nursing staff are desk jockeys for not a huge amount more money, I go to work, do all the hands on stuff without having to worry about reports and paperwork.
Hmm, I can't really disagree, but it depends....
Today's 12 hour shift?
4.5 hours dispensing meds. Sounds a lot, but it gives me a chance to chat with the clients, assess their mental and physical state, take obs and generally get a feel of how everyone is.
2 hours visiting and assessing someone who has just been released into the community. Is everything ok? Are they fitting in? Any signs of psychosis or relapse? Are they coping ok? Are they safe? Is the placement working out?
2.5 hours paperwork/meetings, mimimum.
1 hour for handovers.
1 hour break, officially.
Which leaves me about an hour free to spend time just speaking to people.
So, about 7 hours actually dealing with our clients, not too bad really.
But you're right about HCA's. Ours are amazing. They are involved in everything and their input is invaluble - they are just as important as any other member of staff, they know the clients inside out and the ward simply could not function without them.
Their care, opinions and observations enable the ward to function.
Everyone cares. From the matron to the domestic staff. People who don't soon seem to get bored and leave.
......but its very very rare you get a success story sadly, and its a revolving door, and it its a slow process moving through the system, most consultants won’t take risks, and housing them takes ages, and if they are on a home office section, its years
Yeah, but it does work. We do release people, but you're right, it can take many, many years.
I work on the last ward people reside on before they are released.
It's very rewarding.
I've also spent time on the high security and Psychiatric Intensive Care wards where people are still at the start of their journey.
As you know, that can be more challenging, but the staff on those wards love it.
I'm nearly 52 now and I wish I'd got into nursing years ago.
I was a neuro rehab coach before joining the NHS. I loved it, but this is just a better working environment and the rewards are extraordinary.
But you’re right about HCA’s. Ours are amazing. They are involved in everything and their input is invaluble – they are just as important as any other member of staff, they know the clients inside out and the ward simply could not function without them.
Their care, opinions and observations enable the ward to function.
ill take a bow 😊
I guess there's some bits of the nurse role I don't see, of course I care, but its extremely hard not to become a cynic and the old staff when you start start always say "ah you become cynical" but hey, if you make a difference in one persons life its worth it, I hope I have, well I know I have, I seem to have found a niche in my roll being able to talk to the the shall we say more difficult ones, that often get dismissed, it is rewarding, as long as you can cut through the rest of it, ive met such a wide range of people that your never eyes wide shut,
Fancy a job? 🙃
Yes, the cynical old buggers just make everything harder.
The day I start to think in terms of us and them I'll quit.
I just spend every day thinking '...there but for the grace of god....'
I love the days where I can just take people shopping, on home visits or just for a nice long walk. You learn so much, which then helps us to help everyone.
We have so many HCA's that would make amazing nurses. Many of the people on my course were HCA's with years of experience. They were inspirational and helped me so much.
you know there is a reason we stay HCA's though right 😂
I love the days where I can just take people shopping, on home visits or just for a nice long walk.
We have so many HCA’s that would make amazing nurses.
problem is, I don't see the upside, I don't know how I could make a better difference from what I do now
Those nice blue polo shirts? 🙂
not the best decision ever made them 😂
Ways into mental health without years and years of training
Murder a few people, chop up and bury the bodies, then blame it on the voices.
You’ll probably get the full residential package!
I should keep in mind that listening to other peoples problems you might start to dwell on their experiences in a negative context. Taking it home with you.
So training that helps you switch off will likely save your own sanity.
I don't know the details but I know two people who have completed counselling courses on the side of other full time jobs. One was an electrician and the other was in media, so it is possible.
Try contacting your local Mind organisation. They often employ STR workers (Support, Time and Recovery), sometimes in collaboration with other organisations.
As before, Band 2 HCA or nursing assistant roles (on the right ward) can be very rewarding.
Counselling is being seen as an easier or shorter route I think.
Although you can call yourself a counsellor, or could, regardless of level of qualifications, it’s generally understood that you need counselling level 4 or 5 to be an effective counsellor.
I did level 2 evening course in 2019 alongside other people who were going on to eventually do level 5, which is more like degree level. It was going to take them several years and many many hours of study.
I really enjoyed the course I did, it was exactly what I needed to support myself in my day job as social worker. But I would be wary of thinking that doing a proper counselling course is any easy quick route.