• Question: what dose your job require you to do ?

    Asked by faith to Annabel - Head of HR, Arts Therapy Team, Ed - Mental Health Nurse, Early Intervention Team, Home Treatment Team, Neel - Psychiatrist, Psychiatry Ward Team on 30 Jan 2019. This question was also asked by A Random Person, 649menb37.
    • Photo: Sheffield Psychiatry Ward Team

      Sheffield Psychiatry Ward Team answered on 30 Jan 2019:

      Hi Kylie! Great questions 🙂 Emma here (doctor)

      During the day we conduct assessments of patients when they first come in to hospital. This includes finding out about their family situation and any stress that they have been under. Sometimes patients are suffering from paranoia, so you have to work extra hard to build rapport and trust with them. We then might discuss and begin medication to help with their mental illness and monitor this to make sure patients don’t get side effects – usually with help from the senior doctors. We review our patients regularly to check they are getting better and will work with them to think about what they can do to keep themselves well when they are back at home. We also meet with patients’ relatives to find out more about how we can best help them.

      We look after the physical health of our patients and often spend time liaising with our colleagues at the General Hospital; patients with mental illness are more likely to suffer from certain physical health conditions so we frequently work together with other specialities.

      As psychiatry trainees we are lucky to have regular teaching and are constantly learning new things, and there are plenty of opportunities during the working week where we have time to do research, teach medical students or conduct reviews of our practice to make sure we’re the best we can.

      It’s genuinely great fun, really rewarding and worthwhile!! 🙂

    • Photo: Neel Halder

      Neel Halder answered on 31 Jan 2019:

      You need to observe, listen and work with a team to diagnose and treat patients. You need to be empathetic and compassionate and patient. You learn from others every day and it really stretches you in a good way.

    • Photo: Home Treatment Team

      Home Treatment Team answered on 4 Feb 2019:

      Hello Steven here, My role as a Senior Community Support Time Recovery worker and Recovery lead is focussed on aiding each persons recovery in a very bespoke manner. All of us are individuals and all of us get support and encouragement in different ways. I meet with the clients using our service and have a “Recovery Talk” with them. This really means getting to know the person, how they are feeling now and about the future, what are their interests, why they think they are feeling the way they are, what makes them happy and what makes them sad. We talk about what they have found useful and what they haven’t for their mental wellbeing. In a relaxed but professional meeting I try to forge a connection based on understanding through listening and empathy through validation and shared experiences. I facilitate/support someone in looking at their mental health from different angles and find ways to take steps towards recovery. Recovery means different things to different people so there is no right way to move forward. it would be good to inspire or help generate hope in someone but for some people hope is not the first step to recovery for them it might just be finding interest in the future. I work with family, carers and friends along with the client using our service, always with the clients permission. I try actively to break down taboo and stigma and promote insight and self worth. Following a “Recovery Talk” we may well look at specific ways to help a person move their recovery forward. These could include making a recovery plan, building confidence, understanding why medication is prescribed, social inclusion, relaxation or distraction techniques, volunteering, supported exposure to the wider community and many more. My role is completely recovery focussed but is very different with each person I work with. The role is great and I get to make a difference to so many people that it boosts my own wellbeing.

    • Photo: Ed Freshwater

      Ed Freshwater answered on 5 Feb 2019:

      Listen, observe, translate emotions and thoughts into “clinical language”, communicate with colleagues, develop plans in collaboration, give advice on medication and practical interventions, monitor regularly, keep in touch and be available.

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