Want some reality for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek ? Sure, here’s a
my team are an assertive outreach team. We work with rather unwell people who usually struggle with dual diagnosis & for whatever reason struggle to engage with services but need it (lots under MHA) ...

The team caseload is usually much smaller than other services because we work intensely with people to support them in ways they need. It’s bloody awesome & I love working this way...usually.
We are currently 1.5 members of staff down. Our caseload is higher than it should be.

Out of that caseload OVER half require social care. We have 1 full time social worker (me) and a (brilliant) part time agency worker. For a lot of the pandemic it’s been me, myself & I.
Our nurses are stretched & not able to support people as intensely as they should/want.

Because of this, people are being stuck in our service. We DESPERATELY want to support them but we are STRETCHED.
My caseload get reviewed to meet targets & legal requirements. Some of them get significant support. Some don’t. Because I simply don’t have time. The ones who shout

The loudest/call me often/have someone to advocate for them get attention m. Not because I want that, but because that takes my time. Fielding phone calls and emails from these people is my job & I love it, but it takes time from other really important tasks.

I’m not alone in this. Many many many workers across the country have the same issues.
WORKERS ARE NOT THE ISSUE. We work overtime, we work over lunch, we work in meetings, we multitask so much it’s actually impressive.
The problem...funding.

There is not enough money to fund enough members of staff. The pay does not attract social workers or MHN’s because private/council work pay is better (extra holiday doesn’t pay the bills)

Things NEED TO CHANGE. Because no one goes into mental health care to let people down. But that is what we are doing. We are letting people down.
I love my job. I love the people we work with & I entered this profession to exact change. I won’t give up.
#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek