Talking #TeamCWPT blog

Chris is a senior assistant psychologist in the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team at CWPT. In the latest Talking #TeamCWPT blog, we spoke to him about his journey to the Trust and psychology, the small moments that have a big impact, and the importance of allyship as a member of the LGBT staff network.

From healthcare assistant to senior assistant psychologist 

Psychology wasn't Chris' first career path. He originally went to university to study philosophy, but in the years that followed he was feeling unfulfilled at work. "I did a couple of random jobs, but I didn't really care about them; none of them were really a career for me." On a quest to find his passion, he decided to go back to university to study psychology through the Open University.  

He had always had an interest in psychology and what informs people's thinking and behaviour, and knew he wanted to help people. For three years, he balanced his online studies with working full-time.  

18 months into the course, he started his first role in healthcare as a mental health support worker in a psychiatric intensive care unit for teenagers. "That was my first experience of working in mental health, which was both challenging and wonderful."

Supporting patients on their journey to recovery felt meaningful. Support workers and healthcare assistants work under the guidance of nurses. They often spend the most time with patients, getting to know them as individuals, so that care is always person-centred. It gave him an excellent foundational knowledge in working in mental health and ward environments, confirming he had found the right career path.

Once he graduated, he became an assistant psychologist, this time working on a medium secure unit for adult male offenders. "I was 29 when I started that journey. It really developed me and I learned so much, so many skills and how to be a professional within mental health. I then transitioned from there to Coventry to become a senior assistant psychologist in the community crisis resolution team."

Chris and the team provide care and treatment to individuals in the community who are experiencing a mental health crisis.  Reflecting on the team, he says: "There are so many genuinely compassionate, warm people who are committed to doing what they can to help service users to get back on their feet and regain a sense of control in their lives."

Recognising the small stuff 

Some of Chris' proudest moments are when he has been recognised, often for the small stuff. The things that people like Chris do day in, day out, to support their colleagues and give patients the best care possible. "I was nominated three times for an excellence award when I was working back in Birmingham.

"It's quite validating getting those nominations for hard work. I always want to be a team player where I can. It's difficult because it is a very challenging role with quite a heavy workload, so often you feel very entrenched in your work, but there was an opportunity to help another team.

"There was a time when someone was going to miss out on a gym session and they needed extra observational staff, and there wasn't anyone available. I was luckily able to help make sure the patient got that valuable gym time. It was a simple thing, but it feels nice to have that recognised and appreciated because people across the Trust do stuff like that all the time.

"Since working at CWPT, I have received two separate letters of gratitude from patients I worked with at the end of my time with them. It was enormously heart-warming and encouraged me to appreciate just how much we, in the NHS, are able to support and touch people's lives."

Mental health and the LGBTQIA+ community 

Chris is a member of the LGBT network at CWPT, and whilst he does not identify as being from the community himself, he joined to be able to be an ally and to educate himself on the issues faced by LGBTQIA+ people. It's something that not only helps our staff, but our patients too.

LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to experience poor mental health. A study by Stonewall found that over the past year, half of LGBTIQ+ people had experienced depression, and 3 in 5 had experienced anxiety. 1 in 8 LGBTIQ+ people aged 18 to 24 had attempted to end their life and almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life.

Chris says: "I think one of the big things that stands out for me is that a lot of people from the LGBTQIA+ community have felt unseen and unheard for much of their lives. Unlike some other forms of discrimination, which can sometimes even come from within their own family, as well as society, which can be incredibly alienating for people.

"Being seen and being heard is such a fundamental part of that mental health, because it feeds into our sense of self-worth. If that is low, it can be a result of many things, including not being seen or heard or properly understood. It can be a real weight to carry for people. Acknowledging mental health within this community is so key and so important."

The LGBT Network is just one of the staff networks at CWPT which provides a safe space for colleagues to share experiences, seek support, and engage in important conversations affecting our communities. For Chris, it is an opportunity to learn how to better support LGBTQIA+ people who access our services, and for colleagues whose experiences may be different from his to be seen and heard.  

Thank you to Chris for sharing his career story and experiences. Find out more about staff networks and how we support our people at CWPT.