What is your role at Help & Care and is there a part that you enjoy the most?
The part of being a Wellbeing Coordinator that I enjoy most is that anyone can walk through the door, bringing with them the whole diversity and complexity of the human experience. Mental health is a wide umbrella that is about so much more than just a diagnosis.
What does your typical day look like?
My typical day as a Wellbeing Coordinator involves two huddles that bookend the day.
In the morning, we discuss anything practical and then take a moment’s reflection, which could be mindfulness practice, a poem or reading, or even a song.
I’ll either see clients for planned appointments or greet people for a shorter drop-in. We’ll have a conversation that places the person at the centre of their story and difficulties. From there we’ll work on goals, do some problem-solving, liaise with partner agencies or just be that safe, listening space to unpack everything with someone.
There are also moments where I help with events and outreach, growing awareness of the service we provide, and reaching communities who may be trickier to reach.
At the end of the day, we huddle again and it’s a valuable opportunity to understand the challenges of the day.
How do Wellbeing Coaches support people to live the lives they choose?
I help people feel heard and seen within mental health spaces, which due to a multitude of complex factors doesn’t always happen. The chance to be heard may provide clarity and context or provide a bit of space around things that are heavy.
There are also multiple social determinants of ill mental health that operate outside of a clinician’s remit. My work can help to ease this by linking with partner agencies or problem-solving practical issues that may crop up.
