Mental Health Support at Sundial Care Home
Mental health can affect us at some point in our lives. In the UK, 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year. Even though we may relate to the struggle, it is important to know that with the right kind of support, we can strengthen our ability to perform and thrive in the workplace. Evolve Care Group values the importance of mental wellbeing and aims to encourage people to talk about their mental health in the workplace. Here are some of the ways we support people within our community. Our dedicated nurses and social workers provide compassionate older people and Dementia care, so it is essential that they also receive the support they need.
Karen Tidy – Governance Nurse
Karen Tidy is a central part of Evolve Care Group. Although her role as Governance Nurse supports the people that live with us, she also supports the people working with us.
Karen’s comforting presence makes people feel at ease. Her energy draws people in, and her openness allows people to feel truly heard and understood.
I recently had the opportunity to have a coffee with Karen while she was visiting our central support office in Bristol. It was my first time meeting Karen, and I was struck by her openness when talking about mental health. She empathises through her own experiences, saying, “I live with anxiety, so I can feel what people feel. It’s not what I trained for, it’s through experiences I’ve had.”
During COVID, Karen was the first point of contact for relatives unable to see their loved ones due to restrictions. Her role was to keep relatives informed on the wellbeing of their loved ones. Because of her empathetic nature, she often sensed when someone wasn’t feeling their best and soon fell into the role of supporting relatives with anxieties of their own.
Welfare Line
Anxiety can develop from various life elements, including work. Thus, investing in a welfare team was vital for us. Tina and Jay, members of our welfare team, offer support for all team members 24/7. Whether work or personal support is needed, they equip team members with tools to tackle anxiety and advise on how to use them. Working in care entails navigating a variety of emotions while dedicating time and energy to providing support for others. “A problem shared is a problem halved – talking helps! Don’t let things build up. Squash them whilst they are still small and easy to deal with.” – Tina & Jay.
Evolve Care Academy
Evolve’s Care Academy offers face-to-face social care courses in Bristol for all group members. The training is also an opportunity to share experiences with people from other Evolve homes across Devon, Somerset, and South Wales, whom you may not see daily. However, travelling to Bristol and meeting a group of unknown people can be daunting and anxiety-inducing.
Becky Cox, Evolve’s HR Lead, explains that “education is truly the foundation of social care, and Evolve understands this with unwavering passion. We surpass the ordinary confines of standard training certificates, consistently embracing forward-thinking approaches and pushing the boundaries of innovation in our team’s development. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to ensure the training room is a safe space for all to feel comfortable throughout the day. We invite team members who may be a little anxious to wear something yellow to signal to the leaders that they might feel uncomfortable answering in front of a group.”
Becky further explained that “during the last training day, a lady faced a personal struggle as the content resurfaced memories from her own life. After the training day, she approached Jay, who supported her in building confidence and developing coping mechanisms for similar feelings in the future.”
Supporting Your Mental Health
We endeavour to find ways to manage and live alongside our mental health struggles, seeking out support to help us navigate the challenges of life. By understanding the importance of your mental health and want you to know that we are here to support you every step of the way. We seek the very best version of you. Your exceptional care and devotion make a genuine difference in the lives of the people who live with us. Your excellence is indispensable, as those in need depend on the best version of you. If you practice self-care and open communication, you can build genuine connections and thrive in your work and life, with Evolve by your side along the way.
If you are interested in hearing more about how Evolve Care Group offers supportive career opportunities across all their care and nursing homes, we would love to hear from you.
For more information and supportive resources, feel free to explore our Helpful Resources page.