50 Voices
MELANIE 50 Voices captures the authentic voice of the people that use our services and our staff as Turning Point celebrates its 50th anniversary
50 Voices
Melanie Stone
50 Voices
Melanie Stone
Melanie Stone is a senior project worker at Alfred Minto House – Residential community forensic mental health service.
When and how did you start working at Turning Point? I have been employed by Turning Point since August 2003. I was working on a forensic locked ward prior to this. The ward referred patients to Alfred Minto House as part of their recovery pathway once discharge had been achieved. I became interested in the next phase of a patient’s journey, hence my successful application to Turning Point. It is very rewarding to see the post discharge phase of recovery. I have been inspired at times by the sheer determination and hard work that individual service users have put into their recovery journey and reaching their goals.
I have been inspired at times by the sheer determination and hard work that individual service users have put into their recovery journey and reaching their goals.
50 Voices
Melanie Stone
What are your main responsibilities?
• Key working service users
• Line managing staff
• Procedural and policy updates
• Referrals to the service, maintaining occupancy. Liaising with referring agencies
• Medication audits
• CIMS Audits
• File checks etc
• The list is endless!!
What aspect of your job do you enjoy the most? The referral side of my job; although maintaining occupancy can be challenging at times for a whole host of reasons, many beyond service level control. It can also be rewarding. A lot of work and effort goes into ensuring service users referred to our service have as smooth a transition as possible to us.
What do you enjoy the least?
I enjoy and have a real passion for all the aspects of my role. It is varied; no two days are ever the same!!!!!!.
I cannot think of anything really as I enjoy and have a real passion for all the aspects of my role. It is varied; no two days are ever the same!!!!!!.
50 Voices
Melanie Stone
What is unique about your service in the way that it supports its service users? We are the only specialist community forensic mental health service in Nottinghamshire. We are able to provide person-centred care and treatment programmes, focusing on the individual needs of our service users. We aim to respond to the identified and well researched gaps in mainstream service provision by placing our service users at the heart of everything we do. Something as simple as taking someone’s hand, leading them to the kitchen and gesturing at either the kettle or a squash bottle could communicate not only that they’re thirsty but also the type of drink they would like.
What is your biggest challenge on a day-to-day basis? How changeable the days can be and how adaptable we as staff need to be to meet the demands of a changeable environment.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about people with mental health issues? That all people with mental health issues are “crazy”.
Why are you so passionate about being a part of Turning Point?
To be part of a company that has such excellent vision, values and commitment in relation to the services they provide.
50 Voices
Melanie Stone
What aspects of your service do you think are innovative? The team, as our team consists of individuals who will think outside the box, not afraid of trying something new.
What have you learnt from working with the people you support? That no matter what life may throw at you there is always hope
What do you think is the biggest misconception about people with mental health issues? That all people with mental health issues are “crazy”.
What’s life like at your service? As a member of staff it is often very busy, things can change so quickly and you have to be able to adapt and think on your feet at times. I think our service is a good service providing a homely atmosphere where people feel welcomed and realise they are an integral part of everything we strive to achieve.
What does ‘inspired by possibilities’ mean to you?
That we are a company that gets inspiration from the people we provide services to and enable them to explore possibilities, choices, see a future.
50 Voices
Turning Point Standon House 21 Mansell Street London E1 8AA 020 7481 7600 info@turning-point.co.uk
50 Voices Learn more at www.turning-point.co.uk For press enquiries about 50 Voices please contact press@turning-point.co.uk