Does anyone work in Mental Health?

[Mosschops30]

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I'm interested in this too, Mosschops30. I'm a social work student in London and definitely want to work in mental health when I graduate in September. Both my placements have been mental health related and excellent. I'm wondering how many jobs are out there though because children and families social work vacancies seem to outnumber mental health about 5-1 as far as I can see. Are you a nursing or social work or OT or medical student, btw? Or some other student?

I don't, but I do a bit on mental health and could try and help you out if you get desperate.

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If you're a nurse in training this is the scumster's limited knowledge lowdown on mental health:

You will find it fairly easy to get jobs in in-patient settings- which, as you probably know, will offer lots of opportunities to work with interesting and challenging clients and a real chance to make a difference by being good at your job. The downside is that hospital mental health can be depressingly under funded and still, after all these years, feel unsafe for patients. Personally I have not yet been on a ward which truly feels like a safe place of refuge. Nursing staff on wards are paid less than those in the community, work comparatively longer shifts and often have less status.

This increasingly means that many mental health nurses covet and compete for the community jobs- in community mental health teams, home treatment teams, crisis resolution teams etc. These are harder to get because of the increased competetion and because these teams are multi-disciplinary so sometimes have fewer posts reserved specifically for nurses. Nurses are highly prized because they can give medication though.

There are also some roles in 24 hour care homes/residential homes etc. Suspect these would be quite badly paid though.

In short, I reckon you'd have no trouble finding a job, but might have to work up to a community role if that's what you're thinking of. I also think mental health nursing is crying out for people who are enthusiastic and committed, especially on the wards and it's great that you want to do it.

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Where is your placement? Can the nurses working with you advise? Or your college tutor?

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Hi I am a social worker and worked in adult mental health till my 2nd child was born. I loved it and know that the community based nurses I worked with liked it too. Don't know much about the nursing, other than that they had to work towards getting into a community team - but it is interesting work - difficult and frustrating at times, but varied, challenging and rewarding - sounds like being a mum, doesn't it!

Oh good. Hope he can give you some good advice. And best of luck whatever you decide. I'm a definite believer that, if all else is equal, you should follow your enthusiasm, if that helps at all.

Hi earthtomummy. Were you in a CMHT?

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Hi Scummy mummy, yes I was in a CMHT in Central London and beforem that in Oxford. What about you?

CMHT in North London last year and now in Central London.

Whereabouts??

Brent and Westminster

I used to work in Paddington.

I'm round the corner- won't name exactly where online in case parents in my team read mumsnet! Quite a few folks previously @Paddington about in my team. In fact I think my practice assessor might have worked there- you probably know him!

now I'm interested in names..go on!! who else reads mumsnet threads in the Padd.CMHT??

scummy, you said you are a "social work student graduating in Sept" - DD2 has just started a social work degree, is that what you are coming to the end of? What sort of placements have you had? She thinks she might like to work with young offenders or adoptions, do you have any advice???

JanH - sorry to butt in. I had an adult mental health placement and a probation placement, because I was home office sponsored at the time. I ended up in my 1st qualified post in forensic mental health which was really interesting. All I would say is that you have to do what you are really interested in because it can be a stressful job and be open minded about placements. I never expected to end up in mental health.

Scummymummy I meant to add that you were wondering how many MH jobs were out there. DH and I have both done recruitment and, believe me, in MH the dearth of good quality candidates is astonishing. C&F is even worse and, because it is such a stressful job, even harder to recruit decent staff to. Honestly, my DH team tried to recruit a post recently in Community Care and got one response from someone not even a social worker - and that was for a well-paid CAMHS job - interesting work too.

I will CAT you their names earthtomummy!
Janh- I'm in the 2nd year (of 2) of an MA in Social Work which is roughly equivalent to the latter 2 years of the new 3 year degree, apparently. I've had ace placements, both in adult teams. I think both dd2's interest areas will be fab. Different courses vary on how much choice you get over placements though, especially the first one where some take the attitude that you will go where you are sent. Might be worth her doing an adults as well as a children's placement though, as that is the big divide in social work these days and it will keep her options open. I was absolutely sure I wanted to work with children before I did the mental health placement whereupon I was hooked- so would definitely advise getting experience of both. Where's she studying? Am I right in remembering that dd2 is your cool-sounding, stubborn, fiesty daughter? I think she will be a great social worker!

I'm SO behind - so what does CAT mean??

Contact A Talker- basically I'll send you an email via mumsnet. If you want?