Ok fellow geeks I need some advice and possible concerns and question to ask etc, please be honest and give your initial gut instincts. I have been approached by a friend (a hairdresser ) to see how I would feel once a month doing beauty treatments in a secure unit, she does the hair there and has done for about 6 months, I obviously would not know what the ladies were there for but I know that a lot of them are there because of mental illness
I know that my safety comes first, but
- Thread starter emma84
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geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
Just because a unit is secure does not mean patients are violent . No one would let you or anyone else work where patients were violent or you were unsafe.
Most people who are mentally I'll are just that .. ill .. Not coping ... Not able to function well while they are Unwell. They are sad and depressed and maybe fighting to get over things that have happened to them.
I would think that doing what we do would give them a real lift in an otherwise pretty sad phase of their lives. I think you would find it a very rewarding experience to help them. But it is important that you have that empathetic nature in order to really enjoy working in such a situation. If you don't .... Then don't.
Most people who are mentally I'll are just that .. ill .. Not coping ... Not able to function well while they are Unwell. They are sad and depressed and maybe fighting to get over things that have happened to them.
I would think that doing what we do would give them a real lift in an otherwise pretty sad phase of their lives. I think you would find it a very rewarding experience to help them. But it is important that you have that empathetic nature in order to really enjoy working in such a situation. If you don't .... Then don't.
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Thank you, that's what I was thinking and tbh I treat everyone the same regardless, so I was thinking why shouldn't these ladies have the opportunity to have beauty treatments done I'm actually probably safer there then I am being mobile and going to a new unknown clients house
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
Very good point and I'm sure you are right about that. Good luck. They will be lucky to have you there.
I agree with Geeg, working in this sort of environment requires empathy, a non judgemental attitude, a good sense of humour, an approachable, adaptable and flexible personality.
To reassure you, the staff will be fully trained in risk assessments and will conduct these on a regular basis. pragmatically, the women will really look forward to the treatments and so are unlikely to want to do anything that would mean they'd lose them. They're a huge incentive!!
The following questions might help you think about what you might want to ask-
What information will I know about the service users?
Who will be present during the treatments?
What will happen if someone makes a disclosure to me?
What training is available to me (e.g risk assessment; confidentiality etc)
What are your expectations of me?
This might be a very different working environment for you but one that you could find the most rewarding. It's worth remembering that no-one is born an offender, a drug user, a drinker and that these things are often a result of the upbringing or self medication for mental health issues. Similarly no-one chooses to have a mental health problem.
To reassure you, the staff will be fully trained in risk assessments and will conduct these on a regular basis. pragmatically, the women will really look forward to the treatments and so are unlikely to want to do anything that would mean they'd lose them. They're a huge incentive!!
The following questions might help you think about what you might want to ask-
What information will I know about the service users?
Who will be present during the treatments?
What will happen if someone makes a disclosure to me?
What training is available to me (e.g risk assessment; confidentiality etc)
What are your expectations of me?
This might be a very different working environment for you but one that you could find the most rewarding. It's worth remembering that no-one is born an offender, a drug user, a drinker and that these things are often a result of the upbringing or self medication for mental health issues. Similarly no-one chooses to have a mental health problem.
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Easydry
Well-Known Member
Could you get to visit the unit and learn more before you decide? That's the best way to make this decision. Also, how long has your friend been working there? She would be able to give you more info.
Envy
Well-Known Member
I had a very good client of mine suddenly not show for an appointment and I could get ahold of her...
Months later I received a letter apologizing for the no show and explaining she had gone to jail with no notice ..
It would have been a pleasure to be able to go to her. She said the worst thing about it was not being able to get hair and nails done.. She felt less than human without them...
After her release we stayed good friends and she told me many stories of the women. Most are simply in for poor decisions/life skills but are overall interesting and good people. They have the same wants/desires as the rest of society, but lack the facilities to function legally ...
I would find this a fascinating opportunity
Months later I received a letter apologizing for the no show and explaining she had gone to jail with no notice ..
It would have been a pleasure to be able to go to her. She said the worst thing about it was not being able to get hair and nails done.. She felt less than human without them...
After her release we stayed good friends and she told me many stories of the women. Most are simply in for poor decisions/life skills but are overall interesting and good people. They have the same wants/desires as the rest of society, but lack the facilities to function legally ...
I would find this a fascinating opportunity
I worked in a secure home for people with mental illness' doing activities twice a week for 1 hour at a time, and I can tell you quite honestly that it wasn't nice and was very scary. I was assured that there would be a fully qualified and trAined member of staff with me all the time, there was but they obviously had their favourites as they would spend most of their time with that 1 patient, not paying any attention to anyone else and me. Quite often I was backed into corners by people who I didn't have a clue what they wanted or how to calm them. I consider myself to be a kind and sympathetic person but this was way too much for me. I have seen people get hit and have chairs thrown at them.
I think it would be slightly naive to think that mental illness is just depression, there are a lot of variants of mental illness'.
I think it would be a decision that should have an awful lot of thought put into it. I would suggest a visit before you jump into this x
I think it would be a decision that should have an awful lot of thought put into it. I would suggest a visit before you jump into this x
Tinxy
Well-Known Member
I'd tend to agree - whilst a lot of these ladies are possibly just depressed etc then they MAY not be. Most such facilities are well run, some sadly are not! You really need to go there to make your mind up - go with your friend and observe! It's harder to do that when you are treating people so go purely as an observer for a day... Ask lots of questions like would you ever be on your own with patients, what safety precautions do they have in place, are there any substances you can't bring in (if you do nails etc) or any items you can't take with you (anything sharp maybe?) - these could really limit what you do and you need to find out up front.
Also find out if your insurance will cover you should anything happen to you OR them...
If this is more than just people with depression and suicidal tendencies then you really need to know what you are getting into - a lot of them don't mean to intimidate you but they also may not know their own strength and might not react to something the way that you would expect... But honestly the only way to know is to go and look...
Also find out if your insurance will cover you should anything happen to you OR them...
If this is more than just people with depression and suicidal tendencies then you really need to know what you are getting into - a lot of them don't mean to intimidate you but they also may not know their own strength and might not react to something the way that you would expect... But honestly the only way to know is to go and look...
tanfastic
Well-Known Member
I agree you are probably safer there than at a strangers house :b I had a severe head injury years ago and also the bends a few years before ( Decompression sickness from scuba diving) I was doubly brain damaged and had some serious problems for a while. Mainly neurological and nerve damage and fortunately didnt need to go into a place for full time care but I can empathize with others in this situation. If it is a mental health unit just remember most of them were normal people like you or me once and it is very hard to learn to live with something like that. It took me years of hard work to return to normality and I feel every day is a blessing. I can drive again, my memory has improved, I can walk properly again and am independent again. Go and help these ladies feel valued and special again. Good for you
I'm a Psyche Nurse for my day job, feel free to PM me if you want a first hand insight into the sort of client group that require 'secure' care.
A lot of preconceptions are made about mental health. Some good points have been raised on here, along with some naive. For one, there are different levels of secure units, obviously from low through medium, onto high. Many will be there because of their forensic history, which will have included harm to others.
My personal opinion is you will be fine, as the clients would have up to date risk assessments that would deem them suitable etc etc. But if this thread is about making you feel more comfortable with doing it, you need to ask as many questions as it takes.
A lot of preconceptions are made about mental health. Some good points have been raised on here, along with some naive. For one, there are different levels of secure units, obviously from low through medium, onto high. Many will be there because of their forensic history, which will have included harm to others.
My personal opinion is you will be fine, as the clients would have up to date risk assessments that would deem them suitable etc etc. But if this thread is about making you feel more comfortable with doing it, you need to ask as many questions as it takes.
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siobrennan
Well-Known Member
i would advise the OP to take your advice and contact you hon, wasnt going to respond to this thread but felt i had to! I am a "service user" due to bipolar disorder. I feel that when in recovery I would have really benefitted from someone helping me feel "normal" again by providing treatments. Please take time to contact Nicole333 for her advice. My "day job" is a senior physiotherapist btw - so these episodes of illness can happen to anyone.
Get more info on the kind of patients and go a visit
xxx
Becki2003
Well-Known Member
Just wanted to share my experiences. I'm an ex music and drama teacher and musical director and I've worked in prisons, young offenders secure units and hospital secure units. I've also been an in-patient in a secure mental health unit after suffering a breakdown at the hands of an abusive husband (totally another story)
I was well looked after as an outsider going unto the prisons etc. I was never on my own (was always an officer in the classroom and most of the time the lads wanted to learn as something like music is a privilege, so they had earned that right and weren't going to blow it.
As an in-patient, to boost my self esteem I had beauty treatments and my hair done. I wasn't allowed out for a long while so was allowed to have them come to me. Eventually as I managed to get myself together the occupational health team funded an essential nails course for me as a way of continuing to build my self esteem (as I had lost my job as a teacher, mud sticks in the isle of man). After that I started to use my sick benefit to fund other courses. A year later I packed up my life and moved home, got divorced and used that settlement to start my own business.
Moral of the story... Don't worry about doing it, you will be fine. Don't ever underestimate the effect that doing something like that can have on someone that feels that they have nothing left xx
I was well looked after as an outsider going unto the prisons etc. I was never on my own (was always an officer in the classroom and most of the time the lads wanted to learn as something like music is a privilege, so they had earned that right and weren't going to blow it.
As an in-patient, to boost my self esteem I had beauty treatments and my hair done. I wasn't allowed out for a long while so was allowed to have them come to me. Eventually as I managed to get myself together the occupational health team funded an essential nails course for me as a way of continuing to build my self esteem (as I had lost my job as a teacher, mud sticks in the isle of man). After that I started to use my sick benefit to fund other courses. A year later I packed up my life and moved home, got divorced and used that settlement to start my own business.
Moral of the story... Don't worry about doing it, you will be fine. Don't ever underestimate the effect that doing something like that can have on someone that feels that they have nothing left xx
geeg
Judge Gigi-Honorary Geek
Bravo my darling! X
Easydry
Well-Known Member
Thank you to everyone who shared their stories. It's great to hear inspiring stories like these.
I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond and even just read this post, I just wanted to get as many views as possible as its a whole new area for me if I can help others improve the situation they are in all be it through a massage or nail paint then why the hell not, I am going to go along with the hairdresser once I've had my crb? Check and take it from there x
That's wonderful news Emma. I do hope your CRB comes through soon, they can take an age, but at least you are applying before all the newly qualified Nurses and Teachers!
Please update us on how it goes?.:biggrin:
Please update us on how it goes?.:biggrin:
Well it's taken a long time and a lot of hurdles but I finally went to visit the unit and met a couple of ladies in there. I have an interview with a governing body to discuss further issues and I wld be wearing a tag at all times which did make me feel more comfortable but all in all it was quite a pleasantly eye opening experience, the staff seem approachable and constantly alert, a step closer but I am also taking it a step at a time :0) x
