Case Study: Molly
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Case Studies
Case Study: Molly, Peer Support Worker
I‘ve been working at the Lambeth Living Well Centre for just over three months.
When this role came up, I wasn’t exactly sure what it entailed, but my lived experience of mental health and previous volunteering at a telephone support service gave me a rough idea, so I decided to just go for it. I’m so glad I did.
Before I started, I think I was sceptical whether the culture and values would be put into practise. Because the truth is that they rarely are. I’ve been happy to see that Certitude does live its values. My voice and my experience are included, and so are my colleagues and the people we support. We’re all exhibiting the Certitude behaviours every day. Standing up for what we think is right for people. There’s a bravery to that.
Having peer support workers, particularly in mental health, encourages different aspects of empathy and fosters non-judgemental spaces. I feel really included in my workplace because diversity is something that’s championed amongst my colleagues. I work in a multidisciplinary team of support workers, psychiatrists, doctors – it’s a real mix of people.
“My lived experience of mental health is valued, and my voice is both heard and listened to alongside senior doctors and other practitioners.”
I’ve felt welcomed into the team, with people inviting me to shadow them to find out what they do and answering all those questions you have when you first start a job. People have always had time for me. It all helps to feel included.
Certitude has also been good in implementing reasonable adjustments for my own mental health as part of my occupational health plan. I’m grateful that it wasn’t approached as a barrier, but something that Certitude wanted to do for me so I can be there for the people I support.
Last month a colleague and I were invited to go to the Social Care Future conference in Manchester, which felt like such an honour to be trusted to go and speak to people about what I do at Certitude. To represent our work as peer support workers in that way and connect with other organisations to discuss ideas felt great. It was also the first time I’d met Aisling, our CEO, and she called my name and wanted to come and welcome me and gave me a massive hug and I thought, ‘this really is a lovely organisation’.
Having only been here three months, there’s a lot on offer that I’ve not experienced yet. I’ve recently joined the Pride@Certitude Network, and I’m looking forward to going to my first meeting.
I’ve already had loads of training, and I feel really lucky that Certitude have connected me with a King’s College research project where I’m helping psychiatrists study the impact of peer support on people with a dual diagnosis. It’s an amazing opportunity. I write for my own mental health, and people I support are interested in that, so I’m doing a training course on therapeutic creative writing so I can start to offer a creative writing group to these people too.
Even though it’s only been a short time, it’s hard to pin down what I enjoy most about my new role. People closest to me have said that it’s heartwarming and inspiring to see how passionately I speak about my role. I think I am the happiest I’ve ever been in a role.
My best friend now wants to pursue a career in peer support at Certitude and I have referred her via Certitude’s Refer a Friend scheme.
Honestly, I think I was quite worried before I started the role that it would be potentially triggering for me, but I’ve found it incredibly healing. I’ve never reflected more deeply than I am right now.
