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Work,
Employment and Volunteering
"Being
a volunteer is part of my recovery, it means I do something that
is valued"
Definitions:
‘Work’
is defined as the use of skills and judgement to meet a range of
tasks, which are usually ‘externally’ defined by others.
Work is usually done for other people – this can include ‘voluntary’
work.
‘Employment’
is work you get paid for.
According
to these definitions, many activities such as housework, child care,
looking after elderly relatives, voluntary work, are clearly ‘work’
in the sense defined above – they certainly have important
social meaning both for the individual concerned and for society
in general - but few people are ‘employed’
to do them. |
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Work –
in the broad sense defined above – is important to everyone. We
all need to find things to do which are personally meaningful and which
offer us a role and identity. This is all the more important for people
whose opportunities to find personally meaningful activities are blighted
by mental health problems. Work is recognised as being central to the
process of ‘recovery’¹ and forms a key element in recent
policy initiatives to combat social exclusion².
You may wish
to: -
•
Work full or part-time in open employment
The following
agency can provide further information:
Cambridge
Jobcentre Plus
Henry Giles House
73-79 Chesterton Road
Cambridge
CB4 3BQ
Telephone: 01223 545162
Web: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
• Use a specialist supported employment service
The following
agencies can provide further information:
RFET
Cambridge
Unit BC The Paddocks
347 Cherry Hinton Road
Cambridge, CB1 8DH
Tel: 01223 242267
Fax: 01223 242267
Email: rfetcambridge@richmondfellowship.org.uk
Web: www.richmondfellowship.org.uk
Papworth
Trust
Papworth Everard
Cambridge, CB3 8RG
Tel: 01480 830341
Fax: 01480 830781
Email: info@papworth.org.uk
Web: www.papworth.org.uk
Red2Green
Harvey’s Barn, Park End,
Swaffham Bulbeck Cambridge CB5 0NA
Tel: 01223 811662
Email: info@red2green.org
Web: www.red2green.org/
•
Consult with a Vocational Specialist linked to one of the community
based mental health teams.
The following
agency can provide further information:
Cambridgeshire
& Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Vocational Opportunities Network (VON)
The Cambridge Resource Centre
47-51 Norfolk Street
Cambridge, CB1 2LD
Tel: 01223 464010
01223 460288 (answer machine)
Fax: 01223 726278
Email: yvonne.catlin@cpft.nhs.uk
Web: www.cpft.nhs.uk |
|
•
Become a volunteer
The following
agencies can provide further information:
Cambridge
& District Volunteer Centre
Llandaff Chambers
2 Regent Street
Cambridge, CB1 1AX
Tel: 01223 356549
Email: info@cam-volunteer.org.uk
Web: www.cam-volunteer.org.uk
Volunteers
Plus
91 Cherry Hinton Road
Cambridge, CB1 7BS
Tel: 01223 246669
Email: office@volunteersplus.org
•
You can also find help and information by visiting the following web
sites which are mainly hosted by national agencies/organisations.
Employers
Forum on Disability
Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY
tel: 020 7403 3020, fax: 020 7403 0404
email: efd@employers-forum.co.uk
Web: www.employers-forum.co.uk
Mind
Granta House, 15-19 Broadway, London E15 5BQ
tel: 020 8519 2122, fax: 020 8522 1725
email: info@mind.org.uk
web: www.mind.org.uk
Manic
Depression Fellowship
Castle Works, 21 St George's Road, London SE1 6ES
tel: 020 7793 2600, fax: 020 7793 2639
email: mdf@mdf.org.uk
web: www.mdf.org.uk
Rethink
30 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4DD
tel: 020 7330 9100
email: info@rethink.org
web: www.rethink.org
Richmond
Fellowship Workschemes
80 Holloway Road, London, N7
tel: 020 7697 3300 fax: 020 7602 8652
web: www.richmondfellowship.org.uk
The
Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)
web: www.dwp.gov.uk
DirectGov
web: www.direct.gov.uk
The
Social Exclusion Unit
web: www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk
Local
Agencies Web Site
web:
www.mentalhealthandwork.co.uk
Shift
- the Line Manager's Web Resource
web: www.shift.org.uk/~employers
Why
should I work?
To earn money
is one main reason. But of course, work isn't just about money - there
are plenty of other factors you'll have to consider when deciding what's
right for you and your family.
How
to decide
- Talk
to other people on both sides of the fence - people who have returned
to work after mental health issues and those who have not.
- Think
about how much you enjoyed your work in the past
- Keep your
work options open as long as possible - never cut off a possibility
until you absolutely have to.
- Remember,
whether you decide to stay on benefits or go to work, your decision
isn't final.
- Not working
doesn't mean a life of frustration with no opportunities for fulfilment.
What matters is being realistic about the time and energy you have to
offer - and not trying to do everything.
You should
also think about the pros and cons of working versus staying at home:
| Pros
of working |
Cons
of working |
- contribute
to a higher family income keep
your career going
- enjoy
the intellectual challenges and social interaction of working
life
- feel
valued in a work environment
- experience
improved self-esteem
- find
your mental health improves
|
- not
get to spend as much time with your friends and family
- be
more tired
- find
work too stressful
|
If you do
find work too stressful remember that people with mental health needs
are covered by the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and that you are
entitled to ask for reasonable adjustments to be made including looking
at your job description, part time working, etc.
|
What
some people have told me:
"At first it was really hard and I wished I could be at home,
but now things have fallen into place, although I don't think it will
ever be easy. I've negotiated working two shorter days. I also have
a great partner, which makes all the difference." |
Information
for Employers
This document - 'Menu for Employers'
- is a menu of resources available to employers to promote mental health
in the work place: Promotion, prevention, retention and support.
¹
Department of Health (2001) Journey to Recovery. Department of
Health: London.
² Social Exclusion Unit (2004) Mental Health
and Social Exclusion, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: London,
ISBN 185112 7178
Last
revised 15 July 2008
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