A Community Mental Health Associate Practitioner has been shortlisted for the Most Inspiring Employee of the Year category of a national awards scheme.
Hayley Stevens works for the Recovery and Wellbeing Team at Castle Point, Rochford and Rayleigh, and is a finalist in the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards.
Hayley was nominated for her commitment to improving the lives of patients living with a serious mental illness, her compassionate and non-judgmental approach, and making sure everyone is treated as an individual.
She is passionate about ensuring people under the care of mental health services receive care for their physical health needs too, as medications and lifestyle can impact on their overall health.
When Hayley joined the Recovery and Wellbeing Team, she introduced physical health checks for all their patients, as well as blood tests and electrocardiograms where needed.
She has also ensured patients understand the side effects of their medication and receive support for any substance abuse, smoking, and alcohol misuse.
Hayley juggles her busy job with being a mum-of-two and studying to further her professional knowledge.
Before joining the Trust, she was a personal assistant for a construction company.
She has so far completed a foundation health and social care degree and is currently studying for a nursing degree.
Hayley has been with her current team for three years and previously worked on our inpatient wards for seven years.
She said: “Working in mental health has been something I always wanted to do but I never felt I had the qualifications to do it.
“The Trust has enabled me to further my career, knowledge and skills in a way I never thought possible.
“I met a mum at antenatal classes who worked for the Trust and helped me enlist on to the NHS staff bank .
“I regularly worked on the wards and became a permanent support worker, and was able to progress from there.
“I have always loved helping people. I have always wanted to work in a job where I could come away at the end of the day and know I have made a difference to someone’s life.
“I love making a difference and seeing my patients grow and develop.”
Hayley said her supportive family and planning her time carefully helps her juggle her workload, study and family time.
“I am proud of myself that I have worked so hard to get where I am,” she said.
Debbie Hammond, Team Lead for the Rochford and Rayleigh Community Mental Health Team, said: “Hayley inspires throughout her work. Her ambitious and determined nature can be seen throughout everything she invests in.
“This includes working with people in ways that cultivate hopefulness and harness motivation for change.
“Hayley seeks opportunities to improve service delivery and always uses her voice to strive for the very best care for people.”
The winners of the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards will be announced on 22 February.
