Here to Listen - Thoughts from Safespace worker, Jenna

We caught up with Jenna from the Safespace team to find out more about her role, how they are working to improve mental health for people across Calderdale, and why Safespace is so important. 

"Prior to working as a project worker for Safespace at Healthy Minds, I was a volunteer for both the Samaritans and Shout - two national mental health charities. I was immediately attracted to applying for the role at Safespace given that it allowed me to use my listening skills from counselling courses, in addition to my voluntary experience in order to support those in distress living in the Calderdale region. Being an established and respected support service in Halifax helped me know that working as part of the team would be a great opportunity. I have lived in Calderdale all my life and I am therefore passionate about helping service users feel that they have a place where they will be listened to locally. Having an awareness of issues affecting service users in the region, paired with an understanding of other local services, helps me to signpost service users to other organisations that might be helpful and appropriate too. 

I love building relationships with service users over time and seeing the change that this connection makes for them. Some feel isolated and lonely when they first contact us, but this often reduces with regular contact with Safespace. It's always pleasing to see when, over time, they make use of other Healthy Minds groups or groups offered by other local services. It is fantastic when service users share how they are flourishing in parts of their life where they once struggled. In addition, it is always a privilege to hear their individual stories and feel that they have placed trust in us as Safespace workers. Sometimes I feel touched by a service user's personal experiences and I can share some of my own similar lived experiences with them in return. 

"Having an awareness of issues affecting service users in the region, paired with an understanding of other local services, helps me to signpost service users to other organisations that might be helpful and appropriate, too."​

I really enjoy working with service users in a variety of ways - we offer telephone calls, emails, text messaging, social media messaging and some face-to-face appointments, too. One of the best things about working with Safespace is that every shift is different because every interaction is unique. Working at Healthy Minds is fantastic - the Safespace team are all very well-versed in supporting individuals and are a very friendly bunch to work with!

At times, shifts can be more challenging, especially where service users are at risk of harming themselves, or are experiencing strong suicidal ideation. It's always sad to hear when a service user is experiencing a particularly tough time. Often, circumstances are out of their control and that is difficult to hear and work with, especially when we all have a will to help. Retaining hope that things can change for the positive is really important - for both us as workers and our service users. ​

Overall, working for Safespace provides lots of opportunities for personal growth and continuing professional development, particularly through team meetings and informal conversations with co-workers, managers and of course, through interactions with service users. I thoroughly enjoy my role and regularly request extra shifts where I can because I enjoy it so much! I hope that Safespace continues to grow to support many more individuals living across the Calderdale region. The service intends to evolve to meet service user needs and this involves Safespace being in-situ within other services too (such as the job centre). Safespace provides a unique service which puts dedication towards the best outcomes for service users at the heart of all it does."

Remember - if it all gets to be too much, Safespace is here to listen. 

​Call: 01422 345154
Text: 07388 990227
Email: safespace@healthymindscalderdale.co.uk
Message us on Facebook: @SafespaceCalderdale