Devon Wellbeing Hub Testimonial - Pastoral support

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News, Recovery and wellbeing on 19th February, 2024

We spoke to an Occupational Therapist about the pastoral care she has been receiving from, Barbara Carpenter, Senior Chaplain, and why she would recommend the Devon Wellbeing Hub to others.

Why did you contact the Devon Wellbeing Hub? What made you reach out for help?

I was going through a very challenging and stressful time in my life. I moved to Devon from the other side of the country to arrive at a job that didn’t turn out to be what I expected, and I couldn't find anywhere to live - I was feeling very lost in the world.

What did your initial appointment with a Colleague Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) involve?

The appointment gave me support when everything in my life felt muddled. The CWP came up with a wellbeing plan and then put me in touch with Barbara.

What did your appointments with the chaplaincy service involve?

Barbara was a saviour through some really turbulent times. Meeting with her when I didn’t have many friends here or a safe place to go was really important. When you don’t feel held by work or any form of social network, and the roof over your head is nearly no more, that’s really frightening. Barbara provided me a non-judgemental space to reflect and talk things through.

We still meet regularly face-to-face, usually over a bite to eat. We talk about all sorts of things, including; my ongoing battle with not knowing what to do with my life, some of the injustices that I’ve witnessed and how to cope with them, religion and my health.

She is very grounding and reflective. Our sessions feel like a form of counselling, but it’s a less formal and intimidating approach which I really like. I always feel very well listened to and she makes me very comfortable. She’s the sort of person that will allow things to happen organically so you can get whatever you want out of it which is really important.

Have you been able to make changes to improve your wellbeing since visiting the Hub?

I’m also getting another form of therapy and coaching for other issues in my life, but Barbara allows me to see the wood from the trees through all that. She’s helped me navigate my way through some really complicated situations and I always look forward to seeing her.

What do you think the impact would have been without the support from the Hub?

I probably would have felt even lonelier than I did. I would have felt I had no one to turn to. I’m not the best at asking for help, so knowing that Barbara is there to help me means a lot.

If I hadn’t met with her initially when things were so difficult, I probably would have slipped into depression. I think I would have been in a very different and darker place. She has kept me grounded enough to see things through which has been life-changing. She has offered a different perspective and normalised things.

Barbara is the friend you didn’t realise you needed.

Would you recommend the Hub to colleagues?

Of course and I do! The Hub is a necessary service. As a manager, there’s only so much I can and should be doing to support the health of my team, so there needs to be outside help available. I have a good rapport with people I manage, but I don’t expect colleagues to fully open up to me all the time. We all need a helping hand and everyone deserves access to that. Part of leadership involves supporting people to bring the best versions of themselves into what they are doing and if people can’t, then we are in trouble.

We need a holistic approach to support, and I think it would be a crying shame if the Hub was to disappear. It is a safety net for a lot of people.

What advice would you give to people who may be struggling?

Go to the Hub, get an assessment and see what help is out there. It’s also helpful to speak to your manager, but if you feel like you can’t, the Hub allows you to self-refer. There is non-judgemental support out there.

Barbara said: “It’s such a privilege to work with colleagues from so many diverse parts of the NHS and beyond.  I really value coming alongside people and hearing their stories, even though those stories are often hard to hear.  It’s amazing to be trusted with someone’s story, hearing things that they have often felt they can’t say out loud to anyone, anywhere else.  It’s good then to be able to continue to journey with them for however long or short a time they need and to see them finding their own way to grow and to change, or get a new perspective on the circumstances in which they find themselves.

“Our offer of pastoral care within the Hub allows people of all faith backgrounds or none to reflect in a caring, supportive, non-judgmental space. We are able to offer a truly personal service; no two people’s stories or journeys are the same and we have the ability and privilege to work with and support people in whatever way is best for them. I’d encourage any colleagues who feel that this kind of support would be useful for them to make contact with the Hub, and to accept the offer of conversations with Chaplaincy when offered by the CWPs.”

Get in touch:

If you work in healthcare, social care or the police in Devon and are interested in our chaplaincy support, the Hub’s Colleague Wellbeing Practitioners can discuss your needs and make a referral on your behalf. Please get in touch by calling 0300 303 5455, email dpt.devonwellbeing@nhs.net or fill out the simple referral form on the Devon Wellbeing Hub website.