My name is Shelley Monaghan and I work in the South of Oxfordshire as an employment coach. I also coach members of Fleet Meadow Recovery Group and help them find paid work, volunteering, training or another meaningful activity.
This is a week in the life of me!
Monday
Henley-On-Thames
Whilst always having clients from Henley-on-Thames I have never been able to see them in Henley as I did not have a room I could use. Well not anymore, I’m pleased to say that at last I have a room here to see coaching clients so they will not have to travel to Wallingford to be seen. There are very limited mental health services available that I know of in the area so I feel really pleased to be here!
Today was my first day in the historic town and after a beautiful sunny drive up here from Oxford I settled myself in for my first employment clinic
Today was no different in the way it works to any other place – after assessing a person to check if coaching is the right service for them I will accept some one on to my case load. Three new clients today – good start to the new location.
Giving people one to one informal support and helping people to set goals and identify barriers is often the starting point of the coaching journey. People need help in all sorts of ways. Many find it hard to know what to say about mental health disclosure, and more importantly what to say to an employer.
Coaching is helping people to help themselves. Its giving support where it is needed, in order to help others achieve their goals.
Tuesday
Abingdon MIND
I am able to work from Abingdon MIND every Tuesday. I have been doing this for nearly 2 years now. I regularly see six clients back to back, and that pretty much takes up my whole day. Today was no exception.
When you have been working with someone for a while you have got to the stage where after a catch up you can get straight into job search and maybe apply for a suitable job role within the session. Today 4 jobs were applied for we will just have to wait and see if they have been successful.
Had a good chat with someone today about the issues involved in going back to work after a lengthy break. Going back part time can be an option which enables you to make a gradual return – a small step in the right direction.
Wednesday
Coaching Team Meeting – Elder Stubbs Cowley
It’s always good to catch up with the team and touch base on what we are all doing. Becky Ansari and I went to London’s Olympia to see the National Careers Show recently and reported back to the team what the day was like. A seminar about social media proved to be quite good and gave us some good tips on how to run social media accounts such as LinkedIn.
Thursday
Fleet Meadow – Didcot
The members of Fleet Meadow were in fine form this morning, wishing Recovery Worker Jonathon all the best on his move to The Beehive [our recovery group on Cowley Road]. Well, I say that – he will be sorely missed here, our loss is their gain!
Adult mental Health Team – Community Hospital Didcot
On a Thursday I usually work within the Adult Mental Health Teams seeing coaching clients. I start work in Abingdon then move over to Didcot in the afternoon.
I had a great result this afternoon: a lady has started volunteering as a small step towards her long term goal of going back to work. She had a great first day and was feeling positive about moving forward. It’s often the first step and something us coaches encourage as we know how it can really help people when wondering how will it “feels“ to be in a work like setting again.
Friday
Fleet Meadow – Didcot
I saw coaching clients here this morning as well as Fleet Meadow members before starting the journey to Wallingford where I usually spend the whole day on a Friday. Within my role as the Fleet Meadow recovery coach though I have to make sure I am get here at least once a month on every different day of the week .
Adult Mental Health Team – Community Hospital Wallingford
One of my clients who I see in Wallingford has enrolled on course which he will be starting soon. This will put him on a career path which he has wanted for a while and feels “right”. Couldn’t be more pleased for him – Great end to the week.
I usually get to catch up with staff here as well on a Friday. As I have been coming here for a couple of years I have built up some great relationships and the staff are very friendly – I always manage to get a few referrals this way too !