Diary of a Support Worker
To mark World Day Against Trafficking 2024, one of our support workers, Maya, took over our social media with a ‘diary of a support worker’. These are her posts from the week.
Monday morning: hi!
Hi, I’m Maya and I’m an Accommodation Support Worker at Ella’s, which means I work closely with some of the women living in Ella’s’ safe houses.
You don’t get to see my face, as we’re careful with identities at Ella’s, but here are my feet (left) 😂
I work with six women at any one time, and I’ve been in this role for almost one year.
The thing I love most about this job is the fact I get to work alongside incredible women; I feel honoured that they allow and trust me to support them in their journey to recovery. And the biggest challenge is the emotional side of the work - it can sometimes be very emotionally demanding and intense. I’ve got a busy Monday lined up, but first coffee!
Monday: house meeting
Today we had a house meeting in the safe house where I’m mainly based. All of the residents come together for these meetings, which usually take place every month. It’s an opportunity to discuss any house matters, such as cleaning and maintenance, and to openly talk about what is going well in the house and any concerns people may have. We have a new resident who’s just moved in, so this was a good chance to help her settle in.
Some women struggle to bring up their concerns to others, so we work hard to create a safe, encouraging and non-judgemental space to help women speak up. It is obviously also an essential life skill to be able to stand up for yourself and discuss problems in a healthy way. Therefore these meetings aren’t just about trying to resolve issues in the house, but also act as an opportunity to develop a skill that for a lot of people is a challenge.
Tuesday afternoon: assessment
Had a one to one with one of the women I support, to go through an ASO* assessment. We do these at regular intervals with all of the survivors we work with, as one of the ways to chart their progress and make sure that we’re helping them in the right ways.
The assessment went pretty well, it’s inspiring to see how proactive this survivor is, and so motivated to keep on getting stronger and to build a stable life. She said she’s proud of what she has achieved in the few months she has been at Ella’s. She is keen on progressing with her education and is hoping to apply for University in the next year or two.
These assessments can feel daunting for some women, and can bring up painful memories or anxieties, so we always tread sensitively. I give the women early notice of when they’re due, so they feel prepared and reassured. Sometimes, it just gets too much, so we pause and pick it back up again another day.
Ultimately though, these assessments help highlight the amazing progress women make at Ella’s, and their strength and determination to overcome their traumatic experiences and rebuild their lives. Always a good thing to dwell on 🙌
*A deep dive for anyone who wants to know! ASO stands for Assessment of Survivor Outcomes, and measures women’s stability on a range of important criteria: safety, legal protection, mental wellbeing, economic empowerment and education, social support and physical wellbeing.
Wednesday: creative session
Talitha Arts came to one of our Ella’s spaces to run a wellbeing and creativity session, and it was brilliant!
This was my first time joining a Talitha Arts session and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Several of the women I work with have attended a few, and have always given great feedback, so I was looking forward to it.
The session was so calming. They started off with breathing work and stretching, and then did some creative, reflective activities around the theme of nature. Everyone was open to sharing their feelings and opinions throughout the session. It was a really lovely morning.
Wednesday afternoon: hospital strife
I attended a hospital appointment this afternoon with Carla, one of the residents. She has regular appointments and sometimes needs extra support. Due to the language barrier, Carla struggles to understand everything she’s being told and finds it difficult to communicate with the medical staff. They do often provide interpreters, but not always. In addition, some appointments can be very stressful for her so she needs a little moral support.
Today was hard. When we arrived, Carla was told it was a telephone appointment even though she received a text to say she should come into the hospital. One of the nurses told us the doctor would call her with an interpreter before midday.
Carla also needed to collect her medication from the pharmacy in the hospital. But because she had still not received a call from the doctor, she wasn’t allowed to collect her medication. We ended up waiting more than two and a half hours, until a doctor finally called. But then he called with no interpreter ☹️
After more waiting, the doctor called again with an interpreter, but after all that he didn't know enough about Carla’s treatment so couldn't answer any of her questions. He also informed her that the blood test she did earlier had been lost, so she needed to go get another one. We went to do another blood test and were finally able to collect the medication, and head back to the house. It was a tough day, Carla felt exhausted. An important part of our job is to build resilience though, and support the women to cope with frustrations and setbacks like this, and to push through and not give up. So on we go.
Thursday morning: time to learn
We did some frontline team training this morning about trans, intersex and modern slavery, led by a survivor who we used to support at Ella’s.
The training was so interesting! It covered several aspects, from understanding the correct terminology, to how the barriers faced by people who are trans and intersex can put them at a much greater risk of abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
It’s crucial that services are welcoming, safe, and accessible for people who are trans, intersex and non-binary (TIN), and also that services understand that we may also inadvertently be putting up barriers for TIN persons. Our trainer provided some really valuable insights into how policies can be adapted and how our approach to discussions around gender, sexuality and identity can ensure we create a safe and supportive environment for everyone, particularly TIN persons.
So good to learn and be challenged, grateful for today.
Thursday afternoon: time to reflect
Managed to squeeze in a session with my external supervisor today. This is a monthly meeting with a psychiatrist who has agreed to provide additional support for Ella’s’ support workers. It’s a time where we can discuss any issues or challenges at work, but also anything personal that’s weighing us down.
I really value these sessions and have taken a lot from them. Today, we talked about how to implement boundaries at work, and the importance of taking time to debrief, reflect and relax. Especially important following experiences like Carla’s appointment yesterday, when it can be easy to feel angry and frustrated on behalf of the women we work with, and take on their pain. Time for some deep breaths and R&R with a good book, this evening!
Friday: beach trip day!
Today was our annual Ella’s beach trip. We had such a good time taking a coach load of women and children to the coast in Essex. We paddled, built sand castles, had a delicious picnic… all the ingredients of a perfect day at the beach.
Community is so important at Ella’s, to the survivors and to the team too. It’s been so fun to share a bit with you. We’re really grateful for all the ways you support our work at Ella’s, you’re part of our community too - thank you!