Emily Peschel, Senior Mental Health Practitioner, Exeter Community Mental Health Team
Emily has been with us for two and a half years and trained with us as a student for three years with The University of Plymouth. Here she shares how she got into mental health nursing through a love of psychology and her plans for the future.
Why did you decide to become a nurse and how did you do it?
My Mum is an adult nurse and growing up I never wanted to go into it as it seemed very stressful. I then found a love for psychology during my A Levels, where I also studied drama, dance and English literature and started thinking about careers. Job security was a big element for me, and, speaking with my mum, she suggested I go down the path I had previously dismissed. Mental health nursing clicked straight away and seemed right.
I applied for university and took a year out to gain work experience in learning disabilities in a live-in residential home in Exmouth as a Support Worker. During university, I was placed with Devon Partnership NHS Trust and was offered a ward job. After doing placements in different areas, there were no preceptor jobs in the community so I started on the ward at The Cedars in Exeter, before applying for a Band 5 job in the Exeter community mental health team, which I began and finished my preceptorship.
Where would you like your career to go next?
I would like to specialise next, having recently completed a Masters module in perinatal mental health. My goal wold be to become a Band 7 and have a specialised role within the community or in a specific therapy. Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) has clear career pathways which will help with my progression.
What does being a nurse mean to you?
"Being a nurse is about helping people and I love getting to know the people I am helping. Being a Care Coordinator means I have worked with people over two year spans - seeing them weekly or monthly, you really get to know someone’s past and their family. You end up holding someone’s hand through a really hard time."
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Successful discharges are the most rewarding part of my job. It means that someone no longer needs me and they’re onto the next part of their recovery. I must admit I also love the thank you cards we often receive – they’re a great boost!
What's the highlight of your working day?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic we have implemented a virtual team check-in at 4pm every day. It really feels like you’ve rounded off your day – even if it’s just a catch up with colleagues. It’s an opportunity to get things off your chest, speak about your day and you feel that you’re not just left at the end of the day – you can share worries and it feels like the day is closed properly.
What gives you the strength to keep going when dealing with an upsetting or difficult situation at work?
The acuteness of the work varies so I don’t take the bad things home and it always helps to know that if there’s a situation, I’ll be in the next day. We have good supervision in terms of boundaries and understanding that you form relationships with those you work with. My team have a really close strong bond, we can talk freely to one another. We also have a group chat and make the effort to see each other outside of work. I know I can just call someone in my team or my manager and there’s always someone there to help you when you need.
Do you have any hobbies?
I love baking! I Love the Bake Off and always make sure I have freshly-baked weekly accordant snacks alongside it! I am certainly prodded by my team to bring in baked goods more often than I do. I go to a Bounce class twice a week with my friends and we always come away from it feeling positive. My husband and I have also bought a refurb project in Exmouth and are doing lots of DIY!
What is it about Devon that makes you feel at home, and where is your favourite place to visit?
I was born here and all of my family and friends are here which is lovely. There is such a good mix of things in Devon – towns, beaches, moors, and things to do. It never feels too busy and there is a really nice pace of life, so it is so hard to be stressed in Devon!
I love where I live in Exmouth, along with Dartmoor and Exmoor – I also love Chagford. I love going to the zoos in Paignton and Dartmoor. We’re outdoorsy and are lucky to live five minutes from the common.
What support does DPT give you as a nurse?
I was drawn to DPT because the Preceptorship Programme was great compared to what other Trusts offered, as well as having a good expenses package for all your travel and the possibility of a relocation package. DPT is extensively great in support, supervision and resources. The level of supervision is great as a community team, with weekly meetings and regular peer supervision. The flexible working offered is extremely important to me and there is emphasis on work-life and family-life balance.
Describe what it’s like working with your team
We have such a lovely group of people – there is real mix of ages and qualifications, meaning the team doesn’t feel uneven in any way. We also have a really positive relationship with our manager, who feels like one of the team.
I was one of the very few people who went into community mental health nursing when I was newly qualified – people see community as an area you go into later in your career and that’s not the case at all. It’s a real asset having newly qualified team members in the community as you’re fresh out of training.
"To anyone thinking of applying to work in community mental health nursing, I’d say 100% go for it and don’t dismiss it!"