Each month we will be talking to a member of the Suffolk Family Carers team so you can get to know us and how we can help you. This month we have been talking to Emma Gribble, Family Carer Link Worker from the Early Intervention Team (EIT) at West Suffolk Hospital.
What is your role at Suffolk Family Carers?
I am a Family Carer Link Worker- working with the Early Intervention Team at West Suffolk Hospital. EIT is an admission prevention service that supports patients and treats them at home if possible.
How long have you been in your role, and what, in a few words, does it involve?
I have been in the role for two years now, and it involves me helping support family carers who have been referred to me through EIT. I support family carers in the community, with home visits (not currently) via telephone or video call. I can support emotionally and practically and this may include referring or signposting onto other services/organisations. Emotional support, listening to the family carer’s concerns, being there for them. Support the family carer to make decisions and plan for the future. Support the family carer to maintain their own wellbeing. Register them with Suffolk Family Carers (if they wish) to enable them to access our services. Provide health education about UTIs, COPD and breathlessness or nutrition, if appropriate, to increase the family carer’s confidence around these issues and reduce the need for admission. Liaise with health or social care staff and advocate for the family carer if needed. Inform the family carer about their legal rights and help.
Is this your first job within Suffolk Family Carers, or have you moved throughout the organisation?
This is my first job with Suffolk Family Carers, before this job I worked as an Assistant Practitioner for NSFT Youth Pathway/ secondary mental health for Adolescents.
What attracted you to work for the charity?
The charity is a well-known and respected organisation that has had a greatly benefited family carers and their loved ones.
What does a typical work day look like?
Typically my work day will include receiving referrals and inputting the info onto our database, contacting family carers to offer support via telephone or video call (at present), this could be emotional or more practical support or helping with education about UTI’s COPD, Dementia and other conditions, registering family carers with us if required, researching anything that they may need (for example care homes in their area, funding opportunities), record keeping, referring family carers onto other organisations, liaising with other services/organisations with the family carers permission. The role can be varied and I like that. I have also undergone the health coach training and incorporate that into my sessions with family carers when appropriate.
What makes you passionate about the role of the carer?
What makes me passionate about helping family carers, is that I have lived that life and have first-hand knowledge of how greatly it can impact all areas of your life. I spent many years caring for my disabled son, who is now an adult and in supported living. Not just negatively, but also in a more positive and rewarding way. Caring can be exhausting and frustrating sometimes, but it can also bring a stronger bond between you and your loved one and a sense of satisfaction when you can support them to overcome obstacles and achieve things you never thought they would.
Outside of your Suffolk Family Carers world, how do you like to spend your time, and who with?
Outside of work I spend time with my friends and family, I have 6 grandchildren who keep me busy! I like to walk, make my own skin cream/beauty products, sew and meditate.
How do your family or colleagues describe you? Do you have any surprise skills which people may not know about you?
I am not sure what my friends and family would say about me, you’d have to ask them, haha! I am a qualified hypnotherapist which many people do not know. I also have to make all my own cleaning and health care/beauty products, due to allergies. But I enjoy making them and like that it is much better for the environment too.
What do you love most about living in Suffolk, and are there particular places you love to go?
I am a county girl at heart and love living in the countryside and Suffolk has many lovely places to visit, I do love a walk along a river bank and Suffolk has many excellent ones.
Name three words which sum up the role of a carer:
Resilient, Tenacious, Supportive.
