50 Voices
ROBERT 50 Voices captures the authentic voice of the people that use our services and our staff as Turning Point celebrates its 50th anniversary
50 Voices
Robert Floyd
50 Voices
Robert Floyd
Robert Floyd works as a Project Worker and a Peer Mentor Coordinator at our Smithfield service in Manchester.
When and how did you start working at Turning Point? I started working at Turning Point on the 10th of August 2009 as a support worker. I had been working in another company previously which had been severely hit by the recession. With no job and a heavily pregnant wife, it was time to re-assess my career. I thought to myself Why not do a job that you actually like? I hadn’t been enjoying my previous role and found myself just wishing for time to pass so that Monday would become Tuesday and Tuesday would become Wednesday and so on and so forth until the weekend. In essence I was just wishing my life away. So when I saw a vacancy for a support worker at Turning Point, I decided to apply! I fell into it, but happily. In hindsight losing my old job was a really good thing; in fact it was one of the best things to happen to me.
What’s life like at Smithfields? Life at Smithfield, as well as being about detoxing from a specific substance also puts great emphasis and focus on our client’s ongoing recovery. We acknowledge that much of the hard work in recovery from addiction begins post detox and we work hard with our clients to ensure they have a good aftercare plan and awareness of the recovery communities they can engage with in their area. We certainly do try to ensure that our clients have as enjoyable stay as possible. We organise quizzes, bingo and film nights for the residents. Just because you’re in a residential detox doesn’t mean that you suddenly don’t want to enjoy your life anymore! We strive to underline that recovery is infinitely more enjoyable than active addiction, however we also stress that recovery and abstinence is hard work, especially to begin with and must be worked at, therefore our client’s physical detox and their ongoing recovery options are our primary focus at Smithfield.
50 Voices
Robert Floyd
What is unique about Turning Point? I think what’s fantastic about Turning Point is that they have good vision and can see the value in their staff. Turning Point is very open-minded about changes and new ideas. In my service, which is a residential detox, boredom can become a real issue for service users so I decided to set up an art group. I not only received support from Turning Point but also the necessary budget to get the art group up and running rather than being given the run around. Sometimes organisations can be a bit resistant to change but at Turning Point both service users and staff are listened to and supported. I still run the art group on Friday mornings and it is now a part of the group programme and has an ongoing budget so it’s still going strong!
What skill or quality do you have that helps you do your job to the best of your ability? Definitely passion! If you don’t have passion then you shouldn’t be doing work like this. Sometimes recovery statistics can be demoralising for the service users but I aim to prove to them that life outside active addiction is better. I believe that every client I work with has the potential to succeed. No one does this job for the money; they do it because they care. That’s a crucial pre-requisite.
The individuals who come to Smithfield for support should be acknowledged for the courage, will power and innerstrength
What do you think is the biggest misconception about people with substance misuse issues? Honestly the stigma surrounding substance misuse is the biggest misconception. When I tell people that I work in a residential detox, their immediate reaction is that I work with a bunch of “wrong uns”. It is always my pleasure to say the opposite. The individuals who come to Smithfield for support should be acknowledged for the courage, will power and inner-strength that they demonstrate. To
50 Voices
Robert Floyd
battle active addiction and face it head on is a constant struggle and a struggle that many people don’t understand. I am inspired every day by the people I work with and I am privileged to do my job.
Why do you think Peer Mentors have been so beneficial to Turning Point? I feel the Peer Mentors are so important. Since their introduction in 2013, what Peer Mentors have proven is that they can offer service users something that our service didn’t offer before. They are not here to do the manual tasks that the rest of us haven’t yet done nor are they here just to make up the numbers. They provide a level of service that only they can bring because they’ve already been through it. Clients find it easier to talk to a Peer Mentor as they don’t see them as an authority figure but rather as an image of recovery. The task of a Peer Mentor can be as simple as taking service users out for a coffee or to the shops or attending Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with them. Our Peer Mentors give so much to Turning Point and to the clients. Many have gone onto paid work and some are even working at Smithfield now! I think Turning Point has done the
We take pride in empowering individuals to improve their lives, to give them the hope and belief so that they can see that recovery is a tangible possibility.
Peer Mentoring Scheme right - budding Peer Mentors are given very thorough training over 2 months. Additionally they must have been clean of all substances for 3 months before they can apply to be a Peer Mentor. Turning Point has really thought this through and this thorough consideration is the key to the scheme’s continuing success.
What is your advice for people who want help and support from Turning Point? At Smithfield, and Turning Point as a whole, we take pride in empowering individuals to improve their lives, to give them the hope and belief so that they can see that recovery is a tangible possibility. However we can’t do it for them. In order to begin your journey to recovery you have to be committed, you have to be sure that you really want it for yourself!
50 Voices
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