50 Voices
JOEL 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
Joel Rajkoomar
50 Voices
Joel Rajkoomar
Joel Rajkoomar is a Team leader at Linden House which supports individuals with mental health issues.
When and how did you start working at Turning Point? Whilst studying nursing at university, I joined a health and social care agency to earn some extra income throughout my studies and I ended up working at Linden House. After two years, the line manager at the time suggested that I apply to Turning Point so when a project worker role came up, I applied and got the job! After 3 years as a project worker the team leader post came up so I went for it and I got it!
What are your main responsibilities? My main responsibilities are getting the hand over, making sure everything ran well the night before, and handling any issues that may have come up. I basically deal with the overall running of the service, ensuring that everyone is ok and making sure that the environment at Linden House runs well.
What is unique about Linden House in the way that it supports its service users?
There is definitely a homely atmosphere because it is the service users’ home!
50 Voices
Joel Rajkoomar
The atmosphere, vibe and environment at Linden House are amazing. There is definitely a homely atmosphere because it is the service users’ home! We socialise, get them involved in their care and the running of the service. We have so many different activities going on, such as music and art. We also have house meetings so our service users can discuss how they’re doing, what’s going on and anything that’s coming up. We have quiz nights and karaoke nights and with Christmas coming up shortly, there are lots of events around that going on at the moment. The activities at Linden House are so important because structure and socialising are both a big part of recovery.
The activities at Linden House are so important because structure and socialising are both a big part of recovery.
What skill or quality do you have that helps you do your job to the best of your ability? I think being pleasant and actively listening as well as treating everyone with respect. Adapting yourself to different people and different personalities is also important as is trust, honesty and knowing how to treat people with dignity.
What aspects of your service do you think are the most effective for service users’ recovery? Involving people! We’re really big on that especially on the needs around diversity for our service users. We carry out a cultural audit in order to get to know that person’s background and their needs even for something as simple as what type of food they would like to eat. It’s definitely important that service users have the opportunity to cook the type of food they’re used to or want to eat. We also ask if they have a male or female preference for their key worker. They’re small things, but can make a lot of difference to the wellbeing of our service users.
50 Voices
Joel Rajkoomar
Why are you so passionate about being a part of Turning Point? Firstly it’s within my nature to help people even from a young age! Looking after others and seeing someone smile is what it’s all about. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, the satisfaction of helping and supporting someone is reward enough.
What do you think is the biggest misconception about people with mental health issues?
Just because you suffer with mental health issues, you can still be aware of what’s going on, be able to think for yourself and be intelligent.
I think people have a tendency of taking people with mental health issues for granted and may think that they’re not as in tune or as clever as us. It’s the age old case of judging a book by its cover when in fact they could be more highly educated than me. You have to remember that we are assessing them but they are assessing us too; any given person does have a voice so we need to get him or her involved. Just because you suffer with mental health issues, you can still be aware of what’s going on, be able to think for yourself and be intelligent. We mustn’t let people fall into the trap of thinking that isn’t the case.
50 Voices
Turning Point Standon House 21 Mansell Street London E1 8AA 020 7481 7600 info@turning-point.co.uk
50 Voices Learn more at www.turning-point.co.uk For press enquiries about 50 Voices please contact press@turning-point.co.uk