Julie Bennion has recently been appointed to the post of Specialist in Mental Health Promotion, DHSS Social Services.
Julie worked as a Homelessness Officer, then a Social Worker, and Approved Social Worker in various mental health teams in Leicester and Leicestershire, her last post was as a manager of an Assertive Outreach Service, which worked to a recovery model providing a service to people with mental health problems.
Steve Chell, Assistant Director of Social Services (Mental Health) said of Julie’s appointment, "Social Services is delighted to have appointed someone of Julie’s experience and background into this pivotal role within Mental Health.
"Julie’s role will ensure the profile of mental health continues to be raised and that our strategy is further developed to improve awareness of mental illness and thus outcomes around the service’s ‘recovery’ model of care."
Julie, who grew up in Peel, left the Island at 18 to do voluntary work in England. She initially worked with homeless people in hostels, night shelters and drop in centres and later studied and qualified as a Social Worker in 1993.
She now returns home to what she believes to be her ideal job. She sees this post as being an opportunity to build on the good work of her predecessor, Pat Heggs, and to continue to take the promotion of mental health even further.
Julie said, "I have received a warm welcome from colleagues, people who use the mental health services, and partner agencies.
"It has been inspiring to see their commitment to the good quality services they already provide and their drive to further improve the services for the Island’s community."
Julie’s remit is to focus on action to enhance mental well-being; it can be aimed at the general population or targeted at individuals at greater risk, and those with mental health problems.
Julie’s plans for her first year in post will reflect and support both the Government Strategy and the Mental Health Service’s Modernisation of Clinical Practice and Service Delivery.
Together with her colleagues, Julie will look at developing a suicide prevention strategy, as well as ways of tackling discrimination against those with mental health issues, promoting social inclusion and the recovery of those who experience mental ill health.
Julie concluded, "I am looking forward to my first year and the challenges it will bring, and I hope that the work I do will bring positive results."
