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Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) is an independent Scottish charity that provides more than 2000 hours of community based support every week to people in Glasgow.

The services and opportunities we offer help people who are recovering from mental health problems to live the lives that THEY want to live. We also support Carers of people in recovery, including Young Carers. We work with people in ways that encourage hope (belief that recovery is possible) personal development and self confidence. If we support you we will recognise that you are the expert in your own life and your own health. You have the right to make your own choices and decisions. For more information about recovery see Scottish Recovery Network

We recognise that the effects of inequality, stigma and discrimination make recovery more difficult than it should be and undermine a person’s sense of wellbeing. As an organisation we work to ensure that both as a service provider and as an employer, we avoid discrimination and promote fairness and inclusion for everyone.

We work in partnership with the people we support, their allies and supporters and a range of other agencies to create the best opportunities for recovery and to overcome barriers to inclusion.

GAMH WORKFORCE

GAMH’s best assets are its workforce, volunteers and supporters.  We believe that a well-trained and supported workforce with good working terms and conditions enhances and emphasises safe and effective practice and benefits both the individual workers and the people we support. In recognition of our commitment to our workforce GAMH is a member of the Living Wage Foundation and a signatory to the Scottish Government Fair Work Convention and Framework.

GAMH promotes a culture of learning and personal development at all levels within the organisation’s workforce. All newly recruited GAMH staff undertake our Preparation for Practice Award (PfP), a customised award designed to support the learning requirements of the social care workforce and provide knowledge and offer reflection on the values, policies and procedures and practice approach of GAMH. In addition we offer staff access to the appropriate Scottish Vocational Qualifications in the form of SVQs and Professional Development Awards.  These accredited courses and our ongoing training programme support staff to meet the registration and post registration requirements of the Scottish Social Services Council. Training evaluations are in place to ensure that learning opportunities are focused on staff needs. Staff training programme reports.

GAMH also provides a range of opportunities to involve staff and volunteers in sharing ideas and in decision making to determine the future direction and objectives of the organisation as well as improving service performance overall.  We hold interactive workforce wide meetings with staff at least annually on significant business developments.

We use supervision, mentoring, team and practice development meetings to involve staff in innovation and improvement.  Staff surveys elicit feedback on how it feels to be a GAMH employee.  GAMH recognises UNISON as the trade union entitled to represent the workforce for collective bargaining purposes, working in partnership with UNISON to promote a positive workplace culture for all employees.

If you are interested in working or volunteering with GAMH please check our VACANCIES PAGE

GAMH is a member of the Scottish Mental Health Co-operative
Scottish Mental Health COOP

GAMH is working towards the time when ALL of Scotland’s people will have full and equal citizenship rights regardless of their mental health status.

Our Core Values

Recovery is happening when people can live well in the presence or absence of mental health symptoms
Recovery is unique to every individual and our role is to support that process through a highly personalised service over which the service user has maximum control
People first philosophy – People have the right to an identity separate from symptoms, diagnosis, illness or disability – we are not our labels
Every one of us has Human Rights that are based on the principles of Dignity, Equality, Freedom, Respect and Autonomy
A persons rights, interests, strengths and background should always be respected despite the presence of problems or symptoms
People who have lived experience of mental health problems are the experts in their own lives – they have within them the strengths and potential to find solutions to their own problems
The helping relationship is based on partnership, mutual learning and trust – recovery based services encourage personal development, creativity, resilience, resourcefulness and hope (belief that recovery is possible)
Social justice and social inclusion are essential for recovery – everyone should have the chance to make the most of their lives and their talents
Services should promote choice, citizenship, and participation in community life – people are entitled to a life beyond the role of “mental health service user”
The contribution of family, friends, peers (people with lived experience of mental health recovery) and other supporters to a person’s recovery and wellbeing should always be recognised and valued
People who use services tend to value the personal qualities of staff at least as much as formal qualifications – compassion, optimism, creativity, reliability and resilience are some of the qualities essential for the delivery of a recovery based service.

How we can help

Mental health problems affect at least 1 in 4 of all people living in Scotland. Our support will assist you to feel more confident to deal with these issues and help you to rebuild and protect your mental health and wellbeing.

Training & Consultancy

Our courses are delivered by professionals and trainers who bring the powerful and authentic voice of people with lived experience of mental health issues. We have expertise in mental health problems and supporting recovery as well as being consumers of services.

Volunteer

GAMH are always looking to recruit a wide and diverse range of volunteers who can bring their own knowledge, skills and experience to a variety of volunteering roles providing creative support to individuals and to the organisation.

Our History

GAMH has been providing social support services to the people of Greater Glasgow since 1978. The organisation began life as a small unincorporated association providing support and advocacy in local community settings.

With the implementation of the Care in the Community legislation in 1990, and again with the advent of the psychiatric hospital closure programme, GAMH rapidly expanded the range and volume of services provided. In 1995 GAMH became a company limited by guarantee with its own Board of Directors (who are also the charity Trustees.)

The organisation has a history of developing creative solutions to the needs of the communities it works within and the individuals and families it supports:

The first mental health project to specifically address the needs of Black and Ethnic Minority Communities was established by the Association in 1993.

Our Supported Accommodation Service evolved from one which operated on a group living and supported tenancy model into a modern Housing Support Service offered to people living in their own independent tenancies.

The first user led mental health advocacy service in Glasgow was developed in the mid nineties and has since become, with our support, an independent organisation, Advocacy Matters.

The first employability related mental health services, Clubhouses, in Glasgow were established by GAMH and Scotia Clubhouse is still managed by GAMH.

The Mental Health Forum established by GAMH in the early nineties to promote the voice and views of Service Users has become, with our support, the user led Mental Health Network, Greater Glasgow, an independent charitable organisation.

The specific needs of carers of people with mental health problems have been recognised by GAMH for many years. The organisation developed the first support service for mental health carers and the first support project for young carers in Glasgow.

Today, GAMH is adopting an enterprising approach to the work we do. We know that to achieve our mission and create opportunity for the people we support and represent we must develop new ways of earning our income. Our social aims will remain the priority however and our financial goals exist to ensure our success in benefiting the public.