Bromley mental health carer's 49-year career celebrated

Nathan Pathmanathan, 71, left his Malaysian family in 1972 to pursue a career in psychiatric nursing in England, witnessing first-hand the negative effects of institutionalisation as a young man.

He spent the next five decades working as a mental health carer in Bromley, supporting thousands of people to reintegrate into society, before retiring this year.

Nathan said: “It’s all about understanding and talking to people. Sit down and give people your time, engage with them, believe and respect people as individuals. You must have honesty and integrity.”

He was surprised by his former colleagues at Ambient Support, which operates care services across the UK, with a commemorative potted tree, gardening vouchers and a memory book with photos and messages from well-wishing staff.

“I am most proud of the staff,” Nathan added.

“The team are constantly developing and training to find ways to improve services to positively impact the people we support.

“If you show your staff respect and support, they will in turn show that to those they care for.

“I have seen the incredible development of all of the people in positions today at Ambient and it makes me very proud.”

Sarah Hearne, Locality Manager at Ambient, who works alongside Nathan, said: “Nathan is a great mentor, leader and a peoples’ person.

“He has been a great asset to this charity over many years of service in the Health & Social Care sector and will be hugely missed by me and everyone that has had the pleasure of working alongside him over the years.”

Nathan will remain involved with Ambient Support, supporting their Bromley based volunteer horticulture project, ‘Branching Out’.

He added: “If you can support people to get out and about in the world, they will see the brightness of life.

“I will continue to keep calling people, checking in and being social. That is what makes the rivers of our lives flow.”