Nice to meet you, James here… I’m an INFP Personality Type!
Feel free to check out the Buddies Blueprint to understand more on the way we use matching ♦
Hi, I’m James — one of the Buddies team. the manager and owner.
We’re a small, slow growth team, and we like it that way. I take care of most of the behind-the-scenes work — paperwork, office bits — but what I really love is getting out there to support people directly. A big part of my role is helping to figure out what works best for each person we support, and making sure things get off to the right start, every person we engage becomes a partner, or a part of the family.
We want to keep Buddies small and to grow slowly alongside the people we work with. That way, we can make sure we’re doing things properly and personally for every individual. We never want it to feel like a big, faceless service — it’s all about building relationships and getting things right from the beginning.
A bit about me… Before starting Buddies, I was already working in similar roles. I’d been a lead RMN supporting young people move from child to adult services, who were otherwise having a difficult time of it on complex community care packages- I was made a consultant with that same purpose following that.
I’m a mental health nurse (RMN) with around 20 years’ experience across a wide range of settings — from care homes (The Royal Star and Garter) and secure environments (Broadmoor), to community work with the Epilepsy Society and as an RMN on their diagnostic unit. Most recently, I’ve been supporting young people with complex needs in the community, things like complex social needs, people that have had issues with the police – PDA, ADHD, Autism. It was that experience — seeing young people struggling as they moved into adult services — that inspired me to start Buddies initially, as I found my role at that time was essentially being a ‘buddy’ and it worked (obviously the right knowledge and skills are essential in that situation).
Ofcourse, it applies equally across all ages and people we look after, but that was the starting point from a service perspective.
Over the years, I’ve worked with a diverse range of people — from older adults (including Dementia at the RSG, using the at-the-time pioneering butterfly model, we won dementia environment of the year) to young people, and alongside families, nurses, social workers, advocates, psychologists, therapists and practitioners of all kinds across the sector. One thing everyone seems to agree on is how important it is to build genuine, trusting relationships. I’ve always believed that being consistent, authentic, listening, and appreciating peoples journey as well as valuing individuality are what make the biggest difference in the quality of your relationships as a professional, or being a ‘buddy’.
I try to bring my own style to my role— easy-going, kind-hearted, with what’s probably a dry sense of humour. I always do my best to help people find their way through whatever’s troubling them. It’s something that comes naturally to me, and it’s what makes it worthwhile and I’m good at it.
Like most of us, I’ve had my own challenges and experiences, which probably help me to connect with others — especially young people who are dealing with stigma or finding their place in the world.
Outside of work, I love motorbikes, painting, drawing, reading, and studying anything creative. My older brother teaches piano and guitar, my younger brother carves wood and ice — and I’m the middle child (but don’t believe everything you hear).
I’ve got family roots in Wales, so you might catch me singing now and then, and also East London, although I was born and raised in West London. A fun bit of family history — my Grandma Pay used to say we’re descended from Old Harry Paye (born Henry Pay), a pirate from Poole. Whether that’s true or not is another question, I do own a boat… so who knows, maybe there’s something in it!
Anyway, that’s a little about me. If you’ve read this far — thank you. Maybe we’ll get the chance to meet sometime.
♦
Best for now,
James
