Emily

Emily completed a six-week recruitment programme called Step into Care, which helps talented people with the right values to work in care to start their career. She chose the support worker role because she wants to understand what it is to truly care for people, and it will help her on her journey to eventually become a paramedic and will look great on her university application. She had always wanted to work in care, but her lack of previous experience meant she hadn’t been successful. This course has changed that and now she’s in the sector she’s always wanted to be in!

There’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ week during COVID, but it has nonetheless been a great experience for her. Emily and the team would often log on to Zoom and do an activity to get their brains working and then discuss their tasks together. They also had a groupchat, which helped her to get to know everyone on a more personal level, and she feels like she’s made friends for life! During the weeklong placement, Emily felt as though she’d worked there for months because everyone was so lovely and welcoming, and she was just able to get stuck in with work and shadowing team members.

Emily was apprehensive before starting, as her anxiety stops her from doing a lot of things. She thought her mindset would get the better of her after just one session and she’d want to give up, but her tutors meant it went the opposite way! They built up her confidence, she was able to really enjoy her time, and everything just fell into place. She also worried the support would end when the course ended, causing her anxiety to come back, but that wasn’t the case. Emily's self-confidence and capabilities have skyrocketed above anything she expected two months ago.

Emily would tell the person to make sure it’s something they really want to do, as it won’t be easy. The hours are long and the work is hard but it’s so rewarding. The person needs to be caring and compassionate, and able to work well under pressure. Good people skills are also needed, but they can be built over the course of the programme as Emily’s did.

Emily’s goal is to keep increasing her confidence, people skills and furthering her current job before she can head off to University. Her long-term career goal is to be a paramedic, continuing to help others, just in a different way.