I’ve been a Senior Support Worker in the MTAP services – which is our homelessness service in Midlothian – for a year and a half now. But I’ve been at withYOU for three years in total.
I left school at 16, and briefly worked in retail. When I was 18 I took a job at a company supporting people with learning disabilities, so this is something I’ve been involved in from a very young age. When I was 24, I went on to study community education. I then came back to care as an agency worker.
There are always opportunities to grow at withYOU. We’re constantly encouraged to progress in our careers, and there’s a lot of ongoing development.
For example, I was recently asked to step into a Team Leader role within the Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity services for 12 weeks. While most people stay in the same service, there is the opportunity to work in different areas.
There’s always room for career progression, here. Your skills are recognised.
For example, when I was a Support Worker working in Pentland House, my manager approached me and asked if I’d be interested in applying for a Senior Support Worker role and helping to open Jarnac.
This was a great opportunity to take a step up in my career. Not only did I move up into a Senior position, I also got to be part of opening a brand new service. It gave me great insight into how things are run.
Working in care is very rewarding, but it can be challenging at times. It can be chaotic, and you’re on your feet a lot of the time. But that’s where the big rewards come from as well.
I think any field that challenges you as a person comes with big rewards.
The most rewarding thing about this job is seeing the difference I make in people’s lives. We see people at their lowest points. We work as a team, and engage our service users. It’s incredible to watch their progress and help them to live a happier life.
This job is very varied. You never know what you’re going to get. We’re dealing with people with lots of different needs. There’s stuff that we’re doing daily, weekly, monthly and it’s never the same, and that’s why I love it. I know it’s not for some people, but for me I need a dynamic role.
The thought of the same routine, day after day, isn’t for me.
One thing I’m really proud of is that I’m always there for my team. I always try to be approachable and friendly. Even when times are really difficult, like when we’re dealing with people going through really hard times, it’s important to keep morale high.
If you come to work at withYOU, you’ll learn a lot about yourself. You’ll find out what you value as a person, and you’ll get a chance to bring that to the company. And you, yourself, will be valued as a member of staff.
Working at withYOU comes with challenges, but the rewards are far greater.