career in care 2018

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Newbury Weekly News

Choice Care Group

And this is Sammy’s story Support worker to service manager in three years Sammy joined Choice Care Group in 2015 as a support worker in one of their newer homes, in Addlestone, Surrey. Sammy had joined Choice after leaving university and needed to find a job. At the time, she saw it as a temporary option until she decided what she wanted to do. However, much to her own surprise, Sammy found that she loved the job and found it really rewarding. She said, “Your job is to literally support someone to live a full and happy life and that makes all your hard work completely worth it. “Also, every day is totally different. One day I am in meetings and doing paperwork, the next day I am at Chessington World of Adventures.” Quite quickly Sammy was promoted to shift leader, then senior, then assistant manager. She is now service manager in Guildford, overseeing two supported living services. She would definitely recommend giving a career in care a go and says, with a bit of dedication and hard work, anyone can achieve what she has done. Sammy sees her role as challeng- ing, varied, fun and rewarding. Recently she was involved in the opening of a brand new service, which she definitely found chal- lenging, but also very rewarding. She said she was involved in everything, from meeting the

CHOICE recognise that their staff are one of their most important assets. They always aim to recruit people who are passionate about working in care and support them to develop their career. As well as job satisfaction, they offer excellent training, great team-working and plenty of opportunities for career progression. They are a leading provider of high-quality residential and supported living services for people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, autism and complex needs. They have been providing high quality, tried and tested services for 25 years. They currently have 60 residen- tial care homes and support around 100 individuals through their supported living services. They operate in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Wiltshire and the Midlands and are continuing to grow. Many of their staff have been with Choice a long time – many started as support workers and have progressed into more senior management roles. Here is Sarah’s story – one of their apprentices. She has progressed from apprentice social care worker to a team leader in a very short time. Apprentice social care worker – to acting team leader Sarah started working for Choice as an apprentice in February 2017 and is showing true dedication and commitment.

As soon as she was able to apply for a permanent position she did without hesitation, becoming a social care worker in December 2017. Her enthusiasm and love for the role was recognised by her colleagues, as well as her eager- ness to develop herself further. Sarah is now an acting team leader and is in the process of completing a Level 2 Diploma. Sarah is always keen to attend any training provided and her

tutor’s feedback (re Diploma Level 2) has always been very positive. She is always punctual, efficient, and stays longer to ensure all tasks are completed to the highest possible standards. Her enthusiasm is literally contagious – spreading from one staff member to another and creating a great team spirit.

Sammy said that Choice is a great place to work and that she has had loads of support from the company. She has been put forward for promotions and further training. She says that this shows that if you work hard, you do get noticed and you are appreciated.

service users who would be moving in and spending time with them to get to know them so that she could work out how best to support them and write out a plan, to setting up the new staff team. From there, she worked together with her team to get everyone settled and make the house a home.

Sarah is very focused on continuing to progress her career in Choice.

RECRUITING NOW

SUPPORTING LIVES, DELIVERING CHOICES

At Choice, we aim to provide outstanding support services for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, giving them the opportunity to lead full and active lives. Our person-centred residential and supported living services provide safe, high quality environments where the people we support can progress at their own pace along the pathway to greater independence, in the way that best suits them.

Our care professionals and in-house Behaviour Support Team provide tailored therapy and structured activity programmes for adults and young people aged 16+, focused on achieving positive outcomes. In everything we do, our aim is to provide the high quality care that enables our service users to lead active and fulfilling lives.

Join our team today!

Tel: 0203 195 0136 louisa.daga@choicecaregroup.com www.choicecaregroup.com

Positive outcomes for peoplewith complex needs