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Career change was the best decision of my life

Support worker CarolAfter working as a civil servant for 25 years, I knew I needed a change. My job had become the most stressful it had ever been.

My daughter is a support worker, and one day, she asked me to keep her company at a recruitment evening. I had no intention of applying for a job, I simply went for moral support. I’d always envied my daughter’s job role and how much satisfaction she got from her work. She knew it was something I’d talked about wanting to do, but I never had the courage to do anything about it.

At the open evening, I ended up chatting with the lovely Brandon team. Before I knew it, I was filling in an application form for casual bank staff. And then, I’m invited for an interview - my first in 25 years! Soon after, I was offered a job as a casual bank support worker and began working a few shifts in my spare time.

Initially, I doubted myself and my ability to take on this new role, but I really shouldn’t have worried. It felt natural, like it was what I was meant to do. Supporting these wonderful people gave me an amazing sense of job satisfaction and pride.

After two years of working bank shifts alongside my main job, my team leader asked me to consider a permanent contract. To begin with, I thought there was no way I could do this and leave my job of over 25 years. After a lot of soul searching and talking it through with my family and friends, I made the biggest and best decision of my life. I resigned from my job and became a full-time support worker!

Carol enjoying her jobI can truthfully say that I’ve never looked back. Instead of dreading it, I now love going to work. My hours and days are flexible, no two days are ever the same, the stress has completely gone from my work life, and I literally feel like a different person. It really was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. It would have been so easy to stay in a job I’d always known, not venturing out of my comfort zone.

Until I made the leap, I don’t think I realised how much I needed to change direction. If, like me, it feels like something’s missing, like you have more to give, I can honestly recommend support work. Try it first like I did, join as a casual bank support worker and see if it’s for you. I promise, you won’t look back.

Carol Stephens
Support Worker

Interested in becoming a support worker?

You can find out more about working as a support worker, and browse our current vacancies by visiting the jobs section of our website.

If you’d like to meet our recruitment team for a chat, please check the list of upcoming recruitment events. If you have any questions about the events or our current vacancies, please call us on 01454 338 904.

Being a support worker: "It literally is the best job!"