From concierge officer to restoring families support worker
|
All most people want in their work life is purpose; a job they enjoy and a feeling of fulfilment. Natalie started with CAYSH Concierge a few years ago and has since developed her career, progressing to the role of support worker for the restoring families service in the CAYSH charity. But it was no accident, as the job found her! Below is her story.
I was just made redundant from my job at which I had worked for 18 years and found myself looking for a whole new career. Every day I was searching on the Job centre website when one day I saw a job advertising Concierge Security Officer. This is something I would never have clicked on but by mistake I knocked the mouse on the computer with my arm and the job opened up. When I saw the job description, working with vulnerable young people and keeping them safe in accommodation environments I became very interested. I continued to read the whole job spec and I knew instantly that this is something I had always wanted to do.
I started to work on my application instantly with so much passion inside me. I knew at that point that clicking on this job was ‘meant to be’ as I had always wanted to work in this field of work. I had no experience except life experience but I was sure I could make a difference to many young people’s lives should I get the opportunity. |
|
I was successful in my interview I was informed I was the only female concierge officer and would be working within a team of 12 males which made me feel slightly nervous at the time. A meeting was held where I met the rest of my team who made me feel completely relaxed. My team were very supportive towards me and gave me an excellent induction and continued to support me throughout my role.
I did wonder what it would be like working in, what we would call the security industry, but it was completely different to what I imagined. Although it was classed as security which we did do, it had elements of support and engagement which made the role so much more interesting than a normal security service.
When starting this role I loved it instantly. I loved getting up for work everyday knowing I was going to work to do what I had always wanted to do - support young people. I was very passionate about my job and how I could help better the life of a young vulnerable person who clearly needed help.
I continued in this role for 9 months when I had the opportunity to apply for another role within CAYSH as an Advice and Support Officer. I had the full support from all my team who encouraged me to apply for the role. I was successful in this and moved on to support work and was placed in the STOP project in Sutton. This role came with completing a Level 3 in CIH which I had to attend Lewisham College one day a week. I was worried about doing this as I found studying hard but to my disbelief I completed this course with a pass which was such an achievement for me.
I continued working at Sutton STOP helping and supporting many young people which I really enjoyed until, sadly, the project was shut down. I was asked by the Area Director if I would take the lead role in decanting the project due to working there for so long and knowing the project and the young people so well. This was a big task to take on but I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly for the young people and for CAYSH so I took on the role which went smoothly and safely rehoused all of our 12 residents. We ended this with a big party celebrating the five years that STOP had been open and the many young people’s lives it had changed. We invited many ex-residents and external agencies to this party which showed just how successful STOP was.
My work didn’t stop there as I then took the role of working in a 7 bed house in Sutton. This project was a high support project with a high number of care leavers. I continued my work supporting and helping young people here until October 2015 when I was asked to move back over to Croydon and work with Restoring Families Service. My role in this job is working with 16 & 17 years olds and their parents with family mediation to try and keep young people at home and working to build better relationships for them and their parents. I am really enjoying my new role and have already had some real success stories in my short time here.
Working with CAYSH concierge service has enabled me to achieve what I set out to do from day one for which I will always be grateful. This has now given me the career that I had always wanted to do.
I did wonder what it would be like working in, what we would call the security industry, but it was completely different to what I imagined. Although it was classed as security which we did do, it had elements of support and engagement which made the role so much more interesting than a normal security service.
When starting this role I loved it instantly. I loved getting up for work everyday knowing I was going to work to do what I had always wanted to do - support young people. I was very passionate about my job and how I could help better the life of a young vulnerable person who clearly needed help.
I continued in this role for 9 months when I had the opportunity to apply for another role within CAYSH as an Advice and Support Officer. I had the full support from all my team who encouraged me to apply for the role. I was successful in this and moved on to support work and was placed in the STOP project in Sutton. This role came with completing a Level 3 in CIH which I had to attend Lewisham College one day a week. I was worried about doing this as I found studying hard but to my disbelief I completed this course with a pass which was such an achievement for me.
I continued working at Sutton STOP helping and supporting many young people which I really enjoyed until, sadly, the project was shut down. I was asked by the Area Director if I would take the lead role in decanting the project due to working there for so long and knowing the project and the young people so well. This was a big task to take on but I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly for the young people and for CAYSH so I took on the role which went smoothly and safely rehoused all of our 12 residents. We ended this with a big party celebrating the five years that STOP had been open and the many young people’s lives it had changed. We invited many ex-residents and external agencies to this party which showed just how successful STOP was.
My work didn’t stop there as I then took the role of working in a 7 bed house in Sutton. This project was a high support project with a high number of care leavers. I continued my work supporting and helping young people here until October 2015 when I was asked to move back over to Croydon and work with Restoring Families Service. My role in this job is working with 16 & 17 years olds and their parents with family mediation to try and keep young people at home and working to build better relationships for them and their parents. I am really enjoying my new role and have already had some real success stories in my short time here.
Working with CAYSH concierge service has enabled me to achieve what I set out to do from day one for which I will always be grateful. This has now given me the career that I had always wanted to do.