Patricia is 40 years old and lives in Newcastle. Patricia has epilepsy. Prior to accessing Workstep Patricia never had a job. In the past the medication Patricia took prevented her from working. However, a few years ago Patricia found a way round this. Instead of taking her medication in the morning Patricia began to take it at night time. As a result she felt more energetic and able to enter the workforce for the first time.
After trying to find work through work experience placements, Patricia was referred by her Disability Employment Adviser to Azure’s Workstep provision to help her fulfil her dream of finding employment.
In August, Patricia felt ready to begin her job search. During the early stages of the programme Patricia and her Workstep Adviser Anne, put together a Personal Development Plan. This plan outlined the support Patricia needed to find work and any training she should access.
By mid September it was clear that Patricia would need one to one support with her job applications, so she met with Wendy, Azure’s Job Finder. They discussed in detail the type of work Patricia wanted to do and printed off several vacancies from the job points at the Jobcentre.
Wendy contacted the employers on Patricia’s behalf, securing several interviews. Three days later, Wendy met with Patricia again to help her to prepare for the interviews she was attending the following week.
Thanks to her new interview skills, Patricia was able to impress the employer and was offered the job at her interview.
Patricia started work in October 2004 as a Catering Assistant in the Café at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle.
Patricia is enjoying her new job; her colleagues are very supportive and friendly and she is becoming more confident every day. Since starting work, Patricia’s confidence has grown and she has taken on more duties, becoming a valued member of her team.
Patricia is looking forward to starting to train to work on the till, something she never thought she would have the confidence to do. Now she is determined to broaden her skills so that she can hopefully take on more hours
Mandy was shy and nervous when she started working at Safeway (now Somerfield) 6 years ago. Mandy recalls, “It was 2 days before I spoke to anyone!” but despite her nerves, Mandy was eager to make the most of the opportunity. “I would get up at 5.30am in order to catch three buses for a 7am start.”
Mandy quickly settled into the Somerfield team and was given plenty of support from the management and staff.
Lynn Henderson, Personnel Manager at the store has watched Mandy transform, “Mandy’s confidence has grown tremendously over the years, she has all the qualities an employer would look for in an employee; she is punctual, dedicated, reliable and dependable."
6 years on and Mandy is very happy at Somerfield. “It’s brilliant having a job and getting money in my pocket, everyone here is very supportive and I now have the confidence and courage to get on and do what I want.”
Mandy is looking forward to starting her third year at Gateshead College this September studying for her City & Guilds Adult Literacy Level 2.
Ellen Brown Managing Director of Heathdale Residential Care Home was approached by Azure and asked to consider providing employment and placement opportunities. Ellen agreed, and 4 years on Heathdale is still working with Azure.
Keith was offered and took up the position of Assistant Chef at Heathdale in 2002, supported through the Workstep programme. 2 years on and Keith is now Chef in Charge and about to begin an NVQ2 in catering at Newcastle College.
The initial opportunity and continued supportive environment provided by Heathdale's management and staff, combined with support from Azure and Keith's own commitment to his personal and career development have all contributed to the success of this partnership.
Ellen has a strong belief in providing the same opportunities for everyone, represented by Heathdale's policy to recruit employees, whenever possible, based on their future potential and not their disability.
