'I have achieved a great deal from my time at Kennedy Scott and I found the programme really helpful'
Lauren was referred to Kennedy Scott in July 2014 by her Jobcentre Adviser. Lauren had been unemployed for six years and joined the Employment Support for Over 50s Project.
Kennedy Scott identified that Lauren’s barriers to employment were her lack of IT skills, poor job searching skills and having been away from the labour market for a significant amount of time.
Lauren had experience in many different job roles over the years but her passion was working as a Carer, a job she had left over seven years ago. Unemployment was now having a detrimental effect on Lauren’s mental health and she was open to any job opportunity.
Lauren and her advisor Patrick designed a training plan to achieve her goals. She learnt
how to search for jobs using Universal Jobmatch and other popular job boards. She also completed training in Safe Moving and Handling, Fire Warden Training, Level 2 Food Hygiene and gained a certificate in Level 1 IT User Skills. Lauren went on to attend various interviews for care, customer service and hospitality roles, but due to personal set-backs she was not successful in securing work.
Patrick and Lauren worked together to manage her Bipolar Disorder, which made it difficult for her to secure employment. By the first week of September Lauren had started work in a production role at a food manufacturing factory. Unfortunately the long hours, working conditions and constant pressure affected Lauren’s health in such a way that she couldn’t continue to work in this role.
A few weeks later, Lauren re-engaged with Kennedy Scott and enrolled on the Employment Support for Adults with Mental Health Issues Project. Lauren received a new action plan that focused on giving her the right guidance and support, mindful of her mental health and she looked towards re-entering the care sector.
Lauren started the New Year with a fresh approach, attending the Kennedy Scott centre regularly and making friends with other customers. She enrolled onto a Health and Social Care QCF and completed Emergency First Aid at Work Training. At the end of January, Lauren attended an interview for a Care Assistant post at a local residential home for the elderly and was informed almost immediately of her success.
Lauren said: “I have achieved a great deal from my time at Kennedy Scott, I found the programme really helpful and Patrick was a brilliant help.
“Since leaving the project I have continued with my job as a Carer and I am really enjoying it. Everything I’ve achieved has made such a difference to my life and now I have a much more positive outlook.”
loading