In these strange times – here’s a heartwarming tale straight from the ‘how did that happen’ book!
It’s not often you turn up to work and find you are working alongside someone you helped get on the social care career ladder! Well that’s exactly what’s happened to Right2Work “Work & Learn” Job Coach Grant Huck.
Grant explains: “Today has seen an interesting re-connection between tutor and student. I found myself on shift at Oaklea’s new Supported Living home; Rakeshead Cottage, Ulverston, Cumbria. Nothing unusual about that you say. But I found myself on shift with my previous Supported Internship and Supported Employment Student Rachel!”
Rachel joined the Furness R2W Work & Learn scheme in September 2018 and was incredibly lucky to secure an Internship with the NHS and made a huge lasting impression on her employers. She then Joined the R2W Supported Employment scheme. After lots of preparation, job skills training, training support, interview skills practice and more than 6 different job interviews…..she finally secured an amazing opportunity as a Lifestyle Coordinator with the Oaklea Trust.
Grant adds: “She has continued to grow and develop in her role over the last year or so and has worked in a number of their different homes around Barrow and Ulverston. She was recently moved to one of the Oaklea Trust’s newest homes – Rakeshead Cottage. While all this was happening, I recently took on some part time work with the Oaklea Trust as a Lifestyle Coordinator too.”
You kinda know what happens next..…because he lives in Ulverston, Rakeshead Cottage was the obvious choice for him. Arriving at work this morning, to his immense surprise, he found himself on shift with the very Rachel he had helped for over two years. A great opportunity for them to catch up and work together as part of a great new team with 4 new clients.
They clearly worked well as a team -and even had time for a brew (or two, or three) – Grant: “Here we are helping resident Johnathan develop his domestic independence.”
So who is showing who the ‘ropes’ now…..? Well done both of you – just watch out for Ulverston Oaklea Registered Manager Sue Millington – she will have you dog walking before you know it! (long story……)