Find My Future in Social Care with Carr Gomm
Leaving school can feel like a big leap into the unknown. For Stephanie Graham, now a Support Practitioner with Carr Gomm, that step was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
“I was a teenage mum and already mature for my age,” she says. “But nothing really prepares you for working life. Luckily, I had the best colleagues who supported me and guided me through those early days. They helped me grow into the social care worker I am today.”
Her journey into social care began through family. “My mum already worked for Carr Gomm and told me about the benefits of being a social care worker in the community. I had always enjoyed helping others and I wanted to give back to the generation that worked and fought for the life I have today.”
Stephanie soon found her place in the role and worked her way up. She progressed from frontline Support Practitioner into leadership positions, including Lead Practitioner and Acting Service Manager.
For Stephanie, the rewards of social care are clear. “It is the feeling of knowing I am helping someone, the satisfaction of my job, the variety and the unknown. Most importantly, it is about the people I support and the reassurance they feel when I am there to lend a hand.”
The job has its challenges too. “At the beginning, the hardest thing was being put on the spot and needing to think fast. Now, 11 years later, I feel like an expert at it. It is second nature.”
Looking back, Stephanie says the role has shaped her as a person. “When I first started I was shy, insecure and lacked confidence. Now I have grown so much. I am more confident, I have seen different sides of life and I can face all sorts of situations without panicking.”
Her advice for today’s school leavers is simple. “Social Care offers so many opportunities to grow and progress. You learn so much from the people around you.
Social Care is not just about cleaning. You can be the face someone looks forwards to seeing, the hand they hold when family arebusy, or the ear they need when they want someone to listen. It is a career that really matters.”
Find out about careers with Carr Gomm - click here to learn more
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