“I get to see my friend everyday”: Ex-security guard Paul on his big career change
A bit about Paul
Paul has the joy of supporting two gentlemen at our Branwell Lodge service in Bradford. Some of the things Paul looks forward to in his day with the people he supports are taking part in activities, going out for walks or even a trip to the supermarket.
He previously worked in security but felt like he didn’t fit in there and wanted to find something more rewarding which is when he came across United Response.
Ever since, Paul hasn’t looked back and feels like he has finally found where he belongs at work. He loves getting to see his ‘friend’ everyday so much so that he says:
“If I didn’t have bills to pay, I’d do it for free!”
How Paul makes a difference
During his time as a security guard, Paul felt like he would ‘take care of everyone’ but in a different way. He also spent some time as a care worker but just didn’t feel like he was getting that quality time with people.
Paul had no experience in support work but brings all his skills and knowledge from his previous roles – most of all, his caring, kind attitude, and that’s what makes him a brilliant support worker.
So, do you need experience to become a support worker?
Many of our Support Worker vacancies do not require any experience, however, as Paul says:
“You’ve got to have a heart”.
Being passionate about what you do is also important so you can support the ambitions of people with learning disabilities and autism: whether that be to find employment or education opportunities, pursue new activities and interests, as well as make new friends.
A caring nature and a smile are what make a good support worker.
Thinking about taking the next step in your career?
If you’re looking for a career where every day is different and you get to see people smile, join us today. You can find all our vacancies here.
No matter what your past experiences are, you can always bring something to the role – as Paul has remarkably proven to us!
- Anisa Syed is Digital Marketing Officer for United Response