"Ingeus helped to build my confidence by offering me encouragement and constructive support."
Kevin, 46, had been on Incapacity Benefits for more than six months when he was referred to Ingeus’ Pathways to Work programme in Nottingham by his local Jobcentre Plus office.
Kevin made an appointment to meet Louise, one of Ingeus’ employment advisors, and he told her that, while he was on medication to address his anxiety disorder and was interested in returning to work, he was not confident that he would be able to resume the successful career he had previously enjoyed. As Louise talked to Kevin about his employment goals, she determined that prior to leaving the workforce Kevin had been employed for more than 20 years in computer design engineering.
Despite his qualifications and background, Kevin’s lack of confidence led him to have very low expectations of the kind of work he could find, and Louise suggested that in addition to helping him look for employment, they would need to work on improving his self-esteem and developing tools to manage his anxiety in professional situations.
Laura set to work helping Kevin update and polish his CV, and arranged for him to attend Ingeus’ ‘Confidence Building’ and ‘Stress Anxiety and Relaxation’ workshops. With Laura’s support and encouragement, Kevin came to realise that it was not unrealistic for him to pursue the kind of work he had done in the past, and he used Ingeus’ Job Station facilities to research potential employers and apply for positions as an engineering contractor.
Kevin’s efforts soon paid off, and he was delighted to receive an offer of contract work with leading engineering and aerospace company, Rolls-Royce. Kevin commenced work in October 2008, and Louise continues to keep in touch with him to see how he is progressing and offer any additional support during his transition back into work.
Kevin says, “I initially thought Ingeus would just help me get interviews with suitable employers, but it quickly became clear that the programme was also about fostering the right mindset by offering me encouragement and constructive support. The atmosphere in the office and the advisors’ demeanour allowed me to feel ‘safe’ through the process, and I was surprised to find that simple statements delivered by my advisor and in the workshops produced such important changes to my thinking.”