"The aftercare I received from my advisor was fantastic; it was great to know I could get advice even after I started work."
Jennifer, 21, suffered from depression, which left her with no routine in her life and little self-confidence. Jennifer had not worked in three years, but she decided to make a change, and set herself a goal to move from Incapacity Benefits into work.
Jennifer’s advisor at Bathgate Jobcentre Plus referred her as a ‘mandatory’ client to Ingeus’ Pathways to Work programme in Livingston, where she met her employment advisor, Grace. Jennifer told Grace that she had previously worked in childcare and customer service, and while she was happy to explore a range of job opportunities, she didn’t think she had anything to offer employers after such a long time out of work.
Grace talked to Jennifer about how depression can affect a person’s motivation and sense of self-worth, and together they developed a plan that combined employment and health support to give her the routine, confidence, and tools she needed to find and keep a suitable job.
Grace arranged weekly meetings to give Jennifer a structure to her week. At these meetings they identified the skills Jennifer had gained through previous jobs and the industries she wanted to work in, developed a CV, searched and applied for jobs, and practised interview techniques.
The process of developing a CV and applying for work was a great boost to Jennifer’s self-esteem, and Grace also arranged for her to attend workshops on managing stress and anxiety, developing a routine, and building confidence. Jennifer began to feel that she was getting closer to her goal of finding a job, but she was amazed to receive an offer of full-time work as a kitchen porter less than a month after joining the programme.
Grace helped Jennifer to apply for the relevant in-work benefits, and arranged to speak to her by phone or in person each week to help her settle in to her new routine. Since starting her job, Jennifer has already been promoted to the position of Commis chef, where she will learn about each of the different functions of the kitchen, and her employer is paying for her to attend college one day a week to gain formal qualifications.
Jennifer says, “Ingeus helped me gain confidence, and having a job has helped me focus on the future, instead of dwelling on past issues. The aftercare I received from my advisor has been fantastic; it’s great to know I could get advice even after I started work.”
Grace says, “Jennifer’s progress has been amazing. In such a short time she went from having no confidence in her ability to change her life, to having a new focus on her future; she plans to find a new place to live, has been able to afford her first holiday abroad, and is looking forward to a great career in the hospitality industry.”