On joining the Work and Health programme Sarah had struggled to work for many years due to ongoing health issues. Sarah also received additional support to help her through her bereavement and into employment.
Keen to receive support and begin her journey back to work, Sarah worked closely with her Employment Advisor, Rebecca. After four weeks on programme she secured work as a kitchen Porter at a local care home and was thrilled! She made good progress in her new role and was enjoying the financial benefits of working.
A week into her new job Sarah received devastating news that her mother had been diagnosed with cancer and unfortunately the cancer was terminal. Understandably, Sarah struggled to cope with the thought of losing her mother. After much deliberation and conversations with her employer, she decided to take time out from her job to spend more time with her mother.
When her mother passed away Rebecca’s priority was to focus on Sarah’s well-being and ensure she had the space she needed to come to terms with her mother’s death. She was provided with details of bereavement specialists and the Workfit team supported through ongoing calls.
Over the coming weeks Sarah made reference to the benefits of working and although it had only been a month since her mother died, she felt she needed to keep busy and confirmed she is ready to work.
Sarah attended regular one to one job club sessions with Rebecca and soon learned how to search for work independently. Despite a few unsuccessful job interviews, Sarah demonstrated her resilience again and continued to push forward.
Sarah grew in confidence and it wasn’t long before she was approaching employers directly. Recently her hard work and commitment paid off when she secured work at a local leisure centre!
Sarah is overjoyed to be in work and commented “I can’t believe I did it”!– We always knew you could Congratulations Sarah
Area: Taunton
The Work and Health programme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and the European Social Fund.
