Nadine - Support worker to Deputy Manager

Tell us where you work? 

I joined SeeAbility as a support worker in 2006 and now work at The Willows, in Leatherhead where I am Deputy Manager. I help to support 8 people. My main focus is to support people to get involved in the community and generally to have a good lifestyle that embraces SeeAbility’s ethos of person centred approach.
 

Tell us about your work experience before SeeAbility?

I have done all sorts of things. First I worked in the voluntary sector in London supporting elderly people. I then did a spell as a house model for Jeff Banks the fashion designer and then moved into sales ending up as a senior buyer for Harrods.

I then wanted to look for something a little more settled and trained as a counsellor and specialised in bereavement. I then had two children before I joined SeeAbility.

How do you feel about SeeAbility as an organisation?

Having worked for a number of other organisations in the past, I have found SeeAbility does the best staff training. They provide a fantastic level of training and all of it is delivered to a very high standard. When social workers from local authorities visit us they are very impressed with the level of knowledge that our staff have.

Is there one memorable thing an individual achieved thanks to your support?

I supported one individual to move into the local community to live more independently. I developed a communication passport to share information about them to ensure they were sent on this amazing new journey in their life in the best possible way. I recently met that individual and realised just how far they had come. They were out enjoying themselves and no longer looking hesitant. It gave me great satisfaction to know that I helped them achieve something which has given them a greatly improved quality of life.