SUPPORT WORKERS
The people we care for
Many of the young people we support have very tragic backgrounds and have often been through the care system or mental health care which may have not worked for them. Many will be managing multiple personal challenges. In some cases these challenges stem from childhood trauma and in extreme cases, abuse. This is why we exist.
Our team and a little about their roles
Our team of support workers are the ones who truly make a difference to young people’s lives. Isn’t it quite something to be able to say that. They’re an interesting mixture of individuals and what unites them is an innate sense of caring for others and helping them do the right thing.
They’re people from the care sector, military-leavers, teachers, ex-medical people, close protection and more.
You’ll become a crucial part of the young person’s life, working with them as a mentor and even protector within the setting supporting the family, or at another locality provided by the local authority. You’ll help them develop many skills over time as part of their individual care plan.
It’s true that the role can be both mentally and often physically challenging as most of our service users will display very difficult behaviour and some cannot communicate very well at all. But, it’s hugely rewarding.
At PCG, the complex care we provide is based up on a kind and focussed person-centred approach which is tailored to each young person as an individual. To ensure consistency, our shift patterns revolve around rolling 4 shifts on and 4 shifts off.
These include a combination of 12-hour day, 12-hour waking nights, and days-into-sleeping night shifts. The days-into-sleeping nights is the only shift awarded an enhanced shift allowance.
Rotas are designed to meet the needs of the individual, so we all apply a flexible approach to ensure we can provide the very best care possible.
We support you from day one which starts with a 2 week induction and training module, then ongoing courses during the year. We’ll also help you become level 3, and in some cases level 5 qualified in order to help develop your career into leadership and management.
What our people say…
I spent a number of years in the police force tackling many different issues and situations. I worked in a number of different regions of the UK and saw so many younger people struggling with keeping their life on track.
It was clear to see that so many genuinely needed the help and support of various agencies and local authority departments but, as we all know, all services are so stretched. Everyone does the very best but more help is needed.
Having thought about it long and hard I took the decision to leave the force and move into the care sector as I wanted to help make a real difference to young people’s lives.
It was a leap of faith which took a fair amount of adjusting to but it’s been well worth it. I’m still part of a team but I get to mentor, guide and support people who really need our help. Some days can be really tough but the reward of seeing the difference we make and the young people develop in incredible.
I’ve been offered the chance to study my level 5 diploma in leadership and management, which I’ve taken up, so this means I’m now working towards a leadership role
PCG Support Worker, 2023