After trying for a few years to get a job in the care sector, 31-year-old Claire Smith has finally got her dream job after doing a preparation for work course at the college.
Claire, who previously worked as a bar manager, was told about the college’s health and social care sector-based work academy programme (SWAP) – which enables participants to develop the skills needed to work in the sector and guarantees an interview with an employer at the end of the programme – by her Jobcentre adviser.
After completing the course, Claire was offered a job as a carer at Handle with Care and has not only gone on to complete a range of industry-recognised qualifications but also won the Best Carer award at the recent Black Country Excellence in Care Awards.
Claire said: “It was a great course and I learnt a lot. I’ve wanted to work in the care sector for many years and when I was offered the job at Handle with Care I felt like I’d finally achieved what I really want to do.
“I was overwhelmed when I was told I’d been shortlisted for the award and when I was announced as the winner, I was so shocked I cried! I was so happy that the work I do and the quality of care I provide to service users had been recognised and that all my efforts to get my dream job had finally paid off!
“In the future I’d like to become either a team leader or a care co-ordinator and eventually become a care manager – if you want to work in care I’d really recommend doing the SWAPs course as a way of getting into the sector.”
