JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 200

It takes a special kind of person to work
in the care sector, but the varied roles it
offers can provide rewarding careers

"My work
doesn't feel
like work"
Michael Graham, 53, is
a community support
worker for Headway
East London, a charity
supporting people
affected by brain injury
I began working for Headway
East London as a volunteer.
I'd been made redundant from
my previous job as a technical
customer support for telecoms
companies, which I'd been in
2 0 0 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

for 12 years. I needed a change
and my redundancy package
allowed me to look around and
see what else interested me.
After a recommendation,
I started volunteering at
Headway East London in
August 2014. I knew very
little about brain injuries but
as soon as I got there I felt
it was a really great place.
In November that year, I
got the position of community

support worker. I didn't have
any specific qualifications,
but my volunteering had
shown how I interacted with
the centre's members.
I have seven or eight regular
clients, who I visit in their
homes. I see two clients a
day, for three to four hours
each. I love the variety of
my job. I help with activities
like shopping, cooking and
admin, such as paying bills,
but equally I could be at a city
farm with a client who loves
animals or on a treadmill
with someone who loves the
gym. A lot of what I do is
everyday stuff, but it helps my
clients' lives move forward.
Most of my clients are in
their 40s and 50s. The fact
I'm in that age group helps
me empathise. I often think,
"This could so easily be me."
A brain injury from a stroke,
accident or illness can change
someone's life in an instant.
My job has its challenges.
People with brain injuries
can find it difficult to control

anger. I've had a client put
his hands around my throat.
I wasn't scared because he
wasn't physically strong and
later I got great support from
my manager. At the end of
each day, I text "Safe" to my
manager. I also have one-toone supervision, and group
peer support once a month.
Patience is key. I've learned
to take people for what they
are. It's important to stay
positive but I find that easy
because most of the time my
work doesn't feel like work.
I'm constantly surprised
by how resilient my clients
are. It's rewarding to see.
I can see a time when
physically I may find some
aspects of my job, such as
pushing wheelchairs, more
difficult. I've considered being
a speech and language therapy
assistant. But, for now, I'm
very happy - my old job was
dull and; I'd never use that
word now. I have no regrets
in changing careers - it's one
of the best things I ever did.

WORDS JO WILLACY PHOTOGRAPHY STUART WILDE, GETTY IMAGES

A
flair
for
care



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/jcspring2018
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
http://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/Careers/Careers_with_Hayley_Taylor_2011
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com