Mary has been working with Unity Works’ Southwark Works supported employment team to identify not only a position that matched her skills and experience, but also an employer who could see beyond the brief window of an interview and recognise the person we knew so well: funny, smart and determined.
That moment came when Mary secured a role with the NHS as an Oliver McGowan Trainer. In this position, she provides a vital “lived experience” perspective as a person with a learning disability, helping to deliver training to frontline NHS staff.
Our team provided a range of support to give Mary the best chance of success in this new role, supporting her during her induction as well as assisting her on occasion with travel training when her duties required attendance at a new site.
After almost eight months of committed work with the Oliver McGowan programme we were proud to help Mary during her progression from her original zero hours contract to a permanent position with the NHS. In the lead up to this exciting moment, we worked with Mary to prepare for her interview which included a daunting in person presentation. To her delight, she was successful in her application and signed the contract for her new permanent position as an Oliver McGowan trainer last year.
Not content to rest on her laurels, Mary has continued to go from strength to strength within the organisation and last month achieved Trainer-Training certification, meaning that she’s now teaching other people to do the job that she does which showcases just how profound her transformation has been in both confidence and achievement over the past few years.
Going forward, we will continue to support Mary as she goes from strength for strength in her new role.