Sue's Story

WorkWell Success Story – Sue *** Name changed to protect identity***

When Sue first joined the WorkWell programme, she had been out of work for seven years following a successful career in nursing and care.

Due to deteriorating physical health caused by lumbar stenosis, alongside previous struggles with anxiety and depression had lost confidence in returning to employment. She is now feeling ready to move forward, she wanted support to identify a role that suited both her health needs and her future aspirations.

From the outset, WorkWell focused on helping Sue rebuild her confidence, explore realistic employment options and overcome the barriers that had prevented her from returning to work.

Together, we explored different career pathways, considering Sue's extensive experience while recognising the physical limitations caused by her back condition. Rather than returning to demanding care roles, Sue identified that part-time work would provide the ideal opportunity to rebuild her confidence and ease back into employment.
Throughout the programme, Sue received one-to-one support with every aspect of her job search. This included creating and updating her CV, developing her Indeed profile, searching and applying for suitable vacancies, and receiving tailored support with application forms and personal statements. Interview preparation packs were also provided, alongside guidance on the STAR technique and confidence-building strategies, helping Sue feel more prepared for future interviews.

As Sue's confidence grew, she became increasingly involved in identifying vacancies herself. Together we completed applications for several lunchtime supervisor positions, ensuring each application and supporting statement highlighted her transferable skills and previous experience. The support she received with application forms and cover letters enabled her to submit strong applications, which resulted in interview opportunities and ultimately a job offer.
Alongside employment support, Sue was encouraged to continue developing her digital skills through Digi Dudley; this is another of our JST projects showing how we can work together to create the wraparound support for our participants. This proved invaluable, helping her become more confident using computers for job searching and applications; it also provided her with her own device to complete job searching and application tasks. Sue also enrolled on an Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) Level 2 distance learning course, demonstrating her commitment to continuing her professional development while returning to work.

Over the course of the programme, Sue's self-belief noticeably increased. Reflecting on her journey, she wrote:
"I definitely feel that I've gained a lot of confidence and also focus on what I want to achieve, confidence to ask for help and guidance and direction. I feel it has helped my awareness of transferable skills. Also, it's given me the confidence to steadily move forward and learn new skills."
Sue also spoke highly of the digital support she received from Jo and Jim, commenting:
"Having the computer feels like a new start, new opportunities and reassurance. Jo and Jim are so patient, explaining each step, ensuring that I understand. They explain things in a way that makes sense and doesn't bombard me with too much, which has given me time to grasp the information and confidence for now and the future."
She added:
"They are always so polite and puts you at ease... They have been very good at allowing the required pace for me to go along at too, which is also very important, I feel."
The culmination of Sue's hard work and determination came when she successfully secured a Lunchtime Supervisor position at *********** Primary School, working 6.5 hours per week. Initially feeling overwhelmed by references and pre-employment paperwork, Sue was supported to work through her concerns and regain confidence in accepting the opportunity. Through discussion, she recognised that the role offered the perfect balance, allowing her to return to work gradually while continuing to improve her skills through further learning.

By the end of the WorkWell programme, Sue had transformed her outlook. She had regained confidence in her abilities, developed new digital skills, successfully completed job applications, secured interviews through strong applications and supporting statements, and accepted employment that suits both her health and personal circumstances.

Sue's journey is an excellent example of how personalised, holistic support can empower someone to overcome significant barriers, rediscover their confidence, and successfully return to the workplace. We wish Sue every success as she begins this exciting new chapter.