When I joined Coquet Trust almost 14 years ago, I was a college student studying Health and Social Care and began working one day a week as a Support Worker. At the time, I thought I knew what the job would involve – imagining it was about taking people out for the day and having fun – but very quickly, I realised it was much more than that.
I hadn’t understood how much support some people need in everyday life – or how much of a difference the right support can make. It opened my eyes. But more than that, I connected with the people I was supporting. I saw how small moments could create real change. And I knew I wanted to stay.
Over the years, I’ve grown with the organisation – from Support Worker to Team Co-Ordinator, then Support Manager, and now Quality and Compliance Manager. I’ve taken on qualifications I never thought I’d attempt, including a Level 5 Leadership and Management in Adult Care and Level 6 Advanced Diploma in Leading Positive Behavioural Support in Organisations at Northumbria University. There were times I doubted myself. Times I nearly gave up. But colleagues encouraged me through it. That culture of encouragement – from managers and teammates – is real here.
In my role now, I work across Coquet Trust to make sure the quality of support is strong and people we support are safe. I’m involved in audits, inspections and quality improvement work, and I spend time in speaking with the people we support and their families about the support they recieve. But beyond inspections and audits, what really matters is what that quality enables.
I’ll never forget supporting someone to arrange their first ever holiday. They chose Blackpool. We helped plan it all – the suitcase, the travel, the practical details, the confidence to take that step. When they came back, they were glowing. They talked about it for weeks. It wasn’t just a trip. It was independence.
Another person we support had never been to a hairdressers. Something many of us see as routine felt overwhelming to them. We found an accessible salon, worked through the barriers together, and now it’s part of their regular life. A simple appointment – but a huge step in dignity and confidence.
That’s what this work really is. Supporting people experience the things many of us take for granted and supporting them to live as independently and confidently as possible.
You can’t do this job half-heartedly. It requires patience, compassion and strong values. But if you care about people, and you want to see the difference you make, it’s an incredibly rewarding place to build a career.
I’ve stayed because my values align with Coquet Trust’s. And because here, when you grow, you’re encouraged every step of the way.
