When I joined Coquet Trust in 2016, I was 18 years old and had just finished a Level 2 childcare qualification at Newcastle College. I had started a Level 3 care course, but when the opportunity to work at Coquet Trust came up, I decided to take the job and begin working straight away.
I had always been curious about working with people with learning disabilities. Someone I knew had worked at Coquet Trust for many years and spoke very positively about it, and it felt like something I wanted to try.
At the time, I didn’t fully understand what the role would involve. But very quickly I realised the work was much more than I expected.
When you first start, there can be a fear of the unknown. People with learning disabilities can sometimes behave in ways that are unfamiliar, and when you’re new to the role that unpredictability can feel daunting.
But as you get to know the people you support, that feeling fades. You begin to understand their personalities, what matters to them, and how best to support them.
That’s when you start to see how rewarding the work can be.
When you have a really good day supporting someone, you leave work knowing you’ve made a difference in someone’s life. That feeling stays with you.
Even the challenging days become opportunities to learn. If something hasn’t gone well, I often go home thinking about how I could approach things differently the next day. And when you eventually turn a difficult situation into a good one, it’s a fantastic feeling.
Growing into leadership
Over time, my role at Coquet Trust developed in ways I didn’t expect.
I started as a Support Worker and eventually progressed into management. Today I work as a manager supporting both staff and the people we support.
When I first joined, I never imagined I would be in this position. But the organisation supported my development and encouraged me to take on new responsibilities as I gained experience.
I’ve also been fortunate to receive three staff awards during my time here, including a Rising Star award after stepping into my management role. It was a proud moment and meant a lot to know that the work I was doing was recognised.
The power of trust
One moment that has always stayed with me really shows how important trust is in this work.
A person we support became very unwell with a chest infection and needed medical attention. They were frightened and didn’t want us to call an ambulance.
Situations like that can be very overwhelming for someone who struggles to understand what is happening or what might happen next.
I sat with them for a long time, talking things through and helping them make sense of the situation. Eventually I asked them to think about the times they had been to hospital before and what happened afterwards.
They said, “I go home.”
That moment helped them understand that the hospital visit was there to help them get better. They began to calm down and agreed to let us call the ambulance so they could receive the treatment they needed.
For me, it was a powerful reminder of the trust people place in us. Sometimes the most important support you can provide is reassurance and helping someone work through their fears.
Seeing potential in people
One of the biggest things I’ve learned during my time at Coquet Trust is to never underestimate what people can achieve.
When you first start working in this field, you might assume that someone’s disability limits what they can do. But again and again, you see people achieve things that surprise you.
Something that might seem small to us can mean a huge amount to someone we support. It could be learning to cook something independently, travelling somewhere new, or building the confidence to try something for the first time.
Seeing someone grow in confidence and independence is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
Why I stayed
I joined Coquet Trust when I was 18. Now, years later, I can see how much both I and the organisation have grown.
The values here – being committed, trustworthy, reliable, inclusive and inspirational – have shaped how I work and who I am today.
This role isn’t just about doing a job and going home at the end of the day. It’s about helping people live better lives and supporting them to achieve things they may never have thought possible.
That’s why I’ve stayed.
