AFTER a career spanning nearly 20 years in engineering, Stephen Boydell never considered a job in health and social care would be for him.
But when he was made redundant, Stephen, pictured below, searched for a new direction for his career.
Skip forward several years and he now has a social work degree, supports young people in his role as a substance misuse worker and has just become one of the borough’s first Care Ambassadors.
The Care Ambassador Scheme is a national scheme from Skills For Care, the training body for social care.
The scheme’s aim is to promote social care as a positive career choice and to diminish the poor image of the work involved.
Stephen, 50, from Wigan said: “I never would have considered a job in social care before, as there is a stereotype about what this kind of work involves.
“But getting into it has changed my way of thinking. I am much more understanding of people – now I look what I can do to help people and work with them to question why they might be having problems.
“I work with the Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team and the benefits of helping young people has been so positive not just for them, but for me as well."
Wigan’s Care Ambassadors Scheme was launched in February, and Stephen is one of ten ambassadors who now shares his passion for health and social care with others.
The ambassadors volunteer to attend careers fairs, deliver fun interactive workshops in schools or attend workplaces where staff may be at risk of redundancy.
The aim is to show others what a rewarding career could be waiting for them in health and social care, and the many different jobs roles available.
Kirsty Johnson, Wigan Council Learning and Development Advisor, said: “Considering the levels of unemployment nationally and in Wigan, there are still more than 300 jobs in health and social care locally.
“These are not just council jobs, but also in the private sector.
“We are hoping the care ambassadors will open up these rewarding job opportunities to others and change the perceptions of what a career in health and social care may involve.”
Care ambassadors are available now to come into schools and workplaces to discuss social care as a positive career choice.
Those who already have a career in health and social care can also apply to become a care ambassador and pass their passion for the job on to others.
For more information email Care Ambassadors or call 01942 486486.
Care comes in from the cold
Stephen Boydell
Meals on wheels became meals on feet at the height of the winter cold snap. Care workers abandoned their cars and walked through the snow delivering hot fish and chips to elderly residents, including 94 year old Eileen Hooson of Standish, pictured above.
Lifelong Standish resident Eileen receives home care twice a day which enables her to live independently in her own home.
The special snow service was exactly the kind of caring approach that the new care ambassadors are aiming to highlight.
Cllr Keith Cunliffe, cabinet member for older people, said: “We managed to maintain home care and meals on wheels to vulnerable residents thanks to the dedication of care workers in the public and private sectors.”
Could you join them?
