Kimberley Stones heard about the ignite programme through Shafeen, her Jobcentre Plus Adviser. She had been unemployed since leaving college and didn’t know where to turn to with her college qualifications.

Kimberley knew she wanted to pursue a career in health and social care, but she didn’t feel her CV was up to the standard she needed to secure the job she wanted.

Kimberley received one-to-one support to develop her CV to put a focus on care. “I worked with Jess [an ignite adviser] to really emphasise my qualifications and how they would make me a good employee. I felt working on my CV straight away was really helpful – it was the most important thing I think that got me on the way to looking for work.”

It was a jobsearching session with Jess that Kimberley heard about the vacancy at Sycamore House as a Care Assistant. With Jess’ guidance, she secured herself an interview over the phone that same day.

Kimberley reviewed her interview techniques with Jess in preparation. She says, “I never would have thought to have looked into the CQC (Care Quality Commission) had it not been for Jess telling me about it and researching it with me – it did actually come up in the interview!”

Kimberley was successful in securing employment with Sycamore House and will start working once her CRB check has been returned.

Kimberley says of the project, “I have recommended it to so many friends. I really appreciated the variety of support that was offered. I would get phone calls on days when I wasn’t due in to Clinton House just to check that I was OK. Straight after my interview I got a phone call from Jess asking how I thought it went. I don’t think I would have found a job without the ignite project.”