Dominic starts a new career path as a care assistant at Elvaston Lodge
; Posted on July 29, 2010
“The support I received in the session made my CV ten times better. I felt I had a much better chance of getting a job.”
Prior to being unemployed Dominic Mills, aged 19, from Derby, had been at college studying engineering. After realising jobs in this sector were few and far between, Dominic decided health and social care would be a better route into sustainable employment.
Dominic says, “It was the first time I had thought about such a career and liked the sound of it.” Dominic spoke to his adviser, James Loades, at Long Eaton Jobcentre Plus, and asked him what care courses were available to rebuild his skills and change career direction. James referred Dominic to Care Training East Midlands (CTEM) in Derby. Dominic enrolled onto the Routes into Work Care First Careers programme.
Whilst attending CTEM Dominic learnt new skills and knowledge about working in the care environment. He completed short courses in manual handling and abuse and POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) in the care setting. Dominic particularly enjoyed the guided job search sessions; they enabled him to make use of the advisers on hand to support him with completing application forms and writing cover letters.
Dominic was also grateful for the opportunity to revise his CV. He says, “The support I received in the session made my CV ten times better. I felt I had a much better chance of getting a job.”
The training paid off when Dominic was invited for an interview at Elvaston Lodge in Derby for the position of Care Assistant. He says, “There were lots of applicants for the position and the manager was interviewing all day, so I knew I had to impress and beat the competition. I was able to use the training I had completed with CTEM to support my answers to the interview questions and prove I had the skills for the job.”
Dominic was successful in securing the position at Elvaston Lodge and was able to start work immediately after his CRB check was completed. Dominic is working in the care home providing personal care, helping keep the home tidy and making sure the patients are treated with dignity. He says, “I want to continue working in care and maybe pursue other avenues that I heard about during my training; maybe mental health.”
Cathy Brown, Dominic’s manager at Elvaston Lodge says, “Dominic is very popular with the residents and staff. This is his first job and so to come into this working environment can be quite daunting, but Dominic has handled it really well.”
