Rebecca Wealthall had been out of work for three and a half years focusing on raising her children, now aged 19 months and three years old.

She heard about Care Training through a support worker at Framework Housing. She decided with the credit crunch and times getting a little more difficult with just her partner’s income to raise a family, she needed to return to work to support her family. She also felt returning to work was something she needed to do for her self-confidence.

Having very few qualifications, as she went to work straight after leaving school, Rebecca felt she needed to get some up-to-date skills and qualifications before she actually put her CV together to seek work.

Rebecca’s first visit to Care Training in July 2009 was a one-to-one appointment with an adviser called James Godsell. This initial Flexi Routeways appointment (funded by European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)) allowed James to assess Rebecca’s needs to return to work, refer her to the relevant work-specific training and create a personalised programme to support Rebecca into work.

Rebecca always thought working in care was the last thing she wanted to do in her career. She felt that “after growing up with a disabled brother, and working hard to look after him, I thought it was something I could not do for a living. However, after visiting my disabled brother in a day centre I realised how rewarding working in care could be. I wanted to be able to make a difference to someone who needed that everyday support.” James referred Rebecca to the Introduction to Health & Social Care programme on Skills for Jobs, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). This one day a week programme taught Rebecca the basic underpinning knowledge of working in care. (This programme is now replaced by Care First Careers).

The programme also included regular meetings with James, who Rebecca says is “fab”, to support Rebecca in applying for jobs in health and social care. This included writing a care-focused CV and practising interview techniques to ensure Rebecca felt confident when entering interviews.

In September 2009, Rebecca was offered a job with Heathcotes Care working 35 hours a week. She starts the day after completing her programme at Care Training. Rebecca will be working with adults with learning difficulties. Rebecca says, “I am very excited! No day will be the same, we'll be taking the service users out on activities like bowling or to the cinemas.” Rebecca is hoping that the experience she gains will lead her into a career as maybe a physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

Rebecca feels Care Training have been “fantastic". She says, "They are always there to talk to. They don’t look down on you; they treat you more as a friend. I have always felt welcome – they are all brilliant!”  

James, Rebecca’s adviser at Care Training, says, “Rebecca is very determined and has really taken on board what she has been taught. I am sure she will be a great success.”

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