Max Jones: "My Introduction to Life as a Support Worker"

Having only recently began my journey in support work, I have been welcomed into the role through many ways which have reinforced the idea of this work being so much more than simply an employment opportunity.

At the time of joining the HS&C community, I was simultaneously commencing another crucial aspect of the next chapter of my life; university. Having only recently finished my high school journey, I was so keen to jump into a different type of education, one that could complement my future in ways that I hadn’t experienced before. When I initially started university, I thought it was going to be so difficult to manage both my studies and work; but my first month with HS&C showed me that it would be quite the opposite.

Once I began my work with clients, I was delighted to find how rewarding the activities were. Whether the work was based around completing simple household tasks to lessen the load or playing sports and leisure activities for hours on end (or even doing admin work!), there was not a moment where I wished I was doing anything else.

Alongside this, there was – and continues to be – a common aspect among all of the awesome people I have been lucky enough to meet, and that is the ease in which I have found in building a great connection with them early on. As someone who was initially a shy kid who often found it difficult to open up to new people, I had been expecting others who I supported to be the same to me, as I was a completely new person in their life, and, quite frankly, a stranger. However, this was not the case at all – each of the individuals who I have spent time with since beginning my support journey have welcomed me into their lives as though I was always there.

This, alongside everything else, has made my transition into this role so incredibly rewarding. It has allowed me to look forward to every single day which is yet to come with HS&C.