Restart Scheme
Years of drug misuse had led to Andrew’s* two children being moved into foster care. After being clean for over a year, he was determined to find a job and work towards a secure future for his young family.
When he was referred onto the Restart Scheme, Andrew confided in his Job Coach, Karen, that he struggled with his reading and it was affecting his confidence. So, Karen referred Andrew to ‘Read Easy’ where he received specialist one-to-one coaching. The tutor suggested ways he could continue to improve his reading and confirmed Andrew’s reading ability was actually better than what he gave himself credit for.
With his confidence in his abilities boosted, Karen and Andrew turned their attention to his CV which was outdated as he had not worked for four years. Karen supported Andrew to re-write the CV so it showcased his skills and they added in a section to explain the career break to potential employers.
It quickly became apparent that Andrew had previous cleaning experience and he told Karen that he thoroughly enjoyed this work. Armed with this information, the in-house Employer Engagement Officer found a vacancy for a part-time cleaner at a local branch of a Builders Merchant. The job is just four hours a week which has provided Andrew a gentler transition back into work. Andrew explains:
“I have already secured four hours of cleaning work per week within the short time I have spent on the Restart Scheme. This has given me a lot more confidence in myself and my ability, so much so that it has motivated me to look for additional hours of work.”
Through continuing to work with Karen, Andrew is working towards taking on additional hours which will further increase his income. This means he is well on his way to a more secure future and is now able to see his children regularly.
*Pseudonym
