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Supporting career development
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One of our employees talks about their career with Choice Support and how to make the most of the opportunities for personal development and growth.
Lee Penfold started working as a support worker, in Whitstable, before becoming a marketing and communications officer in early 2022.
He said: “My manager, at the time, suggested I go for the job because I have a background in journalism. I passed the opportunity up then, but when it came back around again a few years later I decided to go for it.
I was looking for a role where I could use my journalism skills and there’s a lot of writing, editing and design work involved in comms. For a year or more, I balanced working as a bank support worker and my new job, but I had to stop the support work last year due to family commitments.
Working as a support worker for many years has been beneficial to the non-operational job I do now. I see all the work we do from a support worker’s perspective and think about what is important to them and what they may be interested in.
I enjoy my job and feel the role I play is integral to making people's lives better. Anonymous, 2024 staff wellbeing survey
Choice Support does recognise your hard work and dedication to the job. Anonymous, 2024 staff wellbeing survey
I feel valued and appreciated for my work. Anonymous, 2024 staff wellbeing survey
I think my story is an example of all the different routes you can take here. If you want to progress your career in an operational role, you can work to become a team leader, manager, area manager or do work in the community. Or you could pivot from operational to non-operational or vice versa, depending on your interests, or do both like I did!
It’s the different opportunities that make Choice Support an exciting place to work. There are always different projects you can get involved with outside your normal job role. You could become a digital champion or a mental health first aider, deliver training or even start your own thing. In my experience you will always be encouraged and supported to further your development.
My advice to new employees would be to read the company newsletter, Choice Voice, to find out what’s going on in the organisation, do as much training as possible and join one of the many groups to network. You never know where it may take you.”
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