Case Study

Courtney sends an inspiring message

6 Jul 2021

A young woman who was helped into a job by Ingeus has sent an uplifting video message of thanks to show how her life has been turned around.
 
Courtney Green, who lives near Preston, was feeling downhearted and experienced physical and mental health issues last year when she sought help from Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) in the North West, a separate strand of the Work and Health Programme (WHP). 
 
At the time, the unemployed 21-year-old feared she would never find a suitable role and admitted she was very nervous about hunting for a job. As well as her lack of confidence, she had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder following an upsetting experience some years previously. She wanted a role that would not involve standing for long periods of time.
 
Ingeus advisor Sara Akiotu reassured Courtney that her previous experience as a support worker, for clients with mental health issues and children diagnosed with autism, would be a real bonus when applying for jobs that involved engaging with the public. After revamping her CV and receiving advice on her interview technique, Courtney successfully applied for a job. She was delighted to do her bit during the pandemic, working as a contact tracer to alert people who have been near to someone that has tested positive for COVID-19.

"I felt really proud to be doing my bit during the covid-19 crsis," said Courtney. "I completed all the neccessary training and was able to work from home, which was great for me as I could sit down to undertake the tasks involved.

"My Ingeus key worker was just brilliant and made me believe in myself again. All the advice I received was really helpful and without the support of Work and Health North West, I know that I would still be feeling negative about being unemployed." 

As her video message shows, the support Courtney received resulted in much more than just a job – it also gave her a newfound confidence. This in turn has helped her take an exciting new step on her career path. In the video message to Sara, a smiling and upbeat Courtney explains that she is no longer working for the test and trace programme but is preparing to start a new job as a support worker.

Hear Courtney's message:



Work and Health North West is commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions and receives support from the European Social Fund.