Case Study

Saliha’s successful second belt

12 Sep 2024

Saliha’s success in gaining a Lean Six Sigma green belt has been no accident. Hard work, determination, and a love of what she does has proven the perfect combination in getting across the line, and graduated from the Ingeus Continuous Improvement Academy – for the second time earlier this year, having been awarded a yellow belt last year – her family and team will be applauding her every step of the way.  

“I firmly believe in pushing yourself to achieve something worthwhile,” says Saliha, an Ingeus Business Manager for the Restart Scheme in Ealing. “My family and team have seen me reach way beyond my comfort zone and I’ve been sitting revising with my daughters as they do their homework. It’s been inspiring for them to see me out of mummy-mode; they were so proud when I got 97% in my exam! I want them to learn that hard work pays off.” 

The mum of two, who oversees a team of almost 40 colleagues, is certainly no stranger to hard work. Leaving a successful optometry career to start a family, Saliha became an extended family carer during Covid. Despite a close family bereavement and the demands of two young children, she bravely changed tack to train as a Jobcentre Plus work coach, quickly rising up the ranks before applying for her Ingeus role in 2022. On the day of her interview, she was also told she’d require invasive surgery for a degenerative disk disorder. She started work at Ingeus – on crutches – six weeks after the operation. 

“The support has been incredible from the start,” says Saliha, who has now had spinal surgery three times. “When I joined and undertook the white belt training I found it really stimulating, a good distraction from my mobility issues. I moved to the yellow belt last year, and green this time, and the support is always there. The way the modules are structured, how the Continuous Improvement Academy accommodates different learning styles, and the ilearning platform – it’s all wonderful.  

“It had been a long time since I’d studied, and I’d been through a lot, but I’ve always been made to feel comfortable, it’s totally people-centred, which I like. The learning and emotional support, it’s all there.” 

Saliha’s green belt accreditation has seen her design a progression pack, detailing the achievements and onward appointments for Restart Scheme jobseekers. It helps people to plan their next steps and has aided shared communication with Jobcentre Plus colleagues.  

Ever mindful of the nurturing approach which helped her weather those tough post-Covid times she concludes: “My role is very target driven but the targets are there for very good reason: to improve the quality of life for others. People are very important to me and this green belt is no exception. I actively encourage my team to gain new skills to use at work and home. They spend all of their time supporting participants; I’m going to spend mine supporting them.”