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Bryony’s commitment to learning is making an impact!

Bryony is a Support Worker at Rivers our Intensive Support Service in Nottinghamshire. She began her career in care in 2012, briefly leaving to pursue a degree in Psychology. After she graduated, Bryony returned to social care and joined us at Voyage Care. This time around she saw her role in a new light and used her degree to provide incredible care to the people we support.

Making a difference to others

Since Bryony was a little girl, she knew she wanted to help people.  A naturally passionate, kind and caring person, becoming a Support Worker seemed like fate!

From ages 6-23, Bryony volunteered at St Johns Ambulance, learning important first aid and emergency care skills. Surrounded by a supportive team, they quickly became a family, sparking her desire to continue growing her knowledge and helping people.

Looking for a fresh challenge, Bryony secured a job in social care. After working in this role for three years, she had the urge for an even bigger challenge!

Bryony loves to learn new things, and decided she wanted to further her education by enrolling at Sheffield Hallam University. After carefully picking her degree subject, she decided Psychology was the best fit for her.  Supporting her career choice, it would allow her to understand people with complex mental health needs, their behaviours and their motivations. Most importantly, it would paint a clearer picture of how she can help them.

Study success

During her time at university, Bryony worked various jobs, allowing her opportunities to engage in new experiences and learn an even wider set of skills. At night, she worked at her local supermarket, which helped her develop professional relationships – she credits this for her amazing social skills!

She also worked at a sushi kiosk, eventually working her way up to a managerial position. This role allowed her to learn how to lead a team and understand how to run a business and meet different targets.

All these different skills have allowed her to thrive in her role in social care. Bryony has a way with people that allows her to form beautiful relationships with her team and the people we support, adapting to various needs and personalities.

A rewarding career path

Studying at university reinforced to Bryony that her true passion was helping vulnerable people. Once her degree was completed, she decided to re-join the world of social care, and found herself a job at Rivers. With no formal plans in mind, Bryony just wanted to do what she loved, allowing her passion to lead the way for her future.

Since joining Rivers, Bryony has committed to achieving her goal of supporting vulnerable people to live the most fulfilled lives they can. Constantly learning in her role, being a Support Worker has allowed her to mature and learn about all aspects of life.

Studying Psychology at university also helped Bryony to understand people, how to communicate with them and to understand how people’s minds work. For Bryony, this has been invaluable and promoted a balanced approach to life outside her career.

Both the people we support and the team at Rivers are like an extended family for Bryony. Rivers is like her second home, where she feels valued and supported. She loves to see people happy and embracing their raw emotions. But, most importantly, witnessing how her support empowers others to blossom into confident, independent individuals gives her an indescribable feeling.

Learning something new each day

With a passion for learning, Bryony loves working for Voyage Care.  Championing progression we offer an abundance of training and development opportunities tailored to meet individual goals and interests.

Since joining us, Bryony has been supported to complete a Mental Health First Aid course, which has given her excellent insights into the world of mental health. It’s taught her how to be supportive in areas of emotional wellbeing that face unfair stigma – something the people we support at Rivers have been faced with in their lives.

Bryony also makes use of our e-learning platform. On here, our expertly designed courses are designed to enhance on-the-job learning.  So far, our courses have given her a solid foundation of the theory behind support work, and how she can be the best version of herself to help the people we support.

Above all, the best education tool for Bryony is the people we support. She credits her expanding knowledge to them.  With a vast range of life experiences and learned wisdom, the people we support often have something to teach. Whether it’s how to cook or how to make the most out of life, they’ve taught Bryony to embrace everything that happens and carve her own path. Exposed to such a diverse range of people, she’s also learnt many new skills from the people we support – even how to crochet!

Why work in social care?

Working in social care can be difficult. It comes with challenges, but Bryony knows it’s important to embrace difficult moments and seek the enjoyment from happier times. Studying Psychology gave Bryony a deeper understanding of why people behave in different ways. Her training through Voyage Care also helped her to understand how to respond to different behaviours, allowing her to support people in a way that makes them feel heard and valued.

On harder days, she remembers to take a deep breath and to carry on, leaning on the family unit in the team at Rivers. She understands nothing lasts forever, and for a beautiful flower to blossom, there must be a little bit of rain!

Purple and teal gradient background with a quote in white font reading 'For people considering working in care, go for it! You will gain so many skills and incredible. Some days will be hard, but seeing, but seeing the good you can do for someone is priceless! Bryony, Support Worker'

Learn more about our roles!

We have a range of career opportunities across the UK. If you are interested in joining Voyage Care and enhancing the lives of others, view our latest vacancies and start your next best decision today!