Kelis finally finds her dream job!
Kelis found it hard to settle into a job, struggling to find something she was truly passionate about. But that was about to change…
She was given the opportunity to work with Voyage Care and after just one shift at one of our residential services, she knew she’d finally found a job she’d love for life!
Starting as a Support Worker, Kelis has continuously developed her skills and knowledge to successfully work her way up to her current role as a Field Support Supervisor.
An opportunity Kelis couldn’t miss
Prior to joining Voyage Care, Kelis had tried many jobs. She had worked as a hairdresser and volunteered at Staffordshire Police Cadets for four years. She had also worked in domiciliary care, focusing on elderly and palliative end of life care.
In 2020, Kelis joined an , which helped her get a feel for different care providers and gain hands on experience she had been craving. That’s when Kelis discovered Voyage Care, and she hasn’t looked back since!
Kelis began to pick up more and more shifts through her agency, until the manager of the service noticed her dedication to the people we support and decided to offer her a full-time position with us.
She said, “I couldn’t believe it; I was so happy! I loved working there – it was the best job. I felt so lucky to have been given the opportunity.”
Thriving in her role
Kelis joined full-time as a Support Worker, which involved providing high-quality care and support to people with a variety of learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs. After forming a trusting relationship with one resident at the service, Kelis soon became his dedicated Keyworker – a role that Kelis thrived in.
Her passion for the role and her hard work didn’t go unnoticed. In 2022, she was awarded ‘Residential Support Worker of the Year’ at the Voyage Care Excellence Awards! These awards recognise colleagues that go above and beyond, and for Kelis’, it was her commitment to the people we support, and the skills she’d developed, that helped her win this incredible award.
Moving up the career ladder
The Voyage Excellence Award gave Kelis a huge confidence boost and sparked a surge of motivation. She soon transferred to one of our supported living services in her local area. This is where Kelis took it upon herself to focus on her learning and development with hopes to progress in her career. So when an opportunity arose for a new Field Support Supervisor at the service, Kelis was quick to apply and was successfully promoted!
Kelis’ role as Field Support Supervisor meant she could have more of an impact in the service. She wanted to do more to further enrich the lives of the people we support, so started organising more day trips. She’s also helped our residents to re-decorate their flats to really make them their own!
Kelis believes the close relationships that she has formed with the people we support and their families has helped lead her success.
Unrivalled training and support
One of the key contributors to Kelis’ success has been the training and support she has received from Voyage Care. Each service has specific mandatory online courses, but there’s also the opportunity to enrol in additional courses that are of interest.
Throughout Kelis’ journey with Voyage Care, she has received a wealth of online and in-house training, which she says has been incredibly valuable. She said, “The training I’ve had since being with Voyage Care has been the best I have ever received. We have a wonderful training platform called Aspire.”
Kelis is currently in the process of enrolling onto a course which will see her learn new skills, gain a diploma, and help her progress even further in her career – part of our commitment to ensuring Voyage Care is a great place to work.
What makes a good Support Worker?
When chatting to Kelis about her inspiring story with Voyage Care, we asked her what she thinks makes a good Support Worker. Here’s what she had to say…
- A person who is willing to work hard in a team to enrich the life of each person we support.
- Someone who is eager to get the job done and to a high standard.
- You must be able to think outside of the box and try new things.
- Some things work, some don’t – so, you must also be patient.
“If you’re thinking about joining us – do it! Take the jump. It may seem nerve-racking but once you find a passion for it, it never leaves you!” – Kelis, Underwood, Field Support Supervisor at Voyage Care
Join our team
If you feel inspired by Kelis’ career journey and want to help change the lives of vulnerable people across the UK, take the plunge – search and apply for a role at Voyage Care today!