Life as a support worker: video transcript

Julie:

Hi, I’m Julie, I work for Affinity Trust as a support worker. We support three young adults to live as independently as we possibly can. It’s supporting them in their daily activities and their day-to-day living. No two days are the same. Lots of activities – drama groups, dancing – and then of course all the household activities as well. We’ve got a really strong team here. We’ve all got different talents that we bring and it complements each other. Affinity Trust – they’re a good employer, our training is always up-to-date. Personally, as a support worker, all you want for these young adults is to have the opportunities that any young person would have. I think they get a huge sense of achievement. It’s been a privilege in a way for me to be here.

Gillian:

“What do we do in here on an evening?”

Peter:

“Watch tele.”

Gillian:

“And where’s the TV?”

Peter:

“There.”

Gillian:

I’m Gillian Stoner, and I’m a support worker for Affinity Trust. I support two guys with learning disabilities. We do lots of things in the home. We do general living skills like doing the bedrooms, washing, ironing, setting tables. We go out into the community. Peter likes to sort of get in there and do the jobs. I just think it’s very fulfilling. It makes you feel good when you’ve done a really good day at work when you see people that’ve really come on and achieved something throughout the day. I just think it’s such, it’s so rewarding.

Annie:

My name’s Annie, I’ve worked for Affinity Trust now for a year. Well, as a support worker, it’s mainly promoting people’s independence. But my job roles include personal care, medication and assisting with eating and drinking. And we need to give them that independence to go out in the community and make friends. If I can do that, and someone’s had a good day, then I’m happy. Working with learning disabilities means I have to push myself a little bit outside my boundaries. I think I’ve become more confident. I’ve done things that I wouldn’t have done normally. I went ice skating for the first time a few weeks back. And I think support work’s all about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Because, if you don’t, then you don’t achieve anything either.

Pete:

My name’s Pete. I’m a support worker for Affinity Trust and I’m here today to support Graham with some voluntary work. I’ve been a support worker now for approximately four and a half years. You have to have patience. You have to listen to the person I’m supporting. Well Graham volunteers here once a week in the office. Helps them with their paperwork. It’s good for him to get out and socialise otherwise he would just sit at home and never go out. What I get out of it is, it’s very satisfying. And when you work at a certain project or a task and when it actually works, when it comes together, it’s great. Graham has to be here at 10 in the morning and if he is, if he’s here on time, I’m chuffed. It’s really rewarding.