Ian

After spending 30 years driving a taxi in London, Ian had fallen out of love with his job. The city he knew was changing and it was becoming increasingly difficult to operate amidst constant roadworks, lane closures, and detours. When he mentioned his concerns to his wife, she suggested he think about a new role in the care sector.

“When my wife first suggested care work, I ruled it out” says Ian. “I assumed you’d need to have qualifications to even be considered for a role like that so I didn’t look into it any further. It wasn’t until Covid all but shut down the capital a few months later that I decided to do some digging and, when I did, I was really pleased to discover that ECL don’t expect applicants to have any prior experience - the company offers a comprehensive training package to all new staff. Once I realised that care could be an option for me after all, I went for it!”

“The application process was easy to follow even for a technophobe like me and, before I knew it, I was accepting an offer to become a full-time Community Care Assistant. I was absolutely over the moon when I got the call! I knew straight away that I’d fit in and I was immediately made to feel part of the team. After my initial training I spent a few weeks shadowing some excellent carers, learning how to tend to customers with a range of complex needs and building the confidence to go it alone.

One thing I have come to appreciate since joining ECL is that caring is such an underrated skill. People don’t seem to understand how important it is or just how many within our communities rely on the person-centred support that organisations like this offer. This job has really opened my eyes and given me a revived sense of purpose – whether I’m helping someone with their personal care or simply sharing a cup of tea, it’s so rewarding to know that I’m there when they need me to offer a vital shoulder to lean on”.

“I think there are probably a lot of fantastic candidates for care out there who might be put off by a lack of experience, it certainly prevented me from applying sooner, but they shouldn’t let that stop them. I’ve been so impressed by the compassion and professionalism of everyone I’ve come into contact with since joining the company that I’ve even gone on to encourage a number of friends who have been impacted by Covid to apply. I can’t imagine working for anyone else, now and I’m looking forward to a fantastic new career here with ECL”.