Mick
Despite a long and varied career which had seen him excel in the fields of retail, sales, and operations management, Mick never really felt that he’d found his calling. Thankfully, he stumbled across an ad on social media for flexible Community Care Assistant roles with ECL and realised that this could be the opportunity he’d been looking for.
“To anyone unsure about applying to work with ECL I’d say, go for it! No day is the same and you’ll get to experience the unparalleled joy of making a difference to someone’s life.”
Mick had been intrigued by a career in care ever since working in wheelchair sales so, when he noticed an advert for flexible bank work as a Community Care Assistant with ECL, he thought this would be the ideal chance to test the water. Initially working around his full-time job, when Covid hit and he was furloughed, Mick took on more hours to support the team with their rounds.
He says, “My world completely changed when Covid struck. I was furloughed by my primary employer and decided to put my time to good use by taking on extra shifts with ECL. I was working full-time hours and meeting some great people in the process – I knew then that this was what I wanted to do.”
After resigning from his previous role, Mick was quick to seek out opportunities to advance within ECL and it wasn’t long before he applied to become a Trusted Assessor. “If you’re willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone then there’s ample room for progression here” he says. “I’ve been able to continue my professional development as a Trusted Assessor and am already looking to upskill further in order to become a Local Business Manager.”
Mick’s quick transition from part-time bank worker to apprentice Local Business Manager has been aided by the level of training and support on offer since joining the business. From classroom education and e-learning, through to shadowing experienced carers out on the road, Mick has always felt confident that he’s being given the tools he needs to succeed. “I’ve been brilliantly supported every step of the way” he says. “From the outset, the ECL team has been on hand to ensure that I understand all the information that I’m given, and the staff I’ve shadowed have given me valuable insights into what to expect at every stage. They’ve encouraged me to launch myself wholeheartedly into care.”
Since joining ECL, Mick feels he’s found his vocation and has been pleased to discover that the multitude of skills he’s acquired over his lifetime can be put to good use in his new role. “I’m now building on all the years of experience I’ve had, learning the technical side of social care and gaining an appreciation for healthcare professionals across the board,” he says. “My work is really diverse, interesting and fulfilling, so to anyone unsure about applying to work with ECL I’d say, go for it! No day is the same and you’ll get to experience the unparalleled joy of making a positive difference to someone’s life.”