Donna-Marie steps into employment

Donna-Marie, aged 48, is a compassionate and resilient woman who has lived through considerable personal difficulty. She has lived experience of addiction and has been in recovery for twenty‑three years, she also lives with severe dyslexia and spent fifteen years caring full‑time for her mother, father, and later her brother. After they had all sadly passed away, she found herself without her caring responsibilities and eager, yet unsure, about how to begin looking for work again. Her life circumstances had left her with a sparse employment history, a historic conviction from her time in addiction, and no access to a mobile phone or computer. She does not drive, and public transport from her home on Mersea Island is limited, making the search for work feel even more daunting.

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The Engagement stage – building a supportive relationship

From their first meeting, Lynn Bragg, the ECL Connect to Work Consultant assigned to Donna-Marie, focused on building trust and understanding the challenges that had shaped her life. Donna-Marie was very open and responded well to this supportive approach, and Lynn began by helping her address some immediate practical barriers. Through Connect to Work participant funds, she arranged a mobile phone so Donna-Marie could communicate with employers and complete online applications. She also helped her purchase a reading pen to support with dyslexia and a pair of shoes suitable for interviews.

In addition to this practical support, Lynn assisted Donna-Marie to complete forms to access the correct ID and right to work paperwork and created action plans for her DWP job coach to ensure her benefits remained stable while she took her first steps toward work.

This early engagement played a crucial role in rebuilding Donna-Marie’s confidence. Regular weekly meetings gave her structure and support, helping her feel more hopeful about the future.

The Vocational Profiling stage

Lynn guided Donna-Marie through a full vocational profiling process. Together they explored her skills, personal qualities, limitations, and aspirations. While Donna-Marie’s ambitions and skill set are suited to pursuing a role in care, Lynn recognised that after many years away from paid employment, the physical and emotional demands of such a role could be overwhelming. She suggested a gentler path back into work and introduced Donna-Marie to Patrick Loe, ECL’s Connect to Work Community Connector, to explore work experience opportunities in parallel with her search for paid work.

Donna-Marie applied for a peer support volunteer role with a local charity and was delighted to pass her telephone interview in January 2026. While awaiting the outcome of this, Patrick is supporting her to explore short courses that will help build confidence and skills, including introductory IT and training in supporting older people. Through Connect to Work funding Lynn has been able to supply Donna-Marie a laptop so she can participate in on-line courses.

Meanwhile, Lynn continued to work with her on the practical elements of job searching. She helped Donna-Marie create her CV, practise interview skills, and reach out to employers. Together they crafted a disclosure statement that explained her historic conviction honestly and positively, reassuring employers of the stability and progress she had achieved in the twenty‑three years since.

Progression into work

Donna-Marie applied for several paid roles and, in January 2026, began a short work trial with GLC Cleaning Company on Mersea Island. Lynn supported her through the onboarding process and helped her settle into the new routine. The job trial went well, and on 9th February she was offered a permanent contract. She has quickly earned the trust of her employer and now holds keyholder responsibilities, a significant milestone in her journey back into employment.

Alongside this success, she has secured another interview, further strengthening Donna-Marie’s confidence and optimism about pursuing a career that aligns with her interests in care or youth work.

Transformation and impact

Lynn has observed a remarkable change in Donna-Marie since their first meeting. She notes that she is now far more confident, is getting out of her home more, and has begun tackling her debts. The Connect to Work programme played a vital role in enabling this transformation, providing holistic support that addressed not just the job search itself but the broader social, financial, and emotional barriers that had previously held her back.

Donna-Marie commented, “I have more belief in myself since being helped by Lynn and Patrick. Everything they have helped me with so far, has got me to a paid job.”

Conclusion

Donna-Marie’s story clearly demonstrates how the early stages of the SEQF model - Engagement and Vocational Profiling - create the foundation for meaningful and sustainable employment outcomes. Through relationship‑building, personalised guidance, and targeted practical support, Donna-Marie was able to move from long‑term caring and uncertainty to stable employment, renewed confidence, and a sense of possibility about her future.