Are you looking for a rewarding career where you will not only make a difference in someone else’s life but you will feel a huge difference in yours? If so, then moving your career to healthcare could be the best step to take. Of course, if you are new to healthcare, you are likely to be looking for information and to gain an understanding of what it takes to work in the industry.
In our first article, you will learn more about the career journey of Tia, Elysium’s Deputy Regional Training Manager, who started her career at Elysium in 2017 as a Support Worker in the Brighton and Hove CAMHS Tier 4 Eating Disorder service. Since then, she has progressed within her healthcare career, taking part in training courses provided by Elysium’s Learning and Development Team as she reaches new goals in her career. Throughout the article, you will learn that a skillset can be transferred from another industry into healthcare and how you can have a rewarding career in healthcare whilst receiving the support to progress and become the best version of yourself, especially here at Elysium.
Take us back in time and tell us more about what made you want to start your career in healthcare? What attracted you to the healthcare industry?
I started my career in Antiques as I loved history, however my mum became unwell and when I started to look after her, I realised I really liked care and wanted to do it as a full-time role. I started my care career in mental health for adults and I worked in the Head Injury Unit for about 5 years. I went into the Secure Ambulance Service and I worked there for about five years before moving to the Brighton and Hove site 7 years ago as a Support Worker.
Why did you move your career to Elysium?
I travelled the country whilst working for the Ambulance Service, and my shifts could be anything between 12 and 20 hours at a time. If someone’s in crisis, you can’t just say ‘I’m clocking off now’, so it could be a really long and tiring day. Whenever I went to an Elysium site, I would always receive a warm welcome and be provided with tea and biscuits. Everyone was always so accommodating and the way I was treated by the staff really stood out to me. I built a great relationship with the teams and when an opportunity came up at the Brighton and Hove site they kept saying to me ‘why don’t you come and work for us?’ so, after some thought I moved my career to Elysium and started my role as a Support Worker.
Why did you choose to become a Support Worker? What did you love most about the role?
In my previous roles I only got to see a snippet of someone, just a few hours at a time. Whereas when I started to work for Elysium, I could see the full progression and be part of that process. What I loved, especially working as a Support Worker in CAMHS, is that you could see that progression and then say 2-3 months later, we would get an e-mail informing us how well they are doing, and it would just make all the hard work worthwhile. With my previous positions, I knew I was making a difference, but I never got to see the end result or be part of that meaningful change. It is just incredible to know where they have come from and where they are now, knowing you get to be part of the full journey and make that impact on their life.
What skills from your previous role were transferable to your role at Elysium?
My roles within Elysium have changed several times over the years, so I have transferred and gained new skills throughout my career here. I have progressed over the last 7 years from Support Worker to Senior Support Worker, then I was put forward for the TMVA Lead, then Regional Training Officer and now I am the Deputy Regional Training Manager. As a Support Worker, I worked with people suffering with eating disorders and I transferred my skillset that I gained from my previous positions. These include de-escalation skills, patience, and ability to speak to people from all walks of life. I would say I have strong people skills, and this has transferred across all of my roles at Elysium.
Since becoming a Manager, it really taught me to listen to everyone and to really appreciate my team so that they feel that appreciation. I think feeling appreciated goes a long way. Having worked long hours myself, I relate to my team a lot and I am able to empathise with them, as I know how draining it is and how tired you can get. So, I know that a simple thank you at the end of a long week goes a long way. Every Friday I send a message to my team thanking them for all the hard work they have done.
Tell us more about the progression journey from Support Worker to the Management position you are in now?
It wasn’t something I had ever thought about, but when I was working as a Senior Support Worker my Manager approached me and said that the staff respond well to me, and they thought I would be really good for the role of TMVA (Therapeutic Management of Violence and Aggression) Lead, which I did for about a year. Then from there, the Learning and Development team approached me and said we think you’d be really good in their world and whether I would be interested in going forward for the regional position, which I did. Then, again with the Manager position, I didn’t have the confidence to apply and if it wasn’t for my colleague saying that she thought I would be perfect for the role, I wouldn’t have applied. The support that I got from the other staff was tenfold, and that’s what I think is important. The staff at Elysium really help each other and the progression is amazing. At Elysium I haven’t ever felt like just a number, I feel seen, and the people here believe in me.
What advice would you give to someone looking to move their career to healthcare?
I recently had this conversation with a friend of mine who was looking to move her career to healthcare and has been working in banking for years. She wanted to make use of her people skills as she gets so much enjoyment from speaking with people throughout the day. I said to her it’s very different but having the ability to talk to a whole range of people from different walks of life is a strong skill to have and you will get a lot of fulfilment seeing the progression of the people you are looking after. Of course, there are other skills that are needed and can be transferred from other roles and industries that will enable you to be a good Support Worker. These skills include a high level of patience and emotional resilience, the ability to work independently as well as part of a team, communication skills, the ability to stay calm under pressure and good time management skills. If you have some of these skills along with the passion to make an impact and help others, then a career in healthcare as a Support Worker could be the best career choice to move into. Once you become a Support Worker there are other routes in healthcare you can go into if you have the drive to progress. Luckily at Elysium there is a Learning and Development team that provide courses and career development options. I can honestly say that in the whole 4 1/2 years that I worked at the Brighton and Hove site as a Support Worker it didn’t feel like I was going to work, I loved my job so much.
What is the next step in your career at Elysium?
For the past 18 months I have been studying for my Learning and Development Consultant Business Partner Level 5, working four days a week, and having one day to study. I have already received my Level 3 Teaching qualification which teaches you the room set up, what the ratio of learning should be for the number of delegates participating and how to be inclusive when teaching a class. Next, I’d like to work towards my Level 5 Teaching qualification which allows me to teach up to college level. I think having done 14 years of patient contact, I have a passion for helping people and I am still able to help people, but from afar, so I’m upskilling the staff to be able to turn them into amazing staff members for Elysium’s patients.
Feeling inspired by Tia’s incredible career journey in healthcare? If you are passionate about caring for others and love to consistently challenge yourself, a career in healthcare may be your calling in life. Start your healthcare career journey at Elysium and find the right role for you on our careers page.
Is a Career as a Healthcare Assistant Right for You?
If you have a caring nature, enjoy working with people, and want to make a real difference in peoples lives, then becoming a healthcare assistant could be the perfect career for you. From supporting nurses and doctors to assisting service users with their daily needs, this role is the backbone of Elysium.
At Elysium you’ll develop hands-on skills in patient care, communication, and teamwork while building a rewarding and fulfilling career. A job as a healthcare assistant is challenging, meaningful, and full of opportunities to grow. If you’re ready to start your journey in healthcare, we’d love to hear from you.