Mali Flur Owen, Care Assistant Dolwen Care Home

Mali is a very focused and career driven individual who from young age supported her Mother by providing care and support for her older brother with complex disabilities, as well providing end of life care for her Taid who had dementia.

Mali was economically inactive but her caring roles within the family setting, inspired her to enter the care sector as a chosen career pathway. Although Mali did not have direct experience within the sector she did have the empathy and passion to peruse her goals.

After attending the ‘Step into Work’ open day run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Mali registered onto the ‘Taster to Care’ Programme. (The Taster to Care Programme is a Social Care Project which addresses the need for a sustainable, well qualified and professional staff in the Care Sector).

The programme provided Mali with in-depth information about the care sector, including career opportunities, details of the mandatory training and employee expectations. After completing this programme, Mali was classed as ‘job ready’ Once the mandatory programme has been completed and the participants are “job ready” and went onto complete a placement to get practical and hands-on experience through a a 4 week placement, with a minimum of 8 hours per week.

On completing the Taster to Care Programme Mali enrolled on the Working Denbighshire, Work Start scheme after seeing a 12-week placement at Dolwen advertised on the Working Denbighshire Den Jobs website.

Working Denbighshire supported Mali throughout her application and she successfully received the placement.

Throughout her placement, Mali carried out practical support and provided emotional support to the residents at social events, craft sessions and mealtimes. This gave her the experiences required to work in Care. Mali also completed her Manual handling and First Aid training as part of her placement.

Mali was keen to apply to have a permanent job in care and towards the end of her placement, became aware of a Care Assistant vacancy at Dolwen Care Home. The Work Start Scheme Project Support Officer helped Mali to complete the application form, write a personal statement and post interview support was also given which included a mock interview. Mali was successful in gaining the position, which commenced on her 18 birthday and is carrying on with her Passport to Care qualification alongside her job.

This success story demonstrates the enormous benefit of pursuing and enabling a strategic approach to employability and skills support. Mali’s support included: 

• Taster to Care Programme – Entry level and induction to the Care sector
• 1-2-1 Mentoring support – Working Denbighshire Placement Support Officer
• 12 week paid work placement – Working Denbighshire Work Start Scheme
• Training – qualification linked to the sector

All this was achieved, allowing Mali to maximise income and prevent her needing to access benefit support.  Mali said without the support of the Taster to Care and Work Start Scheme and her Placement Support Officer she would still be looking for work.

Further Information:

Working Denbighshire -The Work Start Scheme

The Work Start scheme programme offers citizens of Denbighshire who are unemployed or economically inactive the opportunity to gain paid or unpaid work experience within varied sectors.  The added value is the is support provided throughout the placement for both the participant and the employer as well as the free training opportunities to upskill and secure a permanent position. 

• Recruitment process
• CV application submitted to Work Start scheme
• Placement officer assigned to the vacancy
• Invite to attend a pre- screening interview sent

The Work Start Scheme is available to anyone who is 16 or over living in Denbighshire who needs support to gain valuable workplace experience as well as knowledge and skills.

It simulates a real employment opportunity where applications are invited and pre-screening interviews are carried out which also give the applicants the opportunity to ask questions about the role. The successful candidates are offered further support to ensure they have the confidence and knowledge to attend a formal interview with the employer. This may take the form of mock interviews or research. Financial support is also provided such as travel passes and clothing for the interview is also offered where needed to help remove their barriers to progression.

Whilst on the placement the participant is assigned a Placement Support Officer who provides 1-2-1 practical and emotional support to the individual. The support, though not inclusive, includes arranging travel passes for the first month until they receive their pay, visiting the participant and employer throughout the placement as required, sourcing training, carrying out job searches and updating the CV.