Redundant worker retrains and secures new job

Andrew Payne (right) receiving an award from Skills 4 U in the summer

A Rochdale man who was made redundant in 2009 has retrained in social care and landed a job as a residential support worker.

In May 2009, Andrew Payne was made redundant. He took some time out to ‘find himself’ and spent the summer working in Greece.

Mr Payne said: “Upon my return in September, I found myself in Manchester airport with £30 and all my gear in a suitcase. At that moment I decided it was time to start putting my life together.

“I decided that a change of career was my best option and that I would like to pursue a career in Child Care/Social Care as it was something I felt passionate about.”

Mr Payne started an ‘Introduction to health and social care’ course with the help of Skills 4 U in Heywood.

When the course was over, Mr Payne felt that working with young people was what he really wanted to do, so, he started another 13 week course called ‘Introduction to Youth Work’.

Whilst on this course, Mr Payne met people that were volunteering at a local youth club and secured himself a voluntary job there; Skills 4 U also helped him to secure further voluntary work through Groundwork in the local community and also the John Muir Award, which is a conservation project.

All of this relevant work experience enabled Mr Payne to be entered onto a higher level course in Mentoring and gave him the right skills and the confidence to start applying for jobs in youth/childcare. Mr Payne recently secured a job as Residential Support Worker.