A Flintshire woman is back in work for
the first time in two years after landing a job at the same company
that was helping her find work.
Sheila Pierce, 51, of Mold, became unemployed
after her son – who has Down ’s syndrome – was placed into
residential care and a worsening of her own osteoporosis, arthritis
and fibromyalgia.
Throughout her professional career, Sheila
worked in various managerial roles in the catering and retail
industries and also spent numerous years working in the community,
housing and health sectors, working closely with all relevant
statutory bodies.
But despite this high level of experience,
Sheila struggled to find work – until she was referred to
employment and skills experts Working Links, which delivers the
government’s Work Choice scheme to help people with disabilities
back into employment.
She said: “I found it very
disheartening that I could not gain employment. I was told I was
too qualified, I was not the age group employers were looking for
and my disabilities prevented me from physically completing a lot
of work and obtaining a lot of work. At the height, I was
applying for over 25 jobs per week.
“Working Links saw me and what I had
done, not my lack of paper qualifications, my age or my
disabilities. They saw what I am and what I can do – they looked
beyond the CV and looked at me.”
Sheila is now working for Working Links
within the Justice Division; she took up her role as Case Manager
on the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Newday
programme, which helps ex-offenders turn their lives around by
supporting them on their journey into employment and increasing
their skills and qualifications.
Jennie Lawton, Working Links’
Partnership and Provision Manager in Wales, said: “We always look
to focus on our customer’s ability rather than their disability;
our partner organisation Scope Employment Services supported and
developed Sheila’s skills and worked with her to overcome her
barriers. They used Sheila’s wealth of experience in order to build
on her confidence, to enhance her career development.”
To find out more about how Working
Links helps communities please contact us or call 0800 917 9262.