Creating opportunities for yourself in the care sector

Luke Sheehan has formed a successful career for himself in social care since taking up his first job in the sector back in 2007.

After supporting people with learning disabilities and mental health issues as a Support Worker when he started out, Luke has worked his way up and held management roles over the last 11 years, helping people with different support needs in a range of services.   

Luke currently works for Cheshire West and Chester Council company Vivo Care Choices, overseeing the supported living and respite services at Dover Drive in Ellesmere Port.

He manages a team of staff supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and profound intellectual multiple disabilities (PIMD), making sure each person has the individual care and support they need daily. 

Luke said: “When I first started out, I didn’t really know much about the job and it wasn’t something I’d necessarily wanted to do all my life.

“I was a young man whose interests were sport and going out with my friends. I wanted a job, so I had the money to do those things.

“In my first job working in supported living, it didn’t feel like I was working at all as I was getting to know a lot of different people who all had a different story.

“I was helping to make a difference to their lives by supporting them to do things like attending college, getting a job, improving their social life, managing their own finances and learning to cook.

“No two days were the same and, as I built up relationships with the people I was supporting, I began to enjoy it more and more.

“I wanted to make a career out of this and set about working my way up through the management structure.”

With a lot of organisations like Vivo paying the Local Living Wage (LLW) and providing a clear pathway for careers to progress, the care sector can appeal to a range of people with different backgrounds.

Luke added: “I can’t say what the single best thing about this job is as there are a lot of great things to enjoy.

“Once you take a step into social care, it will open up so many different opportunities for you.

“Social care is never boring as you are making a genuine difference to people’s lives, you can earn a good living out of it and there is always something new to try.

“Give it a chance and make a difference to your life as well as someone else’s.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Work Zone Team can help and guide anyone who is interested in working in the Care sector. They have details of the latest job vacancies and can help with CV writing and interview skills.

Councillor Val Armstrong, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said: “The Care sector is one of the areas that has a high demand for people now. Unfortunately, many jobs have been lost due to Covid-19 closing businesses. Our Work Zones are helping residents every day who are now looking for new jobs. Please contact them if you would like to know more about the type of jobs available in care or any of the other areas that are currently recruiting.” 

Log your requirements through the Job Matching Register: job matching form

Or you can talk to the team at your local Work Zone:

• Ellesmere Port Work Zone – 07990 532869
• Northwich Work Zone – 07833 236675
• Winsford Work Zone – 07766 205389
• Chester Work Zone – 07775 717122

Vivo Care Choices is wholly-owned by Cheshire West and Chester Council, delivering a range of flexible and responsive support for people with learning disabilities and autism and older people, including those with dementia.

Operating across west Cheshire, Vivo supports more than 650 people in community settings, buildings and homes and employs nearly 600 people.