“I was at turning point in my life, but I couldn’t do it on my own” – Jade’s Story

Putting Family First

The last time Jade was in employment was in 2013 when she worked in customer service. She made a conscious and selfless decision to step away from employment to focus on raising her daughter and caring for her grandparents, after her marriage broke down and she became a single parent. For several years, she devoted herself to her family, putting their needs above her own.

A Dream Deferred

In 2019, Jade felt ready to return to work and made plans to start her own foot therapy business, drawing on experience from a previous role. With everything in place and ready to launch, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Her business couldn’t get off the ground. This major setback led to Jade losing energy, hope, and eventually led to drinking and drug use.

Recovery and Renewal

In 2021, Jade took a bold step and joined The Twelve Step Programme of Recovery, she not only reclaimed her life but found a new purpose. She is now drug and alcohol free and serves as a guide and mentor, supporting others through their own recoveries.

A New Direction

As her health improved, Jade connected many of her mental health struggles with her fear of the unknown and identified a need to move her life forward, so she considered returning to work, recognising how employment could support her mental health journey, but not knowing how to go about this. Jade searched her local council and found there was a free service called WorkWell who could assist in returning to employment, offering 12 months support and sometimes government funded courses to help work on employment barriers after time spent away due to health and social challenges. That’s when she was also referred to Groundwork and met Ryan, an IPS Employment Specialist, in December 2024.

Back to Learning

During early conversations, Jade told Ryan she had enrolled in a 5-week Level 3 diploma Business Management course starting in January. Though excited, she was also feeling anxious and out of her comfort zone. Ryan made the decision to pause his plans to support Jade with a job search and instead focused on checking in on Jade’s wellbeing during the course.

Returning to education after more than a decade was no easy task for Jade. The course ran all day online, required Jade to set up unfamiliar technology, and submit multiple assignments. Despite the intensity, Jade persevered and proudly earned her diploma in The Principles of Management & Leadership in February 2025.

Exploring a New Career Path

With her qualification in hand, Ryan helped refresh her CV with this new information and they then resumed looking for job opportunities. As they explored options, they discovered a Probation Officer vacancy with the HM Prison and Probation Service . The role resonated strongly with Jade’s mentoring experience and passion for helping others.

Preparation For Work

The application process was lengthy and detailed, but Jade wasn’t alone – Ryan supported her every step of the way. Once submitted, they began preparing for a possible interview, practicing interview techniques and reviewing possible scenarios. Jade was understandably nervous, having not done an interview in years, but her commitment was unwavering.

A New Beginning

In May 2025, Jade received the fantastic news: she had been invited to a half-day assessment event at HM Prison and Probation Service for the Trainee Probation Officer role. The assessment day included written exercises, role plays, and a formal interview. Thanks to the extensive preparation with Ryan, Jade felt ready. She excelled in every part of the process and was offered the job not long after. She’s now preparing to start her new role as a Probation Officer in September 2025.

Reflecting on the Journey

Jade shared:

I was at turning point in my life, but I couldn’t do it on my own. I reached out for support while getting honest about my fears. Ryan was with me 100%, at every step, with his expertise. This gave me confidence that I had lost over the years. I would not have been able to be at this stage of my journey if it wasn’t for the support I found with Ryan at Groundwork. He really listened and guided me brilliantly, and the results were better than I could have ever imagined! Thank you so much!