“The sessions made a positive impact on my mental health” – Rosie’s story

Background

Groundworks Care to Work programme builds pathways into employment for care experienced young people aged 16-25 who are currently not in education, employment or training and have struggled to engage or stick with the existing education, training or employment support services that are available to them. Our specialist Care Leavers’ Employment team primarily work with young people on a 1-2-1 basis; in person and with phone, texts and video calls to maintain engagement in between sessions.

Rosie was referred to Care to Work by her supported accommodation placement. She had experienced several kinds of abuse and had been removed from her birth family at quite a late age, experiencing extensive trauma. 

Rosie hadn’t achieved any qualifications at school. She had a keen interest in Hair and Beauty so enrolled into a mainstream college, but she was struggling, and would often lock herself in the toilets to avoid going to class. Sadly, this was the only way she knew how to regulate her feelings.

Initially, Rosie didn’t engage much with her Employment coach at Groundwork. During their first sessions, she would stay quiet and struggled to make eye contact. However, without any pressure to communicate, she began to open up and started talking about nails and make-up.

Over the next six months, Rosie started to trust her Employment Coach and began to open up more, stating that the sessions were making a positive impact on her mental health. She has since gained four accredited qualifications, and is thinking about sitting her Maths and English GCSEs.

*Rosie’s real name has been changed to protect her identity