2019-02-13 10:07:37
This time last year, life was completely different for Darren Sharpe. The 53 year old from Flintshire was a successful senior figure at a large international plastics company, in an industry he had been climbing his way up over the course of three decades.
Everything changed in May last year when, determined to try something more fulfilling with a better work life balance, Darren seized the opportunity for a complete career change. Describing his old role as “not hard to leave behind”, Darren realised he “still had the enthusiasm and time to try something totally different” and, inspired by his support worker daughter, started work at Hft.
Instead of catching early international flights and solving manufacturing crises, Darren now spends his days specialising in helping adults with learning disabilities to find employment, which he says gives him “brilliant job satisfaction”.
The committed support worker splits his part-time role between supporting a man in his job collecting recycling around Flintshire and working as a job coach, providing training, mentoring and help finding the right work opportunities for people supported by Hft. The Flintshire service where he works supports 270 people locally.
Darren said:
“I haven’t looked back since I became a support worker. I had begun to feel stale in my old role, where the financial rewards came at a cost. This is a different world -support work can be more difficult, but it’s also more rewarding. I’m a real people person and, with the fantastic support of my colleagues, I can use the communication skills from my old career to help people flourish. Seeing people I support achieving independence in their communities and workplaces with huge smiles on their faces is fantastic.”
Darren is not alone in wanting to support people to live the best life possible. This week, Hft released its latest Sector Pulse Check research, based on an annual survey of learning disability providers carried out by independent consultancy Cebr. The report reveals that wanting to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable people is the key motivation for social care staff, with 85% of applicants citing it as one of their top three reasons for joining the sector.
Anyone interested in getting a flavour of support work can do our support work quiz. Read the full Sector Pulse Check report: www.hft.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/research/
Notes to editors
For further information please email media.enquiries@hft.org.uk
About Hft
Proudly established in 1962 by a group of visionary parents, Hft is a charity supporting more than 2,500 learning disabled adults in England and Wales. Together, we are creating a future where learning disabled people and their families can live the best life possible.
Providing personalised support. Creating solutions for living independently. Coming together to campaign for positive change. Fundraising for new opportunities and a bigger impact.
In 2033, we’ll live in a world where learning disabled people have greater choice. About where they live. The support they need and want. And how to spend their time and money.
Learning disability versus difficulty
A learning disability is different from a learning difficulty but the terms are often confused and used inter-changeably. A learning difficulty does not affect general intellect, whereas a learning disability is a life-long condition characterised by a reduced intellectual ability and struggle with everyday activities.
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For more information about Hft please visit www.hft.org.uk
Location: Hft Flintshire
