Restarting with confidence - Jess’s story

After four years dedicated to raising her children, Jess was nervous about returning to work. Jess was referred to the Restart Scheme delivered by Northern Rights, and from the outset, Jess was supported by her Employment Adviser, Emma, who helped her rebuild confidence, update her CV to a professional standard, and explore her transferable skills and career goals.

Through these conversations, Jess identified care work as a sector that aligned with both her interests and her need for flexibility. With dedicated support from Emma, Jess was able to update her CV to a high standard and explore her transferable skills and career goals. Jess discussed how she was nervous about returning to work after four years whilst raising her children.

Emma and the team provided hands-on support throughout Jess’s journey. They helped her to navigate the application process and covered the cost of her DBS check, ensuring she had everything in place to start work. To give Jess financial peace of mind, they also completed a Better Off Calculation, showing her how much better off she would be in employment based on her contracted hours and hourly rate.

While waiting for her DBS to be processed, Jess attended internal confidence building courses. These sessions helped her to strengthen essential skills and prepare for her return to work.

Once her DBS was approved in April, Jess immediately began shadowing in her new role. Within weeks, she received outstanding feedback from her employer and was assigned her own clients.

Throughout her time on the Restart Scheme, Jess was supported with travel reimbursements for appointments and interviews, ensuring that financial barriers never stood in the way of her progress. Thanks to the personalised and practical support from Emma and the team, Jess successfully transitioned into a fulfilling career in care work.

Like Jess, many participants benefit from financial support like travel costs even when they have started work as part of the in-work support offered by the Restart Scheme.

Jess commented: “I would advise to be open and honest about your feelings, goals and what job sector you see yourself in. Work alongside the teams and let them support you, they are there to level you up.

“I would highly recommend the Restart Scheme to any future starter.”