Taz is our Senior Support Worker at Harbour View, a supported accommodation for young people. He spoke to us about his recent promotion, and how he has progressed at Changing Lives.
Tell us a bit more about you!
I'm Taz, a 31 year old from Yorkshire. I love spending time with my wife & kids on my days off. In my free time, I love to play music & sometimes do this for family & friends at parties. I have lived experience living within a supported accommodation at 15 with my family, this is what drives me to do my best in the job I do today.
How long have you worked at Changing Lives, and what roles have you had in your time? Tell us a bit more about your roles.
I have been with Changing Lives since 2017! I started as an agency worker from early 2017. I then worked as a night worker sessional at Union Terrace/Robinson Court in York. I have worked various services Newcastle/York within this time. I moved to Sunderland in 2020, I then started working sessional in Newcastle & Sunderland in January 2021. Most of these being adult services & some young people. I found where I settled.... Harbour View!!
In Harbour we support Young people between the ages of 16-25 to become independent & move on within their own property. As a team we engage young people to engage within 1-1 keyworks, house meetings, activities, multi-agency signposting & day to day informal learning. I did a Secondment in August 2023 in which I worked within Get Ahead, this was within employability where we would have a case load & help people access benefit/employment support.
I then came back to Harbour after my secondment to resume my role of Support Worker for young people & I brought back the skills that i learnt with Get Ahead to Harbour.
What does your new role entail?
Within my new role, alongside the project lead support our staff team to support our young people. I ensure the running of the service through making sure that the young people have the correct support. Guaranteeing the service runs smoothly by auditing files, meeting with staff to ensure young peoples needs are met.
How does your role differ from your former role now you hold more responsibility?
The responsibility differs from my old role to that I now support my staff team & young people. I now look over the support of young people & their journeys, supporting the staff to ensure the young people have everything they need as far as their support journey. One to Ones with staff to ensure that they have the tools & resources they need to provide the best delivery of our work to the young people we support.
How do you feel you had to develop professionally (and personally) in order to secure your new role?
I feel that I needed to take this step personally & professionally. I had to develop through training, supervisions & starting an apprenticeship from February 2018. I have just finished this Level 3 Youth Work apprenticeship with B-Skill!!
