Reasons to Work in Support Work

We asked over 500 of our support workers and managers about their jobs. Here is what they told us. Some of these findings might surprise you… 

  • 84% of people whose last job was in the hospitality and catering industry say they prefer working at Dimensions. 
  • 81% of people whose last job was in sales and call centres say they prefer working at Dimensions. 
  • 70% of people whose last job was in an office say they prefer working at Dimensions. 
  • 69% of people whose last job was in retail say they prefer working at Dimensions.
  • 58% of people whose last job was in the trading industry say they prefer working at Dimensions.
  • 40% of people whose last job was in the care sector say they prefer working at Dimensions.

With statistics like these, it’s no wonder that a large majority of respondents said they feel care work has an undeserved bad reputation. 

Dimensions, along with many other support providers, now recruit people for their values, rather than experience. With the right set of personal values, everything else can be learnt from training

“Supporting people is a huge privilege and, as a former support worker at Dimensions, I know it can also be the springboard to a long and varied career.” —  Sinéad McHugh-Hicks, Dimensions Managing Director

 

Flexible hours make support work a great opportunity for students

Alex worked part-time as a support worker while at university. He now considers the man he supported a close friend. 

“Support work is one of the most rewarding careers out there…I watched the person I supported grow into a confident, funny and playful man…the transformation I saw in a matter of a few years reduced his father to tears.” 

Sometimes It’s All About Knowing You Make a Difference

Mark moved from a management position to support work, and values the difference he makes over anything else. 

“This time last year, I was an area manager for a cleaning company: good salary, nice company car, iPad, phone. This time last year, I felt very little of what I did made a difference. I’m now a support worker for Dimensions and I feel everything I do, CAN make a difference.”

Changing the Narrative Around Working in Social Care

In recent research, support workers were amongst the happiest people in their jobs. We are trying to spread the word

about what a rewarding career social care can be. 

Take a look at what they might not tell you about being a support worker