Simon's story
Simon is a Residential Manager at one of Break’s intensive residential home which looks after one young person at a time, giving them complete wraparound care.
He’s been with the charity for nearly 2 years and joined as the home was opening, helping to create a safe and loving space for a young person who is facing extremely difficult life challenges. “The young people who we support have usually faced a lot of trauma and they may be finding it difficult to connect with others. The idea is that they have our full attention, and we can give them the care they need to be able to thrive. My role is to ensure the smooth running of our home, making sure the team are fully equipped to help that young person to flourish and grow.
"The great thing about Break is that we all work through a trauma-informed lens. So, as a team we are able to create a complete care package tailored just for that young person and their needs"
"I started with Break by setting up one of our solo homes and getting a new team together which was really exciting. The great thing about Break is that we all work through a trauma-informed lens. So, as a team we are able to create a complete care package tailored just for that young person and their needs. Break understands that not one size fits all. Before they even step through the door, we make sure, both us and them, are prepared to come into our home. We work with them to make sure that the transition can be a positive experience and that they feel safe and secure.
"No one day is the same and we are always adapting to the young person’s needs. We work with their trauma and use their behaviour their way of communicating how they feel. This can be challenging, but we work as a team making sure we’re consistent and we find the best support for them. For example, if that young person is questioning their gender identity, we make sure we are trained to understand this and we get additional support so that young person has the expert advice they need. We also work closely with our Opportunities team as well, which offers young people activities and experiences to help them gain confidence, learn new skills and mix with others.
"The young person we have now has been with us for over a year and a half and we’ve all seen such a big change in them. For me, although I can see little wins as we work with our young person, it is more the reflection when you sit back and look at that young person and go ‘wow, look at how far they’ve come!’ compared to where they were a year ago.
"We also have access to our in-house Thearapeutic Service with qualified therapists."
"It’s not only the young people that have emotional and wellbeing support. We also have access to our in-house Therapeutic Service with qualified therapists, and as a manager of a solo home I get regular check-ins to help me talk through any issues I may be having in my role. They also attend our team meetings and it’s great to be able to have someone who can offer a different perspective. This kind of support is priceless and helps us make sure our young person is always put first.
"I’ve worked in care for 15 years, mainly in the private sector but what attracted me to Break was, not only working for a non-profit organisation, but the focus they have on recognising trauma symptoms and supporting you with your own wellbeing. It’s something that I hadn’t had for a long time in previous workplaces. Although the role can be incredibly rewarding, it can be tough, but being part of the Break family means you work through the good times and the tough times together, and just like for our young people, it’s great knowing you’re not on your own.
Break are always looking for exceptional people to join the team. View our current vacancies by following the button below.