Mark, production assistant, London
Ingeus' Pathways to Work programme helped Mark to manage his health condition and secure a job at the BBC.
When Mark joined Ingeus' Pathways to Work programme in April 2008, he had been on Incapacity Benefits for three years due to injuries he received in a bomb blast that occurred when he was working as a bar manager in London in the late 1990s. The incident caused Mark to suffer hearing loss, shoulder pain, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and while he had undertaken some voluntary work in the past, he had not been able to return to his job, and was unsure if he would ever return to paid employment again after such a long time out of the workforce.
At his first meeting with his Pathways to Work advisor, Carla, Mark outlined his health problems, and together they developed a programme of activities that would address his health and employment issues and assist him to find suitable work.
They set up a schedule of one-to-one meetings to discuss and monitor his progress, and this gave Mark a reason to get out of the house and a much needed routine. Carla also arranged for mark to meet Ingeus’ specialist health advisors to address his physical and mental health needs, and he began attending weekly Pilates classes to build his muscle strength.
Mark attended Ingeus’ Sleep and Routine workshop, at which he learned to manage his time more effectively, develop positive daily routines, and improve his level of activity. During this time, Mark used Ingeus’ Job Station to find and apply for work, and Carla provided him with advice and assistance to develop his CV, write applications, and contact prospective employers. Mark also attended mock interviews with a number of Ingeus advisors so he felt more relaxed and confident about the interview process.
Less than six months after he joined the programme, Mark secured a full-time role as a production assistant with the BBC. Ingeus helped Mark to apply for the in-work tax credits he was entitled to, and provided him with travel funds and supermarket vouchers to help ease the transition from benefits to work.
As he settled into his new role, Mark continued to use Ingeus’ in-house services to help manage his health, and he is looking forward to building a new career and a new life.
