Working with Us

"I started working for the Association way back in 1989. I took a P/T post at weekends as this fitted in well with my family, I also worked as a self employed hairdresser the rest of the week as I could work around the children.

Over the next few years I decreased the amount of hairdressing I did and increased the amount of hours I worked with the Association, I really enjoyed the satisfaction I derived from helping to making a difference in people’s lives.

As my children grew up I found I had more time to concentrate on what I wanted to achieve in my life. It was not a hard choice, I gave up hairdressing as I wanted to pursue the opportunities open to me through the Association and participate in enabling our tenants to live in there own homes with 24hr support. I found this very rewarding, but I had to overcome a problem with dyslexia. This was holding me back; I had to do something about it. I decided to bring up the subject with my supervisor, it was a hard thing to do, but looking back now I wish I had said something earlier as it changed everything for me.

My supervisor found me a tutor and the Association paid for my one to one tuition, during this time I gained the confidence to apply to become a Senior Support Worker, a more challenging role meaning I was in charge of the care shift and had to allocate duties to the other staff working with me, but with support and training I felt I would develop within my new role. Being more involved with the running of the unit was just what I wanted.

When a post became available for an Assistant Care Service Manager I asked the Unit Manager if she thought I should apply for the post, she said; I should and I have never looked back.

I enjoy my new post and get satisfaction knowing that the team at Eday Gardens are making a difference in people’s life’s, this is very rewarding. I have had extensive training to reach this position and am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given to me by the Association."
Lesley Hay - Eday Gardens Supported Accommodation Unit

"My name is Lyanne McBryan and I have been employed with Margaret Blackwood Housing Association for 9 years and have had the opportunity to develop in my career since I started working at Belses Gardens in Glasgow.

I first decided to work in care when I was 17 years of age as I wanted to work with people and make a difference to their life; I felt that care work would give me a sense of job satisfaction.  Prior to starting the NC Social Care I had no experience in care and had only knew a little from the work that a neighbour had done as she had set up her own social group for people with learning disabilities which I had went to on a few occasions to volunteer and found it to be really worthwhile. 
 
When I first started with the Association in 1998 I was employed as a relief member of staff.  This meant I worked as and when I could and as needed to cover shifts of people who were on holiday.  I had completed my NC in Social Care the previous year and had enjoyed the course, getting so much out of it that I decided that I definitely wanted to work in the care sector.  As a result of getting the post at Belses Gardens this enabled me to get the practical experience that I need and enabled me to return to college to get my HNC Health Care in my own time.  Working at Belses Gardens gave me the opportunity to learn and develop on a personal and professional level and gave me the confidence to further develop my career and I am now one of the Assistant Care Services Managers.

Throughout my time with the Association I have carried out many different roles within the organisation and feel that each of these roles has been extremely beneficial to my personal development and has prepared me for the role that I carry out today.  Initially, I was employed as a relief support worker then I got a job as a full time support worker developing further to relief senior support worker managing the staff on shift before moving to my current role of Assistant Manager in 2004.  Within all roles I have been encouraged to participate in all training that is available to further develop my knowledge relating to adults with disabilities.  The training programme that the Association offers is vast and has enabled me to develop areas within my work practice which I had previously found difficult.  The Association has given me the opportunity to continue to develop through further education as I have now been successful in obtaining the HNC Social Care and also Personal Development Award in Care Services Management.  All of these courses contribute to me doing a better job and also in the development of others as I am able to share my skills and knowledge within Belses Gardens.

My experience of working at Belses Gardens has varied over the years and has brought many different challenges to me as a person.  I have learned so much and have grown as an individual.  At times it can be difficult but the sense of job satisfaction that I get from doing my job well still makes it a valuable career to be part of and a rewarding place to work."
Lyanne McBryan - Belses Gardens