Yesim
"Supporting people is amazing" Yesim shares her experience of moving country and career
Before Thistle, I worked for eleven years as an underwriter in a bank. After I married my partner, who’s Scottish, we left Turkey and came to live here in Scotland.
Despite my work experience and qualifications – I have two degrees – it was hard for me to find the right job in the financial sector. I hadn’t been super-happy in my job, it was a bit boring, so I was wondering what to do next.
A friend of my husband suggested I apply for a role at Thistle. In Turkey, people rely a lot on their families for care and there is only state support, so I was impressed by social care in Britain and decided to apply. I got the job. That was seven years ago!
Supporting people is amazing. It makes me feel humble, happy and fulfilled to make a difference in someone’s life. Mentally and physically it was hard work at first. There was a lot to learn. But when I went home I could say, 'today I did something good.' I didn’t get that feeling working in a bank. The feeling made me want to stay at Thistle.
I worked supporting two people and then Thistle started to introduce a new way of working where people work as part of a self-organised team which meant working just for one team. It was hard to leave the other team but I still have contact with the person I used to support. The team I’m in now has eight team members and, ideally, we hope to have ten people.
Working as part of a self-organised team, I have developed skills beyond what I need to work my shift. It gives you opportunities to learn and grow. I’ve enjoyed being part of the recruitment process and a real professional highlight has been attending meetings with other social care and healthcare professionals.
Money is difficult for everyone in social care. Working in a self-organised team I can be paid more because I have more responsibilities. At Thistle, I was supported to get the relevant qualifications I needed and we have really good internal training, valuing us as people and recognising the importance and complexity of the role we do.
I enjoy being part of a team of capable, qualified people doing a complex and complicated job to support wonderful people. Our role requires understanding and skill. In my view, if you’re willing to learn and improve, then Thistle is the place for you."
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