Jane was referred to Good Work by Barnsley Recovery and Wellbeing College. She was off work sick at the time and began working with her employment specialist, Neil, to explore her options. Jane was anxious, lacked direction and struggled to see other employment options, other than returning to her previous employment.

She said:

“It got to the point where I struggled to leave the house. I shut myself away and didn’t really interact with anyone else.”

Having worked in education for a long time, Jane felt that this was her only option, but by working with Neil began to consider other options based on her skills and strengths. When an opportunity came up that interested her, Jane realised that she needed to take that leap of faith.

“Confidence was a big problem for me. I was really insecure and didn’t have any trust in employment. Good Work gave me the confidence to make a change for the better, and to ask for support”


Neil and Jane worked together to apply for the job role of call handler for an occupational health and wellbeing company, which Jane went on to secure.

“I got a new job, which at the time I thought I would never be able to do. I was lost.”

Jane is proud to be coming out of the other side of her experience, smiling and is pleased to be able to use one of her strengths, her friendly personality, in her new job as a call handler.

Her confidence has increased, and now knows that if she hits a low point again that there will be other opportunities out there for her.

“I don’t worry about what I’d do in the future. So, my future goal, really, is to keep this in mind and stay happy so I don’t hit those low points again.”