Why I love working in learning disability services

Susan Graves, Senior Support Worker, Positive Individual Proactive Support (PIPS) shares what she loves most about her role.

I never expected becoming a support worker to change my life, but it really has.

Before this, I spent years feeling overlooked in jobs. At 44, after being made redundant and out of work, I knew I needed something different. When PIPS came into my local job centre, I decided to take a chance. I didn’t have any care experience, but I had the right values, I’m caring, hardworking, and I wanted to make a difference.

I started as a bank support worker, and very quickly I realised this wasn’t just a job, it was something much more.

One of the biggest things for me was how supported I felt by PIPS from the very beginning. The training was excellent and gave me real confidence, and I always felt encouraged to learn and develop. My managers believed in me, even before I fully believed in myself, and that made a huge difference. There might be other places out there like it, but I have only felt this way working in this role.

What I love most about this work is the impact we have on people’s lives. It’s about really getting to know the individual, their hopes, their dreams, what makes them happy, and what a good life looks like for them.

A lot of the people we support find it hard to express themselves or feel heard, especially those with complex needs. That’s where we come in. We listen, we advocate, and we make sure their voice matters. That’s something I take real pride in.

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing people achieve things they never thought possible. It might seem small to others, but to them it means everything. Being part of that is the best feeling in the world. Seeing someone happy, more independent, and living a meaningful life is what keeps me going.

Getting into Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) with PIPS really changed how I think. It helped me look beyond behaviours and understand the person properly, what they’re trying to communicate and what really matters to them. It made me focus not just on support, but on helping people live a full and meaningful life.

Over the years, I’ve grown so much. I’ve become a Senior Support Worker, a PBS Champion, and I even completed a Level 4 PBS Diploma at the age of 50, something I never thought I’d do. That’s down to the opportunities and encouragement I’ve had from PIPS.

The people we support don’t choose us, but I feel really lucky to be part of their lives and just as importantly, to be part of an organisation that truly values them and invests in its staff.

I can honestly say I’ve never felt this sense of purpose in any other job. Seeing people achieve their goals and enjoy their lives, that’s what drives me every single day. I don’t think I will ever stop wanting to do this.

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