Five minutes with…Kelly
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Our school service team has been supporting school staff, children, young people and families for decades.
With increasing demand for our services, and – as our recent research showed – schools also increasingly needing to respond to the ever-changing needs of their wider community, the support given by our team is arguably more important now than ever.
Here, Kelly, a social worker from the school service team tells us more about her role and why she enjoys working at Caritas…
Tell us about what you do here at Caritas Salford…
I am a social worker in the Caritas school service. I travel to different schools offering support to local school staff, children and families.
How long have you worked with Caritas Salford and why did you decide to come and work here?
I have worked in the school service for 10 years. This role appealed to me due to the amount of direct work I am able to complete with children and families. I can build positive relationships with families over time, and this helps both them and schools in a range of ways.
What’s the best thing about working at Caritas Salford?
Caritas is constantly evolving. This provides current and efficient projects for people who access the services and enables schools, regardless of their economic situation, to access support from Caritas counsellors and social workers for their pupils.
What’s the best thing about working in your role?
Every day is different and dynamic. I get to meet new people all the time and I enjoy being a part of school communities. School holidays are also a bonus!
Caritas is a charity. What’s it like working for a charitable organisation?
Working for a charity is good as we are always surrounded by positive agendas, and we build gratitude by thinking about the good in our communities.
As a team we spend time in a range of Caritas services and it is great to see what is happening and how this is helping people.
What surprised you about working here that you didn’t expect?
I was surprised by size of the Diocese of Salford. It was much bigger than I had realised across Greater Manchester and Lancashire.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
I like spending time with my family. I have two young children and we enjoy lots of activities together.
What’s your favourite thing to do in Manchester or Lancashire?
I like to spend time in rural areas, going for walks and connecting with nature. I have recently spent time visiting Dunsop Bridge which is a beautiful part of Lancashire.
What three words best describe you?
Helpful, organised, creative.
How would you sum up the difference your work makes in a sentence?
Each person who uses our service receives a bespoke, personal service tailored to their needs. During a time of long waiting lists and a mental health crisis, having access to our service can be a lifeline for some children and families. Our service is accessible and makes a difference in a variety of ways depending on an individual’s needs.
Find out more about our school service and ways it can help by clicking here now.