Careers
Taking A Chance Pays Off
Colin is a people person, often described as a gentle giant. It is why some people are surprised to learn about Colin’s employment history.
He’s worked as a builder, a bouncer, and a baker in mining camps – all jobs that require a person to be tough and strong. Colin has those skills too but he says understanding people is key.
“I know how to read people, their body language, their faces,” he says. “So if it’s a stressful situation, I can see how people are feeling and empathize with them and then respond in a way that’s helpful.”
It is his ability to work with people that has made him so successful in his work with Communitas Supportive Care Society. Communitas program director, Sheila Bennett recognized early on that Colin had a natural gift.
“Colin can come alongside people, listening to them, and responding in ways that make people feel respected and heard,” Sheila says. “It has made an enormous difference to the person living in the home where Colin works.”
Still, Colin wasn’t sure that he was suited for working in the social services sector. All he knew for sure was that he needed a break. After the challenges of working in the mining camps and then successfully battling cancer, Colin took some time off to consider what his next steps would be.
“I just knew that I needed a change” Colin remembers. “But my friends kept telling me that I needed to find a job as a caregiver. They kept encouraging me to find work with people.”
So when Colin saw an ad for Communitas on a job search website, he decided he would just apply and see what would happen. He was contacted right away but Colin was still unsure if this was where he should be.
Laura Severn works in Human Resources at Communitas and remembers interviewing Colin.
“He was so nervous that he insisted that he would only take the support worker job if he could start casual,” Laura says. “We agreed that this would be a great way for him to see if Communitas was the right fit.”
Turns out it was. After only two weeks of working casual, Colin had a revelation.
“I knew this was for me. I loved the work,” he says. “When a full-time opportunity came up in the home, I applied right away.”
Sheila is grateful that Colin overcame his hesitancy and applied for the job. She says that people who think they could never work in social services often find their calling. The things that people are hesitant about become unimportant in comparison to the things that matter.
“Most often, people are concerned about providing personal care for another person or dealing with behavioural challenges,” Sheila explains. “But once they get to know the people we serve and they come to care for a person, then those things simply become tasks. The care supersedes everything else.”
Today, Colin serves as the manager in the home where his journey with Communitas began. He really enjoys his staff team.
“I love the word ‘team’. These aren’t just my colleagues, they’re my teammates and as a team, you’ve got each other’s back, you’re working towards the same goals,” Colin explains. “I love having the chance to guide this team and do the best for the person living here.”
Sheila says that Colin has helped the person living in the home move forward in ways that have not been seen before. She credits Colin’s ability to gain that person’s trust.
For his part, Colin says he’s truly come to respect this person and just wants the best for him. Colin’s favourite thing is to make him laugh.
“He is so tough and resilient,” Colin says with admiration. “He doesn’t let hard things stop him from having fun in life.”
For anyone considering a career in social services, Colin’s advice is to give it a try.
“If you’re ready for a change, then change,” he says. “Be open to the possibilities.”
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