“We’re always here to support each other,” said Team Facilitator Eileen Peasley. “That’s what makes our work here special.
“We stick together through thick and thin, sharing both the highs and the lows. It’s such a relief to have a team that understands and has your back because they’re doing the same work.”
Support Worker and Team Kelmscott member Nicole Griffiths certainly appreciated the support of her co-workers when experiencing grief after the shock passing of one of her customers.
“News of his passing was shared with the team quickly and without hesitation, they wrapped their arms around me,” said Nicole.
“Not only did they express sympathy via our team chat pages, but they also made the effort to contact me privately. They reminded me that I’m in a safe place if I needed to talk.
“I cried. They cried. They knew what I was trying to say. They knew where I was coming from.”
Keeping it light
Amidst the sometimes-heavy nature of the work, Team Kelmscott tries to keep things light where possible and finds fun in their work, any way they can.
“Even though we had to move our team meetings online during the COVID times, we didn’t let that dampen our spirits. In fact, we turned it into an opportunity to have more fun,” smiled Eileen.
“To lighten the mood, we’d choose a theme for each meeting and dress-up accordingly. That idea came from one of our teammates Craig Watts, and we’ve continued the idea on through many team get-togethers.”
Happy team, happy customers
Being a group of friendly and fulfilled Support Workers of course benefits our customers.
“We all get to know each other’s customers so we can fill-in and offer support when needed,” continued Eileen. “Our customers give us consistently great feedback. For some, we’re like part of their family and they want to stay with Avivo as long as possible.”
The team members also recognise each other’s strengths and are comfortable with the unique part they play in the team.
“We’ve got our own roles, and together, we’re like a super team,” added Eileen. “We’ve built an incredible team culture, and when new colleagues join us, they slide right into place like they’ve been here forever.
“Being part of this team is just wonderful!”
This statement is echoed by Nicole. “I am so proud to be a support worker. I value what I do, it doesn’t feel right to call this a ‘job’. It is an honour. I can honestly say that every person in Team Kelmscott feels the same way.
“These people are more than Support Workers. They never hesitate to jump in when needed. They bend over backwards and are quick to show support and the first to pass on encouragement and praise.
“We share hours, we share information, we share ideas, we help each other. We genuinely want the best for our customers and each other,” Nicole continued.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t love what we do, but having an exceptional leader and teammates makes it all the more special.”
