Prisca's Story
Prisca Mariwo is a senior support worker for adult services at the North East Autism Society. She is based in one of our houses as part of a team of 6 dedicated staff who provide support for 3 young adults who have an autism spectrum condition.
When Prisca joined us 4 years ago she was new to both care work and working with people who have autism. She explains.
“I joined the North East Autism Society as a trainee – and I really didn’t know quite what to expect!”
“I needn’t have worried though. The Society is very focussed about giving all staff the training they need to provide good quality care for people with autism.”
“Since my first day I have been given training for every new role or technique I’ve tried. There is so much support, I think it’s really good!”
“Over the past 4 years I’ve been on lots of courses and have gained so many skills and qualifications. I can also rely on my managers to give me the support I need. If I ever get stuck, or I’m not sure what to do, they’re always there to help. That makes me feel very confident from day to day.”
“On a typical day I would be on hand in the hosue when the students come home from college. They have half an hour’s free time, just to relax, before helping us to make the evening’s meal.”
“We all eat together before it’s time to go out for the evening’s activity.”
“We do all sorts of things, from swimming and climbing to going to the disco or the pub. The students all need either one or two carers to support them at all times, so we all take part in the activities together. It’s great fun!
“The three people who live in the house all have difficulty with communication, so we have a Speech and Language therapist who comes into the home to provide staff with advice and support. This supports the staff team to maintain a consistent approach to support individuals to communicate effectively”
“One of the best bits of my job is getting to know these young people. Like all of us, they can change from day to day. And it feels good to know what makes them happy and what might upset them – so I can step in to reassure them, or calm them down, if they get agitated.”
“I used to think care work was really just a cleaning job. But I was wrong!”
“This is both a challenging and rewarding job – and I have lots of opportunities for promotion within the society. “
“If you’re thinking of coming to work here I’d say – give it a try!”
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