Trudi is the newest member of the Home-Start Bradford District Team. Mum of two, Trudi joins us our new Direct Support Worker (Stronger Families), replacing Linda, who is still with us but in a different role as a Family and Volunteer Coordinator.
In this blog, Trudi tells us all about her new role and about the life experiences that made it perfect for her. She also explains how the COVID-19 lockdown changed her career direction.
Trudi’s Story
I had been running my own successful childminding business, but when the pandemic hit us in March 2021 I was forced to close. As the lockdown progressed, it soon became clear to me that reopening was going to be incredibly difficult as my husband was working from home and my then 15-year old daughter was studying for her GCSEs.
So, I made the very emotional decision to close my doors permanently and concentrate on the here and now. I took a year out to support my daughter and add to my professional development by completing two qualifications: one in Children’s Mental Health Level 2 and the other in Adverse Childhood Experiences through Learning Curve.
I was always aware of the many amazing organisations that support families due to my networking as a childminder. So, when I saw the job advertisement on Home-Start Bradford District’s Facebook page I felt like it had been written for me. After stopping childminding, I knew I wanted to continue working with children and families, but in more of a supportive role, where I could hopefully share my many years of experience and make a positive impact on their lives.
I was absolutely thrilled when I found out that I had got the role and I was able to start it straight away in May. My role as a Direct Support Worker involves helping families with children under the age of seven years by offering support in a variety of ways. This could be advising on practical parenting, for example potty training or establishing routines. It may be behavioural, when I will work with the family to find alternative methods to best approach putting in boundaries and building relationships between parent and child. Or I can just be that listening ear, who can empathise with a struggling parent and provide them with a little emotional support.
Since joining Home-Start Bradford District, my support to families has been offered over the telephone, but I am very pleased to be able to report that risk assessments have been completed and I am now able to meet the families I support in parks and community spaces. I am really looking forward to getting out into the community and putting some faces to names. I feel this will allow a more personal approach to my support, which will have a greater impact on the level of support I can offer and therefore achieve more positive outcomes.
I have extensive knowledge and experience of working with children and their families through my many years of childminding. Every day was different, bringing big challenges but even greater rewards. It is my passion to support children to be the best they can be! Whether that is a little one taking their first steps or a teenager struggling at school.
If I don’t have a solution, then I will work hard with the families to find one. I have a very ‘can-do’ attitude and a proactive approach. My grandma used to tell me, “there’s no such word as can’t”, but I believe it should be “I can’t right now, but I will”. This means giving children and families the tools and support they need at that time of their lives to keep moving forward, overcoming challenges and empower them to be able to reflect on all they have achieved and sustain this into the future.
Many years ago, I was a young single parent myself. I was very lucky to have a strong family support system, but I can distinctly remember those feelings when I constantly worried about if I was doing the best for my son. Was I a good enough mum? And was I doing it right? I recall the feeling of loneliness and isolation when he was in bed on an evening, and I was alone. Often being a single parent creates many barriers to being in employment which meant I was on a very tight budget and regularly ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’. Therefore, I can really relate to and empathise with the families I support who are in similar situations, and offer hope and reassurance when it is really needed.
Home-Start Bradford District can really make a difference in families’ lives – they really do put each family at the centre of their support. They work to break down barriers and trying to raise self-confidence, while promoting the welfare of the families. They are friendly, resourceful and every situation is treated with respect and confidence. The service is personalised to meet a family’s own particular needs.
If you need support, then give it a go – you have absolutely nothing to lose.
About Stronger Families
Home-Start Bradford District are specialist providers for the Stronger Families Programme. Trudi is our Stronger Families’ Direct Support Worker.
Stronger Families’ keyworkers will identify a specific need within the family and Trudi will work closely with the keyworker to support the family with that need, which could be around routines, boundaries and behaviour.
Stronger Families is part of the Building Better Opportunities programme, and is funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.
