From care to coaching: my journey in health and social care

By Hailey Jones

I’ve only ever worked in health and social care. It’s the only career I’ve known, and it’s something I’ve been drawn to from a young age. Now, working at Realise, it feels like everything I’ve done has come together. I get to use my experience to support others, keep learning myself and play a part in shaping the future of the sector, which is something that’s important to me.

At school, I studied health and social care at GCSE and A level, so it always felt like a natural path. I knew I wanted to do something meaningful, something that made a difference to people’s lives, and this sector gave me that opportunity from the very beginning.

Building experience in care

After leaving school, I started working in a local nursing home supporting older people. Not long after, we opened a specialist unit for individuals with advanced dementia, which really developed my knowledge and understanding.

From there, I moved into more complex care, supporting adults with learning disabilities and severe mental health needs. I absolutely loved it, and it’s a part of the sector I’ll always feel connected to.

Alongside working, I completed my Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships. Education has always been important to me, and those experiences helped me see what’s possible when people are given the right support to grow.

Taking the step into training

I wanted to use my experience to support others coming into the sector or developing within it. For me, it’s about helping people build confidence, develop their skills and feel proud of the work they do.

The most rewarding part is seeing that growth happen. You might meet someone at the very start of their journey, and over time, you see them develop, progress and start thinking about what’s next, whether that’s a promotion, another qualification or university.

Sometimes, learners come back to you months or years later ready for their next step. That’s when you really see the long-term impact of what you do.

What motivates me

It’s always the learners. I love being out with them, supporting them and seeing their confidence grow. There’s something special about those moments where things start to click and people begin to believe in themselves.

I’ve stayed in touch with learners from across my career, and it’s amazing to see where they end up. Some move into leadership roles, others take different paths within care, but all of them continue to grow in their own way.

At the heart of it, I just enjoy working with people. That’s what keeps me motivated every day.

Growing my career with Realise

Working at Realise has opened new opportunities, not just for learners, but for me as well.

Health and social care is at a pivotal point, and it’s an exciting time to be part of it. There are new qualifications coming through, new areas of focus and the chance to work across different parts of the sector, including areas we’re expanding into like drug and alcohol services.

What I value most is the opportunity to keep learning. No two days are the same, and there’s always something new to get involved in, whether that’s working with different employers, supporting new types of learners or developing my own knowledge.

There’s also a real sense of being part of something bigger. You’re not just delivering training, you’re helping to shape the future workforce, supporting services to improve and ultimately making a difference to the people they care for.

A career with real impact

Looking back, my journey has always been about people.

Whether it was working directly in care or now supporting learners, it all comes down to helping others grow. Becoming a trainer has allowed me to take that passion and have an even wider impact.

Health and social care offers so many different pathways, and for anyone thinking about taking a step into training, I’d really recommend it. For me, joining Realise has been a big part of that journey. It’s given me the opportunity to keep learning, try new things and support people in a way that feels genuinely meaningful.

If you’re passionate about the sector and want to develop your career in a different way, it’s worth exploring. Reach out, have a conversation and see where Realise could take you.