Our Apprentices support the delivery of our telephone advice service and community-based face-to-face outreach sessions. Upon completion of the Apprenticeships, they will have developed knowledge and expertise to support local people with impartial and confidential disability advice and information, and they will gain a Customer Service qualification.
Over the year-long Apprenticeship, our Apprentices are provided with ongoing support and mentoring and attend regular tutorials. They also have a mentoring supervision every month to focus on their personal and professional development plan.
Meet Kathy...
Kathy started as DIAL’s first Apprentice Peer Advisor in May 2023. Since then, Kathy has completed her DIAL Benefits Training, achieved her NEA City & Guild Level 2 Fuel Debt Advice in the Community qualification, and has now completed her year-long Apprenticeship.
We’re so pleased that Kathy will be staying at DIAL in her new role as Welfare Benefits Support Worker!
Kathy's Story...
Before DIAL
Before DIAL, Kathy had been working in a local supermarket for 6 years. Changes to the management structure led to a negative shift in the atmosphere, which affected Kathy’s mental health and led to her taking sick leave. Whilst browsing Facebook, Kathy saw our recruitment post for the Apprenticeship role but she wasn’t sure if there was an age limit. After checking, she found that there were no age restrictions, and applied for the role. Following a successful interview, Kathy was offered the role as DIAL’s first-ever Apprentice.
Apprenticeship at DIAL
In partnership with Barnsley Independent Training Service, Kathy started as DIAL’s first-ever Apprentice Peer Advisor in May 2023 to support the delivery of our telephone advice service and community-based face-to-face outreach sessions. Throughout her Apprenticeship, she received mentoring and support to guide her personal and professional growth. Her daily responsibilities involved shadowing Welfare Benefits Advisors at Central Area and Dearne Area Outreach venues, assisting with client forms, answering phone calls, and booking appointments.
Through DIAL’s Apprenticeship and an additional 8-week benefits training, Kathy gained a comprehensive understanding of various types of benefits, gaining the expertise necessary to support local people with impartial and confidential disability advice and information. She also earned the NEA City & Guilds Level 2 Fuel Debt Advice in the Community qualification, enhancing her knowledge of fuel debt, and completed MECC for Mental Health training.
Kathy also achieved a personal goal in March, when she fulfilled a long-held dream by celebrating her marriage with a trip to Edinburgh.
The Future
Following a successful Apprenticeship, Kathy is joining DIAL as a part-time Welfare Benefits Support Worker, focusing on over-the-phone appointments for Attendance Allowance clients. Working two days a week gives her time for crafting projects, especially using her new wood-burning tool. Kathy is also pursuing Maths and English qualifications and looks forward to spending more time with her grandchildren.
The Apprenticeship has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. It has boosted my confidence and improved my mental health. I had a lot of fun learning about different benefits and feel like I have grown a lot personally. I’ve been treated as one of the team from the beginning, and the support I have received is more than I could have ever asked for. I’ve always enjoyed helping people, and in this new role, I get to do just that. It’s incredibly rewarding to see clients leave their appointments feeling relieved after coming in stressed and worried. I want to say a huge thank you to DIAL for this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing my journey!
