Posted 16.12.2020

Job Match Supported Employment Officer Lauren Portis returned to higher education in September this year to study a BSc Honours degree in Social Work at Belfast Metropolitan College and Ulster University. 

Lauren says:

This has been something that I had been considering for a while, and over the past year I decided to take the plunge and apply.

Whilst working in the voluntary sector for many years and especially the last three years as a Supported Employment Officer with Job Match, I have developed a real passion in wanting to help empower people to change their lives, and advocate for equality of vulnerable people who struggle to have their voice heard.  I hope this is something that I can achieve moving forward both in my role with Job Match and as a student. 

It’s been great to have the support of my colleagues and manager in Job Match, especially now that I am working part-time.  Working and studying remotely has been an adjustment, and certainly not something I envisioned at the start of the year, but 2020 has been a year of challenge for us all. 

I have found my role as a Supported Employment Officer has really helped in my studies to understand topics such as Social Policy and Professional Identity, and in turn will hopefully benefit the participants I support.

Read more about Job Match and how we help disabled people to find paid work