CASE STUDY: Josephine Hanney

Josephine was one of the Work Health Trainers trained as part of a pilot project under the 'Slough Working Better' umbrella. See here for a report on the project.

 

After leaving school, Josephine studied Speech and Language Therapy at college but, although she completed the course, due to family circumstances didn't get her licence to practise. After a few years as a stay-at-home mum, Josephine was encouraged by a friend to help out at a local swimming class. She enjoyed teaching and through this identified a need for health training, which led to her becoming a Health Activist. She undertook several training courses including Smoking Cessation Advisor Level 2, Open College Network Health Trainer Level 3 and City and Guilds Health Trainer Level 3 and now works as a part-time Stop Smoking Advisor in East Berkshire.

When Josephine left school she though higher education was something which had to be done there and then or you missed out. However, she now feels that education is something you can do at any age. "You should not be afraid to look in a different direction at any point in your career." When asked what advice she would offer to other potential students she said "it is important to get advice so you understand your strengths and weaknesses ... you should make the most of the range of support which is offered".

Josephine is looking forward to starting the new Work Health Trainer programme and hopes that it will develop her skills and open up more new and exciting opportunities.

We spoke to Josephine in November 2009