Sense has always supported me, in both my career and my disability

Vicky tells us about her pride in contributing to Sense’s work from a central office function, and how she’s been supported in her role as a disabled person.

 

Tell us about a typical day in your role at Sense

I work in the purchase ledger team, dealing with all the invoices and expenses for Sense’s services, homes and central office functions. Within the team we each look after a different part of Sense. My main role is looking after a charity we support called Contact. They support families with children who have sight loss or impairment.

My day is quite varied. I could be processing invoices on our finance system, going through petty cash receipts to make sure everything balances, or going through credit card expenses to make sure everything’s logged correctly.

What do you find most fulfilling about your role?

Although I don’t directly work within a Sense service or home, I still have a strong sense my role contributes towards the great work the organisation does supporting people in residential care and in the community. There’s a real pride I get from that, and I feel like it brings everyone in central teams together. It really does feel like we’re all working to achieve the same thing.   

Did you have experience in a similar role before joining Sense?

I was in a more straightforward admin role, but was looking for something more challenging and had started to work towards completing an accounting qualification. When I saw the job advert for my role at Sense I hadn’t completed the course and had no experience in finance, so I really didn’t think I was going to get the job… Well, I did get the job and here we are nine years later! 

How has your career developed since joining Sense?

After joining, Sense supported me in completing my qualification. I was able to take time every week to go to college,eventually passed my exams and was awarded my Level 2 Certificate in Accounting. 

Following that, I’ve had lots of job-specific and general training from Sense that have helped me in my role. I also know that if I ever wanted to work towards a higher level qualification to progress further in my career, the support would be there.

How does Sense support you in your role

Firstly, the team I work in is incredibly supportive. We each have our own areas of responsibility but if anyone needs to take time off or needs help, we all pull together.

My own line manager is really approachable – I can go to her whenever I need support, be it a personal issue or a work issue – and I’ve found all the other managers to be really supportive too.

Can you tell us a bit about accessibility at Sense and your involvement with The Disability Employee Network?

When I first started working at Sense in 2015 I was able-bodied and did a lot of physical activities, including cycling. Then, in 2017 I was in a serious car accident, which ultimately led to chronic pain, arthritis and being registered disabled. 

From the start, Sense helped with whatever support I needed in my job, from time for physiotherapy appointments, to making sure I had a parking space close to the office, to ensuring I had the right chair and equipment to work comfortably. I was able to change to working at home four days a week, which was a huge help. When I’m in the office, I have a wheelchair I can use if I need it and the kitchen has even been remodelled with an adjustable height sink and shelves, so I’m able to independently make a cup of tea while in my wheelchair.

I’m a member of The Disability Employee Network, where disabled and able-bodied Sense employees meet to discuss ideas for accessibility and inclusion. The Network has great support from senior management, right up to the CEO attending regularly. So, as well as being good for networking and sharing experiences, action really does come out of the discussion. That’s how the remodelled kitchen came about, as well as lots of other ideas. For me, being involved also pushes me to do things out of my comfort zone. I’ve written blogs and helped raise awareness about disabilities and mental health issues. All things I might not have done in the past, but being supported to talk about them makes a real difference.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about applying for a role at Sense?

It’s a real privilege to work for Sense because it’s a charity doing such important work for people with complex disabilities. It makes you feel really proud of the place you work. Add in the supportive environment and the fact that there are always lots of job opportunities and options to further your career within Sense… It’s a great place to work.