by Godwin Goremusando, Senior Support Worker
My name is Godwin Goremusando and I’m a Senior Support Worker in Greater Manchester.
I’ve worked at MacIntyre twice! My first stint was between 2010 and 2015, when I was a Waking Nights Support Worker. I enjoyed the job but as time went on, there was no further need for staff on the night shift, and so unfortunately my role was made redundant.
But after being in another job for a couple of years, in 2017 I happened to see another advert for MacIntyre. I had previously worked alongside Marlon, who was still with the company. He encouraged me to apply and I was successful. So I’ve been at MacIntyre now for a total of about 12 years.
Supporting Anthony
My main job is supporting Anthony, and I find it incredibly rewarding. Anthony is a man with learning difficulties who was shut away in a secure hospital for eleven years. Can you even imagine what that is like? I wish society could be more compassionate and less quick to judge.
I worked with Anthony over a number of months, during his transition from hospital into his own home. I found out what he enjoys (mountain biking and gardening) and started building a relationship with him, including the team that came together to support him. Now Anthony has a “gloriously ordinary life”, and my biggest reward is his smile at the end of the day.
A new country and a career change
Back in my native Zimbabwe, I’d been involved in forestry work. I came to the UK in 2002. I started out in London and worked in a variety of jobs including warehousing. I never thought about working in social care.
One day a friend said I’m really easy to talk to and suggested I had the right personality for supporting others. That got me thinking and I started my first social care job in a local nursing home.
After a while I moved to Manchester, found MacIntyre, and the rest is history.
It's all about the person
If I had one piece of advice for people starting out in social care, it is that although there are quite rightly a lot of regulations, it’s vital to see the person, not the paperwork.
Holidays are important
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, and we love going on holiday to Scotland. There’s something about that beautiful forested land which reminds me of where I started, back in Zimbabwe.
A word from Godwin’s Area Manager
This year, Godwin was a finalist in the Learning Disability and Autism Awards, and won the Staff Award at MacIntyre for Outstanding Frontline Employee. He was absolutely delighted he won and so humble as he is, he said “I didn’t even know I was doing anything special I was just doing my job”
- Cath Kelly
