Can you introduce your role

Hello! I’m Cade, and I’m the Wellbeing & Safeguarding Officer here at Northcoders. I’m also the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead within the company, and work closely with Danni to ensure all students studying with us have a safe, inclusive environment to learn in. I provide SEMH and SEND support, as well as promoting a culture of safeguarding practice and putting the wellbeing of our learners at the centre of everything we do. 

Can you explain your day to day schedule

What I absolutely love about this role is that no two days are the same. Usually, my day consists of working closely with learners (whether that be wellbeing check-ins, calls or referral responses), meeting with my colleagues, and keeping our support resources up to date, as well as my own continual professional development. My schedule can vary and will depend on what the day brings! At the end of the working day, I always try to do something for myself, and have time to wind down. 

What made you want to get into your role

I’ve always had a passion for wellbeing and personal development, and have worked in mental health previously. Currently, I’m studying to become a counsellor at university alongside working at Northcoders, so this role really does go hand in hand with my aspirations. Holding a safe space for others has always felt like a purpose of mine, and to me, there’s nothing better than witnessing another person’s growth. This role has also brought the opportunity to further develop my skills and knowledge, especially within safeguarding, which has been amazing. There’s always something new to learn in this sector, and that’s one of the many reasons I love it so much. 

What’s your favourite part of your role

As I’m still quite new to this role, I’ve not yet experienced all there is to come! However, I’d say my favourite part so far is creating meaningful relationships and connections with our learners. Experiencing their wins with them is a fabulous feeling. I also love working in such a close-knit team, and having the opportunity to play a big part in developing our plans for wellbeing at Northcoders. 

How do you practice balance in your role

It’s important in any role to balance work life and personal life, however, since stepping into this position I’ve been even more intentional with how I practice self-care and create balance in my day. The thing I have found to be most crucial for me is having a support network. This includes spending quality time with my family, friends and partner, as well as having the support from my team here at Northcoders. I see my own therapist regularly, which helps me massively. I also make time for the things I love, such as seeing live music, spending time in nature, exploring new coffee shops/places to eat and watching a good true crime documentary. Taking breaks throughout the day is also well needed - usually you’ll catch me making a cuppa or playing with my dogs! It really comes down to the little things that help me practice balance in my role. 

How do you find working for a company like Northcoders?

I have been working at Northcoders for a little over one year, and it has been a fabulous experience. I started out working for our Onboarding team, but was able to progress into Wellbeing & Safeguarding, an area I’m truly passionate about. I feel fully supported, inspired to bring my ideas to the table and find that my own professional development is always encouraged. As a company, Northcoders hold many values that align with my own, such as the importance of championing inclusion and diversity. All of these things combined makes it a really lovely place to work. 

This year’s theme is ‘Movement: Moving more for our mental health’ - how do you plan to practise this?

I currently practice this by getting outside on my daily walks, as I’m lucky enough to live by many pretty places in the countryside. Also, having dogs always makes you move more! I plan to incorporate more movement into my everyday routine by having invested in a different home office set up - using a standing desk along with a walking pad to get those extra steps in. Being sat down at a desk for long periods of time can leave me feeling quite low in energy, so this will be sure to make a positive impact. 

What are you looking forward to most in 2024?

I’m looking forward to the trips me and my partner have lined up this year, as we absolutely love exploring new places. I’m especially excited to visit Lisbon, as it has been on the list for a while now!