One Year In: My Journey as an NQT with Words First
Newly qualified therapists, Thato, Niamh and Hathaway, share what it’s really like to venture far from home and adapt to life as a working professional in their chosen career with Words First.
Words First would not be able to support the ever-growing numbers of schools and students that we do without individuals being willing to take the plunge, move away from home, and start a role with us, often straight out of university.
We spoke to three of our fabulous, newly qualified therapists as they complete their first year of working with Words First and we asked them about their experiences and insights over this time.
The early days
Thato, a Speech and Language Therapist from South Africa, remembers having to quickly adapt to the stark change in his working environment, as well as getting used to very different living conditions.
Thato recalls:
“I came to London with an open mind and a willingness to learn, but getting used to providing therapy in schools rather than hospitals took a lot of readjustment. Understanding the UK education system took some time too. Never in my life did I think I would be working with children with special educational needs to this extent, but it has broadened my perspective so much. I was also surprised at how much it cost to live in London and whenever I did find some South African food longing for a taste of home, I couldn’t believe what it cost! It is incredible though, to live in a country where the public transport system actually works!”
Hathaway, a ‘home grown’ Occupational Therapist, works with students who predominantly have social, emotional and mental health needs, and she found establishing the right work-life balance her biggest challenge at the start.
Hathaway says:
“It certainly took a while for me to find the right balance between work and my personal life. Navigating a new role, having a busy work schedule, and dealing with unexpected changes to sessions was difficult at first. I had to figure out what my responsibilities and priorities were and gain a better handle on the workflow. As my familiarity with the job increased, I realised that a balance became more manageable. Now I’m definitely more able to keep a better sense of personal well-being while still juggling all of my work commitments.”
Irish Speech and Language Therapist, Niamh has been working in mainstream primary schools and she recollects:
“It honestly felt like a whirlwind, time has passed so quickly. Making the transition from a learning environment at Uni to the professional world was huge and held several challenges for me. The shift from an academic perspective to applying that knowledge in real world scenarios definitely took some time to master. But the support I have received from mentors and supervisors has been crucial and has proved to be the cornerstone of my overwhelmingly positive first year here.”
Finding support that makes a real difference
All of our newly qualified therapists stressed the need for regular and available support throughout the last 12 months, and agree it has proven to be the ‘make or break’ factor in having a successful first year.
For Niamh, moving to a new country could have been daunting but her transition was eased by the combination of clinical supervision and mentoring that she received, and this helped her build confidence in her abilities.
Niamh says:
“The company’s culture of openness – where no question is considered silly – fostered an environment of continuous learning and reassurance and the ethos of always being available to answer those questions made me feel supported and valued. Social events were organised and these helped to alleviate any potential loneliness from relocating and having to adjust to a new life. A standout moment for me was the company’s birthday boat party. This event allowed me to connect with colleagues, share our experiences, and learn about the company’s journey and accomplishments since its inception. This sense of community and shared purpose reinforced the pride I felt in being part of Words First, and it even made me feel integral to the company’s ongoing success.”
Describing the culture at Words First, Hathaway says:
“It’s supported, supportive, and therapeutic. These values are deeply embedded in the organisation and they resonate not just in the way the clients are treated but also in how staff interact with one another. Words First culture focuses on fostering a collaborative and caring environment, where therapists can thrive both professionally and personally. The strong sense of community and support I have received this past year has been the most rewarding aspect of my experience so far. Right from the start I had regular check-ins with my Team Leader, and even the Director, Amanda reached out to see how I was settling in.”
Thato valued his induction process and the support he received from his mentor, supervisor and Team Leader. He particularly appreciated having a male mentor to discuss things with, given that there’s potential to feel somewhat of an anomaly as a man, within a professional field that is so predominantly female.
Looking to the future
As Thato considers his future with Words First as he’s completed a successful first year, he is looking forward to applying to be a mentor himself to support any newly employed therapists that will be joining Words First in the future.
Niamh is looking forward to her second year too and is eager to further develop her skills and confidence as a therapist. Shew would like to grow in a chosen area of specialism and take on a mentoring role, providing support to new therapists.
Her advice to newly qualified therapists is straightforward:
“Ask questions. Use your available support and don’t be afraid to seek help. If you fully engage with the supervision that’s offered and the resources provided, it will really help you navigate the challenges you’ll face in the early days and help you grow in your role over your first year.”
For Hathaway, she is excited to develop her special interest in autism and pursue further training, especially in sensory integration. She’s also thrilled about taking on a mentoring role and sees this as an opportunity not only to help others but also to give back the same level of support and guidance that she received during her early days. She’s genuinely excited to step into this role and hopes to inspire new therapists in the same way that she was encouraged.
Hathaway’s advice for new therapists:
“It’s natural to feel nervous and uncertain when starting a new role, but you can’t let fear overwhelm you, believe in yourself and your abilities. The support you will find at Words First is designed to alleviate those understandable worries and help new therapists thrive. So lean into it and embrace the learning journey you’ll find yourself on, it will make the transition much smoother and a lot more enjoyable.”
If Words First sounds like a team you would like to belong to, please get in touch.
