Teresa’s success story.

After spending more than three decades with the same employer, Teresa House, 51, found herself suddenly facing something she hadn’t experienced since her teens, unemployment. The change came unexpectedly and left her feeling lost, anxious, and unsure of her place in today’s job market. She was in her early fifties, managing some ongoing physical health challenges, and questioning whether her years of experience would count for anything in a new career. 

When Teresa joined the Work Wise programme, delivered by Get Set UK on behalf of Surrey County Council, she didn’t just need job search support, she needed someone who could see her value, help her rediscover her confidence, and guide her towards a future she could believe in again.  

Tailored Individual Placement and Support, built around her needs. 

From the first meeting with her Get Set UK Employment Specialist, it was clear Teresa had a wealth of skills and experience, she just hadn’t realised how transferable they really were. With personalised support, using the IPS (Individual Placement and Support) model, Theresa and her Employment Specialist worked on: 

✔️ Rebuilding her CV to reflect her strengths and position her for a new sector. 

✔️ Preparing for competency-based interviews, a format she’d never faced before. 

✔️ Shifting her mindset around her previous dismissal so she could speak about her story with honesty, confidence and professionalism. 

As she began to feel more confident, Teresa began to take the lead in her job search, applying for roles independently, asking for feedback, regaining belief in her abilities and attending job interviews, all of which led to her securing a new role. 

A fresh start, and a whole new outlook. 

From the outset, it was clear Teresa didn’t need someone to take over, she needed someone who truly understood her situation and could offer structure and guidance to help her rebuild and move forward. Through the IPS model, she gained that framework along with encouragement and practical tools to overcome her setbacks and return to work with renewed purpose and confidence. 

Now thriving in her role and a valued member of her team, Teresa reflects positively on her confidence and future, commenting: “I really appreciated the personalised support I received as it made me realise that I had a lot of transferable skills and knowledge. I am really happy to be back in employment and the opportunity it has given me to prove myself in a different environment.  

The Work Wise programme and my Get Set UK employment specialist have had a huge impact on a personal level. They gave me my confidence back which in turn has made me believe in myself again and given me the validation I didn’t know I needed.  The support and help I received was amazing and I can’t thank them enough.” 

Teresa’s journey shows just how transformative IPS support can be, not just for employment, but for wellbeing and self-belief.