Career profiles
Wendy
Policy & Performance Manager
I am currently the Policy & Performance Manager at Sandwell Women’s Aid responsible for the development of strategy, policy and performance to help meet Sandwell Women’s Aid Organisational and service objectives. I really enjoy this role it is clearly structured and involves contact with other hard-working people, allowing me to set goals and be efficient and organised in my work.
I first came to Sandwell Women’s Aid as a Social Work Student on a 6 month placement, from the time I walked through the door I loved every aspect of my job. I was given a chance to grow and develop on a personal and professional basis; I had highly motivated and passionate people around me who invested time, support and knowledge into me.
When my placement came to an end, I continued to work on a sessional basis and continued to feel very much part of the team. When I qualified as a social worker, I moved into a permanent role of a refuge support worker. I was supported and challenged and within a year I took on a promotion to a senior refuge support worker, which again gave me a fresh challenge which gave me a new confidence that what ever I set my mind on I would be supported to achieve.
Working with women and children fleeing domestic abuse really challenged me as a person, it gave me much more compassion and understanding, it gave me a chance to walk in other people’s shoes - to see their struggles and the barriers people can face on a daily basis. The amazing thing was it did not stop there, I was able to turn that compassion into action, I was able to step in and make a difference, I was able to stand and say, what happened to you was not right, lets challenge it together.
More recently I took on a secondment to SOADA (Sandwell Organisation against Domestic Abuse) a multi agency team, I have always felt that my managers were always using my potential and looking for ways to help develop me and the Organisation. I have felt a valued member of the Organisation. Following the secondment I moved into my current role of policy & performance manager, again I have a fresh exciting challenge ahead of me, I know I will continue to grow and develop both personally and professionally.
Working at Sandwell Women’s Aid has no doubt been a journey; it has been a journey of self discovery, of self development and of inspiration, I have been inspired by many creative people and I now have a opportunity to put some of that motivation and self development back into the staff, and help ensure we are providing a quality service to continue helping victims of abuse find away out of their situation.
