How I Got Here: Sammi Roberts, missing children’s case worker, Catch22

First foray into employment

When I was at school, I did a couple of week’s work experience in a nursery. I’d always wanted to work with children and I really enjoyed it. But I was young and not entirely sure that I wanted to go down this route for my career – so working with children took a back seat for a while.

Instead, I began my working life in retail. I learned lots, particularly about interacting with customers and I made some good friends. But I knew that this wasn’t something I wanted to do long term, and I still had that desire to work with children and young people.

When I saw a volunteering role with Home-Start – a local community network of trained volunteers who help families with young children through their challenging times – I spotted my opportunity.

Home-Start and Safe Spaces

Home-Start really kick-started my career. During my two years there, I worked with three families with children under five years old, providing as much support as I could to make their lives easier. It was hugely rewarding to see the difference me and the team could make to a child’s life. I still keep in touch with my manager who was a fantastic friend and mentor.

This period changed my perspective on work and I knew this was the type of role I wanted to build my career around.

I went on to secure a job at Safe Spaces – a service for adults diagnosed with mental health conditions and were suffering, often from self-harm or overdosing. Some of the people I supported had got to a really low point in their lives and we’d do what we could to lift them up and give them a sense of purpose.

I initially did the job part time, but after a couple of shifts I was offered a full-time position.

Joining Catch22

My job at Safe Spaces was great, but I still had at the back of my mind that I wanted to work with children and young people. It was then that I saw a job working in the child exploitation and missing from home service in Stoke and Staffordshire. I almost didn’t apply; the hours weren’t really good for me for a start. But when I went for the interview, the job just felt right. As I’ve got older I’ve learned to go with my gut feeling, so I took the role when I was offered it.

I started this job in 2011 and I’m still here today with Catch22. I think it helped that during this time I had nieces around the same age as the children and young people I was working with. It gave everything a real relevance.

Every day is different

With my work, you just never know where it will take you, and I love that. Sometimes I’ll speak to a child who’s been missing and as follow-up, I might just make a referral or help the parent to put boundaries in place. Other times, you’ll have a 45-minute conversation that changes everything for that child. I recently spoke to a 15-year-old girl who’d been missing. She didn’t say very much, but I also spoke to a relative who was with her and this relative told me things that really rang alarm bells. In the end, I made safeguarding referrals for nine members of that family – both children and vulnerable adults – and all the children were moved to safety.

It wasn’t until she was taken into care that the girl finally revealed the extent of the abuse the children had been experiencing. The relative still keeps in touch to let me know how they’re doing. All that from one conversation with a family! It’s so rewarding to know the difference we can make.

TOP THREE CAREER TIPS

1. Do what you love doing and be happy – I enjoyed my previous jobs, but I love this one. Have the courage to go with your gut feeling, even if your head might be pulling you in a different direction.

2. You have to be genuine – Children have a radar for people who aren’t being genuine. If you want young people to trust you, be honest with them, always take them seriously and do what you say you’re going to do.

3. Be persistent – I often knock on a young person’s door to check in on them and they don’t want to engage. I try to lighten the mood and put them at ease. Nine times out of 10 they open the door to have a proper chat.