Evelyn and Abel share their career journeys in healthcare support
Two South London and Maudsley staff members shared their career journeys to show how healthcare support roles can open the door to growth and new opportunities.
Evelyn Ilo and Abel Ese have both built their careers in different ways, but their stories share a common theme of taking opportunities, asking for support and being open to learning.
For Evelyn, her journey into healthcare was unexpected. She moved to the UK from Nigeria, where she had worked in banking for 13 years. When moving to the UK, a friend suggested she apply for a role in the NHS.
She joined us in 2009 where colleagues encouraged her to think about her next steps.
“I started as a bank staff receptionist,” she said. “Then when there was a vacancy as a support worker on the ward, one of the managers approached me to apply.”
Evelyn now works in a dual role as a Senior Support Worker on Chaffinch ward and is also on secondment as a Health and Safety Advisor.
Looking back, she says the support she received early on played a big part in helping her stay and progress.
“Back then, Bridge House was like a family,” she said. “People encouraged you, supported me through the rough patches I was going through then. So it just made me want to stay.”
For Abel, the route into healthcare support came through education.
Before joining us, Abel worked for more than 13 years as a science teacher and adult trainer, including in special educational needs settings. Wanting to try something new while building clinical experience, he joined the Trust in 2023 as a Clinical Housekeeper on Lishman Unit.
From there, he began taking on more opportunities. He completed his Care Certificate, worked shifts as a support worker, became involved in training, and later moved into a Band 4 Activity Practitioner role. He now works as Learning and Development Lead (Learning Disability) at the Estia Centre.
“The best gift you can give yourself is self-development,” he said.
Abel says support from managers and colleagues helped him move forward. He spoke warmly about the people who encouraged him, guided him and helped him prepare for new roles.
“There are people who genuinely want to see you succeed,” he said. “If you put yourself out there to be supported, people are willing to help you grow.”
Both Evelyn and Abel said training has been a key part of their development. Evelyn encouraged staff to make the most of the opportunities available.
“Take advantage of trainings,” she said. “SLaM is a place where you have immense opportunities for training for free.”
She also stressed the importance of acting when opportunities come up.
For both of them, career progression has not just been about moving into new roles. It has also been about confidence, learning from others and staying open to growth.
Abel’s advice to anyone thinking about a career in healthcare support is simple: “Be humble, be teachable, be ready to learn.”
Evelyn agrees. She believes the role can lead to real career progression for people who are willing to get involved, ask questions and make the most of what is on offer.
Their stories show that there is no single path into healthcare support. Whether coming from banking, teaching or another field, both say that the key is to stay open, stay motivated and be ready to learn.
To find out more about careers at South London and Maudsley and explore current opportunities, visit the Trust’s Vacancies page.