Can you tell us a little about your organisation?

I work for a small charity called the Federation of Artistic and Creative Therapy (FACT) which works with children and adults with learning disabilities. FACT offers a multi-sensory room, soft-play area, unique mobile unit and a state-of-the-art outreach vehicle, for children and adults with special needs. The people we work with have special needs, ranging from behavioural problems to profound learning difficulties.

Through the groundbreaking leisure and education programmes which we use, we aim to dramatically improve an individual’s quality of life. We aim to provide a safe environment, which stimulates the primary senses and is conducive to relaxation. This relaxed state enables clients to interact with their environment and our staff — at their own pace — by exploring the interactive high-tech equipment which has been specially designed and adapted to meet their needs.

FACT staff support the child, encouraging them to make choices and learn that they can gain some control over their environment. Their growing confidence in decision-making and their ability to focus during sessions are vital for further learning and this provides a firm basis for ongoing education.

What does your job involve and what is a typical day like?

I am the project manager at FACT. Because we are a small operation, staff get involved with many aspects of running the organisation.

My job is multi-faceted and incorporates general management, administration, fundraising, and some direct work with clients. Some days I work in the mobile outreach vehicle and run multi-sensory sessions with children on site at their school. Other days I deal with emails, write reports, organise funding volunteers, or do the accounts. Some weeks I have many meetings scheduled, which could be with potential volunteers, funders, trustees, fundraisers, or professional services organisations.

What are the most and least satisfying parts of your work?

The most satisfying thing is knowing that we are providing a quality service and that our disabled clients really love coming here, as we are able to meet their needs in a way that most other organisations do not.

This project (and the disability field) allows for a high degree of creativity, particularly in terms of the direct work with clients. We have a very good and dedicated staff team who are mutually supportive and we all get on really well, which makes for a more satisfying work experience.

The worst part is that I have to take on many different roles, so I often feel like I’m not able to be as good at all of the roles as I would like to be. Also the relentless struggle for funding the project is a constant source of frustration and can be very time consuming, taking staff away from the core work.

How did you come to work for FACT?

The vacancies I was interested in asked for a degree as a qualification as well as two years work experience, so I completed a BA in sociology and afterwards embarked on various voluntary work placements.

Of the two projects I volunteered with I was most impressed with FACT. I liked the way it was run and how focused on the client it was. This led to paid employment and I also attended several multi-sensory and disability related training courses. As the organisation grew I adapted to its needs and took on the various roles required to keep FACT running optimally.

Are there any particular skills or qualifications required for this area of work?

Jobs in the disability field don’t usually require particular qualifications in order to work directly with clients. However, a good standard of education and an interest in and some experience of working with people with learning disabilities in a multi-sensory setting is necessary (which is why volunteering was invaluable). An adaptable, enthusiastic and flexible attitude to the work also helps.

Do you feel your work enables you to make a positive difference to the people you work with?

Most definitely. After working with people with learning disabilities over a period of time you can see the important progress that takes place for each individual. Many of our clients have complex communication problems and behaviour that they get locked into. Any steps out of and changes in these patterns are major breakthroughs, not only for our staff but also for the clients themselves.

What advice would you give to people interested in getting similar work?

Volunteering is an invaluable way of gaining work experience and getting into paid work. Most paid staff at FACT were once volunteers for the organisation. Volunteering is also a good way of finding out whether this particular field is of interest to you before pursuing paid employment.

Federation of Artistic and Creative Therapy (FACT)

www.factmultisensory.org

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