This year, our Direct Payment and Employment Support Service manager, Christine, led a round of recruitment for a new team member. She invited client Saira to be part of the panel so that she could contribute her lived experience to the decision process.
What Saira said:
“Before the interviews took place, Christine arranged a Teams meeting. She explained the whole process to me and answered any questions I had. We went over the interview questions as well as what points I should look out for and what type of person they were looking for. I found hearing what employers look for when interviewing a candidate and how to reply to the difficult questions they ask really beneficial – it will be helpful for any interviews I have in the future. I was unsure about how to fill out the feedback forms at the end of the interviews, but Christine and her team explained how to complete them. I would definitely recommend taking part in interviews to other clients as I think it’s important that we get a chance to help select the right person for the role. This would be a person that we might have to call or ask for advice from, so it’s beneficial that the candidates get to see who the clients they would be supporting are. By Christine asking me to join the panel, it showed me that Connection Support really value and care for their clients and that their opinion matters to them. Overall, I had an amazing experience being on the interview panel and would definitely do it again.”
What Christine said:
“It was fantastic having Saira as part of the interview panel. She brought a really helpful perspective and made me feel confident that we are working according to the Connection Support values in this important decision about our service.”
