Social worker

I’m a social worker because…

"I’m passionate about empowering people and giving them the tools to maximise their independence. I support people who have a sensory impairment such as deafness or sight loss, and provide support with equipment, housing and finances. 

I struggled at school because I was in a class of 30 children with very little support. I wanted to go into nursing but was told I couldn’t because of my deafness – I was devastated. I ended up doing an access course for sociology and psychology, which I loved because I had full communication support. I then did a university course to become a social worker.

I’ve now been qualified for 17 years and absolutely love my job. I’m profoundly deaf and have an Access to Work package which supports me in my job. I have an interpreter with me when I make visits, go to meetings or attend training, and I sometimes use an interpreter or Text Direct to make phone calls."

Sam Cox