![Graphic with quote reading: “You met me at one of the most difficult times and seeing the difference you’ve made is amazing [...] Please keep doing what you do. You change lives.”](https://steponecharity.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Website-News-Headers-2024-33.png "Website News Headers 2024 (33)")
Meet Larry, one of our longest-serving team members, who recently marked an incredible 15 years with Step One! Starting out as a Bank Support Worker when Step One was previously Community Care Trust (CCT), Larry has grown into his role as a Senior Recovery Practitioner making a lasting impact on the lives of many people across Devon. In this Q&A Larry shares his journey, the highlights of his career to date, and what keeps him motivated to support others.
Before I started with what was then CCT, I had been volunteering for a mental health information service, helping people fill out their DLA forms. I started looking around for some entry level roles, but at this point I was very, very unconfident, and I just thought no one’s going to want to employ me – an awkward 19/20-year-old who has no social skills whatsoever. I ended up applying for a role as a Bank Worker at St Moore, which was a step-down service for people coming from places like Haytor in Torbay, and Glenbourne in Plymouth. We were there to help people re-learn independent living skills if they had been on the ward for a very long time, preparing them to get ready to go back into their own homes with a bit more confidence. I was then recommended to apply for a role at CCT.
I started off as a Bank Support Worker at CCT before it merged with St Loye’s Foundation to become Step One. I then became a full time Support Worker and later transitioned to Exeter from Newton Abbot for a role as a Community Enabling Worker for a project called ‘Positive Aspects, where I spent 10 years working. When the Devon Mental Health Alliance started up, I moved over to become a Recovery Practitioner. Now I’m a newly promoted Senior Recovery Practitioner and am now settling into the role and responsibilities.
A support worker is someone who helps people with the practical skills of day-to-day living, like tidying up the house, making and getting to appointments, and general emotional support. Recovery Practitioners are more focused on psychological intervention and more therapeutic – though we’re not therapists, we’re very clear on that. Recovery Practitioners provide short-term interventions, whereas support workers tend to be more long-term.
Every day is different. I get to meet lots of people with diverse experiences, and it’s good to see people making progress in their lives and being a part of that.
Achieving my Level 3 Apprenticeship in Social Care, and also my award in AET (Award in Education and Training).
I am fortunate that I see the impact of our work regularly and it is a privilege to be a part of someone’s journey and see the progress they make. A real highlight was a thank you card I received recently –
“To Larry, I just wanted to say thank you for being such an amazing help for the past 10 months. You restored my faith and trust in the mental health system. You met me at one of the most difficult times and seeing the difference you’ve made is amazing. Thank you for everything you have done for me and XX too. Please keep doing what you do. You change lives.”
It’s been great for building confidence and embracing the extrovert in me, helping me be more aware of people’s beliefs and working in a person-centred way.
In this current role, it’s when people say “thank you for your time, I hope I never see you again!” It’s where people are able to move on with their lives, and don’t need support anymore. Someone genuinely did say they hoped they never had to see me again the other day, which in this context, is a good thing!
Just constantly seeing that change and progression, in both the people I support and my team.
The people, the team, the friends.
Do it. It’s a fantastic step for anyone that wants to learn about and support mental health. Also to see the reality of what you learn, particularly on psychology degrees – it’s good for backing up the theory. Even if you don’t have a degree, it’s still a great confidence booster and great first step in your career.
Empathy, understanding, compassion, and actively listening to people without bias, without judgement.
If you like the sound of our Community Support Worker role and would like to find out more, explore the current opportunities on our Career’s page.
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