Liliana

I love being part of the team at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.  Everyone here has given me such a warm welcome which has made my first few months on Project SEARCH so much easier and more enjoyable.

In my first placement, I worked in Main Stores as a Goods Distribution Officer delivering packages to different departments around the hospital.  My tasks included loading and unloading the cages of boxes, signing for deliveries and sorting out the delivery notes.

My team have supported me every step of the way showing me what to do and helping me when I have a problem.  My manager, John, really took me under his wing and I can’t thank him enough for his patience, understanding and kindness.  He knows that it’s not always easy to start working with people you don’t know but he gave me time to settle in and feel comfortable around everyone.

The team has noticed a real difference in me since I started and can see that I am now much more confident and independent.  They have given me so much encouraging feedback which gives me such a boost.  I am so proud of the progress I have made.

It’s not just my team who have noticed a difference in me. My mum can also see how much progress I have made.  Every day, I come home excited to tell her all about what I’ve been up to. She can see that Project SEARCH has been such a great experience for me and I know that she is also proud of the way I have pushed myself outside of my comfort zone.

As well as feeling a part of the Main Stores team, I feel really comfortable amongst the team of interns.  We have a good time in our base room and it is always interesting to hear about everyone else’s day. 

For my next placement, I will be joining the portering team. This involves moving patients in beds and wheelchairs so I am looking forward to getting to know patients and building on the progress I have already made.