Building Confidence in Social Care
A day in my role as an Advice Coordinator.
Sally smiling wearing a strawberry themed jumper.
Hi I’m Courtney, I work for Inclusion Gloucestershire and I'm currently on secondment as an Advice Coordinator. My role combines research, advocacy, training, and practical support, allowing me to make a real difference in people's lives.
As part of my role, I work closely with Access Social Care, supporting people to use AccessAva so they can better understand their rights and access the social care support they need.
How I Became an Advice Coordinator
Before becoming an Advice Coordinator, I worked as a Travel Trainer, helping people learn how to use public transport independently. I started in that role during the summer of 2025 and really enjoyed supporting people to build their confidence and independence.
Later that year, an opportunity for the Advice Coordinator secondment was advertised internally to existing employees.
My background in support work, alongside my academic and administrative experience, gave me a solid foundation for the role. As an autistic person myself, I was particularly interested in helping improve access to social care for people with autism and other disabilities. I wanted to use both my professional skills and my experience to support others in navigating what can often be a complicated system.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like?
No two days are exactly the same, which is one of the things I enjoy most about my role.
A large part of my work involves responding to social care enquiries submitted through AccessAva. I use templates to help people understand their rights, identify what support they may be entitled to, and explain the next steps they can take.
I also support the advocacy team at Inclusion Gloucestershire. Working alongside experienced colleagues has helped me develop a much deeper understanding of social care and the challenges people face when trying to access support.
Communication is another important part of my role. I regularly liaise with social care professionals and other organisations to help ensure people receive the information and support they need.
From Learning to Teaching
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work has been developing and delivering training on the Care Act, with a particular focus on autism and mental health. This all started after I attended Care Act training through Access Social Care. It inspired me to carry out further research into why autistic people and people with mental health conditions are sometimes denied the social care support they need.
Using research to shape inclusive Care Act training
As part of this research, I interviewed a range of organisations to understand the barriers they were seeing and identify gaps in support. This work led to the creation of case studies and eventually formed the basis of the training sessions I now deliver.
A key aim of my role is raising awareness. Whether it's through training, research, or speaking directly with people, I want to help individuals understand what support is available and feel more confident about accessing it.
Making a positive difference
The best part of my job is knowing that I'm making a positive difference.
I enjoy constantly building my knowledge and learning from new experiences. Every conversation, every piece of research, and every case helps me develop professionally while allowing me to use my own lived experience to support others.
Helping people navigate social care can be incredibly rewarding, particularly when you start to see progress and positive outcomes. Being able to advocate for people who may not always have their voices heard is something I value deeply.
I'm also fortunate to work in a supportive and healthy working environment where colleagues genuinely want to help one another succeed.
Clearing the decks
I like to finish each day knowing I've completed the work that needed doing. If there are tasks I haven't been able to finish, I make them a priority for the following day so nothing gets forgotten.
One small goal I always aim for is getting my inbox down to zero. It helps me stay organised and start each morning with a clear head.
Before I log off, I also check my calendar for the coming days and weeks so I know what's coming up and can prepare in advance.
Once everything is in order, I'm able to switch off properly at the end of the day, which helps me maintain a healthy work-life balance and come back refreshed for the next day.