Congratulations to Amy Oliver, who has successfully graduated with a Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, specific to Substance Misuse, completing the qualification in just 14 months.

A Career Built on Care
Amy built the foundations of her career as a pharmacy technician in her hometown of Doncaster before moving into primary care, working within a GP surgery. Although she gained valuable healthcare experience, Amy felt drawn to a career where she could make a more direct and meaningful difference in people’s lives. That calling led her to join Aspire Drug and Alcohol Services (ADS) in 2022, starting in an admin role until May 2023, when she transitioned to the criminal justice team as a Trainee Recovery Worker.

Growth and Support at ADS
ADS offers a clear and supportive career structure that promotes personal growth through on-the-job training, formal qualifications, and mentoring. Amy’s progress within the organisation reflects this commitment. During her studies, she was promoted to Trainee Case Manager, balancing a slightly reduced caseload of around 50 individuals in recovery while completing the Diploma. Working with clients from all walks of life, Amy gained a deeper understanding of safeguarding, equality, and inclusion in recovery work.

Lessons in Equality and Inclusion
“The safeguarding and equality and diversity modules really stood out for me,” Amy said. “It’s all about recognising people as individuals. For example, not all opiate users are the same – we have clients who are professionals, parents, people experiencing homelessness – every story is different. It really reinforced how important it is to approach every person without judgement and with genuine understanding.”

Mentorship and Motivation
The Diploma’s flexible structure suited Amy’s learning style perfectly, combining written assignments, discussions, professional observations and opportunities to reflect on her daily work. She also credits her Generis assessor, Bex Garvie, for her encouragement and guidance throughout the process. “Bex was an amazing mentor,” Amy said. “She quickly realised that I work best to specific deadlines, so she set realistic goals that kept me motivated and on track. The training team are brilliant at adapting the framework to suit each learner; it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Bex Garvie, Training and Development Worker, said: “I’m incredibly proud of Amy’s achievement in completing her Level 3 Diploma in just 14 months. She showed remarkable commitment, staying focused and determined to hit her target completion date.

“Amy put in exceptional effort throughout our time working together, demonstrating real resilience as she adapted to challenges and continuously built on her strengths. It’s been a genuine pleasure watching her grow in confidence and capability.
“Congratulations, Amy – your hard work, dedication and positive attitude have paid off in this fantastic achievement. You should be immensely proud.”

Reaching a Major Milestone
Completing the Diploma represents a major career milestone for Amy. The career progression at ADS has taken her from admin and Trainee Recovery Worker to Case Manager, skipping two pay bands and marking outstanding progress achieved in just over three years. “It’s definitely hard work,” she reflected, “but once I found a routine and learned how to balance everything – my job, the coursework, and my family life – it actually went by quickly. Looking back, I’m really proud of how much I’ve achieved.”

Investing in People and Communities
ADS recognises that supporting its workforce to gain accredited qualifications is one of the most meaningful ways to invest in the communities it serves. As a charity, it prioritises professional development, ensuring its people have the tools, confidence, and expertise to deliver the highest standards of care.

Looking Ahead: The Next Step
Amy now hopes to continue her development by applying for the Social Work Apprenticeship, a three-year, government-funded degree offered in partnership with Hull University and ADS. The programme allows experienced practitioners to “earn while they learn,” combining hands-on experience with higher education, and is designed to help tackle the national shortage of qualified social workers.

A Journey That Inspires
Amy’s career is a powerful example of ADS’s mission to promote growth, opportunity, and compassionate professionalism. Her success shows how the right encouragement and training can transform not only a career but the lives of the people she supports every day.

Learn more about ADS career pathways HERE.