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A young man with a meticulous eye for details and strong ambitions to progress through his role in administration has a message for everyone looking to start their career, 'be confident in your work'.

John and Tarig

As a large employer, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board knows how important it is to have a broad range of talents amongst its staff. It actively encourages neurodivergent people and individuals who learn in different ways to apply for roles.

John, 18, lives with his mum in Cardiff. Shy by nature, John recalls his early years:

“I was very lucky that I enjoyed my education. I liked languages, maths and sports. I felt supported, I had good teaching assistants who encouraged me to join after-school clubs, and to take part in basketball and pool during lunchtime.”

Growing up, John found it difficult to integrate with groups in or outside his school that would help him make friends and he struggled to find things he was passionate about. 

“I made friends in boarding school and even though we lost contact for a while, after I left college I reconnected with them on Facebook. We stay in touch now, I feel I have become better at keeping in touch with people.”

When looking for a job after college John signed up to a service called Project Search to get experience and find employment. 

He said: 

“I was entered into an internship and after 6 months I was offered a job. Catherine was my mentor, she put me forward for the job and she is still helping me to progress.

“We attended a job fair at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff and bumped into Emma from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. She told me she was looking for apprentices and said she would be interested in working with me. I started my apprenticeship with her, and in February I progressed to a full-time post as a Band 2. I would like to develop my skills and progress to the top of my band.”

John’s colleagues value his work, particularly the care he takes in each task. 

His manager Tarig Azouz said:

“John is excelling in his role within the Digital Health Records development team. His attention to detail is particularly impressive and his meticulous work supports timely patient care and smooths the workflow for the medical teams. John is determined to progress his career. He worked hard on learning to handle records from various medical specialties and, more recently he took on the responsibility of urgent scanning for the Medical Examiner.

Through open dialogue about different working styles and needs, the team has developed more inclusive practices that support John and all team members to work effectively”.

The team has created an inclusive environment by implementing universal design principles in their training approach, including structured guidance and flexible pacing. These workplace adaptations have benefited the entire team’s effectiveness whilst ensuring everyone can work to their strengths.

Tarig added:

“I’m proud of his progress and the positive impact he’s had within the Digital Health Records team.”

Apprenticeship and Widening Access Co-ordinator in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CVUHB) Emma Bendle has seen first-hand the benefits of employing neurodiverse young people, and people with learning disabilities. She wants to encourage other employers in Wales to recruit from this talent pool too:

“In today's diverse world it is important to be an equal opportunity employer. We want to make sure our current and future workforce feel they are treated fairly and without bias. For us, our workforce must be a representation of our local population and inclusion of people of all backgrounds is key to this.

“Everyone has something special to give. We seek to create opportunities where everyone can contribute to society and secure a role which will fulfil their own lives and goals. Everyone has skills which offer different and valuable perspectives. 

“If I were to offer other employers any advice, I would encourage them to actively recruit from a wide talent pool. Start now, create a diverse workforce and let future candidates know that this is where they want to work, reassuring them they will be treated fairly no matter their background.”

Working within a supportive team, John is going from strength to strength. He keeps himself on track by keeping in mind some important advice:

“If I could talk to my younger self, I would say do not be afraid to ask questions, be confident in your work and in yourself. Overall, show kindness to others, even if it’s just small gestures.”

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