How I Found My Dream Job While Caring for an SEN Child
Journawell: Beyond All Borders, Episode 5
Can you build a career while raising a child with additional needs?
In Episode 5, Kelly Halls talks about employment, career changes and balancing work with being the parent of a non-speaking SEN child.
Kelly's career began in teaching and careers advice before moving into the criminal justice sector, supporting people in prisons and probation into employment and training. During COVID, working from home changed the direction of her career.
After IVF, becoming a mum and later facing redundancy, Kelly realised she needed a career that could fit around her family while still allowing her to progress.
She applied for around 100 to 200 remote jobs before finding a remote training role. That position introduced her to Salesforce and led her to retrain, gain Salesforce Administrator and Business Analyst certifications and eventually secure a Civil Service role.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Employment and Parenting Challenges
Kelly introduces her career journey, from teaching and careers advice to HMP Pentonville, probation services and working remotely.
06:06 – Navigating Career Changes and Job Applications
Becoming a mum and facing redundancy forced Kelly to rethink her career. She discusses applying for remote roles and finding work that could fit around family life.
12:51 – Building Skills for Remote Work Opportunities
Kelly explains how she retrained in Salesforce, gained certifications and used transferable skills to pursue new opportunities. She also explains why she applies when she meets around 60 to 70% of a job's requirements.
19:25 – Balancing Work and Family Life
Kelly discusses securing her Civil Service role and balancing work, nursery and family responsibilities. She also shares interview advice, the STAR method and the value of volunteering.
In This Episode
Kelly discusses why you don't need to meet 100% of a job description before applying. Transferable skills matter, and many parts of a new job can be learnt once you're actually doing it.
She also shares what she has learnt from being both a candidate and hiring manager. For competency and scenario questions, Kelly recommends STAR: Situation, Task, Action and Result, giving the interviewer a complete example rather than a short answer.
Volunteering was another part of her career change. Kelly volunteered with an autism charity to gain hands-on Salesforce experience, building practical skills while giving something back.
But employment isn't only about earning money. For Kelly, working means maintaining an identity outside motherhood, developing professionally, having financial independence and being able to provide more opportunities for her family.
Working while raising an SEN child still involves juggling nursery, appointments, childcare and the need to remain accessible when your child needs you.
This episode isn't about suggesting every SEN parent's circumstances are the same. It's about challenging the assumption that becoming a parent carer automatically means your career has to end.
Your route could be remote work, retraining, volunteering, freelancing, changing industries or starting your own business.
What can you realistically do, and what do you need to learn to get there?
If you're an SEN parent who works, tell us what you do and how you balance it. If you're considering returning to work or changing careers, we'd love to hear what you'd like to do next.
No one should have to navigate life alone.
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