After leaving University in 2002, I decided to join the Home Office because I wanted a career in which I could make a positive difference to people. I really wanted to use the specialism of my master’s degree, so thought I would only stay for a couple of years, but 19 years later I’m still here.
I currently work to develop a new strategy in response to Recommendation 28 of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review. My day involves developing objectives, success measures and policies to meet our needs under the 2010 Equality Duty and also to foster an inclusive culture across the Home Office. Stakeholder engagement forms a key part of my role and it’s a wonderful collaborating across different teams and engaging with so many different people.
I particularly enjoy working with the department’s award-winning staff support networks. I love the fact that we celebrate difference and also empower people, listening to their voice in saying how things are developed. This also allows greater exposure to a very wide range of lived experiences which changes you as a person.
I have had so many wonderful experiences working for the Home Office and have always found opportunities within the department to develop myself and progress my career. I have the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference both internally and for the public we serve, which is humbling and gives me a great deal of purpose for my role. I get a great sense of belonging and personal reward from working in a department where people are valued and can being their whole selves to work. I guess you could say I have brand loyalty!
