I have worked for over 40 years as a Probation Officer, half in East London and the last 20 years in West Mercia. I had a 5 year break in 2009 when I worked as a Support Worker for the Asha Womens Centre in Worcester and also worked for Dimensions , an organisation which supports people with autism and learning disability. I returned to the Probation Service in 2014 , working on a freelance basis. I am retiring next month and looking for part time work to supplement my pension. In addition to Probation I worked for many years as a carer for a severely disabled young woman on fridays, providing companionship, personal care and also taking her out on trips. In more recent years I helped care for my partner's mother who suffered from mild dementia, assisting with meal preparation, medication and personal care.