Why Joshua swapped social media for a career in care with Lifeways

After leaving education, Joshua Corrin stepped into the world of social media, but it quickly became clear it wasn’t where he wanted to build his future. 

Then, one Christmas, everything changed. As he reflected on what he really wanted from his career, Joshua realised he was searching for something more meaningful - something that would allow him to make a genuine difference to people's lives. 

That's when he discovered Lifeways. 

A fresh start 

At 23 years old, Joshua joined Lifeways as a Support Worker at a Supported Living service in Liverpool, swapping editing videos for supporting vulnerable adults to live more independent lives. 

"I always said I wanted a purposeful job, but I never thought I'd take the leap and actually do it," he said. 

Before joining Lifeways, Joshua worked as a Social Media Manager. While he enjoyed the creative side of the role, he found himself wanting something more fulfilling. As he began exploring careers in support work, an unexpected source of inspiration helped shape his decision. 

Through documenting his own journey of living with Type 1 diabetes on social media, Joshua connected with people in Supported Living. Their stories gave him his first real insight into the sector and opened his eyes to the impact Support Workers have every day. 

When he started researching employers, Lifeways immediately stood out. 

"I was looking at different roles online and Lifeways caught my attention straight away. On LinkedIn, you could really see how positive the organisation is about the difference Support Workers make. Reading stories from services across the country really inspired me." 

That feeling only grew after his interview. Now, four months into the role, Joshua says he's found exactly what he was looking for. 

"Every day I get up and I'm excited to come to work. I want to make a difference to the lives of the people we support, bring positive energy, and help them live the best lives they can." 

Inspired by family 

Long before he considered a career in care, Joshua had already seen first-hand the difference compassionate support can make. His younger sister, who has complex needs, spent time at a local children's hospice, giving him an early insight into the impact dedicated care professionals have on families. 

That experience stayed with him and planted the seed for a future career where he could make the same difference to others. 

"I've always wanted to help give my sister the best life possible," Joshua said. "Seeing the support she received made me realise I wanted to do that for other people too." 

Making a difference from day one 

Only a few months into his role, Joshua’s positive attitude, creativity and genuine passion for supporting others have already made a lasting impact at the service - and on the people he supports. 

From the moment he joined, Joshua has been focused on creating meaningful experiences and helping people feel at home. Whether it’s gardening, helping redecorate the service to make it feel more like home, or supporting people to enjoy activities in the community, Joshua is always looking for ways to turn ideas into meaningful experiences. 

"I’ve supported the people we support with things like gardening, redecorating the service to help it feel more like a home, and going out into the community - whether that’s shopping, getting food, or going to the cinema, which they especially love," Joshua said. 

"If the people we support want to do something, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be supporting them to do it." 

One of Joshua’s favourite initiatives so far has been 'Boujie on a Budget' - a thoughtful idea he created after putting together a personalised hamper for one of the people he supports. 

Filled with affordable treats, makeup, little gifts and even a plant, the hamper showed that making someone feel special doesn’t have to cost a fortune. 

"When I came back and gave it to the person I made it for, they had the biggest smile on their face," Joshua said. "That smile just made the whole day worth it." 

Passing on positivity 

Although he's only been with Lifeways for a few months, Joshua is already encouraging others to consider a career in care - and to approach it with compassion, empathy and positivity. 

When asked what advice he'd give to someone thinking about becoming a Support Worker, his answer is simple: lead with your heart. 

"You've got to bring your heart into it," Joshua said. "It's not just about providing support - you have to put yourself in the shoes of the people you support and really understand what matters to them. 

"Just a smile and a positive attitude can make such a difference. Whenever someone new joins the team, I like to pass that positivity on to them. 

"It's a privilege to do this job. If you come in with the right attitude, wanting to make a difference every day, you'll soon realise just how rewarding it is." 

If you're looking for a career where you can make a genuine difference to people's lives, there's never been a better time to join Lifeways. Like Joshua, you could discover a role filled with purpose, where every day is an opportunity to change someone's life - and your own. 

Joshua isn't just anyone - and this isn't just any job.