Mim Robertson – Senior Nursery Officer

“After I’d been diagnosed, I did think about giving up working but looking back, staying employed was the right decision.”

Five years ago Mim Robertson faced a dilemma. Should she or shouldn’t she give up work? She had a job that she loved but had just been diagnosed with arthritis. Work wouldn’t be easy. In fact she wasn’t really sure that work was still an option.

Rather than simply resign herself to leaving her job as a Nursery Officer, Mim decided to talk through her situation with nursery owner and manager Sally Baker. Faced with losing a valued member of staff, Sally soon found a solution. Adjustments would be made to ensure Mim could continue in her role.

Employer's story

For Mim, Sally knew that she could not continue working in the baby room at the nursery or with the ‘two to three years’ age group. Instead, Mim was offered the opportunity to work with the older and more independently mobile ‘three to five’ group. Sally explains what happened: “I didn’t want Mim to feel that she couldn’t do her job. I wanted her to feel comfortable. Faced with the choice of losing her or moving her to working with a different age group, it was much better to move her than to lose her.”

Flexible working

As a manager and business owner, Sally strongly believes that businesses can benefit from making adjustments for all employees. For example, since offering her staff more flexibility with their working arrangements, Sally has noticed a significant reduction in employee absenteeism and sick leave.

Employee's story

Mim’s job is varied and busy. She plans daily activities for children and tries to focus on each child’s individual needs and interests. She says, “Seeing a child achieve, whether it’s in a small or a big way, is so rewarding.”

Mim uses her creative skills to make and repair costumes, clothes and other items for the children to use in the nursery. Because nursery work involves physical activities, Mim knew she wouldn’t be able to kneel on the floor to play carpet activities.

Minor adjustments

After talking this through with Sally, they both realised that it was possible for Mim to work on the ground floor of the nursery to limit her use of the stairs and work with older children to avoid having to kneel.

Mim is not only a conscientious employee but is also committed to developing her knowledge and skills. She has already fast tracked her way to an NVQ Level 3 Childcare qualification which she completed in one year instead of two and regularly attends courses to improve her childcare knowledge and skills.

She remains modest about her achievements at work and about the fact that she has been able to continue working despite having a long term health condition. “I don’t class myself as disabled” she says, “it is just a case of getting on with what I know I can do.”

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