bbc.com
Kent Mother Lands Dream Train Driving Job After 10-Year Career Break
A Kent mother, Leigh Santamaria, who took a 10-year career break to care for her daughter with learning disabilities, has landed her dream job as a train driver with Southern Rail after using their Career Returners program; she now drives trains between various locations in southeast England.
- What impact did Southern Rail's Career Returners program have on Leigh Santamaria's ability to return to the workforce after a 10-year career break?
- Leigh Santamaria, a 53-year-old mother from Longfield, Kent, returned to her career after a 10-year break to care for her daughter. She successfully qualified as a train driver for Southern Rail, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Her new role involves driving trains from East Grinstead to London and East Croydon, and she's currently learning the route to Epsom Downs.
- What challenges did Ms. Santamaria face in balancing her daughter's needs with her career aspirations, and how did these challenges shape her career path?
- Ms. Santamaria's career break was driven by the need to care for her daughter with learning disabilities. After qualifying as an accountant in 2021, she faced difficulties finding employment. She leveraged Southern Rail's Career Returners scheme to transition into a train driving career, highlighting the scheme's success in supporting career returners.
- What broader societal implications can be drawn from Ms. Santamaria's experience regarding support for caregivers and the reintegration of experienced workers into the job market?
- Ms. Santamaria's story showcases the challenges faced by caregivers balancing family responsibilities with career aspirations. Her success emphasizes the potential of targeted programs like Southern Rail's Career Returners scheme to help individuals re-enter the workforce after significant career breaks, creating opportunities for experienced professionals and reducing unemployment.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing is overwhelmingly positive, focusing on Ms. Santamaria's achievement and resilience. While celebratory, this positive framing might unintentionally downplay the systemic challenges faced by many caregivers seeking to re-enter the workforce after a career break.
Language Bias
The language used is largely positive and celebratory, which is appropriate given the nature of the story. However, phrases like "landed her dream job" and "dream a reality" lean towards hyperbole, though they are not inherently biased.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on Ms. Santamaria's personal journey and does not offer broader context on the challenges faced by caregivers of children with learning disabilities or the availability of similar career returner programs in other sectors. It also omits discussion of potential pay discrepancies between her previous and current roles, which could provide a more complete picture of her career transition.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a woman successfully returning to the workforce after a 10-year career break, demonstrating positive impact on employment and economic participation. The initiative also showcases the success of programs supporting career re-entry for individuals with caregiving responsibilities. This directly contributes to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.