Nadine Fricke

What did you study?

Educational sciences and German linguistics.
 

How did you get into your job?

During my application phase, a friend told me that Fliedners was looking for committed people. After two interviews, I started to work as a social worker in the outpatient area. There I looked after people with a mental disability and / or mental illness in their everyday life. Through motivation, advice and support, people are encouraged individually and supported in all life situations. Documentation and the creation of a help plan were also part of my field of activity. After a year I changed the subject. Since September 2016 I have been filling in for a colleague who is on parental leave.
 

What were the last three things you did at work?

At the moment I represent my colleague from the social service. That means I am responsible for the employees and group leaders from the workshop in all daily matters. This morning I had to calm down two employees who had clashed and then have reflective discussions with them. The situation then had to be documented.

One of my last jobs was to put together and prepare contracts and other forms for an internship. This includes creating a kind of personal file in which the way to, during and after the internship is listed and accompanied in writing. The completed, personalized internship contract was discussed with the HR department in the respective company today. Then I visited the intern to see if everything went well on his first day.
 

For which subject area are you a teacher?

Social work – rehabilitation of people with disabilities
 

What age groups or target groups do you work with?

As an integration support, I work with people who have a mental or psychological illness. The age groups are very different. I look after people between the ages of 20 and 64.
 

What do you think distinguishes a good educator?

A “good” educator should be able to approach people in an unbiased, open and honest manner. She should certainly have pedagogical knowledge, but always have the desire and joy to work with people. Empathy is also one of the most important qualities an educator should have.
 

How do you see your potential to change the world?

My work gives people with disabilities who have previously only worked within the workshop the opportunity to gain experience on the first job market and, if necessary, to get a permanent job there. I look after all those people with disabilities who have an outsourced job. One of my tasks is to win over new companies to cooperate with the workshop. I am very happy to see that both sides, people with disabilities and companies, benefit from this exchange. On the one hand, you can clearly see the increase in development and the joy of participation among employees and, on the other hand, companies are losing their fear of people with disabilities.
 

What challenges you about your job?

Every employee is special. Everyone has their own individual wishes and needs. My challenge is to adequately respond to these wishes and needs. It's always great to work with people and to be part of this mostly successful integration.