From an electrical mechanical engineer to working as an Officer within the prison service, Ian Billows gained a phenomenal amount of experience across a range of sectors before joining Lifeways.
Now approaching 15 years with us, and having progressed from Support Worker to Service Manager, he draws on the skills and experience gained in his previous roles to support him in his current position.
Early days
“It’s been quite a journey,” Ian said, when reflecting on his career.
“I still think about where my career started – I never imagined being in this position. I still don’t know how I got here sometimes,” he joked.
A natural-born tradesman, Ian’s first career took him into electrical mechanical engineering, where he thrived in the hands-on, physical work, but missed interacting with people. That ultimately led him to join the prison service at the age of just 21, where he would spend more than a decade.
Working in HM Prisons, he specialised in rehabilitation and behaviour-focused work, while later working alongside psychology and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teams.
However, his journey then took an unexpected and difficult turn after an accident involving a drunk driver where Ian was medically retired.
After recovering, he began searching for a new direction. Training in person-centred counselling opened another door, and a conversation with a colleague – who was setting up a psychotherapy clinic in Liverpool – proved to be a turning point. Not long after, he found himself sitting in an interview to join Lifeways.
“I never planned to work in care. I just came in to do a good job, make a difference, and go home. But I stayed, and I’ve grown with it,” he added.
Putting experience into practice
Originally starting as a Support Worker, Ian drew on skills from his previous roles to handle the situations he faced at Cobblestone Court.
He credited his time in the prison service in particular as a “huge eye-opener.”
“The first thing you do is observation. Everywhere you go, you’re observing before you even speak – getting to know people’s body language,” said Ian.
“Coming into Lifeways, I’ve learnt to read people. You walk into a room and can feel the atmosphere – but then it’s about learning how to manage that. Working at Cobblestone Court has helped me develop this.”
The skills and approach he learned as a counsellor also helped him put his support role into perspective.
He added: “As a counsellor, you’ve got to be careful your client doesn’t become dependent. You go through their vulnerabilities, and you help to bring them back up again, but they’re the ones doing the building – you’re just assisting. And then you have to at a point, step back.
“And this job’s the same.”
After some time, these skills helped Ian progress to Team Leader, followed by further promotion in June 2024 and located to another area, he returned to the service in November as Service Manager.
‘If you want a career, you’ve got a career’
Although he still enjoys being hands-on and admits there are times he misses his trade days, Ian speaks passionately about his appreciation for Lifeways and the progression he has achieved over his 15 years with the organisation. There is also a sense that he is not finished yet.
“With Lifeways, you have a career. If you want a career, you’ve got a career,” he said.
“I started out as a Support Worker and now, I’m a Service Manager. I’ve been asked if I have ambitions to go further.
“From the support you give, you get so much reward – and you get a career all around it. It’s all there.”
If you’re ready for a career with progression and where you can make a difference to other people’s lives, search the latest opportunities with Lifeways here: https://lifeways.co.uk/careers
