How did you get into the care sector?
I thought I could do a care role as I have a natural caring instinct, which I have from looking after my three children before I worked here. When I applied here a few months ago, I felt very welcome; the training was clear and everything was covered. I started having no clue what to do in this job but now I enjoy every day. I am confident in what I am doing based on the training I have received. I am happy working in home care.
How does this role fit around your family?
It’s brilliant! I work 16 hours a week where I usually start at 9.15 am and finish by 2.30 pm; it is flexible and I couldn’t do it otherwise due to my family commitments. I also work every other Saturday morning until 12.30 pm. I provide my employer with the hours I am able to do and they fit my shifts around that. If I have any emergency appointments for my children, they are very accommodating and are able to adapt to my personal needs. It’s the same if they need cover, I will do the additional shift where I can so it is a bit of give and take in that sense. City care really is a brilliant company. You also don’t feel like the hours are as long as they are; a five-hour shift goes by so quickly.
What support and training have you had to carry out your role?
I did classroom-based training for two weeks before even going to any clients. I really liked that I had shadowing shifts because that gave me the chance to see what the role was actually going to be like and gave me a feel for the job, which really helped. The classroom training comprehensively covered everything, which gave me the confidence to go out and start the job. Any questions I had, and any areas I was unsure of, I felt like I could just ask.
What do you love about working in care?
I enjoy making a real difference to peoples’ lives especially when you visit a client who won’t see anyone else all day. You arrive and they are still in bed sometimes but by the time you leave they are clean, dressed, out of bed and have had breakfast with a smile on their face. I know that I’ve made that difference to their lives because they can’t do that for themselves on a day-to-day basis. 9 out of 10 times you leave them smiling and laughing, which is the best end to a call. I mostly see the same clients with each of my shifts, which means they know and expect me to come and see them.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Some of the clients I see, I am the only person they will see all day. A lot of the people we see are quite down as they cannot get out on their own. I do find that it can be quite depressing for them so when you go in there, it is a chance to have a chat and make them laugh. I just feel that for the half hour that I am there, I am making them comfortable, ensuring their safety, and improving their day even if it is to just put a smile on their face.
What is the biggest challenge in your role?
Probably getting into the flats! But in all seriousness, no, I don’t think I’ve come across anything really challenging as of yet and that’s because of the great training I have received and the incredible support I get from my office; they are always accessible and approachable.
What would you say to someone who is hesitant to apply for a role in care?
I strongly recommend they push themselves to face their fears and step out of their comfort zone, like I did when I first started. I feared the work when I first started but I wanted to improve the quality of peoples’ lives. As a new person coming in, it is very daunting to take on personal care but it really is not as bad as you think at all. If we didn’t do it, who would?