“I love getting to know the people I care for – listening to their stories and life experience, learning from their wisdom and advice, and laughing at their jokes. It is all about the people for me, and building up a rapport with them makes providing care easier for them, and for me.”
How long have you worked for Somerset Care?
I have been a Care & Support Worker with Somerset Care for over 15 years in total. I did take a short break to work in a bank, but missed caring for people so came back again! I have been back in the team for 11 years now.
What is your role, and what was it that first attracted you to it?
I am one of Somerset Care’s community-based Care & Support Workers in and around Somerton and Langport, helping to keep people safe and comfortable in their own homes.
I initially joined Somerset Care from a self-employed background, and wanted the security of a career with a regular wage. Since then, I have come to really love the job; it’s so satisfying to come home every day knowing that I have made a difference in someone’s life.
I have never had a role as rewarding and fulfilling as this one – you feel that you have done something really worthwhile.
I really can’t understand why more people don’t want to work in home care!
What does home care involve?
One of the things I love so much about being a Care & Support Worker is that no two days are the same. You see different people and help them with different things – there is plenty of variety, which is great for someone like me who isn’t suited to a desk job.
Every home care visit is different, but in its own way, every home care visit is about making someone feel comfortable. Whether that’s support with personal care or medication to help them feel physically comfortable, or being a listening ear and good company to help them feel more themselves, we make sure that the people we care for are fed, comfortable and have everything they need.
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your role?
I love getting to know the people I care for – listening to their stories and life experiences, learning from their wisdom and advice, and laughing at their jokes. It is all about the people for me, and building up a rapport with them makes providing care easier for them, and for me.
The downside is that it can be hard to watch someone go through a hard time, perhaps through illness. You can’t always fix things for them, but you can be there for them and that is so important. You are still making a difference in their lives, and that means so much.
What advice would you give someone thinking of applying for a home care role with Somerset Care?
Give it a try! Dive into the role head-first and really enjoy spending time with the people you care for. It’s so easy to be anxious about trying something new, but you will be surprised at how much you enjoy it, and how the little things you might be worried about are nothing to worry about at all.
I love working in home care, and a short stint at working somewhere else reminded me of what I was missing – now I wouldn’t change it for the world.