Nicole – Field Care Supervisor

People become carers for a variety of reasons. Some do it because they have a naturally caring nature, others because they are looking for a change in career and a few have their own very personal, and often very painful, experiences which inspire them to help others. Nicola is all of these people. 

Nicola initially worked at a children’s nursery, helping the all-important early years development of young children. As a housewife, she was also mum caring for her two children, and then completely out of the blue and with no warning, Nicola’s husband David was diagnosed with a rare brain disorder called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), which affects movement and balance, speech, swallowing, vision, mood and behaviour, and the mind. 

Suddenly, Nicola found herself with another care responsibility, looking after David. She was supported by professional carers so got to see for herself what good care looked like. David sadly passed away six years ago. For most people, the prospect of returning to work after something like this would have been unfathomable, but for Nicola, out of something so tragic has also come something positive. 

She decided to become a carer and joined Caremark in January 2018. Now one of our Field Care Supervisors, Nicola is responsible for overseeing the work of carers in her area, carrying out assessments and helping to train new staff.She explains:

“I have high expectations of myself and others and I feel strongly that the care we provide should always be done to the very highest standards.

“You have to remember that when we originally walk into people’s homes, we are doing so as strangers, so that’s a big step for them, as it was for me when David was receiving care.

“It’s a privilege to be invited into someone’s home and you are often doing so at desperate times for them. As carers we need to ensure we are always attentive to people’s needs and be prepared to go over and above to meet these needs.

“I once visited an elderly lady who, at the end of my care call, started crying her eyes out. The last thing on my mind then was going home, even though it was late in the evening because I wouldn’t have been doing my job properly until I knew she was ok. Everyone has a breaking point and it’s only really when you have been in this position yourself that you truly understand what people are going through.”

When Nicola is not working (and thankfully she loves to work!), she is a Lay Minister at her local church, further evidence, if needed, that caring is in every fibre of her being.