The opportunity

Vickie Seaton always felt she wanted to work in the care sector but it wasn’t until her mid-thirties that she had the opportunity.

She’d studied childcare at college and also gained National Vocational Qualifications in Health and Social Care but with two children to raise, finding a job with suitable hours proved difficult so she took a post serving in a drive-thru restaurant.

“I wanted to work but it drove me crazy. I’m, a social butterfly and found myself stuck in a box doing the same thing day in day out,” said Vickie. “Fortunately, I had two friends who worked for Caremark Redcar and Cleveland and they pointed me in the right direction.”  

Vickie had helped look after her late grandmother and was deeply moved by the compassion and dedication of carers she witnessed first-hand.

“My gran developed dementia, and her behaviour could be quite challenging, yet the carers were perfect with her, they inspired me to become a carer.”

Vickie, 35, has been with Caremark Redcar and Cleveland since May 2023 and works 30 hours a week in the rapid response team. She has taken the opportunity to gain skills from training courses on various aspects of home care support including end of life care and autism. She hopes to take her Level 3 in Health Care in the near future.

“I am dyslexic, and I did wonder whether that might prevent me doing some aspects of the job like the paperwork but Caremark is a Level 2 disability employer and we use an app we use which makes it impossible to go wrong,” she said. “I also know the company will do all they can to arrange shifts around my life, so if I need to switch a day to watch my boy in a school play or something I can do.”  

Outside of work Vickie enjoys quad biking and walks with her partner and children and is looking forward to a family trip to Disneyland.

She hopes to progress to a supervisor’s role at Caremark, inspired by memories of her gran.

“I love my job because we are helping people stay in their own homes and I know how important that is in reducing decline and helping recovery after a stay in hospital,” said Vickie.

“My philosophy is to treat everyone the way I would my own gran, to see the smile on faces when you walk through the door is so rewarding.”