Lifetime in the care sector
After a working lifetime in the care sector, Deborah is back to the grassroots of delivering one to one help to people in their homes – and she wouldn’t change a thing.
Little did Deborah realise when she first walked into a nursing home as a 15-year-old on her school’s work experience programme she would still be working in 34 years later.
Impressed by her attitude, the home offered her a Saturday job, then Youth Training Scheme placement and finally full-time employment. Deborah rose through the ranks to become registered care home manager, a post she held for 20 years until lockdown and personal circumstances led her to re-assess what she wanted from life.
“During lockdown my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I decided I should be at home looking after her,” said Deborah. “I have a large family with a daughter, sister and nieces who work in the care and nursing sector. We all helped and mum who was able to spend her final days at home with her family which is something we cherished.”
Deborah then had a decision to make as to whether she returned to work.
“Perhaps my mum dying at the quite young age of 70 made me realise we only have so much time, “ said Deborah. I didn’t want to go back to the long hours and high pressure of running a care home, I felt 20 years of that was enough.”
She added: “I’d had a taste of what it was like to look after someone in their own home, I’d seen how rewarding it could be and so I applied to Caremark Wakefield.”
Deborah, 53, has been on the home care support team now for 18 months. The flexibility of shifts allows her to work three evenings a week which suits her.
“I really enjoy the job. On a Sunday night I’m looking forward to the following week’s work, not dreading it,” she said. “There are a lot of interesting people out there and it’s heart warning to listen to their stories and know you make a difference to their lives.”
Deborah believes it is the little things that can make all the difference. Noticing when milk is low and making sure the next carer brings some more so the client can have a cup of tea, washing up any pots and pans or putting the washing machine on.
One client who is 97 loves to hear about Deborah’s walks with her dog. After speaking with the lady’s family, Deborah brought the dog along to her birthday party which made the day.
“To be a carer you need to have patience and understanding, be a good listener and not take things to heart,” said Deborah. “People can be frustrated or unhappy with their situation, especially if they have no family visiting them. A good carer needs to be upbeat, to go above and beyond if needed to ensure the client is in a happier place when we leave than when we arrived.”