31

Mar

Care is a rewarding career say our young team members

Abigail Hudson, 21, Kirstyn Williams, 20 and 19 year old Chloe Beardmore, are all healthcare assistants here at Barrowhill Hall.

Abigail, from Rocester, has been working in the care sector since she was 18 and has been a private carer and a community carer in Staffordshire before she began working at Barrowhill Hall. She says,

“I enjoyed community work but the travel was a lot. I was driving everywhere from Kings Bromley to Tamworth and all the travel was affecting my mental health.

“My boyfriend’s mum and sister work at Barrowhill Hall and they encouraged me to apply for a job here. I would definitely recommend care work to other young people. The best part of the job is the satisfaction you get from helping others.”

Kirstyn, from Tean, is currently in her second year of a Psychology degree at Keele University. And works part-time at the home. She wants to go and study medicine and says her role as a carer has taught her invaluable resident care skills.

“With the hands-on skills, I’ve learnt so much about resident care, more than I ever could learn from books. It’s an incredible experience. For me a huge part of the role is learning how to interact with different levels of resident care. All residents are completely different and what works for one doesn’t work for the other, we have to always tailor our care to the individual.

“I love meeting people. Meeting the families is a big part of the job and we have to work as a team otherwise nothing would get done!

“My favourite bit of the day though is seeing the residents in their happy element and the satisfaction you get from it.”

For Chloe, from Cheadle, it was her grandad, Ken, who motivated her to take on a role caring for and helping elderly residents.

“My grandad is my favourite person!,” she says. “He really inspired me to work in the care sector. Seeing the residents happy and giving them the care they need makes me happy. It’s such a rewarding job and it’s fun too; we are always doing all sorts of activities from painting the residents’ nails to drawing with them.

“You get really close relationships with the residents, we’re like a family.”

Care home manager, Dania Meadows, says, “

“It’s brilliant to see young people in care roles and we would love to have more on our team. I think there’s something in the bond they create with the residents, having had a more recent relationship with grandparents. Our residents certainly love them!

“I’m very committed to all the staff here and if they want to progress, we will help them. This doesn’t just have to be a job, it can be a career, there’s no end to where it could lead.”

 

31

Mar

My grandad inspired me to become a carer says 19-year-old Chloe

19 year old Chloe Beardmore is a healthcare assistant here at Barrowhill Hall and she says working in care is hugely rewarding and recommends other young people consider it as a career.

She says there are many reasons why someone should consider a career in care but for her, it was her grandad, Ken, who was her motivation in taking on a role caring for and helping elderly residents.

“My grandad is my favourite person!” she says. “He really inspired me to work in the care sector. I used to look after him a lot and he just lives around the corner.

“Seeing the residents happy and giving them the care they need makes me happy. It’s such a rewarding job and it’s fun too; we are always doing all sorts of activities from painting the residents’ nails to drawing with them.

“You get really close relationships with the residents, we’re like a family.”

Prior to working at the care home Chloe was a qualified lifeguard and swimming teacher at Cheadle Leisure Centre and she wanted to continue working a role where she was able to help people. She says;

“The great thing about being a carer is that I didn’t need to have qualifications. I have been able to train on the job and the home is going to help me to do my NVQ qualifications whilst I work here. When you first start you are always working with someone experienced so you can shadow them and learn the ropes. It’s very hands on and there’s a lot of team work involved.

“It’s also great because I’ve been able to continue the swimming lessons and I teach 2-3 days per week alongside my role here.”

Care home manager, Dania Meadows, says;

“It’s brilliant to see young people in care roles and we would love to have more on our team.  Qualifications aren’t always necessary – those can be studied for – but what you can’t teach is care and compassion, and Chloe has that in spades.

“You can see her bonding with the residents, no doubt because of that special relationship she has with her grandad. Younger carers often have that due to their more recent relationships with their grandparents. Our residents certainly love Chloe!

“I’m very committed to all the staff here and if they want to progress, we will help them. This doesn’t just have to be a job, it can be a career, there’s no end to where it could lead.”

30

Sep

Tean nurse speaks of ‘brilliant’ social care industry during pandemic

A nurse from Tean hopes social care workers will get more recognition as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lucy Salt, a nurse at Barrowhill Hall
Lucy Salt at work at Barrowhill Hall

Lucy Salt, 28, started work at Barrowhill Hall – her first job in the care sector – just three months ahead of the national outbreak.

“Before this happened, I think care homes were forgotten,” said Lucy. “Now, I think there’s more awareness.  I hope people will have more respect for us and the job we do.’’

Day-to-day care of more than 60 residents at Barrowhill Hall changed in advance of the pending pandemic.

Strict infection control measures were put in place.  Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and checking their own and residents’ temperatures became mandatory for all staff.

“As a nurse I am used to minimising infection but the pandemic changed things completely,” said Lucy.

Because our residents are living with dementia they don’t all understand why things have changed, why we’re wearing masks or why they can’t see their family.”

Keeping residents and staff safe continues to be the priority for Barrowhill Hall.

The home closed its doors to all but essential visitors two weeks ahead of government recommendations.  It introduced hand sanitising at the door as well as a disinfectant mat for staff to walk through.

Resident safety is priority

Through close liaison with Public Health England, managers at the home act on the very latest guidance.   Staff check their temperatures before starting care and residents’ health is closely monitored.

Lucy, a former respiratory nurse for the NHS, believes the events of the last three months have brought her and her colleagues closer together.

“Everyone’s worked as a team.  They’ve all been really supportive of me.  I have a two year old little girl at home and I was worried about keeping her safe, but everything has been done to protect us and the residents.’’

The community has given Barrowhill Hall a huge amount of support.  Encouraging messages have been posted on social media and donations including masks, hand creams, and treats for residents and staff, have been sent in.

Lucy hopes their recognition of care workers will continue.

Every day is different

“I may not work in a hospital setting but I am still a Registered Nurse, and social care is a brilliant place to work,” said Lucy.

“I’m thankful to the NHS for the experience it gave me but here I can build relationships with the residents. I’ve got time to talk to them and to hear their stories.  And every day is different.  I love it.”

“These are unprecedented times but Lucy has coped amazingly well,” said home manager, Matthew Whitfield.

“As well as being caring, you have to be adaptable in a care setting.  I’m proud of the way Lucy, and her colleagues, have supported one another and have responded to the demands placed on them’’