What is your role at Borough care?
My role is Senior Carer. I ensure the wellbeing of residents living with Dementia, making sure they are assisted with washing, dressing, and that they are comfortable. Each individual is treated with the utmost dignity and respect and we help to make every day the best it can be.
How long have you worked for Borough care?
I have worked for Borough care for just over five years. It has gone by so quickly – time flies when you love your job!
What does a day in your job look like?
Every day at Borough Care is busy, from ensuring residents’ personal care needs are met and ensuring a person-centred approach is used, a good balanced diet and fluid intake is maintained and ensuring staff are promoting independence and that residents are stimulated throughout the day. It’s really important to have lots of patience, to be understanding and to be a good listener in this role.
I also often meet with district nurses, visit GPs and review and create care plans for our residents. I also help to train new staff and make sure they feel welcome when they join Borough Care.
What did you do before joining Borough care? What is your background?
When I left school I went to college to become a trainee florist, and did a placement with Interflora. I left there when got married and started a family, before getting a job at Kipling cakes, where I worked the shop floor and fixed the machinery when it broke down.
I began to think about the time during school that I did a day’s placement at a nursing home and really enjoyed my time entertaining the residents there and putting a smile on their faces. I remember going home to my mum and saying I wanted to become a nurse to care for others, which I sometimes regret I didn’t do. Because of this, I decided to go into the care sector as I thought my passion for others would be rewarding. I have now been doing it for over 30 years!
I started off as a carer and worked my way up doing my Level 2 and Level 3 in health and social care and managed to get promoted twice. I was then residential manager for 10 years before applying to work for Borough Care.
Why did you decide to work for Borough Care?
I decided to work for Borough Care as I had heard from a friend that it was a good company to work for and that they reward the hard work of their team, like the awards each year acknowledging the achievements of staff. I also thought it would be a great company to work for, with great opportunities.
What is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is ensuring our residents are happy, and that their day is fulfilled. I love getting to know all about their lives, their incredible stories and the journeys they have been on.
It’s so rewarding to put a smile on their face and to make them feel safe and at home.
