Rachel’s Journey into Care.

How did you start in health and social care?

 Ever since leaving university, I have worked in the service sector. I spent much of the first 10 years working at one of Leeds top hotels on the client side. Occasionally, I even helped friends by working in their newly established restaurants and helped them establish best practices on the client service side.

When the pandemic struck in 2020, we were all forced to isolate. Most hotels, including mine, were forced to close. The easy or sensible thing to do would have been to sit at home and catch up with Netflix and pocket my compensation. It just didn’t sit well with me.

I could see and hear from my neighbours, especially the older ones, most of whom were already isolated, that they needed help and especially contact. It was then that I decided that I wanted to use the skills I had developed over the years for the betterment of myself and my neighbours by going into Health and Social Care.

What are the positives of being a CareGiver?

One thing is clear: our clients want to stay in their own home. They like the comfort, the knowledge of where everything is, being able to keep their pets, and the freedom to do things according to their own time schedule. To be a companion is to improve our client’s independence and allow them to remain at home for as long as possible.

Sometimes you may be the only person your client will see all day, all week, and sometimes all month, and they look forward to seeing you. I love walking in and seeing them smile when you walk in, and how much they appreciate your presence is a wonderful feeling.

I love working at Right at Home – Leeds East, as we usually never take a client on for less than an hour at a time. That means I have enough time to do the work that is needed to look after our clients, but then at the end of that hour, is my favourite time, spending 10-15 minutes sitting down, having a cup of tea, and having a chat

I love being and making a genuine difference in someone's life. I feel like I am part of the community, and I enjoy helping people. It is crucial for me to be valued by my colleagues and know they feel I am doing a good job.

What are the challenges of being a CareGiver?

Making sure everyone's needs are always met, especially as their health and circumstances change at short notice. You must be diligent in recognising changes in appearance or behaviour, as they could be indicators of a decline in health.

What are the skills the role has given you?

I’ve learnt to be patient, calm, deal with and acknowledge the importance of Medication Administration, become a people’s person, be composed in emergency situations, and be able to handle tough situations without taking things personally, especially when dealing with clients with dementia.

What is the best thing about CareGiving?

To see our clients fulfilled and happy, their smile puts a smile on my face. There is no better feeling than coming out of someone's home, feeling I have made a difference in their life, however big or small.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

I love travelling, meditation, exercise, and listening to podcasts.