Right at Home ‘Young Ambassador’ shines a light on the bright side of working in care
Young Ambassador speaks openly and honestly about her experiences as a Care Assistant
Published: 17/02/2022
Chevonne Baker, a CareGiver at Right at Home Basingstoke, is the focus of a recently posted Guardian article, which follows the life of a care worker over a three-month period. Chevonne, who was voted as Right at Home’s ‘Young Ambassador’ last year, spoke to the newspaper several times, starting in November 2021, allowing them to catch a glimpse into the truth behind the rewarding career that is misjudged by so many.
In the piece, Chevonne speaks openly and honestly about her experience as a Care Assistant since she joined the team at Right at Home Basingstoke two-and-a-half years ago. Her passion for care is evident, as she describes the close relationships formed with her Clients, who she has come to know so well, and the technical skills and emotional intelligence the role requires – far away from the misconceptions so frequently spread about the profession.
The piece comes during the midst of an essential recruitment drive in the social care sector, as care providers have struggled to fill approximately 53,000 vacancies across the sector, as up to 10% of homecare roles are left vacant. We are incredibly proud of not only Chevonne, but the entire team at Right at Home Basingstoke, who have continued to uphold their ‘Outstanding’ standards of care throughout both the COVID pandemic and the staffing shortages. The team, led by owner Kevin Smith and Registered Manager, Emily Colliss, have ensured that no Client’s care package has been compromised, whilst also continuing to focus on the wellbeing of care staff, leading to strong staff retention rates in the office. Throughout the article, Chevonne expresses her truth and vulnerability, in a piece which shines a light on the issues affecting the sector at a crucial time. When vital care packages for Clients are being turned away, as many providers across the UK are unable to facilitate their needs, we call on the Government to take more action.
Lucy Campbell, Right at Home CEO said:
“The recruitment issues across the sector have been evident for far too long now - every provider has been pleading with the Government to help us solve it. However, the Government continues to drip-feed minor ‘fixes’ with little chance of addressing the complex issues causing someone to discount taking up a career in care.”
“This widely reported crisis stems from multiple issues,” Lucy explained. “Underfunding is just one of them, with over a quarter of homecare providers reaching breaking point during the pandemic. Size or income impact any organisation’s ability to weather difficult periods, but all providers, big or small, face multiple sector-wide challenges, such as the pandemic’s added pressures and resulting burnout. Policy failures such as inconsistent funding models or the inability to agree post-Brexit visas for care workers, as they were for other essential workers, have only exacerbated the situation.”
But, public perception about what a career in care actually means, remains the key issue in recruitment, not helped by the fact that care workers are still labelled ‘unskilled’ by the same politicians we expect to deliver solutions.
The spotlight needs to turn to how rewarding careers in care are. There are opportunities for rapid progression and plenty of job security, with demand increasing roles by as many as 40,000 from one year to another. Joining this ever-growing sector offers a chance to make a difference as part of a highly skilled workforce.
"It takes a certain kind of person to be able to have the level of compassion, but also the technical skills"
Chevon said.“We have to do a lot of manual handling and you want to make sure you do it safely. We use hoists and we give people medication. Sometimes, you have to be three different people to a Client at once: a care worker, a housekeeper and as close to a family member as possible*.”
“I had to spend months convincing my family that I love my job,” she continued, “I wish that more people could see it for what it is - a rewarding, challenging and vital profession with lots of opportunities for me to keep learning and make a career out of it.”
In September 2021, Chevonne was voted, by an independent panel of judges, as the ‘Right at Home Young Ambassador’ at the Right at Home Celebration Awards, thanks to her dedication and passion to providing excellent care. She was the first employee to ever receive the award after the judges praised how she exemplifies the Right at Home values, and were inspired to create a brand-new category thanks to her bubbly, enthusiastic and proactive approach.
In January 2022, Right at Home launched their ‘New Year: New Career’ campaign, which focuses on battling common misconceptions about careers in care as ‘low skilled’ and without opportunity for progression. Part of the campaign, which aims to attract new talent to the sector, is the newly released Careers in Care quiz, which matches potential candidates to their dream role, based on skills and interests. The campaign also includes a Careers in Care brochure, which shines a light on the multitude of potential progression paths for those looking to take up a role in the sector.
If you are interested in joining the Right at Home team, you can search for available opportunities in your area here and read Chevonne’s full story on The Guardian website.
