A day in the life of...

Cara

 

Please introduce yourself.

I’m Cara Lloyd and I work for Premier Care Plus as a Care Practitioner and I’m 20 years old.

 

Describe a typical day in your role

A typical day would be getting up about 5:30 and preparing for the day. I’d go to my first client about 7am and help them with their personal care, breakfast, general duties around the house, making their bed, their medication if they need it. I’d go to about 3 or 4 morning calls.

 

People have different needs, not all need personal care, not all need medication, but quite a lot do. After the morning ones you go over to the lunch calls, which would include helping prepare lunch, cooking or a sandwich, medication and personal care.

 

After the lunch calls, a few hours later I’d start on the tea calls, usually about 3 or 4. I’d help them cook something nice and hot to eat, medication if needed and personal hygiene. Some people just want a nice chat with you.

 

Many shifts in domiciliary care are flexible, with staff choosing to work around other commitments.

 

After tea calls I’d go on to the bed calls. Some people don’t want to go to bed yet, so I’d just help them in to their nightwear, freshen up and help brush their teeth. Those who do need help getting to bed you may use stand aids or hoists to get in to bed and help them get as comfortable as possible, making sure they’ve got everything they need ready for their good nights sleep.

 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

Probably how rewarding the role is. Knowing you’re making a difference to someone’s life, helping them live in their own home where they have their memories and in familiar surroundings. It means so much to people and you get such a good feeling. Meeting new people as well. They have such good stories to tell and they have lived such adventurous lives, and being able to hear about it is one of my favourite parts of the job.

 

All some people want is a five minute chat before they go to sleep. You wish you could stay there forever and just chat.

 

Can you think of a time where you feel you have made a difference to someone’s life?

When we first started with a lady a few months ago, she didn’t really feel that she needed us there, she’d shut the door and turn her back and wouldn’t acknowledge we were there. She felt like she didn’t needs us and she couldn’t get anything from us being there.

 

I sat back for 10 minutes and she could talk about herself and where she was from. I was asking questions about what she used to do and how long she had lived there, finding out about her life. She opened up to me a lot more and was telling me everything didn’t want to stop.

 

How did you start working in social care?

When I was working in a pub I started doing my Health and Social Care course in college. I did work experience in schools and in residential homes, and never found where I wanted to be. I’ve always wanted to work in care, but could never put my finger on what I wanted to do. One of my friends already worked in the company, so I asked her more and more. I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I went in for an interview, they explained everything to me and I started my trial period. The first day of my trial I fell in love with the job.

 

It was nothing like you expect it to be. It’s not an easy job, but the feeling you get is amazing. I wouldn’t want to do any other job now.

 

What you say to someone who is looking to join the social care sector?

If you’re looking to join the social care sector, it would be the most perfect thing if you’re caring, compassionate and just want to make a difference in someone’s life. The feeling you get is absolutely amazing and I don’t think you’d get it in any other job you do.

 

 

Thanks Cara!