“I can’t imagine doing anything else. Yes, we all need to earn money , but it’s more than that, we do this because we love it. At Stafford Avenue we look after five men with learning disabilities and challenging behaviours, you become so close to them, that you are lucky enough to become part of their family.

Every single day, you see the difference you’ve made to their lives.  Working with the men we care for here, with their needs, you are able to give a level of care for people, where it’s one on one, spending so much time together, helping them with almost everything – they feel like family. I’m a mum, with two grown up sons and looking after our men here, it brings out lots of the same emotions – I want the best for them, I can’t imagine not having them in my life and they rely on me. When you come to work, whatever problems you have, you leave at the door

The men we care for are amazing and they have such incredible personalities, all of them. We’re lucky, because we get to see them almost everyday and spend so much time with them, that it becomes like a sixth sense, the way that you understand them, sometimes with just a look, something they do with their eyes or smile. The react to you and you react to them.

The other day, I said to one of our men, ‘you’re gorgeous you are!’ and Derek whose sitting next to him and doesn’t say very much, says, ‘am I gorgeous?’ I said, ‘of course you are, you’re gorgeous too!’. And to see Derek’s face light up – that’s why we do this job. Those moments happen every day.

We are all here to care and the team are great, because we all bring something different, so we compliment each other. We are such a tight knit bunch and we all look out for each other and the men who we care for.

When I’m looking after someone, I just think, I hope someone would look after me the same – I do something for one of our men and I think, that’s how I’d want to be looked after.

The job teaches you so much. It makes you think about the simple things and the value and joy in life. It makes you really positive as a person and I think everyone who works for Choices is the same.

The post Sheila Wood, Support Worker, Stafford Avenue appeared first on Choices.

Ben, a radiography study from the University of Salford, has been working as a Bank Support Worker at Holcroft road for the last two months. He told us what it’s like to work in the care sector for the first time.

“Before I started, when you hear the word ‘care’, you immediately think of the elderly – but that’s not the case. At Holcroft Road, we care for people of all ages, from 21 years old to people in their mid-fifties.

I didn’t realise how much I would get from it personally. Learning Disability care is humbling and rewarding, because our service users are so reliant on us – so you feel like you are having such a massive impact on their lives.

Our job is to help them lead their best lives and as normal as possible. The activities that we do here with them, I think the staff get just as much from them as the service users sometimes. Just seeing their reaction is amazing.

One of my favourite moments, was when I discovered that one of our gentlemen liked being read to. I put on an audiobook by chance, that I had on my phone, and he loved it. You always find out new things about our service users to find different ways to brighten up their day.

I’ve learned so much from my colleagues here, they are all so experienced and highly skilled. For me, it was about looking at the different ways they approach things and finding the one that was right for me. There’s always someone there to support you if you are unsure about something or if you have any issues.

Working here has changed me. And it’s broadened my experience. When I pick up my radiography again, it will help me deal with service users with a learning disability and how to treat a carer. There are so many transferable skills, from the people skills to the empathy and perseverance needed.

To anyone thinking about a new career in care, give it a go. There are so many different types of care, which I don’t think people realise. And it’s so rewarding. Particularly with Learning Disability Care, there’s a preconception, almost a fear of what it might be like – and then you work somewhere like this, alongside all these incredible people and it’s just a fantastic privilege to help all these people we are lucky enough to care for every day.”

Andrea Atkinson, Registered Manager at Holcroft Road said, “Ben has been a real asset to the team here. He is lovely to work with and it’s like he’s always been here. He’s settled in so well.”

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I’m a Senior Support Worker, working across three schemes – High Mount, Barn Farm and Station Mews, supporting adults with Learning Disabilities from their early 20s to a chap in his late 80s.  So the care needs of the individuals we look after vary considerably – that’s what I love about my job.

A big part of my role is about making sure service users receive the care that they need and I manage any changes in their conditions. I also very involved in arranging activities – at the moment, I’m trying to help one gentleman to go fishing and help another attend agricultural college. It’s really satisfying to see people develop their confidence and do things independently.

The best thing, is seeing people develop the confidence to do things by themselves. When someone does something on their own, that they didn’t think they could do by themselves – they are really special moments. And I think the rapport that we have here with our service users is different to other places.

I think about some of our services users when they first arrived at High Mount, their independence was minimal. And then you look at them now, they cook for themselves, they have the confidence to write their own shopping lists and go out and shop and cook for themselves – it might only sound like a little thing, but it’s a massive step for them.

The team here are like a big family. I’ve received so much support personally as well as professionally and that means a lot.  We’re a close knit bunch and that support is important, because the level of care we provide can be hard, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

The post Sharon Marshall, Senior Support Worker appeared first on Choices.

We took five minutes to chat to Natalie who works at Cowley Way, providing residential support for adults with learning disabilities.

Q1.Tell us about your role at Choices?

A1. I’m a full-time support worker at Cowley Way in Bentilee, supporting eight gentlemen with learning difficulties.

Q2. What’s it like working for Choices?

A2. I absolutely love my job. To get up in the morning and look forward to your working day ahead. I am so lucky.

Q3. Tell us a little bit about yourself?

A3. I’m very outgoing and sociable but I do consider myself to be caring too.  I like to think I get my caring qualities and nature from my mum, she’s set such a fine example I’m so proud she’s my mum. She’s so supportive and selfless. If I’m half the mum she is one day I would be so  happy!

Q4. If you could jump on a plane to any destination, where would it be and why?

A4. Having just returned from New York, i’d love to go to LA. I love the American shopping Malls and amazing diners!

Q5. What was the last song you sang along to?

A5. Rita Ora and Liam Payne- For you!

Q6. What do you get up to in your spare time?

A6. I enjoy shopping of course, socialising and long walks with my dog, Bentley.

Q7. For anyone thinking about working at Choices, what would you say to them?

A7. If you enjoy helping people in their daily life tasks and you get a kick out of making somebody smile or laugh do it! It really is so rewarding and you get huge job satisfaction. I love it here at Choices.

The post Natalie Pemberton, Support worker, Cowley Way appeared first on Choices.

I started in 2016 as a Support Worker and in that time I progressed from an ‘acting’ senior position, to where I am now, a Senior Support Worker.

The training you get here is very thorough. And the great thing is it doesn’t feel classroom based, it feels very practical. In the last two years I’ve taken my Care Certificate, RQF level 2, several other specialist courses and I’m now taking my RQF Level 3. So I’ve really developed in a short space of time.

Being part of a bigger organisation like Choices also means the training gives you a broad insight into the different types of care that Choices provide as a whole.  You’re able to share experiences with colleagues who work in other areas, which is really helpful. Because of the diversity within the organisation, there are opportunities to work in different areas of care provision.

Retirement living is all about supporting people in different ways. We’re not there to take over, but to help people to live independently. I help people with their finances, their shopping, their medication, appointments – it’s different things for different people – it’s so rewarding.

The team here are great too. We’re all there for one another, to help and support and it works really well. I’ve just been speaking to one of our new starters and it’s great to be able help them settle in and improve and develop their skills.

The post Chelsey Roberts, Senior Support Worker, Elmwood appeared first on Choices.

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