Care Ambassadors in the West of England

Gemma, St Monica Trust

I am 23 years old and when I was at school I always dreamt of being a Solicitor for a successful law firm.  When I left school I joined a firm of Solicitors as an office junior and after six months the job was not what I was expecting so I decided this was not the area of work for me.

From looking in local newspapers I found so many jobs and career opportunities in the Health and Social Care Sectors.  Friends and Family persuaded me to try this area of work even though I wasn't keen on the idea due to the negative stereotypes.

I first applied to St Monica Trust back in 2003 as a Nursing Care Assistant for older people. I wasn't sure of this area of work so I asked my manager to throw me in at the deep end so I could get an idea if it was for me or not in a shorter space of time.  After my two week trial I was hooked and three and half years later I am still here!

In that time I have completed my NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care, I'm doing a mentoring in the workplace certificate and I am a Care Ambassador representing St Monica Trust.

Being a Care Ambassador has helped to engage and convey my enthusiasm for my job role more so than ever before.  It has also helped me to have more confidence in my-self, be more imaginative thinking and an active team player at work   

My work gives me a huge buzz, it's a challenge, there is huge versatility and it's very rewarding.  I get huge amounts of job satisfaction from providing someone with the best quality of life possible.  Of all the areas of work I have tried in my past I feel most valued and appreciated in my current role, not just by my employer and manager but also the service users I provide care and support for.

Chris, Brandon Trust

Ok a bit about myself, well I'm 20, a horticulturist and dyslexic. I went to Saint Mary Redcliffe school and left there with only two C grades at GCSE level. I then worked as a landscape gardener for about 2 years, then kind of fell in to social care. I now work at Elm Tree Nursery and I teach adults with learning difficulties about horticulture and conservation.

My job is one of the most amazing jobs in the world I get to work with amazing people, it also helps me learn, I get to do things that I love and I get to work outside which I could not live without. Working for the Brandon Trust is great because they help you build skills, they have put me on a teaching course, a RHS horticultural course and a writing course to hopefully stop my dyslexia getting in my way.

Another reason I love my job is because I'm surrounded by people who are full of knowledge and I want to learn so much more now than when I was at school

Angela, Bristol City Council

At school, my career advisor told me to write storybooks for children, and although I enjoyed writing stories, I did not have any notion of how to go about it.  Luckily for me, my mum was a Nursery Nurse and my Nan had been a Community Midwife, therefore I knew I wanted to go into some form of care work.  I applied for the Nursery Nurses College and Filton College (for a Care course, similar to a Health and Social Care course).  I got places in both but decided on the Care course as it gave me a chance to try different areas of Care and not just stick to Children.  I also did more GCSEs and A levels.

When I left school in 1980 my intention by then was to go to college, do the Care course and go to University to study as a Psychologist.  However, whilst at college I did placements working with children, elderly people and people with learning difficulties.  It was whilst on my placement with people with learning difficulties that I really loved that area of care work.

So, in 1983, instead of going to University, I trained as a Nurse specialising in people with learning difficulties, known as RN5.

When I qualified in 1986, I worked as a staff nurse (deputy manager) of a home for people with learning difficulties.  In 1989, I joined Bristol Social Services and worked in three different Resource and Activity centres for people with L/D as a senior and then a deputy manager.

Whilst in these positions I was always involved with staff development and Student placements so I trained to be an NVQ Assessor for NVQs Level two and three in Care.

In 1998, I became a Full-time NVQ Assessor for Bristol Social Services, for NVQs Level 2,3,4, and A1 Awards.  I later trained to be an Internal Verifier and Quality Assurer for Care qualifications.  Through the NVQ route I have seen many people who started working as a Care Assistant; complete the NVQ Level 2 in Care. Then get a job as a Senior Care Assistant or group worker, complete their NVQ 3 and eventually go onto be managers or specialist in a certain area and complete their NVQ 4.  Eventually some have completed their Registered Managers Award.

In 2005 I changed to working Full-time for Bristol City Council and I now work part-time for them as an Assessor/Internal Verifier.

Ian, Freeways Trust

Hi my name is Ian, I am an Assistant Manager at a residential care home for people with learning difficulties, working for Freeways Trust. I first learned about Freeways Trust through a friend and decided to give it a go part time whilst at university. I started as bank staff, filling in gaps sat various houses within the Trust. After one and a half years I decided, as I enjoyed the job, that I would like to be based at one house for more permanent hours. After leaving university I decided to go full time and after a further one and a half years I became a senior support worker.

I am very happy where I am at the moment, I am looking to move up the hierarchy within the residential setting into management. I don't have a long term goal, but there are lots of opportunities within social care so I know there will be something new and exciting to do.

My job is so unpredictable - no two days are the same. I love the fact that I work in my resident's home and that ia what it has become like for me too, my second  home! The people I support are so interesting, entertaining and diverse. The staff I work with are all part of a brilliant team and support each other in every aspect of our work.

"The thing I love most about my job is how much we (staff and residents) laugh!!"

Debbie, St Monica Trust

Hi, I'm Deb, when I left school i didn't have enough qualifications to go into nursing, so i started working in an office. 17 years and many office office qualifications later, my brother fell ill and i helped care for him when he was at home. I then decided decided to give nursing another go. I got a job at St Monica Trust as a nursing care assistant. I have been doing it for 18 months now and can honestly say this is the best job i have ever had.

"I find this job very rewarding and satisfying to know when i go home i have made a difference to someone else's life"

"I wish i had changed my career years ago!"

Beth, Wyvern Lodge

I began working as a support worker in a care home for the elderly in 1989. Feeling inspired I went on to complete my nurse training as a registered mental health nurse. Over the years, I have enjoyed a career working in Health care in hospitals, working mainly with adults experiencing acute psychiatric illnesses. I have also cared for Mothers and Babies at a specialist unit.

Since 2001 I have worked in social care as a manager of a residential care home for people experiencing enduring mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. The residents stay with us for about two years and follow a programme that supports them to more independent lifestyles. I am an N.V.Q assessor and trainer in health and social care.

"My job is great because I work with people from all backgrounds, am part of a brilliant team and I can be really creative in my work. I enjoy these things!"

Lin, Cleeve Court Nursing Home

Care Ambassador Lin Gill works for Cleeve Court Nursing Home in North Somerset as the Matron / Clinical Nursing Manager. She has been offered to visit China later on this year... here's what she has to say:

"Professor Shen Jianxin from China has recently visited our nursing home from Nanjing. He is the President of Sino Europe College and his interpreter Mei Tong works in England and owns Nursing Solutions Nursing Agency. As a Clinical Nurse Manager I will be using my Nursing background knowledge and will be will be going over to Nanjing to teach Pre Qualified Nursing Students eleven modules in their final University year. I will be helping them to use the English language with correct pronunciation and diction on these subjects as well.

I have 37 years of Nursing experience in the Nursing Profession and am always available for an informal chat about any queries carers or pre nursing students may have or young people searching for a career in Nursing. I am a Registered Nurse, Internal Verifier, Assessor, and Councellor. I have Senior experience in Intensive Care, Coronary care, and Renal Dialysis, and am very proud to now have become a Care Ambassador for North Somerset".