Five years ago, I started in housekeeping at a care home. I wasn’t sure where it would take me, but I knew I wanted to work with people — to be around them, support them, and maybe make a bit of a difference. What I didn’t realise at the time was just how much that decision would shape who I am today.
Not long after starting, I moved into a carer role on a dementia unit. I spent two years there, hands-on every day, and it opened my eyes. Working in a care home is intense. You see it all — the good days, the hard days, the challenging behaviours, the quiet moments. We had about twenty residents, five of us on shift. Seven were bed-bound. Five needed full assistance with meals. Others wandered or became distressed. Some were aggressive. We were exhausted — physically, emotionally — and I remember thinking: who’s looking out for the carers?
Don’t get me wrong, I learned a lot in that role. But support was scarce. I knew there had to be another way to care — one where you weren’t constantly fire-fighting, where person-centred care wasn’t just a buzzword, and where staff wellbeing was taken seriously too.
That’s when I found Home Instead. Joining was like stepping into a completely different world.
I started in scheduling — matching carers with clients, sorting rotas, making sure everything ran smoothly. It was less hands-on, but I quickly realised just how much influence I still had. If I got the pairings right, the support right, the timings right — it made a massive difference to everyone. From there, I became a care manager, going out to complete assessments, making sure we were delivering the kind of care people truly needed — personalised, safe, and kind.
Now I manage a team. I work behind the scenes to ensure the carers have everything they need. And even though I’m not the one physically walking through the door anymore, I know I’m part of every smile, every sigh of relief, every family who breathes a little easier because someone’s shown up and done their job with compassion.
My motivation has changed over the years. When I first started, honestly, it was just a job. Something I could do. But the more I learned, the more it became about responsibility — about getting it right for people who really need us. It’s about compliance, yes, but also about humanity. I want to keep growing, keep improving, and help others do the same.
And I really love what I do. I wake up and I want to come to work. That’s not something everyone can say, and I don’t take it for granted.
One of the best things about being here is the sense of community. We’ve started sponsoring charities, running bake sales, hosting events — not because we have to, but because we want to. Steph, our manager, makes sure we’re out in the community, doing more than just showing up for care calls. It feels good to be part of something that has a wider reach.
I’ve also been shaped by my mum. She was out there on the frontlines during COVID, caring for people day in, day out. Now, she works here too, and yes — we’ve got a much better relationship because of it! We understand each other in a whole new way. We even teach each other things now, which I never thought I’d say.
I still remember one particular lady from my care home days. She didn’t have any children, and she could be quite aggressive — understandably, given everything she was going through. But for whatever reason, she took a liking to me. Trusted me. So whenever something tricky needed doing — personal care, medication, support — they’d call me in. And we made it work. That bond still stays with me. It reminded me that beneath everything — confusion, frustration, illness — there’s still a person there. And they remember how you made them feel.
This work has changed me. I’m more patient. I’m more confident. I used to be quieter, kept to myself. But care brings you out of your shell. It makes you step up. These days, I can sit down and have a conversation with anyone. That’s thanks to care.
I’ve learned so many skills — safeguarding, person-centred planning, compliance, management, communication. I’ve done weight management courses, completed loads of training, and I’m now studying for my Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care. Eventually, I’d love to be a registered manager. That’s the goal.
And yes — I absolutely see myself continuing in this field. No doubt about it. Not just because I love it, but because I believe in it.
If someone else was thinking about going into care — whether in a role like mine or as a volunteer at a memory café — I’d say this: Be kind. Be patient. Be real. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not a nine-to-five. But it’s worth it. You get to walk into someone’s life and make it better. That’s not something most jobs can offer.
Working for Home Instead feels like being part of a family. And that’s what care should be — not just tasks, but connection. I don’t just believe in what we do. I’m proud of it.
