Carer stories

Reablement

Valentin, Reablement Support Worker

Before working in care, I used to work as a supervisor in a car detailing business, managing three sites. It was a very stressful job which involved lots of travelling and long hours. A friend suggested I tried care work, so I looked into it and found a job as a Community Care Assistant which involved personal care, feeding, giving meds, taking people shopping etc. When I relocated to Northampton, I joined West Northants Council in the Reablement Service.

It’s a very nice job, I am working with individuals coming out of hospitals and try to help them become more independent. I see the person initially unable to do anything for themselves, slowly you show them and help them to become independent – it’s the best thing, it’s what I love most about the job – it’s very rewarding and makes a big difference to their lives.

When I first joined Reablement, I did a lot of shadowing after my training, I wanted to be the best. My colleagues were very supportive when I was shadowing and always there if I struggled. I mostly work by myself but sometimes go out with colleagues for double calls when two Reablement Workers are required. I visit people in their own homes, when they’re discharged from hospital and do initial assessments, then keep visiting to support them until they’re able to be independent again or they have a care package in place if that isn’t possible. I’m currently getting training to enable me to progress in my career with West Northants Council. I would love to be a Team Leader or Manager one day and am also studying about dementia awareness as I’m really interested in it.

Trevor, Reablement Support Worker

Everyone is very friendly, and the level of training and support is excellent.

I ran a business for many years, and when that stopped a friend suggested I’d make a good care worker! I first joined a care provider who supported young people with autism which I thoroughly enjoyed, then worked in a care home and supported living before joining West Northants Council in Reablement. Everyone is very friendly, and the level of training and support is excellent. I noticed straight away that the service is excellent and very thorough.

I’ve been with Reablement for three and a half years, it’s a very supportive environment and I feel like I fit in. I hope to put a smile on my client’s face, they make me feel welcome and I look forward to seeing them. Everybody still has a life, I enjoy hearing about their stories, it can make the clients feel happy – it’s good for them to have someone to talk to, and it’s nice to do something for the greater good.”

Career pathways in Adult Services

Kerry, Registered Manager, Reablement West

I’m learning all the time.

I joined West Northants Council (or Olympus Care Services as it was then) in 2013, and had been working in a day centre for adults with learning disabilities before that. I’d never worked with the elderly until Olympus Care Services, but it was really important to me to join a service that offered really good training and induction. I was given training to become a Reablement Support Worker and did that job for three years, which felt like a really good amount of time as gave me a good grounding in the service. The role was varied and in addition to the Reablement Support work, I was also able to gain experience of office work and contact with hospitals and learned different skills within pilot schemes that the service was involved with. In 2016, I became supervisor! I was encouraged to apply by my manager and got the job. I was given training for the supervisor role, an induction to the new job, a lot of mentoring from other supervisors within the team and some specific courses at supervisory level training. This along with the previous experience I’d had as a RSW helped me to feel confident in the role. We had annual appraisals as well as regular supervisions. Supervisions were a new thing for me when I joined, and we had them as a RSWs as well. They are a chance for you and your line manager to talk about your development, any concerns you have, any training you’d like and the service – what’s happening within it and within your own role.

After some time off for maternity leave, I returned to my Supervisor position and continued to develop and learn within the team. A short while later I was interviewed for a Team Leader position and was successful, I was supported by my manager and another Team Leader too, so it was an easy transition. In 2020, I became a became Registered Manager. Again, I felt really well-supported by my line manager; my line manager is always really supportive, and I can always go to her. The role has its challenges, but I have support from other Service Managers and HR colleagues, I can always go to HR for advice, they’re really helpful.

When I joined as a RSW, I knew I wanted to progress, but I hadn’t expected it to happen within the same team, which is a bonus! I’m learning all the time; the other Managers support me as many have had a lot of experience. I have a lot of respect for my team, and I am glad that I can support them as their manager. The teams do a really important job, and it feels good to be part of it.

There’s definitely career progression available within the service, as the service and the council are always evolving. It’s about being in a team that makes you happy and in the social care profession, there are always challenges but there are also some real benefits to working in the sector - namely a sense of fulfilment. For Reablement West, the team is unlike any other care service because we are actively helping people be as independent as they can so they can leave our support. It’s about thinking outside of the box and coming up with creative ways to help people to manage for themselves. That is one of the best and most rewarding things about being in reablement. And we see new people all the time as we’re supporting them through a time when they need help to become independent again.

If the stories above have inspired you to want to work in the caring profession, register your interest at Be a care worker.

Last updated 13 September 2024