What's a typical day for you?
There really is no such thing! I support eight people with various levels of learning disabilities. Some live on their own, some in shared houses, and some in residential care homes. There are too many things to list in a typical day but it's all about supporting people to do the everyday things we all have to do, as well the things they choose to do. Everything from supporting someone to have a bath, through to ordering a drink down the pub!
What do you enjoy about your job?
The day-to-day support is important; things like helping with cleaning, cooking, and medication. But I also really love thinking about and planning new things for the people I support to do – that's really rewarding. My colleague and I recently organised an overnight trip to Legoland for a lady we support; it was a fantastic trip and brilliant for her and we were just so pleased at how it all went.
What did you do before becoming a support worker?
I was a nanny working with young children.
What's the training like at Brandon?
The training is very good and informative. It's a mix of face-to-face and online. There's always the opportunity to apply for a team leader role but for now I'm happy where I am; the staff team is fantastic, and I have great relationships with the people I support.
Busy. Varied. Challenging. Fun!
Vicki
What would you say to someone who's considering becoming a support worker?
If you're a motivated person, and someone who enjoys a varied and sometimes chaotic environment, then go for it! It'll keep you busy and there are lots of people who need our support.
And lastly… What four words would you use to describe your job?
