Career move’s my cup of tea Going into care work later in life has been great for Susanne
A west Stirlingshire care worker has been speaking of how rewarding she has found the job, which she came to later in life.
Susanne Heaney from Stirling, was looking for a change of career.
The 55-year-old had spent considerable time caring for a family member who became an amputee and had many new challenges in his life, and needed extra support to live independently, and she realised how rewarding it was to help other people.
That family experience was key to leading her to a new career in the care sector.
With the care sector experience across the UK experiencing a staffing crisis, the contribution of those working in the sector has become more important than ever.
“I wanted to make a real difference to other peoples’ lives,” she said. “Throughout Covid it has been difficult but I was delighted when I became a care worker with Cera in Forth Valley.
“Already after only a few weeks in the job, I can see what a massive difference
I am able to make to the quality of life of someone living at home independently who needs that bit of extra help. I know I have already made a difference.”
Susanne’s job involves her visiting several different people across rural Stirling on a daily basis to provide personal care and help with medication and companionship. She is one of a big team of care workers in Forth Valley, which is just one of 12 teams across Scotland providing this care in local areas.
“One lady I care for on a daily basis is aged 99. The joy in the job is being able to support her and deliver a better quality of life, which means I enjoy getting up in the morning to go to work no matter the time or the weather.
“Last week we had members of staff in the team off sick, and I was covering for a colleague. I met a man in his 60s with learning difficulties. We chatted about his passion for football – because his home is full of memorabilia. It got us talking.
“It turns out he hasn’t been to a match since 1982 - so we are going to do something about that. I have been chatting with my line manager about how we can get him safely to a match with support.”
You can’t get paid for the look on someone’s face when you cheer them up on a daily basis Susanne Heaney
“You can’t get paid for the look on someone’s face when you cheer them up on a daily basis, or provide the extra help they need to live independently in their own homes.
“Giving your time for this is one of the most important things in life, I believe,” said Susanne.
“Another lady I care for was a bit confused about the timings of the visits of her carers, but we sorted that out. I was able to help her get her hair done – our work is in personal care and medication. She was over the moon that I was able to help her in this way, and it meant a great deal to her.
“This is a great company to work for – they gave me full training when I started as I am new to the care sector. That involved being trained on a one to one basis, with trainer Angela, at head office in Alloa and work shadowing with experienced colleagues till I was ready to go it alone.”
She added: “It’s a secure job where so many carers are needed just now.”
Before joining Cera, Susanne had a career in the great outdoors working with horses, and in farming.
She worked for the GB Dressage team and later as a farm manager – where she was responsible for 400 sheep and lambing.
“When I left school I joined a horse racing team, and since then worked with horses for many, many years.
“Now that I work in the care sector, I realise how important it is to listen, to give someone your time and your attention. I believe that communications are such an important part of our caring duties.
“You cannot rush someone aged 99, you have to take your time.”
One of the most touching things someone said to me in this new job was “the kindness that you show can be seen by the blind, and heard by the deaf.”