The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
A job where you make a difference
As we get older, we all have our own specific care and support needs. The team at Balhousie Care Group is passionate about delivering the highest-quality care and support to residents, ensuring that homes really are a ‘home from home’.
When Claire Livie first joined Balhousie Care five years ago as an entry-level care assistant, she was looking for some nursing experience. Now she is reaching management level and is devoted to the job.
Claire says: “I’d been working in admin but thought, ‘do I really want to be doing this for 20 years?’ I’d always been interested in nursing – maybe midwifery – so I joined Clement Park in Lochee and I’ve never looked back.
“We have 49 residents, there are both day and night shifts, and shifts are 12 hours long – but some are flexible, too.
“When I first got here I didn’t know much about the care sector but now I love it. The people I get to look after are lovely; I’ve got supportive colleagues and a management that encourages me to develop and progress.
“It can be intense and you have to work hard and devote some of your free time to training, too.
“You have to be a complete person – able to build relationships not only with the residents but their GPs and your colleagues in the NHS.”
She goes on: “As you can imagine, there are times which can be difficult to deal with. We get to know folks and care for them, you build up a rapport and a bond and then one day you have to say goodbye. So it can be hard.
“But there are hundreds of positives. Day to day, it’s an absolute joy, working here, and I go home after a shift with a feeling of complete job satisfaction.”
An entry-level care assistant will get the Scottish Living Wage for care staff but, with the necessary effort, workers can flourish in this sector. As qualifications increase, so does the pay.
This is also a sector in which human qualities are paramount. Care workers don’t just look after people, they build bonds with the families, too.
“Every time the family comes to visit we have a proper sit-down and I’ll keep them updated on their relative; it’s a reassurance as much as anything,” Claire explains.
“If I’d gone to university, I’d only be doing real work about now. As it is, I’ve been making a difference for five years.”
Balhousie Care Group is always looking for an array of staff members at its various homes across the country: domestics, cooks, carers, administration staff and nurses.
There is everything from entry-level roles to management positions on offer. There’s regular on-site and external training to ensure all staff are skilled in care and support.
The group is committed to delivering person-centred care and looks for individuals who are naturally caring, inspiring and passionate people.
“Making a difference in someone’s life and creating great moments in their day is the best reward,” states the company.
Search balhousiecare.co.uk to learn more about jobs.