A great career starts here
Every day across Scotland more than 2,000 people are supported by Carr Gomm ‘to live their lives safely and well according to their choices, whilst making plans to achieve their hopes and dreams for tomorrow’. And you can be part of this vision with Carr Gomm, one of Scotland’s leading social care and support charities. As employers Carr Gomm will help you develop your career as a professional support practitioner registered with the Scottish Social Services Council. A unique and rewarding working life for people from all walks of life and interests starts here
Jane Bruce is Carr Gomm’s service manager for home care based in Oban.
It is Jane’s job to oversee service provision, working with supported people, their families, social work department and her own staff to create the right package to meet each individual’s needs. One thing Jane emphasises is Carr Gomm’s ‘personcentred’ approach. ‘The philosophy of Carr Gomm is that we like to see everyone as unique. We work with people not for them – we help them to continue with their normal life,’ she said. Part of that skill is creating the right package of care and matching the right member of staff to each supported person.
‘I am responsible for making sure people are supported and that includes our staff as well. The majority of our work is commissioned by the social work department; we have a very close working relationship with them. Logistics play a major role in my work.’ For people considering using the Carr Gomm service, Jane says: ‘I would tell them we are here to do whatever you need us to do and we are not here to take over or tell them what to do.’
Jane also believes passionately that the role of the carer is not recognised enough – either by society or by people looking for a career where they can make a difference.
‘We have a great bunch of staff here in Oban and they do not get the recognition from the public that their skills
and dedication deserve. That oversight also stops people thinking of caring as a career.
‘Caring and supporting people in the community is a great choice of career and a lot of young people do not realise they can create a well-developed career with qualifications for themselves.
‘I would stress that caring is a career path as well and working with people is a first step not only in a career in care but can be a first step to pursuing a nursing career and many other similar professions.’ When Jane is not at work you will find her playing euphonium with Lochgelly Brass Band in Fife, training at wado-ryu karate, where she holds a third dan or just enjoying riding her motorcycle. Just as Carr Gomm believes that each person it supports is unique, it also believes its staff are. Carr Gomm people come from all works of life and this blend of people, their outlook and interests at different stages of their working life plays a key role in the Carr Gomm success story.
‘That is why I believe so passionately that people looking for a rewarding career where they can make a difference should always think about joining us,’ said Jane.
Rewarding, challenging and a chance to learn more Men play a vital role in homecare at Carr Gomm
When Robert Glancy’s first shift with Carr Gomm ended he knew that this was where his future lay.
Many people in Dunoon will know Robert not only from his work with Carr Gomm but when he worked for the wellknown Rae’s Fruiterer and Florist.
‘When Rae’s closed I then applied for a job with Carr Gomm after talking to a friend who already worked there.
‘I was unsure about entering this area of work having never worked in anything similar before, but decided that it was time to try something different,’ he said.
‘I didn’t know if I would like or be able to do the job as it was so different to any jobs I have had in the past. ‘However, after my first shift I knew that this was a career that I would like to pursue further.
‘I started with Carr Gomm as a relief support assistant on the overnight response team on part-time hours with shifts from 11pm to 7am with planned visits to supported people and also responding to personal alarm callouts.’ Alarm callouts could be for a multitude of reasons ranging from falls to false alarms, covering a large area including Dunoon, Toward, Ardentinny, Strachur, Colintraive and Tighnabruaich. Robert requested fulltime hours and his manager suggested that he may like to try some homecare shifts.
‘For a while I worked between the two services, but found that I enjoyed homecare more as it was more involved with the supported people and you got to know them better,’ he said.
In October 2018 Robert started a full-time contract as a support practitioner with the homecare service.
‘I have found working on the homecare service to be both rewarding and challenging.
‘You have the chance to get to know the supported people better, about them and their lives and what they like and dislike.
‘It is also a challenging job at times especially if the client takes unwell, but being able to help and support them is a reward in itself and at times bringing a smile to someone’s face is a great feeling.
‘There can be times of sadness in this job but there can also be times of uncontrollable laughter with supported people who have a great sense of humour.
‘Carr Gomm has helped me develop in the job and I have attended several training courses including moving and handling, first aid, and medication training.
There is also a company online training programme which employees are encouraged to complete that covers a wide range of topics. ‘I would definitely recommend working in the social care sector and my advice to anyone thinking of working in this field would be ‘give it a go’.’
A good choice for your carer and your career
Tony Dalton is one of the people who has support from Carr Gomm in the Oban area.
A retired Royal Navy officer and author he has Motor Neurone Disease and, after 43 years in Dalavich, he moved to Oban into a specially adapted house.
He said: ‘I’ve had Motor Neurone Disease for more than 30 years but when I needed more help, I moved to Oban and a purpose-built, housing association, wheelchairfriendly house.
‘Carr Gomm gets me up in the morning, which takes about two hours; they and another care company enable me to live as independently as possible. ‘They do a brilliant job; they should be very proud of themselves it must be a very rewarding job.’ After years of meeting and coming to know Carr Gomm staff and the company’s ethos, Tony would recommend a career with them.
‘It is an excellent career and they train with SVQ and do college courses. ‘It would give a young person a great deal of confidence – being trained and talking to people.’
And as for the service itself, Tony has no hesitation in recommending it: ‘People might be a bit concerned about their personal privacy; I was in the Navy so had no concerns but I try to put myself in their shoes. ‘I would tell them that they should have nothing to worry about; all the carers are sympathetic and not intrusive into your personal space.’
‘The work can be hard, but it is so rewarding, and I feel that I have gained such a lot from the wide variety of people I have met. ‘I would like to encourage more men to try this type of work; after all there are as many males requiring support as females and the men can appreciate talking to another man.’
- Robert Glancy, Dunoon
‘Caring and supporting is not just a job. The thing I enjoy most about using Carr Gomm is that the staff are helpful, cheerful, respect my wishes and make time to ensure everything is in place before they leave.