‘I never intended to have a career in social care - but here I am 32 years later’
PENNY GRIFFITHS REFLECTS ON HER REWARDING CAREER AS SOCIAL CARE JOBS ARE AVAILABLE NOW WITH BRIDGEND COUNCIL
PENNY Griffiths sort of fell into a career caring for people, but, more than three decades on, is glad that it worked out that way.
But, more than that, she wants others to get the same rewards that she has got out of her work at what she calls home from home.
So, Penny is supporting Bridgend Council’s recruitment drive for social care workers, who, through training and qualifications, can open the door to career development.
It focuses on why a career in social care is a strong and rewarding choice and also includes a recruitment event in the centre of Bridgend.
FEEL GOOD FACTOR FROM HELPING OTHERS
Penny has been manager of Bryny-Cae care home in Brackla for six years, which represents a long way from the start of her 32-year career in social care when she entered the profession as a casual worker, with no intention to stay.
“I never intended to have a career in care, but it turned out to be the best move I’ve ever made,” she said. “I think being in a job which allows you to help others is incredibly rewarding. You have a chance to make a real difference to people’s lives, form strong relationships with the residents and your work colleagues, and have loads of fun along the way.
“I’ve worked with people who had relatives on the Titanic, have taken part in literacy workshops with Dylan Thomas, been founder members of the Welsh National Opera, been the parents of pop stars and famous business-people and fashion designers.
“Our older people have wonderful stories to tell and it’s been a privilege to hear them. I would recommend a career in care to anyone with a kind heart and an interest in others.”
Penny started off at Bryn-y-Cae and went on to work in other council and private care homes after clocking up a number of qualifications along the way.
She happily returned there to take overall charge of the dementia, frail and older people and rehabilitation units there.
“The nice bit of the job is helping residents directly,” she said. “You are talking to people so you’re in contact with people every day and their families, which is nice as well. “Care is a lovely job. People just think of the technical side of care, but they don’t think of the relationships you build and the difference you are making to people’s lives. It’s a home from home. You come into work but really you spend as much time at work as you do in the house sometimes.
“You have got the relationship with the residents and with other staff. So you are working as a close team, which is lovely as well. I have got visitors coming in here now that I knew as children, visiting their grandparents.”
Penny admitted that working through the pandemic, particularly in the early days, was “just unbelievable” with staff facing the unknown in the company of residents, and their anxious families waiting for news.
“I think with the training you get as carers, not just in the council, in the private sector as well, you are equipped to face the challenges that come up,” she said.
“If people really knew what care was about, and how rewarding it was, I think they would leap at the chance to do it. You can go to whatever level you really want with all the training that you can go through. I think if you look after people through life, you get that back. And it is so rewarding.”
CHECK OUT SOCIAL CARE JOBS AT BRIDGEND COUNCIL
ADVERTISER CONTENT
FROM BRIDGEND COUNCIL Bridgend Council has a number of vacancies on its website www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/ jobs/social-care-vacancies/
Posts include group manager of the three children’s social services locality hubs department, where the requirement is to provide strategic leadership and overall management.
There is a vacancy for a childcare worker on the Welsh Government’s Flying Start initiative, which supports pre-school children and their families.
Also needed is a social worker for the care experienced children’s team to achieve positive outcomes for children/young people and their families.
The authority is also after a senior practitioner for its kinship, care and permanence team, which works with Bridgend Foster Care to develop a range of services.
There are many more jobs available and potential candidates can also find out about them at a drop-in recruitment event in Bridgend town centre.
When: February 18, 11am-2pm Where: On the corner of Caroline Street and Adare Street
Social worker Leon Phillips is another taking part in the recruitment drive. He started out as a casual day services assistant as a ‘temporary stopgap’ – but 22 years later, and having progressed his career, hasn’t looked back.
“For someone who left school with minimal qualifications and believing I’d never have an opportunity to complete a degree, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities the authority has given me,” said Leon.
A REWARDING AND SATISFYING CAREER
Councillor Jane Gebbie, cabinet member for social services and early help, said: “It is no secret that the extreme pandemic pressures that we are continuing to operate under are having a significant impact on recruitment to the social care sector.
“That is why we hope that this next phase of our recruitment drive will reach as many potential candidates as possible. The campaign will build off the success and popularity of similar recruitment drives launched by Welsh Government and Adult Social Care and will include a heavy emphasis on why staff find working in social care to be both professionally and personally rewarding and satisfying.”
Visit the Bridgend Council website www.bridgend.gov.uk/my-council/ jobs/social-care-vacancies/ for a full list of social care vacancies.
Keep an eye out across Bridgend County Borough Council’s social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, in the coming weeks for more stories from those working in care.