(PerCurra)   Hi Erica, thank you for talking to us about your role in PerCurra’s Grantham branch and why you love working in the care sector. When did you join PerCurra?

(Erica)  I was one of the first staff members at the Grantham branch, so that was early in 2019.

So you have seen the company grow over that time. Was this your first care role?

No, I have mainly worked in jobs that involve care. I work part-time for PerCurra and also work for a non-profit charity called Adults supporting Adults (ASA). I have worked for them for 23 years and currently do about 12 hours a week. Before the pandemic I ran clubs for the elderly but they haven’t restarted. Now I work with people with dementia and I really enjoy it.

I joined ASA when my mother was diagnosed with dementia. I wanted to understand the condition more and learn coping mechanisms. Also, when you are caring for someone with dementia you need to find some time for yourself. It can feel overwhelming. Going shopping on your own or getting your hair done can help.

Tell us more about why you work in the care sector.

When I was 18 I knew I wanted to work in a caring profession and I started training as a State Registered Nurse. Half-way through my training I realised how much responsibility that job entails. I panicked and left. I went to work in an admin job for the Passport Office for three months but found it boring so went back to Peterborough hospital to look for a job.

I worked in the Child Development Unit and then moved to the orthopaedic ward where I worked nights for ten years. Of course that meant I had very little social life so I left and worked as a manageress of a decorating shop. It was totally different. I then got married and started a family. When the children went to school I went back to work, on nights, as a care assistant in a nursing home.

Wow, you really do have a great deal of experience. Working at two part-time jobs do you still find time for hobbies?

I love crafts and did crafting at the groups for the elderly I used to run. I found simple but really nice things for them to create. In my own time I like to knit, crochet and draw. I love gardening and really enjoy visiting National Trust properties.

When you are visiting PerCurra clients, what do you do for them and with them?

I visit the same clients and I really like the fact that Percurra keep continuity and that carers get to know people’s likes and interests. It’s great that Percurra recognise that social interaction is as important as the physical tasks we do for people.

One of my clients is a gentleman who I take out and about. I make sure these trips target his interests. For instance, he likes going out for tea and coffee and visiting National Trust gardens. I also take him shopping for his groceries. He chooses the food and vegetables he wants and then I will batch cook for him so he has a range of home-cooked meals. He suggests the meals he would like.

So you really are helping him to ‘live his life, his way’?

Yes, absolutely. I love the fact that PerCurra’s minimum visit time is one hour. It gives us time to get to know people and enable them to do the things they want. I visit a lady who was recently bereaved. Half the session is doing tasks she needs and the rest is talking – she likes to talk about her late husband and the things they did. It’s very therapeutic for her.

What other things are important to bear in mind when you are caring for someone in their own home?

First and foremost, always be respectful. You should treat a client with the same care and respect as one of your own family. I would also say that it’s important to try and do things the way a clients wants. I’m mindful that I use cleaning products that the client likes to use. You need to be aware of scents they like, for example lemon or lavender.

What are the best aspects of your job?

Being able to leave someone’s home knowing you have done your very best to make their day better and give them some quality back in their life. Whether they are lonely or they need things doing for them. All this gives you a sense of achievement.

Can you think of any stand-out moments?

It’s difficult to think of any one thing. It’s often the little things you do that can make such a big difference to the person you are providing support to. For instance, painting a garden bench, finding a tailor to alter someone’s clothes so they fit, moving a garden poly-tunnel, making a herb garden, putting up an outdoor clock so a client doesn’t lost track of time when they are in the garden.

What are the challenges when working as a professional carer?

The hours. You need to recognise the fact that you can’t take a day off at a minute’s notice. You need to plan. You may have to work unsociable hours. You can’t always take bank holidays off or Christmas or New Year. Be very realistic about the type of work – it could involve cleaning up wee, poo or vomit. You may go into someone’s house when they start having care support and they may have had a problem keeping things up together. You have to accept that they may not have been able to keep on top of things. You need some empathy and understanding. You can’t go in and say ‘this is dirty’ - go gently and improve things over time. Be respectful. Get their permission to do things. Be mindful of having consent as it’s their home.

But, even with the occasional challenges, would you still recommend care work to someone who is interested in it?

Yes, absolutely! The payback is being able to make a difference in people’s lives, whether physically, mentally or provide companionship. You can encourage clients to enjoy life and help them pick up interests they didn’t think they could do anymore. You can give them back a sense of purpose and achievement. Self-worth is important to all of us.