Making a difference in people’s lives
For Rowena Hobson, joining Caremark Doncaster has marked the beginning of a new chapter — one shaped by family, flexibility and a genuine desire to make a difference in people’s lives.
Rowena came to care having spent 15 years working in IT at Rolls-Royce. It was a very different environment from home care, but when her youngest son was diagnosed with autism, Rowena’s priorities changed. She stepped away from full-time work so she could care for him, and over time began to recognise that the skills she used every day as a parent and carer could also help others.
Although Rowena had enjoyed her previous role, caring responsibilities at home meant the traditional nine-to-five working pattern was no longer practical. She began taking training courses in autism and related areas, building on her own lived experience and discovering how much she valued the chance to support people directly.
That combination of practical experience, compassion and confidence with people made care feel like a natural next step. The challenge was finding a role that could fit around family life.
“I’ve always been able to speak to anyone. I’ve always got on with people and liked making a difference to people’s lives,” she says.
Finding flexibility with Caremark Doncaster
Before joining Caremark Doncaster in April 2026, Rowena explored several care roles, including support work with adults with autism. However, many providers required 12-hour shifts, which simply did not work with her caring responsibilities at home.
Caremark Doncaster offered Rowena something different: a contract and working pattern that could adapt to her availability. During the school holidays, that has meant weekends and evenings; from September, she expects to be able to offer daytime availability too, while still keeping hours manageable around her family.
Rowena adds: “Caremark Doncaster offered the flexibility I needed. It meant I could do work that matters while still being there for my family.”
For Rowena, the role is not only about earning an income. It also gives her time outside the house, contact with other people and a sense of purpose beyond her own caring responsibilities.
“Even if it’s five or six hours a week, it helps me. I think it works both ways,” she says.
Bringing life experience to care
Starting work in home care can feel daunting, especially when visiting someone’s home for the first time. Rowena says Caremark Doncaster’s preparation and shadowing shifts helped her feel ready, while her own life experience meant she was comfortable adapting to new people and new situations.
She understands that some customers may feel uncertain when they meet a new care assistant, particularly if they are used to familiar faces. Her approach is calm, friendly and practical: listen, follow the care plan, get to know the person and help them feel at ease.
That warmth and ease with people are qualities that make a real difference in care. For customers, a visit is not just about practical support; it can also be an important moment of companionship, reassurance and human connection.
“I’ll get on with anyone. I can sit on a bus and someone is guaranteed to sit next to me and start chatting,” says Rowena.
Outside work, Rowena’s life is centred around her family and the countryside. She lives near Retford with her children, including her eldest child, who is 15, and her younger son. The family moved from Derby three years ago so Rowena could keep her horses at home on a smallholding.
Horses have always been part of Rowena’s life, and they remain an important source of balance. She describes spending time with them as her own form of therapy — a chance to reset, recharge and take a breath.
“The horses are my therapy. They give me that time to reset and recharge,” she says.
About Caremark Doncaster
If you are looking to make a difference and want a job with more flexibility like Rowena, please view our home care jobs in Doncaster or call today on 01302 201392.