Enjoying the best of both worlds
When Darlein Chandra arrived in the UK from Fiji to undertake a Masters’ degree, she was not expecting to showcase her natural talent for caring for others but thankfully for her, and Caremark Kirklees, she is now enjoying the best of both worlds.
Darlein is working for us around her studies in Huddersfield and has quickly had a positive impact on both customers and colleagues.
Before coming to West Yorkshire, Darlein worked for a statutory government organisation in Fiji, dealing with complex consumer matters and merger and acquisition cases. A qualified lawyer, she moved to the UK to pursue her Masters’ degree in Corporate and Commercial Law at the University of Huddersfield.
“I genuinely enjoy the work I do!
A close friend in New Zealand who works in care suggested it would be something she would be good at because of her own personal experience caring for her grandmother in Fiji.
“Caring for her through the final stages of cancer was a defining experience that deepened my understanding of the emotional, physical, and practical realities of caregiving, shaping both my character and my commitment to supporting others,” she explains.
“It showed me the profound impact of compassionate caring during a person’s most vulnerable moments and truly opened my eyes to the meaning and value of caregiving,” she explains.
“I came to UK and joined Caremark shortly after, and I now feel I have the best of both worlds. I am able to earn an income while continuing my studies, and I genuinely enjoy the work I do.”
Pursuing a career in care would have been a natural and fulfilling path
Starting out was not without its nerves for Darlein, as many carers discover.
Recalling her first solo visit after completing shadowing, she says: “walking into someone’s home for the first time is difficult to describe, but I have learned that it is essential for me to present myself with confidence so the individual feels at ease and assured that I am fully capable of supporting them.
“I am beginning to feel that doing Law, I may be studying to enter the wrong profession at present, and that pursuing a career in care earlier would have been a more natural and fulfilling path for me!”
Darlein says one of the standout aspects of her experience has been the supportive culture at Caremark Kirklees.
“When I first started, the management did not feel like distant authority figures, but rather approachable leaders who created a supportive and collaborative environment,” she adds.
“They came across as grounded individuals who genuinely cared about the people working for them.
“Even now, if I contact Fiona to raise a concern, she responds immediately by saying she will speak with Duncan, and they discuss the matter further; they are consistently willing to engage and offer support.”
Keeping her future career options open
With her parents already living in Huddersfield, the settling in process has been made easier for Darlein and outside of work and university, she enjoys reading and hiking. She even hopes to introduce team‑bonding activities at Caremark, something she organised regularly back home.
Her Masters’ degree finishes in September, with graduation in November. Though she once imagined moving straight into a legal career, she is now keeping her options open.
“Even though becoming a lawyer has always been my long-term ambition and it may still be the path I pursue, I no longer feel the need to rush towards it,” she adds.
About Caremark Kirklees
As Darlein is discovering, you can get the best of both worlds with the flexibility working at Caremark Kirklees gives you, so to find out more please call us today on 01484 211281 or view our latest home care vacancies in Kirklees.