Carer of the year
Following a 100% attendance record for the year and a host of glowing references, Steff Perkins was named the Caremark Mansfield and Ashfield carer of the year for 2024.
The award citation described her as: “an incredibly reliable and honest care assistant, making a positive impact on everyone around her.”
High praise indeed, though you won’t find Steff shouting it from the rooftops.
“It was lovely to win the award but I don’t really talk about it, I always think pride comes before a fall,” said Steff.
Steff hasn’t always worked in the care sector. After leaving college she worked for many years in a series of office jobs before deciding to switch.
“It was circumstances really, I needed a job to allow me to earn but with the flexibility of hours so I could be there for my two children,” said Steff.
Caring runs in the family with a number of relatives working in the sector – but Steff still needed a little push from her mum, who trained as a nurse.
“Looking back, I think she used a bit of reverse psychology on me.” said Steff. “When a friend showed me the advert, I wasn’t sure and mum suggested I might not be able to do it, I thought I’d show her and here I am 23 years later.”
Steff believes the key to being a good carer is to be empathetic whilst encouraging clients to do as much as they can for themselves and so support independence.
“Often people just need a little encouragement,” she said. “Just a little at a time, make a cup of tea, wash their face unaided, take a few steps, it’s amazing how it builds up and the progress people can make.”
Outside of work Steff believes variety is the spice of life and she enjoys an eclectic taste in music, theatre, film and cooking. She’s not one for foreign holidays, preferring trips to the beaches of the East Coast.
Steff believes patience and a good sense of humour are important attributes for the job, and that humour comes through when asked for any advice on achieving 100% attendance.
“That’s easy, only be ill when you’re off,” she says.