Put to good use

People join the care sector from a range of other professions and often find the skills they have learned in previous jobs can be put to good use.

After leaving college Annie May Brook worked in mobile make-up and in a warehouse before making the switch to care three years ago. She joined the home care support team at Caremark Mansfield and Ashfield last year.

“When I left school I was very shy and working in a warehouse with people from different cultures and backgrounds brought me out of my shell, I learned how to communicate with people and get along as a team and that has proved very useful in this job,” said Annie May.

Meanwhile, her make-up skills have also proved popular with clients.

“After the work has been done and we have some time I might paint some nails or plait hair,” she said. “They really like that, it relaxes people, brings a smile to their face and we can have a good talk whilst doing it.”

 There is also a personal reason why Annie May, 23, finds she is at home in the care sector.

“My grandfather Bob had dementia and I used to help look after him up to his death last year and I think of him when I am working now,” she said. “Helping people in poor health is very rewarding and it makes you realise how fortunate you are, we will all need a little help at some stage.”

Annie May hopes to take advantage of the Caremark training programme that allows carers to study for health and social care qualifications whilst working.

“You have to keep moving and I’ve had three years experience now so I’d like to progress my career,” she said.

The flexibility of hours offered by Caremark means Annie May can fund her passion outside of work – foreign travel.

“I enjoy my job and I can work up to 60 hours some weeks which is good because travelling can be expensive,” she said. “I’ve been to Monaco, Italy, Turkey and Benidorm in the last year and I’d really like to go to Jamaica next.”