Return to home care

Flexibility of hours on offer at Caremark Mansfield and Ashfield allowed Charlotte Hardy to return to home care support after having her first child and build her shifts around his needs.

Charlotte had been working for another care company but decided to take a career break after suffering two miscarriages.

When baby Thomas arrived in 2023 she was able to arrange hours to suit her new mum status and now she finishes at 2pm so she can spend afternoons with her toddler son.

“I love my work, getting out into the community and helping people, however my world revolves around Thomas and the shifts on offer means I can strike that balance,” said Charlotte.

At school there were two careers Charlotte was interested in. Caring and the Infantry.

“Unfortunately, I am asthmatic so the military was out but fortunately care was an option,” she said.

As a teenager Charlotte had helped to care for her grandmother who had a number of  health issues and was showing early signs of dementia.

“The difference you can make in being there for someone, making their final months as comfortable as possible had a deep impact on me,” said Charlotte. “I decided I wanted to do that for other people who perhaps didn’t have a family.” 

Charlotte, 37, says it can be tough when a client dies but being able to cope with that is an important aspect of the job.

“You have become friends so it is a blow but there are people in the office you can talk to if you need that support,” said Charlotte. “All we can do is try to make life as comfortable as possible for clients when they are with us.”