“I needed to get back where I belonged: care”

Sarah Kerrison, 35, had always wanted to become a nurse after being inspired by the way a district nurse cared for her grandad, who had motor neurone disease. However, she struggled with dyslexia and the lack of support from the university made it difficult for her to pursue a nursing career. Sarah then decided to join Caremark Redcar and Cleveland as a care support worker, which she enjoyed for three years before moving to Dubai to work in HR and admin.

After being hospitalised for severe migraines, Sarah decided it was time to return home and get the care she needed. It was while she was being treated in the hospital that she was reminded of the compassion she had for others. Witnessing a fellow patient being left unattended with her food, Sarah got up and helped her eat it.

“I was heavily sedated but almost on auto-pilot I got up, cut up the food for the lady and sat there helping her eat it. That made me realise I needed to get back where I belonged,” Sarah said.

She was drawn back to Caremark, the only company she wanted to work for. Sarah currently works nights, helping people get ready for bed and providing assistance throughout the night as needed. Caremark offers flexible hours, which suits Sarah as she enjoys walking her two dogs during the day.

Although technology has improved, Sarah believes that the core values of care support remain the same, such as being patient, compassionate, and empathetic. The most important thing, she says, is to be non-judgmental and make people as comfortable as possible in any situation.