Find your true calling in home care
It can take a surprising turn of events to find your true calling and for Clare Davey tripping over a dog turned into a lucky break. Before joining Caremark Redcar and Cleveland, Clare ran a company offering massage, reiki, reflexology and aromatherapy. But for Clare this was severely curtailed when cocker spaniel Nelly send her crashing to the floor suffering a broken wrist and ongoing nerve issues.
Facing financial uncertainty, Clare took the advice of a good friend who worked at Caremark. She applied for a role in home care support and hasn’t looked back.
“I’ve always worked in people focussed roles whether that’s as a hairdresser, mental health practitioner or therapist,” said Clare. “I needed an income so I thought I would try caring.”
With her wrist healing Clare is now able to work two days a week in her own business. Bespoke Holistics and three days with Caremark. She feels even, when fully healed, she’ll continue to split her time.
“I love care work,” said Clare. “There’s so much reward in helping the customers to keep their independence and dignity.”
The key to being a good carer to treating each person as an individual
Clare believes the key to being a good carer is to treat each person as an individual. And also understand how they like things to be done.
“I never realised you could get toast wrong but one gent told me it should be cold before you put the butter on,” she laughs. “I see it as positive that we have a relationship where he feels able to tell me that.”
Now 45, it was only in recent years that Clare received her own diagnosis of ADHD.
Looking back through her life, she recognized patterns that had always been there, though they had often been masked or managed privately. As is the case for many women with ADHD, Clare now recognises how the condition is most impactive during hormonal change.
We are actively supporting people with neurodiversity
Having that diagnosis has been transformative. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by traits she didn’t understand, she is now learning to grant herself grace, cutting herself some slack when things get challenging rather than being overly hard on herself.
Caremark is actively supporting applications from people who have neurodiversities such as ADHD, recognising that such conditions should not be a bar to employment and can be an asset as a life experience that can engender empathy, resilience and problem solving abilities.
“There’s a Caremark app where you work through the day, ticking off the tasks and I find that is very helpful,” said Clare. “This is a job with a purpose and that helps to motivate, I have no trouble getting up for work in the morning. At the same time if I need to take a day off Caremark is very supportive.”
She also finds her previous work experience benefits her caring role.
“Once customers learn I am a trained hairdresser I get requests to plait hair,” she said. “Also, when I’m applying creams I’ll suddenly realise I’m using a massage movement.”
About Caremark Redcar and Cleveland
If you like the idea of combining jobs, please view our latest home care vacancies in Redcar and Cleveland or call us today on 01287 634706.