Support her family

Joining Caremark Redcar and Cleveland has allowed Lauren Pearce to gain qualifications, support her family and enjoy a career – ambitions she feared she’d never achieve after leaving school early.

Lauren fell pregnant at 15 and as a result left school before taking her exams.

“I lost all confidence and so never went to college,” she said. “I had more children and thought my life would just revolve around them and staying at home.”

Lauren supported her partner Tom after he developed osteoarthritis and osteoporosis at an early age and had to leave his job as a chef due to chronic pain. He said he felt Lauren would make a good carer and three years ago she applied for a job with Caremark Redcar and Cleveland.

“I’m so glad I did, I love my job and wish I had started sooner,” said Lauren. “It has given me the chance to get out and about, earn money for our family and gain qualifications whilst working,” she said. “I’m now more confident, have met new people and have a sense of pride that I am making a difference to people’s lives.”

Lauren, 28, likes the fact that flexibility of hours with Caremark means she is able to work in home care support and spend time with Tom and the children. She doesn’t drive so all her clients are within walking distance in the village she has lived all her life.

Lauren is the first person in her family to join the caring profession and works both on her own and with a colleague helping clients in many ways including personal care, mobility and meals.

“Clients are so grateful that we are enabling them to stay in their own homes,” she said.  “A few have said that without us they just couldn’t cope and would be in a care home or hospital. Families can’t be there all the time, so we are also helping take some pressure off them.”

Lauren believes the key to the role is to care.

“It sounds obvious but deep down you have to care for the people you see and you also need patience. I have five children so I have plenty of that!”