Monday December 16, 2024
Hayley Wells, registered manager of BJP Home Support since 2012, has been in the care industry for over 20 years.
What does your typical day look like?
“It can be different every single day. I usually start by checking in with the team and checking if there are any problems, then work through general day to day tasks, carry out supervisions and audits, as well as managing the team.”
What did you do previously and why the care industry?
“I’ve always worked in the care industry. I went to college to be a social worker, my Mam at the time had her first role as a registered manager and I helped her, and since then I have always remained in the industry. I’ve had various roles over the last 20 years, from care coordinator, lead coordinator, and then the opportunity for a registered manager position came up and I took the plunge and I’ve been in the role for 12 years now.”
What do you love about your job role?
One of my favourite things about my job is receiving nice feedback or when clients achieve something that they’ve wanted to achieve for a while and they get a good outcome from what we’ve done.”
What was your perception of the industry before you joined it, and what’s your perception now?
“The care sector was very different when I first started, but I’ve got to know the industry working in it. I would say I have never had a bad perception of the care industry, you always see the bad side of care shared in the news and never the good things, but I see the good sides every day. It’s a very rewarding role.
“One thing I would say is, you can’t go into the care industry without having a caring nature, I feel you have to do it for more reasons than it just been a job to you.”
What would you say to others that are looking to join the industry?
“Just come and give it a try. There are a lot of bad things that are shared in the news and across social media about the care industry, and there is rarely anything positive shared. But you get to build relationships with the clients and see the difference to somebody’s life, often clients don’t see family, you are the only person they see all day. There are so many positive aspects of being a care worker that outshine the negatives, you’ve got to see the difference firsthand to understand the role..”
What is one of your favourite moments?
“My favourite moments are when we get nice compliments and positive feedback. When I visit clients and meet families, it’s always lovely to hear them talk about our team. Our clients see our care workers as family, not as carers, and that’s always really nice. When I speak with clients and their families, you see that all the hard work everyone has put in is worth it and when you see how what everyone has done in the team has an impact on someone’s life and that’s the best part.”
Is there career progression in the sector?
“For anyone coming into the industry as a care worker, to me there is a lot of progression and opportunities if that’s something they want.
“We will always give our staff opportunities first and identify those who want to progress. There are a lot of opportunities depending on the size of the business you work in. The majority of people in high positions in the sector have worked up into their role from being a care worker. It all depends on the person and what they want to do.”
If you’re looking for a fulfilled career, a job to suit your lifestyle or simply looking for a new role, The Caring Kind is connected to various care providers within Redcar and Cleveland, join our community today.
