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CELEBRATING SOCIAL CARE | Paula's Career for Life

We’re joining Skills for Care by #CelebratingSocialCare this April. A national celebration in recognition of the incredible people who work in social care.


We caught up with Paula, a passionate support worker from our Yew Tree House service in the Forest of Dean. She shares the satisfaction she gets from her role and how she’s never looked back since making a career move into social care.


“This is my first role in social care, and I’ve worked at Yew Tree House for just over two years. Prior to my role at Yew Tree, I had a long, successful career in production and logistics in supervisory management.


When Covid-19 hit, everything changed in the working environment. There was a crisis in the NHS and care sector, and I decided to respond to that. It was at a time in my life when I felt I could."


Paula talks about how she’s been impacted by her new career:


“I cry a lot but in a good way. It’s changed me for the better and it sounds like a cliché, but I’ve now found me.


When I came for the interview, I said I wanted to give, so much, but that I wanted something in return. I get something every single day. What we give the people we support is nothing compared to what we get back. Giving them their independence and seeing their enjoyment is priceless. Every day is different. You think you’ve seen that ‘moment’ but then the next day brings another ‘moment’. I sometimes think I’ve seen a miracle.


For example, some of the people we support are in wheelchairs. We take them to the swim gym on a Friday and when you get them out and hoist them in the water, the joy on their faces as the water helps them move is like a miracle each time you see it. Being a driver means too means I get to take those we care for out on activities, which I love. Even if you don’t drive you get to be a chaperone, so you still get to experience it.


Paula ready for carriage riding - a regular outing for the people we support.


I loved my previous jobs but there is a greater reward in the happiness and contentment I feel now. I think I lost me somewhere along the lines, but this role has helped me find myself.


If anybody is considering a career in the social care sector, I’d say go for it – really go for it. You don’t know what you’re missing out on. It might be a career you’ve never considered doing but it’s what you get out of it. It isn’t for everybody, but you don’t know until you try it.


Without a shadow of a doubt, I made the right move into a career in social care. I would haven’t kicked myself had I not tried it. I know I will do this until I retire – this is my career for life!”


Paula is an example of the many hard-working and passionate colleagues at National Care Group whose commitment helps to change the lives of the people we support.

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