Why I wanted to be a carer

Posted 3rd May 2022

Ellis has been working at Doris for six years. Having started in the Care team, she is now a key member of the Client Services team, helping manage the delivery of outstanding care to over 120 clients. This is her story, in her own words.

I was always the one at school that would never say no to sticking on my PE kit. I was never late for netball practise, asked to do the bleep test in lesson and thought 4 laps in cross country training running around Chalkwell park was fun. My end goal was to be a PE teacher. I studied sports science at college and went to University studying the same subject. Meanwhile my nan, who was my best friend fell unwell with cancer. She was such an independent and private lady so we knew supporting her towards the end was going to be tough. My mum and myself nursed my nan with the help of the district nurses until she passed away comfortably at home.

Through looking after my nan this made me realise I wanted a change in career path. I decided to leave University and look for a job in care. Being new to care was very daunting – there’s a difference between washing yourself/family and washing an elderly individual that initially doesn’t know you and may not want to even have care. 

Having training in the basic tasks of washing someone was very important. This is down to making sure the water was the right temperature, I used to put my elbow in the bowl or drip some on my arm. Making sure the right amount of soap goes in the bowl. I had a particular client I looked after that had to test all the flannels before she had a wash to choose the softest one. 

With a particular lady I had flannels thrown at me, literally given the thumbs down and was told the “newbie” was rubbish. This only gave me motivation to win her over!! In the end I was the only carer allowed and in her eyes “capable” of assisting her with her personal care – just goes to show with the right approach, patience and training you’ll get there in the end.  

My motivation to go to work each day was because I actually cared – I think the whole reason we're in this job really. I cared for my colleagues and for the clients. I knew that there would be consequences if I didn’t go to work/called in sick. This would result in either someone staying longer from the night shift, increasing other colleagues workload for that day and other impacts on the clients. 

I started working in care in 2013 and have been in it ever since.