Who’s Who at Home Instead Week 5

This week we’re introducing Caron, our Care Coordinator

Who’s Who at Home Instead

What’s your role at Home Instead?

Hi I’m Caron,  I‘m the Care Coordinator. My role is to create and manage the schedule of visits to our clients.  I work very hard to ensure each client has a small, consistent team of Care Pros who visit them regularly and get to know how they like things done.  This is particularly important when we are providing personal care at home, as we want to protect the dignity and independence of our clients.  My job can sometimes be challenging as I manage all of the holidays for the team as well as any care pros who need time off when they are unwell.  Luckily we have a fabulous team of Care Pros who are happy to step in and cover for each other when needed.  I really enjoy all of the interaction I have with the team out in the field.  I may not see them that often, but I try very hard to build up a good relationship with them as soon as they join the team.

What did you do before coming to Home Instead?

Before Home Instead I worked at another care company in Beverley for four years.  I started as a carer and within six months progressed into the office as a care training practitioner and then to Care Coordinator.  In that time I have gained a huge amount of care experience, so I can assist in many situations, but building a tidy, consistent rota is what I enjoy the most.  Before working in care, I had a completely different career in South Africa.  I owned a company that supplied SCUBA equipment. I travelled all over the world, particularly in China and Taiwan to the companies that made the SCUBA equipment to make sure it was all up to the spec I required.  Then I would deliver it to my clients and take them diving to show them how to properly use the equipment.  It was a tough job, but someone had to do it!

What does “To us it’s personal” mean to you?

To me it means we spend time meeting with our clients and family members before beginning.  This helps us to really understand their likes and dislikes, preferences, and how they like things done. We then select a care pro or care pros who we think will be best suited to provide this bespoke care.  We want our clients to look forward to seeing their Care Pro and feel comfortable having them come into their home.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I’m from South Africa, so I love being outdoors.  When I lived there, I was up every day at 4:30 on my bike training for cycle races.  Even though the weather isn’t quite the same in the UK, I can still be found on my bike on the weekends or out walking.  I also enjoy spending time catching up with friends and watching movies.