This week we are introducing Care Pro Mentor, Kay
In this week’s article we are introducing Kay, one of our fabulous team of Care Pro Mentors.
Hi, my name is Kay and I am a Care Professional and Mentor for Home Instead. My days are varied but primarily my role is that of a Care Pro, visiting clients in their homes and offering whatever support they require, be it personal care, companionship, providing meals, supporting someone to dress in a morning or get ready for bed at the end of the day, all to help them to remain independent and to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The other side to my job is that of Mentor. I am part of a team of three Mentors who guide new Care Pros through their first three months with us, sharing our knowledge and experience and supporting them through to the point where they have achieved their Care Certificate. There’s no greater joy than starting with someone on their first day, when they’re nervous and unsure, and watching them grow into confident, independent Care Pros ready to make a difference in the community. Knowing I’ve played a role in their journey is incredibly rewarding. In addition to mentoring new team members, I have a team of established Care Pros who I meet on a regular basis for supervision visits and 1:1s. I hope they see me as a good role model and someone they can rely on if they need support.
As a shy 17 year old, straight out of school, I started my career with British Telecom in Sheffield where I remained for 20 years, working my way through different departments and roles until I finished as a Commercial Officer working in the Malicious Calls Bureau. During my time with BT, I spent a few years volunteering as a Special Constable, so it was a natural choice when I had the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy to start a new career path with South Yorkshire Police. I spent a few years as a Dispatcher / Radio Operator which also involved taking 999 calls from members of the public, which could be emotionally challenging at times. Aged 40+ and having worked in an office for my whole career, I decided to go back out ‘onto the streets’ and became a Police Community Support Officer, a job that enabled me to work in the community and which I loved. In 2017, My husband and I decided to take early retirement but after lockdown, decided we weren’t quite ready after all and both wanted a purpose again which is how I came to find Home Instead, and for that I am truly grateful.
To me, this means that every single one of us is an individual, be that our lovely clients or our equally lovely Care Professionals. Each person has different needs and requirements and what is right for one person may not be right for another. It’s important to take the time get to know our clients which is why having small teams is a great benefit and enables us to build relationships and friendships whilst remaining professional. Some of our clients struggle with the thought of having to have ‘Carers’ but if they see us as friends, it can be much easier for them. I find that the relationships we build are two ways, and for me, I feel that whatever I am able to ‘give’ I get back in abundance, listening to my clients, their history and their life stories make this such a rewarding experience.
Outside of work, I love to read, especially novels set around the WW2 era. I have just picked up the sewing bug again after years of my machine sitting in a cupboard and when time permits, I enjoy going to the gym and running. I live with my husband and our 7 year old Cockapoo, Cassie and we spend our free weekends and holidays at our caravan just outside Filey. We love to walk the coastal paths which blows away the cobwebs and gives us a total recharge. I also make sure I go back to my home city of Sheffield as often as I can to see my Mum and catch up with the rest of my family and friends. I’m also a football fan and an avid follower of Sheffield Wednesday FC although I have to support from the sofa these days living so far away.