Exmouth Care Professional, Julie, talks about the rewards of 'caring' with Home Instead
Originally from Somerset, Julie started her professional career in the tourism industry, acting as a Rep on the Balearic Island of Ibiza for almost five years. Upon her return to the UK, she transferred to an office-based role, before making the brave decision with her then fiancé (now Husband) to throw caution to the wind and travel the world in their mobile home! Julie says, “Looking back, it was a crazy thing to do, but it felt perfect at the time, and we don’t regret it, at all. For lots of reasons we needed to stop and look at life and we did just that.”
With two years of travel and a host of adventures to look back on, Julie and her husband returned to the UK and set up their own camper van conversion business, “We learnt so much about campers on our travels, so we knew how to create the perfect one!” she says. Julie played an integral part for a number of years, being involved in the management and accounting within the company, which continues successfully to this day.
Sadly though, life has brought some challenges Julie’s way, with regard to her own health and also to her family. It was when caring for her dear father towards the end of his life, that Julie acknowledged there was another path meant for her, and whilst she didn’t quite know what that looked like at the time, she knew that it had to involve kindness, and making a difference to someone’s life…
It was our very good fortune at Home Instead, that Julie was a friend and neighbour to Jackie, one of our Care Professionals. Julie recalls, “Jackie told me, ‘You need to come and work with me at Home Instead. It’s exactly what you’re looking for…’ and she was right!”
Three years on, Julie finds that she can fit her role around her busy family life and commitments, but also gets the rewards that she hoped for, saying, “Life has taught me that really, what’s the point of doing something if you’re not making a difference. I feel like the saying ‘If you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work’ really applies to me.”
When asked if Julie thinks that the role of Care Professional is a daunting one, she has no hesitation in setting this idea to one side, saying “There are aspects of the role that need real training and Home Instead give you that, so for example, providing the personal care that some clients need really isn’t an issue. I feel I know my clients well, and I want to support them as best I can. Personal care is just a part of that support. I don’t even give it a second thought, it’s a natural part of the care I give, and I am trained for it.”
With regards to training, whilst Julie has already completed her RQF Level 3 with Home Instead, she is looking to build on her skillset and qualifications with some new challenges, saying
One new challenge that Julie has taken on for the past two years, is in becoming the Home Instead Social Rep for her home town of Exmouth, with a view to organising events and connecting her local colleagues, commenting “It’s always great when you coincide with another team member during the working day, for example when providing dual care to a client – we always have so much in common. There are aspects of our role that can be challenging, just like any job, but because we develop meaningful relationships with our clients, we are often there during the sad times too, be that in providing care at times of illness or even end of life. It’s invaluable to have colleagues close at hand to share those experiences with. Home Instead are really good at keeping people connected, so this Social Rep Role is an extension of that idea, but this time for team members.”
Julie, we know that you will continue to succeed in whatever challenge you set yourself, and we also know that you are making a real difference in your role as fantastic Social Rep too. We can’t wait to see where your career in care with Home Instead takes you!
If, like Julie, you would like to make a positive difference to your own life, and to lives within your own community, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We have a variety of opportunities available and look forward to welcoming experienced care professionals and those new to the sector, to Home Instead.
Give Tracy, our Recruitment Coordinator a call on 01395 200600, send us a WhatsApp on 07508 231941, take a look at our current vacancies and apply in minutes via our website HERE or find us on Facebook and discover why we are different.