Meet Kaliea Our newest Care Professional

What is your Background?

Having previously working in the Health & Social Care sector for 12 years in a diverse range of settings I embarked upon my Education and Training career, specialising in teaching Health & Social Care. As a teacher of Health & Social Care my students would often ask if I would ever return to Home Instead and my answer was, always ‘yes at some point in the future I would’. After making the decision to leave my Education & Training career I was intentionally seeking a more work/life balanced role where I could utilise all my experience, knowledge and skills in a more practical way and rejoin the social care sector and found Home Instead.

How do you feel about joining Home Instead?

Joining Home Instead has been a positive step! All of my teaching/delivery skills and healthcare experience have come back around for me to now to apply once again in a practical manner rather than theory based and learn new ways of healthcare support/delivery to our fantastic clients in their homes! We have an app that is very easy to use and lists everything our clients require support with. This is a fantastic way to individualise support needed and meets clients wishes and /or support needs.

What do you like about the Home Instead approach?

The Home Instead model of care in clients’ homes is excellent! The thing I love most about working for Home Instead is knowing that I make a real difference to clients’ lives, health and wellbeing. I have utilised my transferrable skills in communication, empathy and problem-solving in supporting clients to try new experiences.  This includes new foods, cooking, IT/Digital support (yes, digitalising our clients on using an IPad, compose emails, search the internet safely, shop online) and visits out to shops (whilst singing to Abba or whatever is on the car radio) or for tea and cake! Our visits are at least an hour long and the working day is varied, which makes the time go fast.

It is a delight to offer companionship on visits too! We are matched up with clients with similar interests, working career/backgrounds and it is a real joy to speak with them on their career and/or life experiences.  I have had many conversations where clients have told me about their youth from ballroom dancing, land army girls, education leaders, their exotic travelling pasts to far reaches of the world.

What about you work life balance?

As I am also a dancer and fitness instructor, I have been able to utilise these skills in supporting clients with gentle mobility/flexibility exercises to support independence and support them in the comfort of their own homes to ensure they get back on track and continue to be independent. We have had chats about ballroom dancing, Blackpool, Strictly Come Dancing and all types of dancing genres from their own dancing days. All of which is much appreciated by clients who simply love to reminisce and discuss their outfits, favourite dances and even how they met their spouse. Clients really value the visits we make, the companionship and the chance to learn about us too!

What about the support?

All of the Home Instead Care Professional Team, Office staff and Care Manager are welcoming, caring individuals, supportive, always on hand to offer guidance, share expertise and are all from a diverse range of backgrounds. Training is specific to the role, updated regularly and can be done in office or from the comfort of your own home-online and it is paid time!

I have achieved the work-life balance I was seeking. This work is flexible, varied and I can fit in other pursuits giving me so much more. It is a pleasure to be welcomed into our clients’ homes and brighten up their day in so many ways!”