My career progression in the care home sector

I started my journey as a health care assistant 36 years ago. I had always had my heart set on a career in nursing but never had the opportunity to be able to pursue my vocation.

I joined the Victoria Nursing Group in Sussex nearly 18 years ago working just one night shift a week as I needed to find myself again after having cared for my youngest child who was premature and needing a lot of care, whilst also caring for my elderly mother.

As time passed and home life became more manageable, I increased my working hours to full time night shifts. Juggling a busy life at home with a full-time job was hard but I loved my job and found just being able to give care and compassion to the residents coming to the end of their lives was a privilege.

I first met our Care Quality Director Emma Sheriff eight years ago whilst working nightshifts at Victoria Chartwell care home, as she would often be in very early, always stopping to check in to see how we were. I instantly knew how passionate and hard working she was and how she wanted to make a difference, always striving for new ideas for the staff and residents.

As I had already achieved an NVQ assessors’ qualification she promoted me to a senior carer's position taking on more responsibility whilst supporting the care staff.  
We had many conversations on those mornings when she passed on the way up to her office and I was always impressed by the way she wanted to make a difference in the care home setting for staff and residents.

It was on one of those mornings I shared my passion and regret of not every having the opportunity to train as a Registered Nurse. It was not long after that conversation that we had a meeting and Emma asked if I would like be part of a new role which would allow me to work more clinically whilst also supporting the Registered Nurses.

Emma could see what I had never been able to see in myself, so I took the opportunity, to become the first Team Leader at the Victoria Nursing Group moving to Victoria Chatsworth on day shifts. It was there where I gained even more experience and training, I was able to support the nurses with medication rounds, clinical practice such as wound care, catheterisation and blood taking. These are just some of the clinical skills the new role had provided me with an opportunity to learn.

I would have regular supervisions with Emma who mentioned the nursing associate apprenticeship training at the University of Brighton. Before I had chance to think about it my daughter helped me with my application, and I sent it to the university. I was offered a place if I completed a functional skills Maths and English level 2. I had no idea if I could even achieve this but again, with support from my family, manager and colleagues, I spend the next 15 months studying until I finally passed the exams. It was so hard going back to studying after so many years.

In August 2023, I accepted my place on the Nurse Associate course at the age of 55. Whilst waiting for the course to begin I was offered the job of Deputy Manager at Victoria Chatsworth and with Emma’s guidance it gave me more confidence to prepare myself for the next stage of my journey.

I have now been on the course for six months and can honestly say it has been the best decision I have ever made but without the vision and support from Emma, Paul Burns, the owner, and my family I wouldn’t be where I am today. Yes it’s hard, yes it’s exhausting, but I’m proud to be part of a company that believes in their staff.