David has worked as a care professional at Shepshed Carers since August 2017. The team provide care and support to people living across Shepshed and surrounding areas who need help to stay living independently in their own homes.
Career journey
David worked as a mental health nurse in the NHS for 22 years before becoming a social care professional. His nursing career was spend working in residential services for people with a range of mental health challenges and complex needs. Towards the end of his nursing career, David realised that he wanted to move away from the NHS, but wanted to carry on doing a role where he could make a difference to peoples' lives. It was this realisation that motivated David to start a career in social care.
It's the little things that make my job so rewarding. Like making sure people have the groceries they need, and putting a smile on their face.
David supports around 12 people a week, and carries out around 50 visits. His working day is split into two sections; in the morning he works on his own, in the afternoon he works with a colleague to support people with more complex needs. Visiting the same people each week means that David has built strong bonds with the people he supports.
The care and support tasks that David carries out include helping people to get dressed, supporting with cooking and cleaning, and supporting people to manage their health conditions. Care professionals are also given training to spot the signs of poor mental health, abuse, and social isolation. With the support of his managers, David's role is ensure that people get the support they need.
The type of support that people need is unique to each individual. It is David's role to make sure that everyone he supports are given the help they need, in the way that they choose to receive it. This requires strong communication skills, patience, and a passion for empowering people.
To be a care professional, you need to be organised and able to manage your workload independently. It is also important to be flexible and resilient. We come across emergencies where we need to act fast to keep people safe. Every day is different and you need to be able to adapt quickly.
2017 - present |
Care professional at Shepshed Carers |
2001 |
Completed degree in Mental Health Practice |
1995 -2017 |
Mental Health Nurse at NHS |
1992 - 1995 |
Completed Mental Health Nursing diploma at university |
1990 - 1992 |
Support worker at day service for adults with learning disabilities |
1986 - 1989 |
Completed degree in Economics |
1986 |
Left school with O-levels and 3 A-levels |
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