I’m not a Pembrokeshire native; in fact, I grew up some three hundred miles away in Lincolnshire. But when part of my family decided to move here, I couldn’t stay behind. It was an exciting opportunity to raise my family on the beautiful Welsh coast.
As a student, I seriously considered becoming a vet, though I soon learnt that it wasn’t the right career for me, and while studying I began working part-time in a care support role. It was incredibly rewarding, and that’s when I knew that I wanted a career in care.
Fast-forward 15 years, I’m still working in the care sector and I simply couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I’m the Pembrokeshire Service Manager for Mencap; a role that encompasses many different elements of the organisation, from developing our Supported Living services and training staff to administration duties and recruitment.
At Mencap, we support people living with complex multi disabilities and high care needs. It can be challenging at times but being able to support people on a daily basis is so rewarding! Our programme of work is all about helping people to continue living in their own homes. We provide people with companionship and help them continue to do the activities they love doing, including supporting people with their volunteering or paid jobs.
I’ve worked at Mencap for over eight years, in both Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire, and have experienced first-hand how supportive the company is towards their staff – on a local and national level. I’ve also seen how the support from the entire Mencap team helps give the people we work with a voice, which is so important.
To anyone considering a career in care, my advice would always be: “Give it a go! It’s the most rewarding job, because being there for people who need you is really special.”