The care angels offering people help

• What does your work entail?

Clients have different needs. Some need help with personal care, some with mobility issues and some need help with equipment such as hospital beds and hoists; things you would find in a hospital environment but that allow people to stay in their own homes. We also advise on nutrition, undertake home tasks, and – really importantly – engage with our clients. Reassurance is a big part of our role.

• How did you come to your role?

I worked in care for five years and then took a break. I returned to the frontline during the coronavirus because everyone was so shorthanded. I had to redo all the training and the induction because, quite rightly, the Care Quality Commission is very strict on that.

• How do you monitor a client and respond to changing needs?

We have a rigorous check-list on an app that we complete with each client, which enables us to alert the office immediately if someone’s needs change. For instance, the elderly are very prone to urinary tract infections, which can affect them badly. Good hydration can prevent someone with a UTI from needing hospitalisation. The care sector has a really important part to play in helping to ease the burden on the NHS.

• What challenges has the coronavirus presented to carers?

Delivering good care while keeping clients safe is the priority. We are currently organised into cells in order to reduce the number of people that clients encounter, and care plans are more intricate. The physical barrier of PPE is tough. It’s not easy to wear, and having someone care for you wearing what looks like a welding mask can be alarming for clients so we have to reassure them. Guardian Angels have been superb in procuring PPE for us. The office is really on the case with that, and also on any changes to guidance or protocol. It makes me feel confident and safe.

• To be a carer involves more than people might imagine then?

Social care is an industry that deserves recognition – it’s something I’m really passionate about. The recruitment and training process is rigorous and ongoing, and the interaction between carers, GPs and other agencies is a huge task and one that can get incredibly complex. There were already some positive moves afoot, but I hope this situation will galvanise efforts to make that linking more efficient. I’m proud to be part of the Guardian Angels team – and it is the whole team that deserves credit, not just the care givers. So much goes on behind the scenes.

• What are you looking forward to when lockdown is over?

I began my working life on the international circuit as a carriage driving groom, so I’m looking forward to getting my horse ready for competitions again. We qualified for the national championships this year, so it will be nice to get back out there again. That and seeing our friends.

• Further information: 01243 216416 www.gacarers.co.uk/chichester

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