Professional Care Workers’ Week focuses on those working in the health and care sector, working in care homes and other locations. The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) employs over 3,000 people, the majority in frontline care, providing daily care and comfort to older people living in care homes. Kira shares her perspective on joining the care sector as a new starter. She works at Hungerford House, in Corsham, and has recently passed her six months’ probation.

Kira was inspired to work in care after witnessing her great grandmother develop dementia in later life and seeing how family members adapted and supported her with daily tasks like preparing meals.

Kira found there was lots to learn in her first few months in the role. She said: “It’s full on, sometimes it feels like there are 50 things to do in a day, and lots of details to remember, but I have always felt supported by the team here.”

The training that Kira has completed has been a mix of online training (which she studied at home as part of her induction), attending training in the home, and on the job learning from colleagues. She said: “The training has been great, especially in the home where the trainers were very engaged, which made it easy to learn from them.”

Kira’s first impressions of care as a career are that it’s a selfless job and it offers a great sense of fulfilment. She said: “I go into work and put aside any personal worries or preoccupations in order to help people who can’t do those things we take for granted, like getting ready for the day, preparing meals or organising some entertainment or materials for hobbies.”

As well as a finding a great team spirit at work, Kira has also found many reasons to enjoy laughing at the care home. She speaks fondly of residents in the care home and often finds herself laughing with them. She said: “The residents have wonderful and individual personalities, some play jokes on each other, and many tell funny stories. One gentleman loves ‘blowing raspberries’ and another lady is often found dancing. Even though working in care can be busy, laughter and joy is never far away.”