Mar 2021
"I certainly don’t look like a typical Carer with my beard and tattoos"
Gareth joined the care sector during the pandemic and loves that he gets to do 'a rewarding job where the aim is to bring happiness to others each day'.
It is fair to say Gareth doesn’t look like the typical expectation of a Carer with his bushy beard and tattoos. Prior to applying for the job at Jubilee Lodge, Gareth had worked in several hospitality roles. Although he enjoyed aspects of working in hospitality, he wasn’t overly passionate about it.
Gareth said: “I had always looked at work as a way of purely making money. After my hours at a local hotel were impacted by Covid-19, it gave me the push I needed to look for something else. There was something that stood out to me about OSJCT, so I decided to apply and fortunately I got the job!”
Gareth's story from The Orders of St John Care Trust on Vimeo.
Despite doing plenty of research, Gareth admits he wasn’t 100% sure what to expect.
“I knew it would be different to anything I had done before. There were times when I was worried whether I would be able to cope but my friends reassured me. I have always been told that I am a caring and patient person and those characteristics have come to fore in this job.”
Although the role is different to anything he has done before, Gareth says there are aspects he enjoyed about previous roles that he has been able to utilise at Jubilee Lodge in Gloucestershire.
“I have always enjoyed putting the customer first and it is fantastic to be at organisation that does exactly that with person-centred care. It is a privilege to be able to spend so much time with our residents and hear their stories.”
Click here to find out more about working with OSJCT.
Gareth continued: “I now get to do a rewarding job where the aim is to bring happiness to others each day. There are of course always going to be tough days, but I absolutely love it! The managers at Jubilee Lodge are the best I have ever worked under and they have been brilliant at supporting me throughout.”
Finally, Gareth is keen to stress that anybody can be a Carer.
“I certainly don’t look like a typical Carer with my beard and tattoos, but I think it is important to show that anybody can be a Carer and it is great for the residents to be able to see different types of people every day.”
To find out more about working in care with The Orders of St John Care Trust, go to https://www.osjct.co.uk/careers.