Michaela tells us there is no such thing as a typical day: “Every single day is completely different because you’re working with people.  The residents, like anyone else, have good days and bad days; one day they’re having a good time and the next maybe they might not be; so we as carers have to be there to help them.  By far the majority are the good days though.”

She works at Mayott House, Abingdon, one of our Extra Care Housing schemes, which she says is a bit different from a care home though there are similarities.  She explains that it’s like visiting someone in their own home.  For Michaela, it’s another big extended family that she’s part of. “I’m a military wife and the Army can be like a family.  We’re all one big family at work, too.  We really get to know the residents, and their families as well.”

Michaela explains that it’s a fun place to be because there is always something going on: “There are lots of activities like tai chi, Chinese night, cheese and biscuits, which was more like cheese and wine!  Last year, a resident had her 90th birthday party in the garden with tea and cakes and it was lovely.”

A career in care is definitely worth looking at more closely for anyone considering a different path: “Domiciliary care is the way forward.  I’m always thinking about the residents, and that’s the same for other staff. We have chats out of work to updated each other not on shift because we really do care.” Understandably, the last year has been tough, though Michaela would still recommend it: ‘Seeing the residents singing and dancing around makes all the tough times worth it.”

To find out how you can join the OSJCT team, visit our careers pages.