Carmen has worked for Nurseline Healthcare for nearly four years as a Support Worker and Healthcare Assistant and now she’s studying to be a Mental Health Nurse, which Nurseline Healthcare are supporting and encouraging her with.
Why did you choose to pursue a career with Nurseline?
I started my application with Nurseline Healthcare in March 2017. One of my friends had been a Support Worker for Nurseline Healthcare for a few years and he was telling me constantly that I should join. But, having a young daughter that I had to drop and pick up from school would not allow me to pick up long shifts, so I kept saying ‘not yet’. I knew from my friend who worked at Nurseline Healthcare that it was a serious agency, that treated their staff like family.
In June 2017, after I had completed my training I worked my first shift. It was my first time in a mental health hospital and my first contact with this world. I had a lot of experience working in the care sector but not specifically in mental health. I soon realised that working as a Support Worker and Healthcare Assistant in the mental health sector was something that I enjoyed. It was a different way of helping people and it was also a step forward in my career.
What does your role entail?
As a Support Worker I play a vital role in supporting our clients as they help individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism, and other complex needs to lead meaningful lives.
How have Nurseline Healthcare helped you progress?
The Placements Team (Service Partnership Team) believed in me and gave me opportunities to work in different settings, with different challenges, and with people with different needs. I have evolved and gained so much experience. I always try my best to be a good Support Worker, to give the right support to people that I care for and also to make Nurseline Healthcare proud to have a Support Worker like me working for them.
What are the opportunities to develop and progress at Nurseline?
At one point I was spending too much time working as a Support Worker and realised I needed better work-life balance. Nurseline Healthcare offered me an office-based role as a Relationship Administrator, which transformed my life. It allowed me to have a set program for three days of the week and much more time with my teenage daughter.
Nurseline Healthcare offered me an office-based role as a Relationship Administrator, which transformed my life. It allowed me to have a set program for three days of the week and much more time with my teenage daughter.
I’ve worked for Nurseline Healthcare now for nearly four years and I know it’s the right company for me. The genuine care for clinicians is real and any problems I have had, they’ve always been there for me.
What motivates you?
Changing people’s lives is what motivates me and that’s why I chose to work for Nurseline Healthcare.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
When I started picking up shifts in settings where I had to support people with learning disabilities (especially young adults) I felt that that is exactly what I was looking for – to change someone’s day to day life, helping people to live fulfilling lives. Young people with learning disabilities also need our support to lead a better life. They need our input, patience, creativity and care. Seeing their reaction, their smile, their joy is the reason I will always get up in the morning and don’t mind getting home late at night.
When I started picking up shifts in settings where I had to support people with learning disabilities (especially young adults) I felt that that is exactly what I was looking for – to change someone’s day to day life, helping people to live fulfilling lives.
What’s your ambition?
It was always in the back of mind that I wanted to become a Mental Health Nurse (RMN). Working on mental health hospital wards with colleagues from Nurseline Healthcare, including RMN’s who kept on reinforcing the idea that one day, this is what I will end up doing. I was amazed to see how crisis situations were handled and how our RMN colleagues were able to respond to patients when things escalated. Little did they know that I was continuously watching and learning, secretly dreaming to be as good as them one day. That is when the seed was planted!
I was amazed to see how crisis situations were handled and how our RMN colleagues were able to respond to patients when things escalated. Little did they know that I was continuously watching and learning, secretly dreaming to be as good as them one day.
What’s the greatest achievement (in your role) to date?
My biggest achievement at Nurseline Healthcare has been to take someone we’re supporting (who has mental health needs and is partially sighted) out into a different environment. This person would always go to the same places, following the same routine, eating the same breakfast and lunch at the same time – every day. For this person to trust me and agree to go out for a walk in a completely new place, where she knew there will be dogs (which she was frightened of) was hugely rewarding. We sometimes forget the little things in life can make the biggest difference.
I also won the LD Network ‘Unsung hero’ award in 2019. This showed that our office-based teams, our clients and my colleagues voted for me and I was proud that my work and support was noticed by all of them.
What are the social benefits of working for Nurseline Healthcare?
I’ve made a number of friends at Nurseline Healthcare, who I also see outside of work. Nurseline Healthcare have organised a few get-togethers where we’re able socialise outside of work.
Anything interesting about yourself, outside of work ie family, hobbies, interests.
I am a mother of two amazing girls. I love driving and hope to travel the world. Until then, I enjoy my garden.
