A pink-haired Newcastle care worker who's "not necessarily what you'd expect" is urging others to take a job in care as part of a regional campaign to address the workforce crisis in social care.
According to the industry body Skills for Care, there were more than 7,500 vacancies in the sector as of last November. Now across the 12 North East local authorities from Teesside to the Scottish border, a new Made with Care North East campaign is hoping to encourage people to take up much-needed posts.
As part of this, Gateshead woman Michelle Brumwell - who has worked for Newcastle City Council for more than thirty years in care - has spoken out about why she loves her job. Michelle also told ChronicleLive how she felt the public might not realise the opportunities that are available.
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Michelle, who works in the council's reablement team ensuring people are able to stay in their own home as long as possible, said: "I love what I do. I'm a health and social care co-ordinator so I work in collaboration with the NHS to do what we can to keep someone home.
"But I'm just a little tiny cog in a huge well-oiled machine. It's the care workers themselves who are out there at all hours. Half seven in the morning, ten at night. Yes I co-ordinate but it's the carers who do so much work. What we want is for people out there who think they might want to come and work with us to really consider doing it."
She explained that over the years she'd been able to access training through the council - and added: "I don't think people realise the potential opportunities they could have if they work in care. I work with people who have all sorts of backgrounds and come from all walks of life. Some of my colleagues came to care having been cleaners, now they're managers - there's really the opportunity to work your way up."
As for her job itself, Michelle said she loved being able to help people at their most distressed. She said: "What I find incredibly rewarding is when I go out to see people. It might be because we've had someone - a son, a daughter - in touch because their parent is struggling.
"The patient will be at home but worried - and I can go out to them as the first port of call and sit down with them. I don't necessarily look like you'd expect. I love just saying 'what do you need help with?' and being able to help them."
She said her job was varied, and involved helping people with everything from getting around their home to staying active and even finding ways for them to, like one person she worked with, continue with regular trips to Fenwick's for a warm drink and a natter with a friend.
Jane Robinson, chair of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services North East (ADASS) said: "All 12 directors of adult social services are adamant that the successful recruitment and retention of a dedicated and passionate adult social care workforce is key to being able to support older people and adults with learning disabilities to live independently in their homes and to ensure that care homes attract additional staff."
She said the job was a "career like no other" and paid tribute to those working in the sector, adding: "The difference they make to people’s lives on a daily basis is incredible and the rewards they get from that work makes them feel, quite rightly, proud and fulfilled. They are encouraging anyone who is thinking about working in adult social care to give it a go."
Those interested in a change of career are asked to search for 'adult social care jobs' online.
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