A new career as a Residential Childcare Practitioner
It’s great to feel like I am doing something rewarding and worthwhile, whilst having the opportunity to be trained and learn new skills
After starting a family at the age of 17, I never really had the chance to get started with a career. I love being a mum but when the opportunity came to work as a pre-school assistant, I jumped at the chance to combine my love of children whilst earning some money to support my own family. As Covid-19 took hold, I was unable to work which gave me a chance to evaluate where I was, and as my children were getting older, whether I could potentially make a change and start on a career path. I knew that working with children is what I enjoy and what I am good at and I looked at various university courses.
When I saw the advert to work with the young people at Framfield Children’s Home I thought it was fate! I had a friend who worked in a similar environment and I had always thought that it would be really interesting. I attended the interview and was thrilled when I was offered the job.
I am really enjoying my role. It is what I had thought it would be and more! Although we talked about the home and what I would be doing in the interview, I don’t think you ever know exactly what a job entails until you actually do it, and every day is different. The home is absolutely lovely, and I could not think of a nicer place to work. It is really beautiful, and you get deer, rabbits, pheasants and badgers in the grounds.
The young people we support and the other staff members are very friendly. We all work together as one big team and this was particularly true when we had Covid in the home. I feel like I am bonding with the girls, even on my first day they opened up to me a bit. Although there’s lots to think about and paperwork and meetings, I feel just like I am their Auntie or big sister, I take them to school, college and clubs. It is just like a ‘normal’ family home. On a Friday night we have film night, hot chocolate, pampering sessions with face and hair masks. and now that the Covid restrictions have gone I love taking them out and about!
While spending time getting to know the girls, I noticed that they had a curiosity in the night sky as they seemed to enjoy spending time laying on the grass, looking up at the stars. This took me back to one of my favourite childhood memories, a time when my sister and I would enjoy looking at the night sky with our Dad while he pointed out stars and told us stories about them. To encourage their enjoyment, curiosity and learning, we encourage them to do this regularly and I’ve made them their own personal ‘Star Gazing Activity Books’
It’s great to feel like I’m doing something rewarding and worthwhile, whilst having the opportunity to be trained and learn new skills. The in-house training team are lovely and I am really pleased to have been able to study for my Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare whilst doing a job I love. It felt like a great achievement for me when I passed my diploma.
Although I loved child minding, I really feel like I made the right decision to make the move to Framfield Children’s Home. Although you are on the go all the time and you have to have your wits about you, the pro’s definitely out way the cons!
