I have worked in the advice sector for several years. In the past, I have set up a number of support systems for older people, including two befriending phone lines (one for older people and another connecting military veterans), and carried out welfare checks on clients caring for loved ones living with dementia. Those conversations made the need for direct support very clear.

There are two main areas to my work:

1. I provide advice and guidance to Freemasons and their families on all aspects of care. This includes support at home, end-of-life care, hospital discharge, and understanding how care placements are funded.
2. I administer the grant scheme available to north-west Freemasons and their families. The scheme is for those who receive Local Authority funding but are also paying third-party top-ups for care.

The most rewarding part is helping people find a way through the fog, providing clarity and making a real difference to their outcomes.

The biggest challenge is navigating the bureaucracy, which often sends people round in circles… and me into a spin!

Our Board of Trustees carried out a review and identified a gap in our services in the north-west. Since then, we have worked diligently to establish the scheme to help Freemasons and their families, and the service is now fully embedded. To date, we have supported 190 families with advice and awarded 12 grants towards the cost of third-party top-up fees.

It allows me to focus on the quality of advice, not the quantity. I can move at each person’s pace, and give them space to reflect and talk things through. Sometimes people use the service simply as a sounding board, to work out what they want to do next. If their loved one eventually moves into care, I can provide emotional support too, particularly for the person left at home, who often struggles with feelings of guilt. Many still see it as breaking a marriage vow, so I support them through the process.

I stay aware of local issues, such as cuts to Local Authority funding, in the areas I cover. I believe in the saying: “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Listening without judgement, understanding that every situation is unique, and providing people with the information they need to make their own decisions; that’s at the heart of what I do.

Separately, I support our Homes with more complex residential admissions, usually by liaising with social services and other agencies, and by preparing supporting statements for care placements.

I finished my Nursing degree in Spain in 2017. When I realised I could not find a job as a nurse in my country, I moved to the UK the following year and started working at RMBI Care Co. While waiting for my Registered Nurse PIN number, I had the opportunity to take on various roles that allowed me to learn about the management aspects of a care home, first as a Carer and Senior Carer, and then as a Senior Team Leader. Finally, on April 2022, I obtained my PIN number to work as a fully qualified Registered Nurse.

There is one Registered Nurse to support seven residents in that area at all times. We have an amazing team of Nurses and Carers with plenty of experience in dementia care for older people, and we provide tailored care for our residents. For example, our work is adapted to our residents’ needs and routines, making their choices and wishes our priority. We spend time with every resident, which is mutually beneficial: it allows us to know them better, while it helps them build a relationship with the staff and feel more at home.

When I was a Senior Carer, I learned how to manage the care team. Later on, when I became a Senior Team Leader, I had a more comprehensive approach to management: auditing, rotas, safeguarding and medication management. RMBI Care Co. provided me with all the clinical training, which allowed me to expand my knowledge. They also offer a robust clinical network where someone is always available to support Registered Nurses.

Throughout my career at RMBI Care Co., I have had continuous support from Jordi Sirera, our National Clinical Governance Lead; Emily Starkey, Clinical Lead at Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh Court, and the Home Manager, Abigail Cranston.

For example, when I applied to become a Registered Nurse, I had to pass an English test. After several unsuccessful attempts, RMBI Care Co. arranged a private English tutor for me, which allowed me to pass the test successfully. When I finally obtained my PIN number, my colleagues were very happy for me!

I enjoy the fact that our residents are well cared for. As a team, we treat residents as we would like us to be treated ourselves. Working here means that residents not only have the attention they need at all times, but also the emotional support.

I started working with RMBI Care Co. as a Kitchen Assistant in 2017, preparing food and drinks for residents and serving at meal times, whilst picking up housekeeping shifts for a few years. Then, I became an Activities Coordinator, supporting residents with activities on a day-to-day basis and taking the mobile shop round for residents so they could purchase items. After that, I became an Investigations Officer Apprentice in 2022, completing investigations for RMBI Care Co. to minimise risks to the organisation. Finally, after completing my Apprenticeship Course, I became an Investigations Officer in February 2024.

What I enjoy most about my role is being able to travel and see different RMBI Care Co. Homes, and communicate with lots of different individuals across the organisation.

I first obtained a Care Certificate and then a CIPD Level 3 HR Support Apprenticeship. To secure the latter, I did an 18-month course with Exeter College. The first year was about completing assignments, and the remaining 6 months were focused on an End Point Assessment that consisted of a Consultative Project and a Professional Discussion.

The course focused on a wide range of topics, including data use in an organisation, policies and procedures, management skills, communication techniques, and many more. Then, after completing my assignments, I worked on a consultative project in my particular field of HR and partook in a professional discussion regarding a wide range of HR-related topics that I had covered in my course.

Through hard work and a positive attitude to my work, I have managed to strive through each role that I have taken upon myself.

I would say, go for it! There are so many positive things about working in care. Knowing that you are creating a difference to someone’s life in your work is highly rewarding, with there being a great sense of community in the place where you work. There are also many different types of career progression for individuals, so there’s always room to grow, develop and learn new skills.

I started at Queen Elizabeth Court on 7 August 2018 and that day became the first day of my new and best life.

Little did I know how much my life, personally and professionally will change. It was a knowing that the Home is the best place for me and I found more than what I was looking for.

I’m grateful to celebrate that day now for the last five and a half years.

I started as a Care Assistant with little to no experience, and currently I’m one of the Team Leaders at Queen Elizabeth Court.

Generally speaking there are no typical days, nor there is a set routine as each day is different for every one of us.

There are policies and procedures that guide us through any unexpected events that might occur. We are also guided by each individual’s care needs and wishes, and we strive to provide the best care possible.

As one resident recently said to me that she feels better when we give her more than food, a hot drink, and that makes all the difference in her day.

That is a personal aim of mine, and as a Team Leader, I feel it is my responsibility to infuse that goal in every one of my colleagues no matter their designated department and responsibilities are.

Apart from constantly learning to develop or improve my skills, either from training courses, or from each other- residents, colleagues, or other healthcare professionals – I know that I can make a difference in someone’s day.

I only have to set this as my intention no matter how my day has been or what happens in my personal and professional life. Even if it is just a simple thing as having the residents smiling by the end of my shift.

We often forget that a small thing like that can be a huge thing for someone in need.

When I first started at RMBI Care Co., I took part in the experiential training programme and that brought a lot of awareness, put things into a higher perspective and it stayed with me to this day. I had a glimpse into someone else’s life as a resident depending on assistance.

With the support of RMBI Care Co., I enrolled at College Llandrillo to take my GCSEs in English, Mathematics and Biology. The iHasco training provided by the company has helped me carry out my role, as well as completing NVQ Level 3, the NHS Advanced Dementia Course, and the First Aid Course with St John’s Ambulance have made me go even further.

All of the above enabled me to see the bigger picture whilst building a strong foundation so that I can be helpful to anyone in need. I still have plenty more to learn and with every challenge I take, it is my opportunity to improve my skills whilst having a better understanding of my role and responsibilities.

First, I would say that it does not matter if you feel you have no experience, I had little to none, but I was willing. That’s all is needed in the beginning. The willingness to help others, the willingness to experience first-hand what is like to provide the best care possible whilst being part of an amazing team. Coming to Queen Elizabeth Court, it does not feel like coming to a job.

RMBI Care Co. provides the best platform to learn how to become the best Carer possible. The training, the practices and the experiences here are readily available and it is only up to you how far and deep you want to go.

Caring as a career is not for everyone you may say, but how do you know it isn’t for you until you try? I feel I am only just getting started.

I began my journey with RMBI Care Co. in 2013 as a Care Support Worker. Today, I am the Investigations Officer working nationally across all our Homes.

My dad was a Freemason and I’d attended many Masonic events to support him in his various roles. I was looking for an opportunity to join a care provider who shared the same values as me; dad recommended RMBI Care Co. and got me an application form.

Care is what I do and who I am. RMBI Care Co. gave me something I can believe in; a community where people truly care about each other. Regardless of the part we all play across the organisation, we live by a set of core values and all contribute in various ways to supporting the most vulnerable in our communities.

It has been a privilege to support our residents throughout my career. From my initial role as Care Support Worker, I moved on to become a Senior Care Support Worker, a Home Trainer, and currently the Investigations Officer, having established our recruitment process as the first Recruitment Manager for an interim period.

If developing meaningful connections with people is important you, and if you live by values that include kindness, empathy, trust, supportiveness and compassion, then you were born for a career in care. Every day is a rewarding experience, knowing that your contribution is supporting people to live their best lives. If this sounds like you, don’t hesitate to start your career in care; you bring those caring qualities and RMBI Care Co. will provide you with all the tools and skills you need to get started.

Every day is different! Sometimes, you never know what will be there to greet you when you arrive at the Home. Planning and prioritising is always a daily challenge, as best made plans can easily change at short notice with unplanned reactive works.

I really enjoy spending time with our residents and my work colleagues; it is a friendly place. I also value having a good work life balance.

RMBI Care Co. is very proactive with training and strong in this area. Apart from the mandatory ‘care home’ training, I have also completed multiple courses to help me carry out my role, such as Asbestos Awareness, Legionella, IOSH, Leadership and Development, NICEIC Electrical Replacement, City and Guilds PAT and MIDAS.

the satisfaction of seeing a happy resident when I have completed a maintenance task for them. I always remember that what might seem like a relatively small task can mean the world to one of our residents.

when we built the visitor pod during COVID and our residents were able to see their families properly for the first time in a while. It was hard work and we had to do it as quickly as possible but it was worth the effort. The residents use it constantly and are trying to convince me to turn it into a gin bar!