My Care Journey - Louise Smith

• February 27, 2023

My Journey In Care

As a young child I always had an interest in 'older people'. I spent most of my spare time with my Great Gran in Lease Hill nursing home, I was always intrigued on how the 'old people' reacted to me, a young girl around the age of 8, bouncing around, laughing and wanting to help.

They always seemed to have what I call now a 'sad smile'. Happy to see me bouncing about, but sad that their days of doing this are no more.

As I grew up, I found myself still engaging with older people when working as a Saturday girl in a shop in Old Town (owned by my grandmother), the shop was a traditional haberdashery, selling traditional ladies clothes, pinnies, wool, ladies hats and gloves etc.

I believe this was my 'calling' - to work in an industry that helped people on their journey.

I started in a care home, way back in the early 90s, and it was a very new typed of work that was progressing from Home Helps to a recognised role that had a different approach.

It was on this journey that my passion for supporting people and making someone's life better really stepped in.

The role I had as a carer progressed with completing relevant qualifications, such as an NVQ both 2 & 3, eventually completing Level 5 in Leadership and Management, something I would never have considered doing outside of an educational setting, but this helped me achieve further career achievements and I progressed to become a Training Manager for care, another role that I could really show the passion for improving standards, as I had hands-on experience of the pitfalls and challenges that we all face in the role of care workers.

Ensuring staff had the correct training and understanding of the role was the best part of my job as a trainer, and sharing ideas and 'tips of the trade' to improve the quality of the lives of the people we support, but also the staff, giving them the confidence to do a great job.

During this time a poem called See Me (Unknown Author) was doing the care scene rounds, and to this day I can recite (almost) word for word, as this was exactly what I saw, as a young girl back in Lease Hill nursing home!

See Me

What do you see, nurses, what do you see?

Are you thinking, when you look at me -

A crabby old woman, not very wise,

Uncertain of habit, with far-away eyes,

Who dribbles her food and makes no reply,

When you say in a loud voice - "I do wish you'd try".

Who seems not to notice the things that you do,

And forever is losing a stocking or shoe,

Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding, the lond day to fill.

Is what you're thinking, is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse, you're looking at ME.

I'll tell you who I am, as I sit here so still;

As I rise at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters, who love one another,

A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet.

Dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet;

A bride soon at twenty - my heart gives a leap,

Remembering the vows that I promised to keep;

At twenty-five now I have young of my own,

Who need me to build a secure, happy home;

A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,

Bound to each other with ties that should last;

At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,

But my man's beside me to see I don't mourn;

At fifty once more babies play 'round my knee,

Again we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,

I look at the future, I shudder with dread,

For my young are all rearing young of their own,

And I think of the years and the love that I've known'

I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel -

'Tis her jest to make age look like a fool.

The body is crumbled, grace and vigor depart,

There is now a stone where once I had a heart,

But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells.

And now and again my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys, I remember the pain,

And I'm loving and living life over again,

I think of the years, all too few - gone too fast,

And accept the stark fact that nothing can last -

So open your eyes, nurses, open and see,

Not a crabby old woman, look closer, nurses - see ME!

Social care can open so many opportunities to progress if you want to, and still be respected massively if you choose not to.

I continued on my journey and progressed to becoming a Registered Care Manager (RM), a role I was very proud of.

I decided to change course after many years in the role of RM but wanted to remain in the industry. I started working for First City in 2019 and have developed in my role around Quality, Compliance and Customer Experience Lead.

This role is a supportive role to the people who use the service, our staff and the business, ensuring we continue with learning, and improving the lives of the people of Swindon and Surrounding areas.

Nearly 30 years on it is still a career path I would highly recommend, as those who have known me and have worked with me other the years will know, the memoirs book is still on my list!