Pictured: Suzanne Brown, who has worked for the Care at Home service for 22 years.
Helping and caring for others runs in the Sharp family.
Helen and James Sharp – along with daughter Suzanne Brown – all work for Falkirk Council's Care at Home service, providing assistance to the area’s most vulnerable people.
Pictured: Helen and James Sharp and Suzanne Brown
The Care at Home service – part of the Falkirk Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP) – gives practical help to the area's elderly and people in need through a network of care professionals.
Helen, James and Suzanne have clocked up an incredible 69 years of experience between them, and while the Coronavirus pandemic has its challenges, the job remains the same according to senior carer Helen:
“I love my job. I've worked in care for 27 years, with my time split between the office and working in the community. But providing care to people who need it is definitely the best part of the job.
“Delivering care in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t really changed how we do our jobs. We have always used PPE but now we're using protective masks, which can be quite unnerving for our clients. But once we explain we use them for everyone's protection, they understand the need for it.
“My husband has worked in home care for the last 20 years, though he's currently shielding because of a health condition. We’ve managed really well during the pandemic and I use the same precautions with him as I do for my clients.
“Both of my sons also used to work in care settings so caring in the community really is a family affair.”
The partnership’s inhouse Homecare Service delivered 774 packages of care in the first 8 weeks of the pandemic with 76,185 planned visits.
Recruiting now for Health and Social Care
The Employment and Training Unit is now recruiting for the Health and Social Care programme.
To find out more:
Or register your interest online: falkirk.gov.uk/traineeships