Looking after home care clients like family – Eva’s story

We would like to introduce you to Eva, field care supervisor for Radfield Home Care Bexhill, Hastings and Battle.

Tell us about your previous work/career background.

My background in care started when I began work at a care home, where I stayed for almost five and a half years. The needs of the clients there were very varied and I am used to working with those with complex needs. I am experienced in providing care and support for clients with dementia and also those with physical disabilities. I also used to care for people needing end of life care too, which has given me quite a rounded experience of working as a care professional.

What has inspired you to want to be involved in the adult social care sector?

When I was 17 and got a job as a cleaner with a local care home, pretty soon after the manager remarked how caring I was with the clients and she asked if I wanted to be a carer! I used to work nights as a care worker and then go to college in the morning, where I was able to continue my leisure related course.

I completed my course but I never really enjoyed that type of leisure work and I always really loved working in the care sector, more than any other job I’d done. My thinking was also that, being from Greece, my grandparents were extremely important to me and I knew I couldn’t help them there and so I wanted to do this for someone in the UK instead. If I can help I will, that’s my default attitude to life really.

Why Radfield Home Care Agency?

Radfield really stood out in comparison with the old care company I used to work for. I realised very quickly how different it was to my old place of work, my old company didn’t really treat their carers very well. They wouldn’t listen to their carers and made them feel horrible which was really sad. When I joined Radfield as a home care assistant it was immediately obvious that they really do care. This showed in my first couple of weeks in the job as they knew I wasn’t familiar with the Hastings area and they made sure they were there to support me.

The good thing with Radfield is that their care professionals are actually motivated to be there because they all want to provide excellent care.

How did you get to hear about the job opportunity?

I found the position when I was searching on Indeed. I actually had an interview with another care company, but when I saw all the positive reviews Radfield had, I knew I wanted to apply for them instead.

What are your career aspirations?

Having trained other carers in my last job, I would be keen to do this at Radfield and have recently had the opportunity to raise this with my management. I’d really like to progress at Radfield and to help others, perhaps being able to offer some of my experience in areas such as end of life care.

It’s always quite easy and comfortable to have those conversations about training at Radfield and they are always really kind – they say if you need help you only have to give us a call. You can ring for guidance at any time, even at night, you’re never on your own.

What do you love most about your job and working for Radfield Home Care?

Being a caregiver is all about making the client happy and enabling them to enjoy every single day of their life, and at Radfield I have the time and support to do this. When I worked in my last residential care home the clients often looked as if they had no future and this couldn’t be more different from the home care support services we offer at Radfield.

Radfield makes the clients feel special, in particular, 3 weeks ago they went around and bought every client an ice cream as a treat. They are so nice, who wouldn’t want to work for people who care that much? They are not a company focused on profit, they are about making the client happy first and foremost.