Christmas is a time for family, for tradition and celebration. At CarePlanner we have a tradition of our own: the 12 Carers of Christmas is about celebrating home carers for the amazing work they do year round. While health care is about keeping people alive, social care is about keeping people living their best lives. Our 12 carers are uplifting examples of the power and purpose of home care, and show how critical and valuable a service it is for all of our communities.
Rain, hail, sleet, or snow: when it comes to delivering top quality care there are some people who can’t be stopped, even by the elements themselves!
When facing such primordial forces our 12th carer of Christmas, Nicola Chapman, responds in kind. Armed with her trusty Land Rover and armoured with her spirit Nicola has plunged into heavy snow falls and pounding squalls to help deliver her colleagues to their isolated service users.
This dedication comes as no surprise to her care coordinator at Blue Ribbon Community Care, Katie Barwell, who has watched Nicola develop as a carer since she joined Blue Ribbon last December.
“I have worked alongside Nicola for over a year now,” says Katie. “In the last year I have noticed that Nicola has gone above and beyond for her service users. She has built strong relationships with her service users and takes pride in her job. Nicola puts the needs of her service users first and this is reflected in the praise Nicola has received from her service users.”
“I have worked alongside Nicola for over a year now,” says Katie. “In the last year I have noticed that Nicola has gone above and beyond for her service users. She has built strong relationships with her service users and takes pride in her job. Nicola puts the needs of her service users first and this is reflected in the praise Nicola has received from her service users.”
“Nicola has shone out within my team and has fast progressed into the committed carer that she is today”
Over this past year Nicola’s skills have gone from strength to strength, rising to match a spirit that was already attuned to the necessities of providing care. Nicola has also grown more confident with each passing month, growing into her role as a community carer and growing because of it as well. Her registered manager, Sharon Bindley, is lavish with her praise:.
“Nicola has shone out within my team and has fast progressed into the committed carer that she is today,” says Sharon. “When Nicola first came to Blue Ribbon she felt that she didn’t have very much confidence, but through determination and commitment to her job role as a community carer Nicola has now found her way in the job that she loves doing.”
It seems, even when she isn’t coming in to work on her days off, Nicola can’t stop going out in the world and helping people to get back out in theirs! As well as being a committed Land Rover driver, . she also volunteers with Help for Heroes in her spare time, helping wounded veterans and their families to rebuild and take control of their lives.
That is the power of care, and it is always found in the people who are a part of it. Many carers can relate to the experience of growing through their responsibilities, as well as into them, and how providing care truly can be one of the most rewarding occupations a person can have.