This month, Angela has been chatting to Chris Doyle, a Support Worker living and working in Stoke-On-Trent. Angela wanted to know why Chris started working in the social care sector, what he likes about his role with Cream Health Care and what it has been like to work on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chris is a passionate and highly experienced Care Worker with over 12 years’ experience working in the Social Care Sector. Chris initially joined the Cream Team in 2018 and took a temp to perm position in 2019 with one of our clients but after 18 months, he came back to the Cream Team as he needed more flexibility around his family commitments.
Chris is a reliable, hardworking member of the team who always helps out when he can and we are over the moon that he chose to come back as he is well respected by all of the homes that he works in. Chris is currently working with one home who have been block booking him for the last few months. We have received excellent feedback from the home and they request Chris if they have any additional shift requirements.
We are in awe of all of our staff who have worked on the frontline during COVID-19, so Angela was keen to find out from Chris how he has found it.
“Working on the frontline during the pandemic has been hard! During the first wave, I was working in a supported living service for older adults and they had a number of cases and a few of the clients sadly passed away.
“All the homes I have supported follow the government guidance and they take as many steps as possible to reduce the risk to everyone living and working in the homes. I made the decision to receive my COVID vaccination quickly once it was offered to me as I wanted to protect my wife who is vulnerable, the clients that I support and myself.”
Chris’ compassion and warmth is obvious to anyone who meets him so Angela wanted to know what made Chris start a career in care.
“My wife and I were foster carers for 16 years and when we stopped, I still felt the need to help others. So in 2009, I left my job in Asda and started to work within the social care sector and I’ve never looked back!”
Finally, Angela wanted to know what it’s like working for Cream.
“I quiet enjoy it! I like that I am able to choose to work in the services that I enjoy working at and that I can pick the shifts that I wish to work around my family life. I’m currently working 2 long days a week which is giving me the work life balance that I need. My wife and I have both had issues with our physical and mental health over the last few years and being able to have a say in the hours I work means I am happier in and out of work.
“I feel supported by the team back at base too, I know that Cream are always at the end of the phone if I need anything and I’m grateful that Cream have let me return after he took a temp to perm position.”
The door is always open for any of our staff to return, especially people like Chris!