A single mum started working in the care sector just to make some money during her college holidays is in the running for a top award.
Rebecca Griffiths enjoyed the work so much that after she secured her degree she forgot about being a teacher and decided to make a career in care.
Now, ‘Becca has now been shortlisted in the residential care practitioner category, sponsored by Barchester, in the Wales Care Awards.
The Wales Care Awards recognise the unsung heroes by rewarding the best in the caring professions. October 21 at Cardiff City Hall is the profession’s “Oscars” night, run in association with Care Forum Wales, the organisation which represents more than 500 care homes and independent care sector organisations.
Born in Acrefair, where her parents still live, Becca moved to Bromsgrove in Worcestershire to study for a degree in early childhood studies, with a view to becoming a teacher.
“In the last year of my degree I started working in a care home for a bit of money, but after a couple of weeks I really liked it and I’ve been ‘in care’ ever since,” said Becca.
“I really enjoyed spending time with the residents,” said Becca, who returned to Wrexham to live.
Single mum Becca took a couple of years out to bring up daughter Seren, now seven and at school, and then went to work as a carer in Pendine Park care organisation’s Highfield nursing home, where she is now senior care practitioner.
“A major part of my role now is preparing person centred care plans. I sit and talk to the patient and their families, finding out about that person, what they used to do and what their hobbies were, perhaps trying to get them interested in that hobby again.
“It’s nice finding out about a person and helps you look after them in a better way when you know what they like and what makes them happy. If I were in a home there are ways I would want to be treated, and that is the way I approach everyone else.
“It can be taxing with Seren so young, but the hours fit in around her schooling and I’m lucky in having a lot of support from my family,” she said.
Becca has her NVQ 2 and 3 in care and Level 3 in customer services and has almost finished her assessor award which will enable her to assess candidates for the diploma in health and social care.
“I was really shocked when I was nominated,” said Becca, who will be taking sister Hayley – also a Pendine employee at the Hillbury residential home – to the awards ceremony at Cardiff.
Becca’s manager Tracey Smith, who nominated her, said: “Becca has proved herself to be motivated, committed and passionate and never fails to deliver high standards of care to all residents.”
Last December she was appointed to a role which involves helping new residents settle in, a role “she has thrown herself into” said Tracey.
Mario Kreft MBE, the Honorary Chief Executive of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.
“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.
“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their achievement.”
