My Story:

Q: How did you get the Apprenticeship?

I seen the Apprenticeship on Ceredigion Councils social media page and really liked the sound of the job.

I decided to apply and was interviewed and offered the job. I was excited to get the chance to start a new career.

It seemed like a good way to move from college into the world of work plus you can earn and learn at the same time.

Q: Why did you chose an apprenticeship in social care?

I completed an Animal Care qualification at college and I was thinking about what to do next. It was really important to me to work in a job where I could use my caring personality. My mum works as a Care Assistant so I was lucky to be able to find out more from her.

Q: How has it benefitted you?

In the first few weeks and months, it was a little bit scary because it was all new to me. I took my time to learn the day to day jobs and get to know all the staff and residents, so my confidence grew over time. One of the big things that helped me is that everyone I work with has been very happy to pass on their experience. It’s also great to learn from the qualification and instantly put this into practice at work.

Q: What are the rewards of doing an apprenticeship in social care?

Getting to know each resident, what they like, and what they have done in their lifetime is so humbling. I enjoy making their day to day life as comfortable as possible.

Making them happy is what makes me happy at the end of a day’s work.

Q: What are your future plans?

I have nearly finished my Apprenticeship and Level 2 Health and Social Care course and I hope to carry on working at Tregerddan. I have achieved so much more than gaining a qualification as my confidence has grown since I have become part of the team at Tregerddan. We all support each other and I have learnt all kinds of different skills.

Q: Do you have any advice for young people thinking about working in social care?

The job can be challenging sometimes, but so can any job. The rewards outweigh the challenges. I like the variety of tasks, no two days are the same! I also get the chance to be creative and put on activities for the residents. If you are thinking about working in social care, I would advise you talk to a local care homes as most are happy to take volunteers to help with activities. This is a great way to get experience and see if it’s for you.