Case studies and stories

We asked our care and support workers in Norfolk to tell us what motivates them and why they enjoy working in social care.

Read their stories, watch our videos and find your future in care.

Registered manager Joanna

Joanna moved to the UK in 2006 and was looking for a new job. She didn't have any experience in social care, but her friend told her about the job, she applied and hasn't looked back. She loves it. No two days are alike, unexpected things can happen, the residents become a big part of your life, almost like family. Joanna brought transferable skills from her retail background, including respect and good communications, and has worked her way up from care assistant to registered manager.

Senior care assistant Katie

Katie's first job was in a fast food restaurant, but she didn't really feel it gave her enough satisfaction. She wanted to work with people. She started working in Adult Social Care two years ago, with no training whatsoever. She has progressed in her career quickly thanks to all the training she received, and is now a Senior Care Assistant. She has learned all about medication rounds and wound care, and is feeling optimistic about furthering her career as a mental health nurse now she knows she has the skills and the values for the care and health profession.

Clinical lead Lizy

Lizy trained as a nurse in the Indian Army and has worked in countries all over the world caring for people before she came to the UK. As a trained nurse, she could easily have found a job working in a hospital, but instead she wanted to use her skills in the care sector. A care home setting is different to a hospital setting because you can build up much deeper relationships with the people you care for. As a Registered Nurse, Lizy could bring her skills to the care sector with ease, and was very quickly promoted to the position of Clinical Lead.

Head chef Chris

Adult Social Care companies need a wide range of staff to provide a great service for the people they look after, including chefs. And it's definitely not all blended food. Chris and his team pride themselves on producing beautiful dishes using quality food for the residents at the care home where they work. Even better is that the team of chefs don't work unsocial hours. So Chris can get home to his family at the end of every day in time for playtime, bath and bed.

Care professional experience lead Sonia

People join Adult Social Care from many different backgrounds and at different stages in their life. Sonia worked in retail before starting a career in Adult Social Care. In just three years, she's become part of the management team and is undertaking further training - all funded by her employer. In her role, Sonia still gets to spend time with clients while training professionals who really value her support. It's never too late to change career - it could be the best thing you ever do.

Support worker Gary

Gary worked in a factory all his life. He didn't really understand it when people said they loved their jobs. All that changed when he became a support worker. Before he started, he wondered if he could help change people's lives for the better, and now he knows he can AND he gets great job satisfaction. He's also getting loads of qualifications. He takes his customers out and about, to the cinema, to cafes, to health appointments, and working with Liam, he's helped him to learn how to budget and get ready to be more independent when he moves into his own flat.

Care professional Darrin

Darrin worked in office based roles for most of his career before deciding to take his transferable skills in listening and supporting people into social care. He got lots of good training from work and would recommend people becoming care professionals even if they've never worked in social care before. Darrin's job gives him flexibility around his family life and says there are lots of options available. Seeing people smile and making a difference to their lives is so rewarding and Darrin says its a wonderful job.