One family I supported will always stay with me.
Their loved one was coming to the end of their life, and they wanted everything to be as peaceful and personal as possible. We were there to support not just the customer, but the whole family through an incredibly difficult time.
After they passed away, I helped the family organise the funeral. It wasn't something they expected from us, but at that moment they needed someone they trusted to help guide them through what came next.
Those are the moments that remind me why I chose this profession. Caring is about being there for people when they need you most.
I first joined Bluebird Care as a Care Assistant after having my son. I wanted to get back into work and, at the time, I saw it as a job rather than a career.
Later, I moved to a nursing home, but one of my former supervisors encouraged me to come back to Bluebird Care. Returning changed the way I saw social care. I realised there were real opportunities to learn, take on new responsibilities and build a long-term career.
Over the last ten years, I've worked in a range of roles, from Care Assistant to Carer in a nursing home, Care Assessor, Senior Supervisor, Brand Manager and now Registered Care Manager. Every role has taught me something different and kept me motivated.
Training has played a big part in my career. I've completed all of my qualifications while working at Bluebird Care, and the practical, face-to-face training gave me the confidence to put what I'd learned into practice.
Caring is a hands-on profession. It's important to have the chance to practise, ask questions and build confidence before supporting people on your own.
As Registered Care Manager, I now support both customers and colleagues. I enjoy helping people develop their own careers and making sure our customers receive the care that's right for them.
One of the biggest misconceptions about social care is that people don't realise where it can lead. I didn't either when I first started.
We need to do much more to show people the opportunities that exist in social care. There are so many different ways to build a career while supporting people to live well at home.
Looking back, I'm proud of how far I've come. What began as a way to return to work has become a career that continues to challenge me, teach me and remind me every day why this work matters.
Watch Kerry's story
Hear Kerry talk about her career journey, the opportunities she's had at Bluebird Care and why she believes more people should consider a career in social care.
Could this be your story?
Like Kerry, many of our colleagues join Bluebird Care looking for a job and discover opportunities they hadn't expected. With training, support and the chance to develop new skills, they've gone on to build rewarding careers across our organisation.
Whether you're taking your first step into care or looking for your next opportunity, we'd love to hear from you.
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Kerry Brooker
Kerry Brooker
/
South East
