Real stories from real people
Find out if you have what it takes from our case studies below.
Matt Milum
Team Leader
Matt is the pre-school Team Leader ar Abacus Day Nursery in Swansea
Amanda Calloway
Childminder
After having children, Amanda was looking to move away from her career in banking. She chose childminding because of the flexibility it offered. Alongside her childminding career, Amanda studied for her degree in Early Years whilst gaining a level 5 management qualification.
Janet Smith
Shared Lives Carer
Janet has been a carer for 21 years and is currently caring for two brothers Medwyn and Gareth. Living with Janet means they get to live as independently as possible, as part of a community.
Amy
Care Home Worker
Amy, a carer from Glan Rhos Care Home, believes that speaking a little bit of Welsh in her role is very rewarding and fulfilling.
Uchenna Chukwuoma
Care Worker
Uchenna came from Nigeria to start working as a delivery driver because he enjoys speaking to people. But after he discovered the WeCareWales website, he started his career as a care worker and uses his people skills to improve the lives of those in his care.
Lisa Newall
Training Advisor
Lisa works for North Wales Training as a work based learning assessor for health and social care. Lisa completed her own apprenticeship qualification and is now encouraging others to follow that same invaluable route.
Sue John-Evams
Assistant Team Manager Fostering
Sue left school at sixteen to become a nursery nurse and worked both in mainstream and special needs education for a local authority. Sue then decided she wanted to go into social work, so spent time working as an assistant social worker for several years in a child protection team. She then undertook a social work degree and a masters’ degree while working and is now an Assistant Team Manager for a local authority Fostering Service. Managing a small team who support recruitment, retention and training for local foster carers.
Q1. What qualities do you think you need to work in care?
Empathy is a key quality and having a genuine interest in people and wanting them to achieve in life. Also caring about people and wanting to make a difference to people’s lives is so important.
Q2. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Definitely working with the children and families, especially foster children and foster families and foster sons and daughters. Equally so working with a wide range of professionals. It is a very interesting and rewarding role.
Job vacancies in care
Wales needs more social care workers.
Many people working in social care have made the jump from jobs such as hospitality or retail. Use your transferable skills and apply for roles in your area now.