WeCare Wales Ambassador Blogs: Jamie Haddock

My role

I am a Community Support Assistant in the Community Support Team in Flintshire.

What I love about what I do

One of the things I love about my job is the satisfaction of helping individuals who need it the most. Some people come out of the hospital and just need a bit of encouragement to get back to their routines. Others need full support, which we are more than happy to provide.

How I got to where I am

I came into this job after being made redundant during lockdown. My wife had cancer, and I cared for her. Then I saw a job advertised by the council on social media. No experience was needed, and full training was provided. I applied out of curiosity and was told I had the right attitude and values to become a carer. Since then, I have enjoyed working with those who need it the most.

The moment I’ll always remember

There is one individual we support who was told he would never walk, communicate, or do anything for himself again. We started with reablement, and with the right support and care package, he now gets out of bed, communicates with us, and lives a comfortable and normal life. These outcomes make me very proud to be in the care profession.

Personal growth

I used to have quite bad social anxiety. Working with vulnerable individuals has helped me a lot. I now have a job where I feel useful in society, and this has made me more confident in myself.