William Hetherington – Care Assessor

He / Him

Hello, I’m William Hetherington, and I’m a Care Assessor here at Right at Home Cheshire East. I joined the team in April 2026, so I’m one of the newer faces in the office, but I’ve been working as a Care Assessor for the best part of six years, and I’d like to think I’ve learnt a thing or two along the way.

I’ve always been drawn to work that puts me in front of people. Most of my career so far has been spent carrying out care assessments, which means a lot of time in people’s living rooms with a cup of tea, listening. That’s where you learn the job. A care plan on paper is one thing; understanding why someone wants breakfast at half seven, or why they’d rather their daughter wasn’t the one helping them wash, is another thing entirely. An assessment is really a conversation, and the better that conversation goes, the better the care that follows.

At Right at Home, I’m usually the first person a new Client and their family meet. I visit them at home, get to know them properly, and build a personalised care plan around what matters to them, not just what’s written on the referral. I then work closely with our Carers to make sure that plan comes to life on every visit. I also value that our visits are a full hour minimum and our Carers travel in their own time, so there’s genuinely time to do things properly. That makes my job easier, because I can promise a family something and know it’ll be delivered.

If I had to pick one skill that defines how I work, it’s that I’m at my best under pressure. Care doesn’t always run to a tidy schedule. A hospital discharge lands on a Friday afternoon, a Client’s needs change overnight, a family rings in a panic. I can keep a clear head when things are moving fast, and I think that’s reassuring for the people around me.

There are three things I love about this job. The first is meeting our Clients and hearing about their lives. People in their eighties and nineties have stories you’d never guess from the outside. The second is working with our Carers, especially those just starting out, and watching their confidence grow visit by visit. Some of my proudest moments have been seeing a nervous new Carer become the person a Client asks for by name. The third is working alongside the district nurses, GPs, social workers and therapists in the local community. I learn something from them most weeks, and that joined-up approach is what good home care in Cheshire East depends on.

Right at Home’s values of trust, quality, compassion and respect mean something to me. Respect in particular shapes every assessment I do. It’s the Client’s home, the Client’s routine and the Client’s choice, and my job is to make sure our support fits around that rather than the other way round.

Away from work, I live in Stockport with what can only be described as a small zoo. There’s Zeus, our husky; Oscar, my cat; Annie, our horse; and Freddie and Francesca, a pair of Australian tree frogs. Riding Annie is my favourite way to switch off. I’m also a keen camper and hiker, so you’ll often find me out on the hills with a rucksack and a flask. If I were stranded on a desert island and could take one thing, it would be Oscar. He’d complain the whole time, but I wouldn’t want him anywhere else.

I’m a friendly, positive sort who loves a good challenge, a bit of banter and working with great people. I’m always up for learning something new and getting stuck in. When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me enjoying good food, good company and making the most of life.