Unexpected Carers

Janice joined Whitman Labs in 1982, working as an operator on a factory line to support her young family after her husband was made redundant.

Believing she was only there temporarily, she soon realised her ambition to learn and advance. The company invested in her education, supporting her through college to improve her writing and computer literacy. Over the next 40 years, she worked her way up from night shifts to managing day shifts, eventually overseeing 200-300 people with shift managers reporting to her. "I loved it," she said.

When the company restructured in 2024, she was offered a role in compliance – an area where she could put her qualifications to work, but one that would take her away from working with people, the part of her job she enjoyed the most. After a holiday to consider her options, Janice chose to take a payout and retire from Whitman Labs.

Still full of energy and knowing she had more to give, she took a few masterclasses in baking and briefly explored starting a cake business before realising it wasn’t a viable option.

Recognising that she still had more to give, she applied to work for Right at Home Havant & Petersfield. "It was scary at the start, working in such a new environment, but I shadowed so many lovely people during my training and found I wanted to keep learning more," she said.

Her thirst for knowledge and people skills stand her in good stead as a carer. Her favourite part of the job? "Bringing positivity into people's lives," she said. "I can't wait to go to work 

Angie is also no stranger to working with people. She started her career as a hairdresser and moved into retail 12 years later, where she worked in various roles from the shopfloor to head office at B&Q. After 25 years, Angie was made redundant earlier this year and found herself searching for a new job.

“Redundancy gave me the push I needed to make a change,” she explained. “I was looking for something that would be more fulfilling, somewhere I could get to know new people and have the opportunity to get out and about. I didn't want a job where I stayed in one place each day.”

Angie was also drawn to the positivity of the team. “It was such a change from the retail environment, which can be very toxic,” she said. “Everyone at Right at Home is friendly, there is so much support, positivity and passion for the work we do.”

Having worked with people of all ages in her previous roles, Angie learned not to make assumptions or judgements and to be patient with people – all skills she brings to her work as a carer.

She loves working with a variety of clients, who all have different memories to share – whether distant memories from their past or bonding over a song. “My first day with a new client, she was quite quiet.

When I came back the next day she laughed as I hummed while I worked, asking if I was trying to sing,” she remembered. “I played her the song I was humming – Elvis singing Unchained Melody – and she smiled the most beautiful smile, lifting my mood and breaking the ice.”