Family Carers

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

Inevitably, there are instances in life whereby we’re confronted by scenarios that can be difficult to overcome. Nonetheless, reacting positively and turning a challenging scenario into a positive is the mark of a truly strong-minded individual. Right at Home carer Ellis Marshall has demonstrated the core characteristics needed to excel when faced with adversity.

Since embarking on his career with Right at Home in June this year, Ellis has enjoyed a meteoric rise within the care sector and has impressed with his enthusiastic approach and empathetic demeanour. Before joining the team, Ellis worked in multiple roles, before eventually entering the care sector.

“My passion is music and I worked in a music studio; that’s what brought me up North. However, there weren’t many clients coming into the studio, so I needed a part-time job to supplement my income.

“I considered a few temporary positions and I’d worked in bars and hospitality already, so I wanted to try something a little different.”

In his youth, Ellis’ Dad suffered a brain haemorrhage and has since received support from his son and other members of the family. Ellis’ first-hand experience of how care can have a profound impact on the family members and close friends of the individual in question contributed to his enthusiasm to begin working with Right at Home.

“I’ve been looking after my Dad since the age of ten when he had a brain haemorrhage. He’s been disabled ever since.

“I’d consider myself to be someone who is caring in general, but I enjoy putting my own needs to one side and doing what needs to be done to help another person; I have a lot of empathy and I wanted to use these characteristics in my line of work.”

Despite joining the care industry at entry-level, Ellis’ enthusiasm and urge to help people in need of support has shone through in his time with Right at Home. He has incorporated the talents gained whilst caring for his Dad and used these traits to great effect, whilst assisting many of our clients.

“I’ve thrown myself right into the job and I love giving back and helping people. I’ve enjoyed looking after the more challenging clients with more profound disabilities, as opposed to nipping in for a brew with an older person.”

Since beginning work with Right at Home, Ellis has dug deep and worked hard to improve his overall standard of care. His dedication to his profession has already been recognised, with a senior role bestowed upon the devoted carer.

Many people don’t find their vocation straight away and embark on multiple ventures before homing in on their specialist area. After working in alternative roles, Ellis Marshall has seemingly found an area whereby he can implement his specialist skillsets, seizing the opportunity to turn an adverse predicament into a positive conclusion, with the added bonus of helping people in need.

“Something that David (Meanwell, Managing Director) told me when I first started in care has stuck with me: He told me that the very best carers are often the ones who have had to overcome tough personal experiences.

“My prior experience has helped me in this career; it’s prepared my mind and nothing has shocked me. Unfortunately, some people do forget how much things can impact a whole family, as well as the person in care. Such circumstances can have a knock-on effect and I think that this is where my prior experience has been particularly relevant.”

When looking for a part-time role, Ellis was adamant that he wanted to enter the care industry. While he hadn’t worked for another care company before, Right at Home’s ethos held great appeal. For example, a minimum of one-hour is allocated to each client, during which time, carers work on their well-being, have a conversation and relate with them.

“I like the way that Right at Home encourages carers to keep our clients stimulated; I don’t just see somebody, give them their medication and feed them. We’re all human, we all have a brain and if we don’t use our minds properly, then they’ll give up on us.

“I’m interested in psychology and the holistic approach to well-being. Therefore, I always try and educate patients about the benefits of healthy eating and encourage them to exercise their minds with puzzles. That’s where Right at Home is unique, because other companies sometimes rush care, whereas we’re given a minimum time slot to spend with each person.”

Ellis Marshall has taken to the care scene like a duck to water and is a highly valued member of the Right at Home team. His passion for looking after others is complimented perfectly by his appetite to learn and prosper. Although he continues to thrive, his message for prospective carers is clear.

“Working in care is fantastic and I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with Right at Home. My message for anyone considering the care route would be that it’s not just a job that takes up time; it takes up your mental and emotional capacity. Whilst it’s extremely rewarding, the work is demanding and you need to have a positive mindset every day.

“For people hoping to be a top-quality carer, I think you have to have empathy and not sympathy. A good carer puts sympathy aside because it can impact your effectiveness as a carer and that will only hinder the client.”

Whether you’re interested in following in Ellis’ footsteps and beginning a career in care, or know somebody in need of support, please call Right at Home on 0161 791 0934 or click HERE to complete a query form.