Are you wondering what it is like to work as a man in care? Take it from our Quality Champion – Max.
Birtley House Nursing Home is a unique care home in the heart of the Surrey Hills. With a long history of care, Birtley continually scores highly on carehome.co.uk and Google with its excellent reviews and testimonials from its residents.
At the heart of the home is a team of loyal nursing and caring staff who help to enhance the lives of Birtley House residents.
In what is predominantly a female industry, our Surrey born and bred Max brings a new dimension to the care team that both our male and female residents love.
Find out what Birtley’s Quality Campion has to say about his chosen career in healthcare…
When did you first realise that social care was the industry for you?
“I was coming to the end of my college course, which was uniformed public services, and a friend asked me what I was going to be doing after we had finished. At the time I hadn’t thought too far ahead and was just looking forward to a summer off. However, he mentioned that his mother was a sister at a local hospital, and I thought this line of work might be a good fit for me.
I decided to take up the opportunity and went for a position as a Healthcare Assistant which I was accepted for. After the first shift I wasn’t sure if the line of work was for me. As the days went on, I became more and more comfortable and confident. The support of an amazing team helped me to grow and after a few months, I knew that I wanted to make a career out of helping others.”
Where did you train to work in care?
“My first form of training was at Milford Hospital where I learned on the job. After my first year of working there I decided to undertake an access to Nursing Level 3 Extended Diploma at Guildford College. I felt that I was capable of more and wanted to further my career. I was then accepted onto a nursing degree course at Oxford Brookes University. Unfortunately, I had to leave the course due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, however, this did not dampen my passion for care. I went on to work at several other hospitals locally such including the Royal Surrey and Haslemere Community Hospital. ”
How did you hear about Birtley House?
“I’ve known about Birtley House for a good number of years now. With grandparents in Bramley, I always passed Birtley on my way to visit them. I remember peering down the long drive, inquisitively from a young age. My parents and grandparents had told me that my Great Grandmother was cared for at Birtley and how they held the home in high regard. ”
How long have you worked at Birtley House?
“I started my role at Birtley House in September of 2022, so I’ve been here for just over a year and a half now and look forward to being able to provide excellent levels of care for all residents in the future. ”
Do you remember your first day at the nursing home?
“I remember that it was a beautiful July day when I first visited Birtley House for my interview. I was blown away by the magnificent grounds. Even though I had driven past the care home so many times, I was unaware of what sat beyond Birtley’s drive.
I was interviewed by nurses, Rudo and Manisha. The weather was so nice that the interview took place outside in the Birtley gardens. One thing I took away that day was how friendly and approachable the staff were. That, and how the incredible house and grounds were! ”
What does your role as a Quality Campion Carer involve?
“My role as Quality Champion involves all aspects of a resident’s health and wellbeing, be that physical, emotional, or spiritual. I work on the floor with the care team, delivering exceptional care to our residents with the support of a truly fantastic team.
Doing 12-hour shifts, we are with most of our residents from the moment they wake up until they want to go to bed. I support our residents with the tasks during the day that they may need help with. This could be but is not limited to, assistance with all aspects of personal care, assistance with meals, taking residents out for appointments and generally providing support. ”
What do you enjoy most about working in care?
“It’s a treat to take residents outside in these fantastic surroundings when the weather allows. I’ve never worked in a setting like this before. It makes such a difference to the mood of staff and residents alike.
But the most enjoyable part of my role is being able to make a difference to people’s lives. Listening to residents and providing support is hugely rewarding. Meeting new people and learning new ways to provide the best levels of support is of constant interest to me. By working on the floor, I get to meet and work with so many amazing people. And hearing about the amazing stories and lives of residents is nothing but a privilege. ”
What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?
“I am very fond of being outdoors. When I’m not at work I get most of my enjoyment from being out and about – be that on my mountain bike or on a dog walk. I have two dalmatians!
I like to stay active when outside of work and get a lot of pleasure from going to the gym on a regular basis. Whilst I may not be very good at it, another of my passions is cooking. I especially enjoy cooking on days off when visiting my girlfriend; we will put some music on and try to come up with an interesting meal – usually unplanned!”
Questions answered by Max | Male Caregiver at Birtley House Nursing Home.
Are you looking at a career in Care? Visit our Job Vacancies page today to see what we have to offer.
Birtley House is a private nursing home in Surrey. Family-run for over 90 years, Birtley House offers exceptional private nursing care. If you are interested in finding out more about Birtley House Nursing Home, please email: info@birtleyhouse.co.uk or call 01483 892055
