“Everything I thought I knew about working in social care was wrong”

Care work has its up and downs, but 20 year old Support Facilitator Zainab wouldn’t do anything else.  Here she talks to us about life, making a difference, and how young people have got it all wrong...

Well, as a communications officer, I meet a lot of people across the public sector every week, and I love shouting about their successes and experiences.  But Zainab really does stand out.  We only spoke on the phone, but her passion and compassion still struck me down through the phone line. She has such stories of how she makes a difference on a daily basis, and they all made the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention; they were so moving.

And now, thankfully, she’s on a mission to change young people’s perceptions about working in social care...

“I have to admit, even I thought that working in care would be a last option,” said Zainab so inspirationally that it was in stark contrast to the wet Tuesday afternoon. “I remember thinking when I was about 16, that I didn’t want to work as hard as carers do, and that working in care was really for those that just didn’t do well in school.

"Well how wrong I was. I did well in school and went to university and tried some jobs but there was just something missing.  I was just so unfulfilled.  And then my eyes slowly started to open."

"Applying for this job at Horninglow Bungalows is the best decision I ever made."

"15 months on, which has gone so quick because I love working there so much, and I’m building a beautiful career.

"Every day, I get to say that a resident has had a better day because of me, because I can help them find and do the activities that make a positive change in their life.

"For example, a new resident to the bungalows came, and by talking to her and her family I found out that she used a swim. So, by working together we’ve made that happen - she now swims at least once a week. She’s enjoying life again so much.”

So what does she think now about her original view that working in care was only for those with no other choice?  

“Well that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

"The irony about is that, after everything I thought about, it doesn’t feel like work!"

"It really should be seen by everyone as a professional job and career of choice, in a supportive family of colleagues.  Every day I feel so fulfilled.

"What I say to any young people about care work is – don’t judge it until you try it.  People from all walks of life are care workers.  If you want to make a difference, and I mean a real difference, being a care worker should be at the top of your list."

Be a myth buster in our campaign

When you work in care there are good and bad days, like in any other job. 

But in what other job can you say that on those bad days everyone pulls together in one big family?  In what other job can you bring your personal experience and passions in to make someone's day? In what other job can you develop and progress in so many different ways. 

If you're passionate about busting the myths that people have about working in social care, and supporting more like-minded people into the workforce, get in touch!  

Over the next few months we'll showcasing the impact that professional care workers are having and busting the myths to get more people into care work.  If you think you could stand up and help us face those myths head on, get in touch with lorna.fizor@staffordshire.gov.uk