A Day in the Life # 15 – Denise’s Story
Welcome to the 15th of our ‘Day in the Life’ Series of Blogs, written to provide an open and honest account of the care industry. For the 15th interview, I speak to one of the two receptionists at the Alexandra Care Home with Nursing – Denise.
Denise joined the company in June 2023, following an incredible run of 27 years working at the Sacred Heart Pre-School in Thornton, north of Blackpool. Denise had joined the school as a volunteer back in 1993 but subsequently took her NVQ Level 4 in Child Development and was invited onto the paid staff.
One would imagine leaving Sacred Heart was a major wrench after 27 years, but Denise explains that the last seven years was spent as a manager, so her job had become mainly administrative. Denise says, ‘It was the right time for me to leave. I had stabilised the school and regained its charitable status following a fraud committed by a treasurer seven years ago. It was important for me focus on the financial well-being of the school, but my management role removed me from the floor caring for children. I left Sacred Heart knowing that my friends and colleagues have secure jobs because the school is in a great place to face the future.’
Denise saw the advert for a receptionist at the Alexandra and immediately applied. To understand the attraction of a receptionist position, one must go back to the beginning of Denise’s career. Denise was born in Scunthorpe and lived in Barton-on-Humber. For those who don’t know, Barton is on the south bank of where the Humber bridge crosses the river. After taking a relevant college course, Denise started applying for her dream job as a hotel receptionist. The process was disheartening, however, because her applications were all rejected because she had no experience – ‘A real catch-22 situation. How can you get experience without an initial chance to gain that experience?’ Denise says.
Luckily Denise found a job at the Humber Bridge Hotel near where she lived, which is where she met her husband, Philip, who was in the Royal Engineers. Philip’s next posting was to a barracks in Farnborough, which is where Denise entered a new career working in retail for Dorothy Perkins. Denise stayed in the retail sector during her husband’s next moves to Cambridge and Chepstow – which is where the first of her two daughters were born.
A new posting in Berlin followed but, by 1993, the Cold War had thawed, leading to army bases being closed in Germany. Denise’s husband decided to take an early opportunity to leave the army, with a final posting near Manchester. Denise and Philip and their two children lived in Cleveleys before buying a house in Thornton. It was at that point Denise volunteered to work at the Sacred Heart School.
Coming full-circle to today, Denise is finally in the role she wanted after college. Although not a hotel, Densie loves the interaction with different people at the Alexandra Care Home and says, ‘It’s funny that I’ve now found the receptionist job I always wanted. It is also funny that I have moved from looking after children aged 2 – 4 years old to working with the elderly. Life does throw up these coincidences and contradictions!’
I ask Denise what she likes about the receptionist role, and she says, ‘I love the job! The Alexandra has a family atmosphere and everyone is so friendly. I like meeting visitors, but I particularly enjoy talking to the residents. Many have great stories which they tell them with wit and humour – I love that!’
Out of work, Denise loves walking, painting by numbers and reading. Her favourite walks are local ones along the Stanah River and on Cleveleys front – Denise suggests I Google the story of Mary’s Shell on the beach.
Denise’s favourite reading material includes romance, thrillers and true stories. I ask Denise how she got into colouring by numbers, which struck me as an unusual hobby. Denise says, ‘During Covid we thought we’d have more time, although I did end up caring for ‘key children’, when lockdown began we decided to give colour by numbers a whirl. I have now created over dozens of pieces and really enjoy the process – and even get commissions from my friends.’
What comes over strongly with Denise is her compassion and positive attitude. Denise cares deeply about the residents, ‘When you look at their lives and listen to them talk about some of their personal life struggles, it is only right that they spend the twilight of their years being cared for – they deserve that!’
That is a lovely sentiment to leave the interview on and it is great to be able to welcome Denise into the Bayswood Care Group.
Interview by Kelly Farrington