A Day in the Life #7 – Kylie’s story
Kylie’s story is a familiar one in the care sector – the launchpad for her career in care was born out of adversity. Kylie’s mum suffered from the terminal and debilitating motor neurone disease. As a teenager, Kylie spent hours at home, helping her mum. She saw carers coming into their house and admired their expertise and selfless acts of kindness towards her mother. Sadly, Kylie’s mum passed away in 2005, but the experience convinced her that she should try out the care industry. Fifteen years later, Kylie still works in care.
Kylie says, ‘I was taking a course in beauty therapy at college, but it never seemed to fit well with who I am. I discussed it with my friends, and one flagged an opportunity to enter care in the home she worked at. I was interviewed, offered the job, and the rest is history.’
The Bayswood Groups specialist brain injury home, Brooklands, is lucky enough to have Kylie as part of its fantastic team of dedicated carers and nurses. Kylie is Senior Health Care Assistant.
‘I initially worked at Berwick House Care Home and did up to NVQ Level 3 in Care. More recently, I decided to go on and do a University Degree. It was a lot to take on as a young mum, but I wanted to back my experience up with qualifications. Ultimately, I hope to move up the scale and into management.’
Kylie joined the Brooklands Specialist Care Home with Nursing in July 2018. Brooklands Care Home is a home dedicated to caring for those with acquired brain injury and complex care requirements. Brooklands offers residents an experience tailored specifically to their needs. Kylie explains, ‘I was attracted by the prospect of working in a more specialised environment. Patients here have neurological problems and can’t help themselves, but I can.’
I get a sense that Kylie is spurred on by providing the kind of help her own mum received. I dare to ask her that question, and she confirms my thoughts – ‘We enjoy spending a lot of time with patients. Most have had major traumas resulting in brain injuries. We like talking to them, building that familiarity which means they trust me and feel comfortable. On the back of that we start to see improvements in their cognitive behaviours.’
It is interesting to hear Kylie answer on behalf of her colleagues, using the word ‘we’, rather than ‘I’ – It is clear the team at Brooklands is a solid and close-knit unit.
I ask Kylie what she enjoys the most about her job and she tells me, ‘Seeing residents who show no signs of awareness when they arrive suddenly starting to smile and interact. That’s the most rewarding part of the job here.’
The response gets to the heart of who Kylie is as a person. She is not seeking praise or the limelight. Kylie is more interested in the welfare of others and even when I ask her what she is looking forward to the most, Kylie talks about the residents and not about herself. ‘Now Covid restrictions are lifting, I want to go back to getting the residents out. Trips to the Blackpool front, to see the Red Arrows, that sort of thing,’ she says.
‘No, what about you, though?’ I ask. ‘Where do you want to head in your career?’ Kylie tells me she has an interest in occupational therapy and explains what that means to me. Once again it comes back to the theme of how Kylie would like to help others who have had something unfortunate happen to them in their lives.
Out of work Kylie loves taking her Boxer dog out for long walks. ‘We are lucky to live on the Fylde coast. It is such a beautiful and interesting area. I particularly like Witches’ Wood in Lytham. Walking the dog is my therapy,’ she jokes.
I wish Kylie well and say ‘goodbye’. I reflect on the fact that Kylie has had to work hard to gain her degree while home schooling her daughter and son through Lockdown. It shows an understated tenacity which will serve her well in life, no doubt. The overriding view I take away with me is of someone who cares deeply for others and does a fantastic job at Brooklands.
Interview by Kelly Farrington