A Day in the Life #11 – Rachel’s story

The following is the eleventh in the ‘Day in the Life’ series of Bayswood Blogs. The Blogs shed light on Bayswood Care, the people who work in the company, its residents, and their loved ones. The articles aim to be transparent and show the reality of life at the Bayswood Care Group. The latest Blog is about Rachel, Deputy Manager at the Alexandra Care Home with Nursing.

It may surprise some of her colleagues to learn that Rachel has a First Class Degree in Criminology from the University of Central Lancaster (Preston). Her preference was to do a degree in Archaeology at Sheffield University, but a string of family crises meant Rachel needed to stay close to home. Having to reject Sheffield was a bitter blow, but she was determined to do the right thing, and sought out other options. The Criminology degree kept Rachel close to family members who needed her and is an unwitting clue to her future as a mental health nurse.

Rachel loves the psychology of crime and wrote her dissertation on uxoricide (husbands who kill their wives). While her main experience in the real world was not to be as extreme as dealing with murderers, the degree was indicative of Rachel’s wider interest in the subject of mental health.

Fast forward to July 2013, and Rachel was, once again, under immense pressure in her home life, and not enjoying her job in recruitment. She knew she needed to do something more meaningful but was unsure what that might be.

That’s when fate intervened. Rachel saw an advertisement for a prescribed class of nurse, working in mental health. Rachel says, ‘I applied that very night and in a matter of days was enrolled onto the degree course, starting in January 2014.’

Between 2014 and 2017, Rachel undertook several work placements as part of the course, before working at Preston prison’s mental health wing, conducting mental health screening. Rachel enjoyed the job role until the prison was privatised and, she believed, the importance of mental health was marginalised by the new regime. Again, fate stepped in.

Rachel likes walking (she does over 20,000 steps every day of here life) and one such walk took her past a big new care home called Finny House. Rachel says, ‘I saw an advert for nurses outside the home and decided to apply.’ Her application was successful, and a new career commenced on the Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) Unit. Rachel was in here element. Her close understanding of mental health issues made her a natural within the care home environment.

Within three months of starting Rachel was promoted to Unit Manager, but a ‘lack of further opportunities’ within the home forced Rachel to move onto another care home as Night Manager, before becoming Deputy Manager.

Rachel had been at the home less than three months when, in March 2020, Covid-19 hit. Rachel helped guide the home through the crisis despite ‘government legislation continually changing’.

Rachel’s understanding of psychology comes to the fore again, as she describes the mental impact of residents not seeing their families during lockdown. She points out that residents with dementia didn’t understand why their loved ones never visited, but many were aware they weren’t receiving visits and felt forgotten.

The comment is insightful and Rachel says, ‘We must be sympathetic to the “activities of daily living”. It’s important we have a positive effect on residents’ well-being by anticipating their needs. There are many variations of dementia that can present, and none of them present in the same way. We must be mindful of that fact.’

Rachel’s expertise in dementia nursing extends to the finer points of care. Talking to her, I learn that a carer’s stance, their tone of voice and general behaviour around residents suffering with dementia is very important. Rachel explains, ‘It’s important that our postures are benign and seen as non-threatening by residents. I had to point that out to a carer only this morning.’

Listening to Rachel talk about mental health nursing, it is clear to me that her team of carers and clinicians can learn a lot from listening and watching Rachel at work. She understands the medical practicalities of care, but also the emotional responses required to ensure that residents feel safe and happy.

Out of work, Rachel crams her time with various passions: walking; history; Disney; music; and her dogs. She describes herself as, ‘That crazy dog woman,’ and reveals she spoils her two shiatzu dogs (Humphrey and Isla) with presents and luxury food items! They are, ‘My babies,’ she admits.

Rachel is also keen on travel and particularly enjoys visiting European cities to soak up the historical culture. She has Prague lined up for the next trip.

I conclude by asking Rachel to sum up her career in the care industry so far. She tells me, ‘Looking back at myself and seeing how far I’ve come and what I’ve learned since January 2014, I am proud of what I’ve achieved.’

‘There is no age limit to change. I changed careers at the age of thirty. If anyone is considering working in care and are motivated to make other people’s lives better, then they should consider it. Suck it and see. What’s the worse thing that can happen?’ she says.

Interview by Kelly Farrington