Tim & Alex – Month 2: Getting Our Care Stripes

First year in the life of Farnham Home Care Franchisee – 2 Months In. 

Tim and Alex

Month 2: Getting Our Care Stripes 

Last month I wrote about what attracted Alex and me to the Home Care industry and how we’re taking new steps as new Guardian Angel Carers franchise owners. This month, Alex, my Wingman, and I have hit the ground running to learn and earn our caring stripes.

If we thought the New Year started with a bang, February offered no let-up. We completed two weeks of accelerated business training, going through systems, rota planning, marketing and recruitment. Our minds full, we then took part in three intensive days of care training and shad-owing shifts with some amazing CareAngels.

I was lucky enough to spend those few days in the calm company of Richard Fairbrass. He came to care from looking after his wife when she was diagnosed with cancer. His generous nature and steadfast optimism, like so many carers, is inspiring. I am continually blown away whenever I ask any carer if they enjoy their job. Without exception, the reply is: ‘It’s the best job in the world’.

Ground School

Training felt very familiar, almost like being back at ground school when Alex and I first started our RAF flying training. The information came thick and fast, and on more than one occasion, it felt like drinking through a fire hose! We had so much to learn and absorb, and it kept coming. It is a process that all CareAngels go through at the beginning of their Guardian Angel career, and it needs to be completed before ‘flying’ solo.

First Flight

Next came our shadowing shifts. The preparation and apprehensions were similar to my first flight, as was the excitement and buzz of completing my first care visit. I have written a diary to record my journey that day. It simply reads: ‘Immensely rewarding’. It truly was – far beyond my expectations.

Remarkable People

The people we visited were incredible. Each had a unique story to tell. It really made me appre-ciate the lives that people have lived and how we must see beyond the ‘elderly’ person in front of us.

One gentleman we visited was an RAF Air Engineer on the Halifax bomber aircraft during WWII. Incredibly, he trained at the same place that Alex and I completed some of our flying training, at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire.

It reminded me what so many in this older generation has done and how they’ve experienced so much, often at a very young age. With each conversation, I was left with a deeper admiration than before. It was a humbling experience and spurred me on again in my commitment to giving something back through our Home Care franchise.

With all those we visited that first day, we would be the only people they saw that day, and for some, that week. The sense of loneliness is incredible. Of course, the pandemic has not helped, but for many, this was also the reality before.

The chance to be that care in action, and see first hand how we can make a positive difference to peoples daily lives is the real reward, and well, now I too can say: “it’s the best job in the world.”

Other articles

Tezlom Achieves Outstanding Ranking in the Elite Franchise 100 Awards, Climbing 7 Places!

Tezlom, a pioneering leader in Healthcare Recruitment is proud to announce its impressive achievement in the highly prestigious Elite 100 Awards. The company has risen an impressive 7 places this...
Read more

Visiting Angels awakens the greatness within at the annual conference

In-home care franchise Visiting Angels has wrapped up another year with a grand celebration of network-wide achievements. While franchisees, carers and the head office team were invited to reflect on...
Read more

Visiting Angels celebrates trifecta of award wins

Visiting Angels, the home care brand renowned for its pioneering ‘carer-centric’ approach, is celebrating an exceptional hat-trick of awards – cementing its reputation as an industry leader. The accolades highlight...
Read more

CEO of the BFA (British Franchise Association) writes to Rachel Reeves regarding NI contributions increase

Pip Wilkins, CEO of the BFA (British Franchise Association), has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to express her ‘grave concern’ following the recent budget. The UK...
Read more