Sian Jones joined Denham Manor Care Home as a Carer just over three years ago. Since then, her career in care has gone from strength to strength. With her passion for caring for the elderly coupled with support from the company, ambitious Sian has achieved a National Care Award along with gaining new qualifications in care – and she is enjoying her job as much today as she did all those years ago.
We caught up with Sian one year on from winning the prestigious National Care Award to see what has changed…
When Sian won National Carer of the Year Award in 2021, the judges stated that ‘Sian showed that she has developed a strong bond with her residents, forming relationships that has really made a difference to them’. They added that they ‘could really feel her enthusiasm for her role’.
One year on, it is clear to see Sian continues to maintain and create strong bonds and relationships with her residents.
A career in care wasn’t originally part of Sian’s plan; “I decided to go into care as I needed to earn a wage whilst I was at university and then I just ended up really really enjoying it.” Alongside the person-centred care she delivers, Sian – who holds a Masters in Composing Music for Film, now has a thirst for developing her career in care and since the awards, Sian has been supported by the company, colleagues and her Manager to progress.
With the support of her managers, she has completed her Care Home Assistant Practitioner Training (CHAP) enabling her to evolve from a Health Carer to Care Home Assistant Practitioner at Denham Manor Care Home, Buckinghamshire.
“As a Care Home Assistant Practitioner, I provide support to our nurses. I have the extra responsibility and training to administer medication, take blood pressure, change simple wound dressings, developing care plans and liaising with families.”
Assured by City & Guilds and delivered by Aria Care’s internal Learning & Development Team, the CHAP programme focuses on the skills colleagues, like Sian, require to work alongside their nursing colleagues which allows them to take on additional responsibilities to support our homes to bring the best care possible. By creating this development pathway for our Care Assistants and Senior Care Assistants, we can enhance our colleague’s leadership skills and confidence. This can lead to numerous advantages, such as having a more skilled and motivated work force and most importantly develop individual careers.
CHAP delegates are also automatically enrolled onto the SVQ3 / Diploma in Health & Social Care Level 3 or equivalent – which Sian has completed.
Sian is happy to have progressed in her career. “My CHAP training is all done! I have been promoted to a Care Home Assistant Practitioner which has allowed me to go further in my career. I’m also now accredited by City & Guilds as a dementia trainer which means that I can provide dementia workshops to new colleagues.”
“Sian is passionate about supporting residents living with dementia and she’s been actively encouraging her colleagues to do the same. To further this cause, she underwent a two-day course titled ‘My World’ to become a dementia trainer. By mastering the course content, Sian is now equipped to conduct the ‘Living in my World’ City & Guilds assured workshop, which aims to enhance her colleagues’ understanding of caring for those living with dementia.” Nicola Smith, Dementia Training Manager at Aria Care
As well as the career development, Sian feels that she is privileged to be in a position to deliver care. “You make some really lovely bonds with our residents. You know at the end of the day this is their home, so you see them like family.” When asked what care from the heart means to her, Sian said, “Actually caring. Just being a nice person and understanding how lucky and privileged we are to be doing what we are doing for our residents.”
For more information about working at Aria Care, visit our Careers section.
