Every Day is Different

Article by Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care at DHSC | Working in adult social care has been an enormous privilege and one of the highlights of my life. It is not always easy but helping others and being part of a care profession is rewarding in so many ways.

Every Day is Different
Article by Professor Deborah Sturdy OBE, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care at DHSC

Working in adult social care has been an enormous privilege and one of the highlights of my life. It is not always easy but helping others and being part of a care profession is rewarding in so many ways.

I always wanted to be a nurse for as long as I can remember and never considered doing anything else. I wanted to spend my career doing something which had a positive impact on other people’s lives. I know many thousands of others feel the same way. Whether working in a care home or other people’s homes you have the chance to not only improve the lives of others but to meet incredible people who start as colleagues but soon become lifelong friends.

I remember a woman with learning disabilities who I was looking after in a long stay hospital. She had been living on a dementia ward which was not the right place and dreamed of a home with a garden. By listening to her dream as a person and not just a patient, we were able to move her into a care home with the beautiful garden, making her dream a reality with a person-centred approach to care. Each and every person in adult social care will have their own similar stories and it is not just a cliché to say you really do make a difference.

We all need to tell these stories in order to encourage others to take up the opportunity of a career in adult social care, which is why I am supporting the ‘Care for Others Make a Difference’ campaign. This is about getting the right people to provide nurse-led care, making dynamic clinical decisions, building skill sets and working with families. It is varied, it is challenging, and it is important. I would urge providers to back the campaign and help drive those with the right values to the vacancies.

I am humbled to be the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, and to have the chance to represent so many amazing people, to challenge misconceptions and make sure everyone realises the huge contribution we make. The pandemic has shone the spotlight on adult social care, and it is the responsibility of all those involved in adult social care to promote the opportunities.
The Government is supporting recruitment with £120million and vaccines have been offered to all residents and staff in eligible care homes. I would encourage all those in adult social care to take up the offer Рand if they have not already to get an appointment on the national booking service.

We are still experiencing a shortfall in staff within the sector. The impact of the new COVID-19 variant is being felt across the country and additional staff are urgently needed now to support the adult social care workforce where absence rates have more than doubled in recent months due to self-isolation.

After almost 40 years, I could not imagine a more fulfilling way to spend a career and have no hesitation in urging others to take up this offer and help care for and work with some incredible people.

Visit www.everydayisdifferent.com to find out more.