After years working in a retail job she didn’t enjoy, Tammy finally decided to change the direction of her career. She’d always wanted to have a job that involved helping people, so when she saw an advert for a support worker at Trembath, Tammy applied. With no experience in care, she didn’t know what to expect, but she soon got into the swing of things. Now, after a year in the job, Tammy says she can’t imagine doing anything else.

Nurse Bethan Prothero chose to pursue a career in the social care sector over hospital nursing. She was keen to put her clinical skills to good use but to also work one-to-one with patients seeing the positive impact of her work first-hand. As part of the clinical team at Lewis Martin Court, Bethan says she gets great satisfaction by nursing disabled adults with complex needs and building strong bonds with them and their families.

David spent 13 years working on the railways but found himself looking for a new challenge when the industry was privatised. He took a job at a children’s home and stumbled upon the vocation that would change his life. 21 years, an ‘Outstanding’ rating and an award win later, he says it’s the best move he ever made.

Chef Eric took over the kitchen at Fairholme in 2017 after 31 years as Head Chef at the University of Northumbria. He was excited about revolutionising the menu at the home, introducing the residents to a world of flavour and teaching them to cook. Three years on, Eric now oversees the menus for four homes, has written a recipe book and picked up the title of Best Chef in the North East at the British Care Awards in 2019. He tells us why he loves sharing his passion for cooking with residents and colleagues.