You Care, I Care

My guest today is someone I’ve worked with for many years and has become a good friend.

Marita Prosko has had an interesting career in care. She started out as a carer and has moved onwards and upwards, as you’ll hear.

Marita moved to the UK in 2008 and initially did odd jobs before getting a job working in domiciliary care in Bristol assisting with recruitment of carers. But she soon learned that working in the field of care if you can’t find anyone to cover a shift, you end up going to do the work yourself, so she learned very quickly on the job.

Being the person she is, Marita has gained more and more knowledge and experience over the years working in recruitment, supplying support and care workers for a range of different clients and situations.

When working for a larger organisation, she had to coordinate the care, - one of the hardest jobs there are. For a start you need to be incredibly well organised and Marita was and still is excellent at this, even though she didn’t enjoy it as much as other parts of her role.

Always aiming to grow her own skills and challenge herself, Marita went on to become a registered manager, receiving her diploma in October 2022.

Marita’s own credibility working within care is very important to her, and I know from working with her, how good she is at being able to recruit the right people for the right position.

You can find out more about Janet and Shreeve Care Services at www.shreevecareservices.co.ul 

Today I have the pleasure of welcoming Hannah Edwards, who is the director of Empowered VA Services.

Before setting up her VA business, Hannah worked in care from 2012 until COVID.  She started as a support worker, was promoted to team leader and then a senior team leader over time.  When she made the decision, she wanted to grow her VA business, she moved to a care company which meant she could work shifts as and when needed.

Sadly, not only did COVID hit, but also growing health issues of her own forced her to give up the care work, which she enjoyed.

Hannah talks about being diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and how it affects her life, every single day.  Also, she explains just how much medication she has to take, plus the side effects – when she remembers.

Talking about her VA business, Hannah shares a wonderful Barbie analogy, which leads on to her gaining her Business Degree earlier this year.

We also have a conversation about ADHD and the fact that many of us may have aspects of this. Hannah’s doctor thinks she may also have aspects of it – as she is always on the go, although she does not have the hyperactivity, which other people who we both know, do exhibit.

Hannah also talks about growing up and being underestimated for her abilities – which again, many of us are, purely because of where we come from – but the positive being, we can all achieve.

Find out more about Hannah Edwards at https://empoweredvaservices.co.uk/

My guest today is making a very welcome, second visit.  Last time, Yusuf talked about how he started his business and today he talks about the challenges he continually faces in his care business - which is supported living.

One of the biggest challenges Yusuf faces in his business is the procurement of contracts from local authorities. He talks about how frustrating it is when he invests in accommodation, training his staff and preparing a property for new clients, but then the local authorities take far too long to respond, and often go for the cheapest option of provider.  

He has two properties that have been available for a long while, and they’ve been offered to different local authorities, but they say the accommodation is overpriced.
There are a lot of care providers out there, often with inexperienced and non-specialist staff, but the authorities don’t seem to care; they just want the cheapest.

Also, as a business, Bosun Care have to look after their properties, pay bills and their staff – but if they are not getting people to care for, it is becoming unsustainable from their point of view.

Yusuf talks about exactly what the specialised service that supported living care is, and why he doesn’t think people, including many local authorities understand what is actually involved. 

Another huge problem with local authorities is the lack of joined-up-thinking. They take forever to get things organised, even when a situation is considered urgent; you rarely talk to the same person when you contact them, and often there is no one available to talk to at all. Yusuf gives an example of how the incredibly slow workings of local authorities can impact on clients. 

We both agree that local authorities need to look into the continuity of care, because as it is, it certainly isn’t working.

Find out more about Yusuf and the work Bosun Care does at https://www.bosuncare.co.uk/ 

Today’s guest is Fiona Scott, a friend and brilliant colleague who has her own successful PR and media company, working with many, many clients in all different professions. She successfully helps them to be visible, through their PR and media.

The main thing we’re talking about is how there is often a misconception that care doesn’t need PR – which Fiona, as you’ll hear, strongly disagrees with.  She sees care as a Cinderella service in the public’s mind; for example, it wasn’t even mentioned in our new government’s manifesto. Part of this discussion is the importance to recognise carers as professionals.

We have a conversation about why people possibly don’t want to talk about care: fear. 

Fear for all of us, because it is something we can need at any time in our lives, not just when we’re old – but we don’t like to talk about it. There is also possibly the fear that the media won’t talk about it kindly.

One of Shreeve Care’s most important goals is for people to understand that we all have choices about our care, and yet often don’t realise that. Fiona shares how, many years ago, whilst bringing up small children, she had to look after her husband who had a brain tumour, and how she hated being a carer, felt guilty about that, and received no support whatsoever, which in turn made her ill. People end up having to care for loved ones because they don’t always know where to look for help.

Fiona talks about how journalists can help people to share their experiences either anonymously or personally, but either way, the telling of those stories can open up discussion and bring things into the public arena. We talk about how we are both working with a couple presently to get their story heard both locally and nationally, with the aim to help others in the same situation.

Fiona expresses her ideology; that as an experienced journalist, she always has a duty of care for people she works with to understand what working with her means – especially in terms of sharing stories in public. This is where PR can shine a light on the situation of one client – but when others read or hear about their story. they realise that they’re not alone in being affected by the same issues.

You can find out more about Fiona at www.scottmedia.uk 

For more information about Shreeve Care Services visit www.shreevecareservices.co.uk

My guest today is Budge who shares the incredible story of two years of unforeseen and lifechanging events. You will be shocked, surprised and moved by the rollercoaster of events that Budge, Gina and their son Sam have had to experience.

After living with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue since 2016, when Gina started to suffer with other symptoms that were affecting her, they decided to visit their GP leading up to Christmas 2022. When her symptoms worsened and further ones appeared, they visited the GP again.

Finally, a CT scan was suggested, and everything took a turn for the worse when Gina was told she had a brain tumour. 

Budge talks about how once the scan had been taken everything went into overdrive, and before they knew it, Gina was on her way to John Radcliffe in Oxford.

He shares how he and his son were left in the dark when Gina was operated on and how they didn’t hear anything when expected, and it wasn’t until 10 hours later they eventually heard from the hospital, rather than the five hours they had originally been told. When Budge and Sam finally saw Gina the change in her condition was overwhelmingly shocking to them both. Due to the positioning and size of her tumour, she had lost her speech, and all movement down one side. And her condition deteriorated even more.

They had months and months of uncertainty as Gina’s recovery was by no means plain sailing. When she was finally discharged from John Radcliffe, Budge had hoped she would be able to go to a neuro rehabilitation unit in Oxford. However, despite being told that Gina was the perfect candidate for this, she was returned to GWH in Swindon, where they only have a stroke rehabilitation centre.

Gina did eventually get to the rehabilitation unit in Oxford, and should have had further surgery, but this still hasn’t happened, even now.  

I’ll be talking to Budge again, to hear what has happened moving forward and the challenges that they are facing.

Budge’s story is an emotional listen, but one full of love, care and support and it needs to be heard.

You can find out more about the support offered by Shreeve Care Services at www.shreevecareservices.co.uk

Today, I am my own guest and I’m sharing what I’ve been up to in the last few months which have been very different and very exciting.

I’ve spent my time travelling backwards and forwards to Italy and, although my travels weren’t for a holiday, I also had a wonderful time, catching up with old friends and making new friends too. However, the main reason was to set up an amazing new experience, all linked to my business in the UK - retreats, and opportunities for carers and clients, linked with health and well-being, and having fun. I share some of the things that I’m planning, and also the people I’ll be working with.

And as you’ll hear, I also got to do one of the things on my bucket list!

Shreeve Care Services has just celebrated two years in business and I talk about the exciting time ahead as the company starts its third year. I share how the company is focusing on the advisory service they offer, and how people should be more aware of options that are available to them when it comes to needing care.

I touch on the challenges that the care sector faces, reminding us to respect the carers who are often forgotten.

I also talk about some new providers that Shreeve Care Services is starting to work with, before sharing how grateful I am for the support both myself and the company have received over the last two years.

You can visit the Shreeve Care Services website at https://shreevecareservices.co.uk/
You can also connect with me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetshreeve/ 

Today I'm absolutely delighted to welcome Ewelina Wiesner of Silverstars Care based in Sherborne, in Dorset. I work with Ewelina on the live in side of her care service and having worked with her for probably about five or six months now, I can tell you that she is hugely knowledgeable about the care sector. 

Ewelina’s journey starting almost 20 years ago when she decided that she wanted to change careers. At the time she was a bookkeeper and when she came to England she was offered a job in a care home and that sparked her passion for working with people and building relationships with those that she supported and their families.

She quickly climbed the career ladder becoming a team leader and whilst we talk Ewelina talks about how different her previous career and current career are and that to start with she found her new role a bit overwhelming with everything that she had to learn. She soon learnt to love the role especially meeting all of the people she got to look after and hearing the interesting stories that they have to tell. And some of those have some amazing life stories to share!

Ewelina set up her own company, Silverstars Care, in 2017 nearly ten years after having her twins in 2014. Not wanting to split her time between shifts at the care home and being at home with her children, Ewelina decided to go on her own journey and set up her company.

We discuss why it’s important to be a care company that works for the people they look after, listening to their stories and ensuring that at all times their dignity is maintained and their wishes are respected.

 To contact Silverstars Care head to https://www.silverstarscare.com/

In today's episode, Janet speaks to Cathy Hargreaves from Transformation with Cathy about her journey to wards starting her business and her history working in HR.  

Cathy specialises in working with children and teens who are struggling with anxiety and low confidence for whatever reason. She enables them to identify and remove unhelpful, limiting beliefs so that they can enjoy their life as the happy children and teenagers they inherently deserve to be.

By supporting them at this age, they can enjoy their childhood and go on to become happy, content, confident adults with high levels of self-worth, self-esteem and self-belief. 

She delivers Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) and using hypnotherapy - which is clinically proven to be safe and effective - she uncovers the root cause of your child's issues. 

She then works with your child to build up their self-esteem, empowering them and giving them unshakable belief in themselves so that they can live their early years with joy and excitement. 

She also works with adults to overcome their anxiety and increase confidence and self-belief.

You can contact Janet here -  https://cathy-hargreaves.com/contact-me

www.cathy-hargreaves.com

* Behind every behaviour is a belief.... when you change the belief, you change the behaviour. 
* Change the inside and watch the outside transform!

Today this episode comes to you from the beautiful country of Italy! I’m delighted to share that my guest is Martine Greslon-Collins and she is sharing all about caring for her mum in Italy and how that came about.

Martine came out to Italy looking for a holiday home and was toying between the idea of a Greek island or somewhere in southern Italy. She wanted someone that has an interesting culture. Martine shares that the home she was shown by the estate agent had a beautiful balcony and fireplace and rather unusually, a plug socket in the shower that needed to be covered in plastic!

After falling in love with the property Martine sold all of her possessions, her house and her business in the UK and moved across. After her father passed away, Martine then brought her mum out to live with her – part time at first due to the heat in the summer so her mum would head back to the UK before travelling back again when the weather in Italy was cooler.

Martine then shares how after a phone call with a supermarket close to her mum’s house, she made the decision to make the move for her full time to Italy.

She noticed over time that her mothers’ dementia got worse.  Martine discusses how her mother love the taste of sweet things.

You can listen to the episode and more at  https://shreevecareservices.co.uk/podcasts/

On today’s episode of ‘You Care, I Care’, Janet is joined by Josh Doherty from yourwaybristol. 

This is a brilliant episode as Josh shares how his family, from his grandfather to his mother and, now, to himself, have all worked within the care industry.

He tells me the story of a client who escaped from a long stay hospital and hitchhiked all the way to Scotland!

Throughout our talk, Josh shares how he started yourwaybristol and how he hasn't set out to take over the social care world but that he has instead grown his business organically over the years.

Josh shares with me how he doesn't measure his success by what the balance of his bank currently is but by the experiences he has had throughout his brilliant career.