9th September 2024
Anne Holmes first became a social care worker because the role fitted around her kids – but 40 years later it has become her life-long career.
The Domiciliary Supervisor within the Newry and Mourne team first joined the Newry and Mourne Trust on 29th September 1984 and over the past four decades has made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals and their families.
As the Southern Health and Social Care Trust recognise their social care workforce throughout ‘Social Care September’, Anne has reflected on how the role has changed and evolved over the past 40 years.
“Back in the day when I first applied, we were known as ‘home help’. I first inquired about the job by ringing up the social care workers in Ivy Brook in Drumalane. So that was on Thursday 27th September 1984 and the next morning I had an interview at my house, where they just asked me my name, address, availability type of thing and did I know what it was all about. That was it. He left and said he’d be in touch with me.
“And that evening, at 4.30pm, I was contacted and told we have a case for you, starting Saturday, 29th of September, four times a day, seven days a week.
“And that was it – I was send off on the Saturday to make my own way, to get myself sorted, find out what was needed.
“I have to say that was a learning experience. There was no training given. There was no indication that he needed medication. I was handed a tin box and had to sit down and actually read what the service user was to get morning, lunch, tea and bed.”
Fast forward 40 years, Anne says that whilst there have been changes, she has recognised that they are the betterment of the staff and service users alike.
“For instance, with the medication, we now have blister packs, medication instruction sheets and have a lot of input from district nurses, but above all, the medication training that’s arranged through the Trust at the minute is unbelievable and is a great support and a great backup for colleagues in social care.”
One of the biggest changes that Anne experienced was the switch over from having her own clientele – her own set of clients that she went to possibly seven days a week, four times a day – to when they changed over to rotas.
“At the time, it was a massive change for everybody to take on board. But with hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened. When you had your clients seven days a week, the only time that you got to yourself was if you were off, but with rotas you have that build in time off and that in itself was a real, was a bonus.
“I have met a lot of changes in the past 40 years and I’m still here, so I hope that anyone working or thinking about working in social care will embrace any changes they face.”
Anne said that at the end of the day, all she wants to do is to provide care, support, empathy and respect to service users, clients and their families.
“I can say hand on heart, that over the past 40 years, I know that service users, their families, they all appreciate what we are doing for them and the service we provide.
“I don’t know how many miles in those 40 years that I have covered. I have no idea of how many houses I would have visited because I would have worked the length and breadth of Newry and Mourne so that entailed possibly driving out to the length of Annalong to the border outside Crossmaglen.”
Anne said that despite visiting thousands of homes and maybe not remembering names, she remembers the service users’ stories.
“I have travelled a lot of miles, visited a lot of houses, but in those years, I have made a lot of friends.
“I still meet family members who I will hold my hand up and say I recognise their faces, but to be honest, sometimes can’t remember how I would know them, but they talk and then I remember where I have met them.”
Claudine McComiskey, Head of Domiciliary Care, said:
“We couldn’t be prouder of all that Anne has achieved in the forty years she’s spent supporting people to stay at home or to return home early after hospital discharge, which helps to ensure that there is actually space in our hospitals when someone needs that acute level of treatment and support.
“Anne is an invaluable member of the team and has a wealth of knowledge that she constantly strives to add to. She is a longstanding familiar face within the Newry and Mourne team, and her commitment to her role means she’s been able to provide a level of consistency to people that isn’t always possible in a care environment. She is one of our service’s shining stars and should be an inspiration to anyone starting out their careers in social care.”