Hazel's story

Hazel Hill with a resident of Redworth House Care Home

Hazel was working in retail at that time and after work she'd drive from Barnard Castle to Richmond to support her grandad.

"Caring for him was something that came really naturally to me," she recalls. "I found I had a way of calming him down and talking to him at the level he was at."

Hazel's grandad passed away just before the Covid pandemic struck and during the lockdown, she began to consider a change of career.

"I'd fallen into retail, but it was never something I intended to do long-term, and I wanted to make a difference," she says.

Why Work in this amazing sector - Hazel case study video transcript (PDF) [87KB]

Childhood ambitions

Growing up in Newton Aycliffe, Hazel had childhood ambitions to be a nurse. Her caring nature meant she was always the one at school who was given the task of making new pupils feel welcome.

Despite having excelled academically, she dropped out of sixth-form college after a few months and started working at McDonald's before building a career in retail, rising to become store manager of a fashion chain.

After the birth of her second child, Hazel took a career break and started volunteering in local nurseries and schools. After doing a Level 3 apprenticeship in Children and Young People's Workforce (Social Care), she got a job overseeing the after-school provision for a private nursery company and ended up managing two sites.

Five years later after her third child, she decided to be a stay-at-home mum for a while before an opportunity came up to return to a management role back in retail. It was during that time that her grandad became ill, and her thoughts turned increasingly towards the care sector.

Turning point

Through a bit of online research she found about the Care Academy who supported her with a course in dementia care followed by a 'Step into Care Programme'.

"Through that learning, I could see myself stepping into the care industry - it just felt like me," she says.

The "turning point" came when the Care Academy recognised that skills she'd developed during her years in retail and education could be transferred into the care sector. The Care Academy arranged an interview for Hazel at Redworth House care home, in Shildon, where she was offered the role of Head of Activities. It was a job that fitted her like a glove - organising all kinds of activities and putting plans in place to cater for the individual needs of every resident.

"I loved it from the start, I look back on the support of the Care Academy, as utterly life changing."

Hazel has since gone on to transform the activities department, introducing new documentation, training packs, and a staff induction programme. And it has all made such a difference the company has rolled the model out to other homes.

Perfect job

She is now Activities Manager for three care homes and was named Activity Provider of the Year at the Great British Care Awards. Now she wants to help open doors to others seeking a fulfilling career path.

"I'd recommend anyone to consider a career in the care sector, because it needs people who want to make a difference. Old age doesn't have to be the end - we can make it a fulfilling and exciting time," she insists.

"I'm so passionate about what I do these days but, without the Care Academy's guidance, I might never have found the perfect job."