We recently caught up with the team from our children’s home in Staffordshire, to chat about the valuable work that they do and how they are making a real difference to vulnerable children. Here’s what Pauline O’Connor, Rachael Baker, Rachael Thornton and Shaun Trever had to say....

 

When did you all start working for Bedspace and what line of work were you all in before? 

As a team we have all come into our roles at Bedspace from different career backgrounds. Although we have different experiences ranging from retail to admin and care home work, we all share the same core values and beliefs which unites us in our work at Bedspace. Having a wide range of skills and experiences means that we are constantly learning from each other and sharing knowledge. 

The variety of different experiences that we each bring to the table means that the work we do is always thought through with a fresh perspective and kept interesting. In our line of work, having different interests and hobbies really helps us to come up with new, exciting ideas for the work that we can do with the children that we support – every day is different which is what makes the job so special. 

 

What are your roles at the children’s home and what does this involve on a day-to-day basis?

Our jobs focus on providing the best quality care to children that have been found in vulnerable positions. The children that we work with have experienced their own unique challenges and it is our job to support them in the best way possible, whether that is through helping boost their confidence, teaching them life skills that they might not have been taught before, or generally being an ear for them to speak to. 

Often, the children that we work with have been though hardships so a large part of all of our roles in the children’s home involves keeping as close to the children as possible and understanding their unique needs. Some examples of activities that we have arranged for the children have included pamper nights and baking days, which has created fun experiences for them and allowed them to enjoy different hobbies. We have also been involved in taking them to sports clubs including running and badminton to help them improve their wellbeing. We’re also responsible for supporting them with their homework and taking them to doctors’ appointments. 

We all act like one big family and as we spend so much time with the children we work with, we really get to know them and understand their interests and passions.

Pamper Day!

 

What are your favourite things about working for Bedspace?

Collectively, we all love working for a company that is so well run and that has such a focus on promoting wellbeing, not only for the children that we support, but also for the staff. Working in the care sector can be challenging at times but the support and training that Bedspace provides makes difficult days so much more manageable. 

The team spirit here is unlike any other that any of us have experienced before and it makes such a difference being able to lean on such a talented and supportive team when we are in tricky situations. We all feel so comfortable in sharing concerns with each other and we constantly work together to find solutions to challenges. Bedspace make us all feel valued as individuals and it is a company that truly instils its values in all aspects of the work.

 

How does the team make a real difference to the vulnerable children that Bedspace supports?

As a team, we make a huge positive impact on the children that we work with. We’re currently working with an individual who has been moved around a lot in their lives and has lacked any real stability up until now. The work that we’re doing with them is really focused on providing a stable support system for them. As a team made up of strong women, we’re able to be role models for them and provide a sense of guidance that they have not yet had in life. 

We also have support from a psychologist that we work very closely with, which helps us to teach children how to regulate their emotions and encourages them to build and develop healthy relationships and resilience later in life. The beauty of our roles is seeing children that have suffered from traumatic experiences grow and develop. 

Laughter is one of the best medicines, so a large part of our job is creating a happy, safe environment for children - and the difference that this can make to the people we support is immeasurable. We also aim to truly empower the children as well as the staff to believe in themselves. We have a no-blame culture here at Bedspace and understand the value in learning from mistakes, which we convey to the children that we support. 

 

What would be your advice to someone who is thinking about working at the children’s home?

The most important trait that you must have to do this job well is empathy. Working in the care home can be challenging at times, so it’s important for anyone thinking about working in the sector to be compassionate and understanding. It definitely takes a certain personality to carry out our line of work, but we would all say to someone looking to work at Bedspace, to not let whatever previous experience you have, put you off from exploring a role in the sector. 

We can’t recommend working for Bedspace as a company enough. Working at Bedspace allows us to balance our work and home lives well, thanks to the flexibility that the company offers. The whole team really empower us to make the best decisions for the children that we look after. Development is also at the heart of Bedspace’s ethos, both for the children we look after and for the progression of the employees, so it is a wonderful place for people starting out in their careers to come and work.

If you’re interested in working with us at Bedspace or would like to learn more about our current vacancies and available opportunities, please email careers@bedspace.co.uk.