Championing a life without barriers

Mum of two, Rachael Mackarel is a Senior Support Worker at L’Arche Belfast where for eight years she has been supporting adults, like Thomas, with learning disabilities to live a life without barriers. She could see the need in the community for social care professional roles, and so she took that on and really enjoys it. Thomas is a founding member of the L’Arche Belfast community and is a keen athlete. Rachael helps oversee his wellbeing, as well as advocating with him for his right to choose his own path. Social care workers like Rachael, make sure the people they support are physically healthy and happy so they can reach their full potential in life, while surrounded by care, compassion and kindness. Likewise, social care roles like Rachael’s help people access this type of work, which is so rewarding, while financially supporting their own families.  

Runtime: 4m 18s Starring: Rachael Mackarel & Thomas

Not all heroes wear capes

Though a busy mum of three, Stephanie McAleese cares for older people, and those with physical and learning disabilities in her Limavady community, as if they are part of her family. After leaving a deli counter job she started working as a social care worker for Connected Health. Six and a half years later, she is now a Regional Manager leading a team of 190 care assistants and three area managers. Every day she is making a difference to someone’s life as she supports her team who are at the frontline of putting community members, like Pat, first. Working with other health and social care professionals, social care workers are the backbone of society as they keep people safe and well at home. Stephanie believes there is no other job that is as fulfilling as a social care worker.

Runtime: 3m 51s Starring: Stephanie McAleese & Pat

Food for the soul

Fermanagh native Rhonda Knox, after spending her entire career from 16 years of age as a chef and with the last of her three boys about to leave home, decided to find a job where she could continue to care for others. Working in social care as a Community Support Worker for Positive Futures, opened that door for Rhonda and she believes it can be an aspirational career for many more people if only they could see what it is really like. Rhonda works in both Positive Futures’ children and adults’ services in Fermanagh – as she says, she ‘gets the best of both worlds’. Paul and Mary are two of the people Rhonda supports and her work includes supporting them to get involved in community activities, building their social and independent living skills, such as engaging in leisure activities, learning to cook, doing arts and crafts etc. Rhonda says that building a relationship of trust and respect with people supported and their families is vital to what she does and she takes great pride in knowing that she is having a positive impact on their lives. She wishes she had known earlier about a career that gives her so much enjoyment – she couldn’t ask for more.

Doing What You Enjoy

Gina is a support worker. During her weekly visits with Errol, she encourages him to get out of the house and do the things he enjoys most. For Gina, the reward of being a care worker is seeing the enjoyment in the faces of the people she cares for. 

Runtime: 3m 56s Starring: Gina Brown & Errol

Career Change

After being made redundant from her retail job, just before her 60^th birthday, Bernie grasped the opportunity to fulfil her lifetime dream of becoming a social care worker.

Runtime: 3m 53s Starring: Bernie McErlean & Freda

A Philosophy of Caring

When Rachel left university, she wanted to make a difference in the world. She achieved that by becoming a support worker for L’Arche Belfast, where she helps people live their lives to the full.

Runtime: 3m 53s Starring: Rachael Mackarel & Thomas

Going The Extra Mile

Kelly is a Community Bridge Builder with local mental health charity Mindwise. During the pandemic she has been helping keep people connected by delivering resource packs for a range of art and craft activities online.

Runtime: 3m 46s Starring: Kelly Mitchell

Homemaker

Part of a dream team duo at the Simon Community, Melissa along with her colleague Christina is helping change lives by finding homes for those who need it.

Runtime: 3m 59s Starring: Melissa Mallon & Christina Slevin

You Can Do it

Described as a magical place, Andrea believes the residents at Camphill, Mourne Grange are just an extension of her own family.

Runtime: 3m 34s Starring: Andrea Sloan