I Joined Nannies4grannies in March 2019. I had spent the previous few years bringing up my children but felt it was time to get back into work.

I contacted nannies4grannies to see if there were any vacancies, so I went along and met Kay for a chat and was lucky enough to be taken on.

I absolutely love my job and working as part of such a wonderful team. I have got to meet a variety of people over the past 5 years and with many of my regular clients I feel more like I’m visiting a friend than a client. Sometimes it’s to help with light housework or preparing a meal, taking to appointments, shopping or simply just being there to have a chat and a coffee and companionship.

I have been visiting Mrs M regularly over the last 5 years and knowing what a difference my visits make to her life is so rewarding. Helping to do chores around her home that she is no longer able to do on her own and being there for her to talk too and just a shoulder to lean on when needed is an absolute privilege.

I feel blessed to work with such a wonderful team of Nannie’s in a job I love.

When I joined Nannies 4 Grannies in January 2017, I had come from a large Japanese Corporate company which I had been at for 30 years.

I had worked in an NHS environment before this, with British Nursing Association, so was aware of all aspects of care and I had enjoyed it.

I had also cared for parents and then a very poorly aunt, so I knew what to expect, or I thought I did.

It all seemed very easy at N4G.. a little light housework /companionship, shopping, taking to the hospital or doctor’s appointment and even coffee at local garden centres, with no personal care.

How far from the facts could that last statement be – ‘no personal care’. This has transpired to be the most rewarding and wonderful experience of my working life. It is ‘personal care’ at the highest and most personal level.

I joined when life was normal and there was no masks and distancing, so when one of your lovely clients was in need of comfort or a hand holding moment, you could oblige with no rule breaking.

Just before Christmas 2018 one lovely couple that I had supported from joining N4G had to go into a home, they were dedicated to each other, Mr B suffered from Parkinson’s and Mrs B had dementia and later was diagnosed with lung cancer, they stayed at home for as long as possible with our support. I had attended all Mrs B’s hospital appointments with her right to the terminal diagnosis, she was very important to me as she was to Mr B who was immobile and could not come.

The morning Mrs B left us, I was with her to hold her hand, it was an honour and a great comfort to Mr B that I was with her when he couldn’t be.

This was just one example of the relationships I have built with clients and their families; it has been a real honour to share a part of their lives and be with them toward the end offering the ultimate in ‘personal care’.

Covid was a special time for me when we suddenly became the only family some of our wonderful ladies and gents had, working 7 days a week keeping them safe, cooking meals, being their only contact with the outside world. I felt very scared the first morning stepping out and being the only car on the road for most of the journey and those first trips to the shops getting 3 different people’s groceries was very strange.

It was so rewarding and made you feel proud at the end of it all when the families said, ‘we do not know how we would have got through this without Nannies 4 Grannies.’

I have never worked with such a caring group of people; it is hard to believe it is a business.

No one group of people could be more vocational and loving. I’m really proud to call myself a Nannies 4 Grannies member of Staff.

I worked as a midwife for many years, and took a career break to care for my mother, who had Parkinson’s and dementia.

After mum passed away, I went on to care for my dad, until he, too, passed in 2021.

Suddenly I felt I’d lost my sense of purpose. I wanted to return to the workforce, but midwifery would have meant months of retraining. I knew I was good at caring for people, but I’d had enough of wiping bottoms! (Can I say that?!)

Someone suggested Nannies 4 Grannies, they’re unique in that they offer companionship and taking people out, as well as the more basic tasks like shopping, cooking and cleaning. I called them up, and here I am, 3 years later, part of the team!

It’s a brilliant job. It can sometimes seem like hard work when you’re rushing around shopping on a hot day, but other times, sitting having a cup of tea and a chat hardly seems like working does it!

When I’m not working, I’m generally caring for my crew of disabled wild hedgehogs. As a long time volunteer for London Colney Hedgehog Rescue, I’ve had many prickly customers pass through my hands!

Before my previous role, I was a carer in the community for over 8 years. During this time, I supported both young and older adults with varied health conditions, as well as supporting people with dementia.

My previous role was as a personal assistant to a family for 15 years; the last 6 months of which was as a live-in carer. When this sadly ended, a friend of mine suggested contacting Nannies4Grannies as one of her friends had them in every day for companionship.

I contacted Kay, and we had a wonderful chat about what N4G did and how this aligned with what I was experienced in and was looking to continue. I was so happy when Kay confirmed that I had become a nanny!

I have always enjoyed working with people and going that extra mile. I get great satisfaction knowing that I have managed to help someone enjoy their day, whether it is by having a chat and a cuppa, cooking a meal, or accompanying them on an outing.

I am fortunate to be working with a great team of nannies and to be supported by the admin staff who are there to advise and assist when needed. I have been working with N4G for two years now and I am still loving every day.