Meet Kev, one of our healthcare assistants on our inpatient unit

Kev Cale is just one of our healthcare assistants providing patient, compassionate and dedicated care to people staying on our inpatient unit who are living with terminal illness. Here, he shares his experience.

“I started last June and since then, I’ve loved every minute. It’s a delight to work here and a privilege to work here. It’s an amazing place.

“We’re caring for people who are very poorly and may be at the point of dying. It’s a privilege to care for people at that time. Not only in giving them personal care but also being with them and emotionally supporting them on that process and that journey.

“It’s quite incredible to see how each and every person deals with that differently.

“We have time for the patients here. Our staffing levels are very good, and we build in time to take that care and spend time talking to the patients because that’s really needed.

“It’s that sense that allows us to be a little bit different here.

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“Work is probably the wrong word. It doesn’t feel like work- coming to this place to do what I do. It’s an experience that’s very different to work- it’s an extension of what I do every day.

“I can do what I like best which is being with people and helping people.

“I can really be myself here. I’ve always wanted to do something very close with people in a supportive role.

“It never really struck me that the medical side would be the way that I’d end up. It was quite a surprise to me. It’s more being with people that have a terminal illness and supporting them through that process.

“I worked as an archaeologist for 30 years and ran businesses before this role. It’s been quite a challenge transitioning into healthcare, a steep learning curve. However, the team here have held my hand through every stage through the process. I feel like I’ve got incredible support from all the colleagues that I work with.

“That’s the thing, it’s not one person delivering this care- from the consultant to the healthcare assistants and the housekeeping staff- we’re all part of one big unit which is making this place very very special. You never feel excluded from anything that’s going on, you’re embraced into it all.

“You’ve got to have certain character traits- paying attention and patience, especially when with patients who are struggling, and obviously enthusiasm.”

“I would most certainly recommend joining the team here.

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