I think I rather muddled things with the details in my previous post of the cleaning job for which I inadvertently applied. Yesterday saw me going off to another care home in a beautiful Kent village about 20 minutes drive away (a much better journey than that to Tunbridge Wells) and this time the job was indeed for a care assistant. I'd not seen an advert - this was another 'posh' place to which I had sent my details and it did turn out to be a glorious Georgian house with modern annexe. Cedar trees and weeping willows are the view out of the window as you enter the main living room that backs on to Reception and there is a conservatory, gazebo and little follies around the grounds - near the allotments where the residents grow the vegetables that the chef then uses for lunch. Shrubberies and herbaceous borders abound and they look beautifully cared for.
I had a cracking interview - after being in charge of recruitment for a firm of London accountants for about 15 years I'm quite interview savvy and the manager whom I met had the same style I used to adopt - like a chat amongst friends to encourage the candidate to relax. Halfway through she said that even though I had no proper experience she would be mad to let me escape and after that I was introduced to some of the residents, all of whom gave me a hug.
Reference requests and the Criminal Records check have been sent off this morning and it looks like I will be starting in a couple of weeks. The money is rubbish but this was never about money - Mr FF does quite well in terms of our needs. It was about finding something that would be of interest and that would also not just see me sitting in front of a screen helping my bum to get larger.
There is an 'end of life' centre at this home that takes people in when the local hospice is full. I thought I would find the idea of this too sad to cope with but strangely enough I feel very enthusiastic about it. I will also be doing shift work - the shifts are 7am - 1pm/ 1pm - 7pm/ 7am - 7pm/ 7pm through the night to 7am, and they are in blocks of 36 hours a week. On the week you get three long shifts you get four days off. These hours suit my doggy day care duties very well, except of course for the 7am - 7pm and on those ones Mr FF can elect to work from home.
The only drawback is that I have to travel on the M20 and nobody wants to let a 'Frenchie' into the lane. Grrr - these xenephobic Brits, eh?
25 comments:
Congrats and I hope you enjoy the new job, FF! Happy weekend!
Good for you to choose interest over money. Change your plates soon! I was terrified by how much the English had become tail-gaters in the forty years since I left and quite often when one person hits the brakes they do have large multiple crashes. Brrah...
Congrats, FF. It's so much more satisfying doing a job you really want to do.
I'm sure you'll have plenty of stories to tell too!
Great news. Yes, I look forward to some interesting stories.
Phew! So pleased this interview went so well, dear FF! Congrats and look forward to hearing more.
However, I can't get the other out of my mind (ie the Fawlty Towers one!!):
Basil: "Hang on there, Sybil. I thought that very beautiful young lady I just interviewed was to be *my* P.A.?"
Sybil: "No, Basil. She's the new Office Manager. And she's working exclusively for me!"
Basil storms off, muttering death threats under his breath.
Have a great weekend,
Lola & Nora:)
Well done! Working in residential homes is hard graft and not for the fainthearted...I'm sure you'll cope!
e- thank you sweetie
Marc - it's on the agenda but I'll still have my wheel on the left and have the blindspot - which has caused a few bouts of hooting, I've got to admit
Sarah - yes, lots of blog fodder I would reckon - with no names of course :)
Dumdad - I've already met a few 'characters' and that's before I've even begun there
Nora - you do make me laugh. Everything good and lovely right back at yer'
Ayak - I used to do voluntary work in a home that was for Downs Syndrome adults and that was anything but easy. The home I'll be in has much more modern equipment - everything to the best possible standard and with monthly fees of £10,000 I am not surprised.
Oh well done! It sounds like a lovely place and exactly what you were looking for. And I'm glad the shifts are 'doggie friendly'.
Congratulations once again!
My dear, I'm so delighted to hear that your interview went well. I bet you had them eating out of your palm so to speak. Caring for someone is such a rewarding job. You are so attentive and I think you would be a very good person for the job (you are natural -you don't need the qualification for that. Life experience can teach you so many things that an academic diploma can't). You will bring an additional contribution to the community with your experience abroad and your own life experience. That's a good thing. Patience and understanding is also another good quality about you among many others. Yes, it does take a lot of patience and understanding especially when I look at the time they offer you to work. See how it goes if they are too manic than you must choose more convenient time for you. Hope life will get settled down a bit. Congratulations on all your hard work as they say...moving house and starting a new job are the most stressful things in life. I do admire you for your courage my dear xx
Congrats! It will be wonderful to get out and do something worthwhile.
Congratulations, I am so pleased for you. It sounds like a lovely place too - especially if the residents are able to do gardening - and nothing like the old Council ones I have been touring recently as I have to sell them off. They were so depressing.
Well done - bet you'll be running the place in no time!
Good luck French Fancy,I am not strong enough mentally to cope with that type of job and so I doff my beret to you!...Bravo x
Well done, FF! Congratulations on the new position. It sounds like the folks there are nice and the environment refreshing. Would that my own job search and interview process (when that's actually possible) could go as quickly as yours has!
I'm glad you got the job...the interviewer was right, she'd have been mad to let you go!
You do have experience, after all and you know why you want to do the job.
Best of luck for the future....
And I'll bet the bichons are glad it works out this way, too!
Oh, that's good news! I hope it goes well, it sounds like it will. Well done!!
:)
Hi FF,
Many congrats on the new job. One of the reasons I have not been blogging so much lately is that I am looking after my grandfather who is almost 95 and in fine fettle. My parents are away in Italy.
The Summer holidays for the children are drawing to a close, we have friends with us and I'm guiding and teaching as well.
We've also been away - Dorset, Surrey, Berks and Kent (Whitstable) so maybe we passed you on the motorway!
Hopefully be back blogging soon. Understand that you will not be around as much. As much as I like blogging in a way - I prefer "real life". It's the face to face stuff which I really do enjoy. :)
Sounds like you have a great opportunity to help people and that's what's important. Great that you have the support of Mr FF. Bonne Chance!!!
PS: My own interview went very well with Tesco and I may well be offered a postion in the area that I'm interested in ie: butcher/fishmonger/deli counters. Downside is that I may well have to move house and I love my neighbours. Hey ho.
Well done for choosing a job that will not only satisfy you but will do stuff of importance for others. Enjoy.
Oh, yes, very well done, FF.
Care assistant today, chief administrator tomorrow. I can see a career path unfolding.
Bon chance, indeed!
And I don't think Mr. FF is going to be too hard done by.
Congratulations:-)
I know I've been away a lot recently and not blogged much, but I really thought you lived in France! Have I missed something or am I just more loopy than I thought?!
Congratulations. new house, new job, new start - will you still have time for OU course?
I've just realised it is WEEKS since I did a blog post. But then I'm moving house too ,and half way though an assignment, and its busy at work... aghhh
Congratulations. new house, new job, new start - will you still have time for OU course?
I've just realised it is WEEKS since I did a blog post. But then I'm moving house too ,and half way though an assignment, and its busy at work... aghhh
Well done on finding yourself a job so quickly. Very noble of you to take a job in a care home. I couldn't do it. Perhaps when you have a relative in one, it is too close for comfort. I wish you luck.
Ye gods - I've been so inactive on the bloggersphere that your world has experienced a tectonic shift that I've completely missed. I hope that all is looking up. Are we nearly neighbours now?
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