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Nikki is shift leader at the RMBI Care Co. care home in Essex. She is a friendly face for residents living with dementia and plays a vital role in their day-to-day care.

My alarm goes off…

…at 5:30am. I always start my day by having a cup of tea and feeding my cat, Poppy. By the time I leave the house it’s about 6:10am, and it only takes me 15 minutes to get to work.

When I arrive at work…

…I go through the home’s diary to see which GPs and district nurses I have to get in touch with, and take round any daily medication that residents need. Once that’s done, I join the other shift leaders and members of staff for a morning briefing. We use this as an opportunity to recap what happened during the night, and what the day holds for us.

A typical day is…

…very busy! Some of our residents need daily visits from medical professionals, so I make a lot of phone calls to doctors, and there are usually quite a few nurses visiting. After lunch, there are activities for the residents to take part in such as singing, crafts or sitting Pilates. This gives me a chance to get cracking with some paperwork, including reviewing individual care plans for each of the residents. Because dementia is often worse in the evenings, I have to be especially vigilant from about 4pm onwards to make sure everyone is safe and comfortable.

I like to spend as much time as possible…

…with the residents. I’m very hands-on and I absolutely love getting to know them and their families.

Prince Edward Duke of Kent Court, Essex

We try to support people’s mental and physical  health by…

…constantly monitoring them and acting quickly when we spot anything out of the ordinary. All staff carry mobile phones to note everything down, meaning we have a good record of anything that doesn’t seem usual. Having good rapport with the residents really helps, because when you know someone well, you can tell if something’s not right. We work closely with GPs, nurses, residents’ families, and the residents themselves to make sure everyone is as happy and as healthy as possible.

The best part of my job is…

…the working environment. It’s very resident-centred and the staff are fantastic. Getting to know the people we care for and their families is incredibly rewarding, and I know that this is absolutely the job I should be doing.

The hardest part of my job is…

…updating relatives on the health of a resident in end- of-life care. It’s never an easy conversation to have, and it’s even worse over the phone. No one ever gets used to it.

After work…

…I enjoy a glass of wine and relax – not every night, though! My days at the home can be very hectic and demanding, so it’s good to unwind and give myself a break.