Young woman who checked out of hotel career to become a carer is in running for prestigious award
A young woman from Tenby who checked out of a career in the
hospitality business to become a carer has been shortlisted for a
major award.
Shani Escott, 26, began her working life as a bar and restaurant
manager at a hotel in the Pembrokeshire seaside town when she was in
her teens but, after taking a break to have her first child, realised
the life wasn’t for her and that she’d rather be caring for
people.
She became a care practitioner at Forest Care Ltd’s Pen-Coed
residential home in Saundersfoot and has won a reputation for being a
dedicated and professional member of the team who does her best to
ensure people in her care lead an enriched and fulfilling
life.
It is this commitment and enthusiasm in her caring role that has
landed Shani a place in the final of major national competition, the
2017 Wales Care Awards.
This is the 15th anniversary of the awards and the glittering
presentation ceremony will be held at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday
November 17 and will be hosted by tenor and radio presenter Wynne
Evans, better known as Gio Compario from the Go Compare TV ads.
The awards are in association with Care Forum Wales, a
not-for-profit organisation set up in 1993 to give independent care
providers a single professional voice with which to speak on one of
the most important issues of our time – how to provide better
quality care for those who need it most.
Shani, who lives in Tenby with her daughter Lucianna, six, and son
Mylo, four, is shortlisted in the Residential Care Practitioner
category.
Born and raised in the city of Bath across the border in England,
Shani moved with her family to Tenby, where they’d gone for regular
summer holidays, at the age of 11.
Leaving Ysgol Greenhill in Tenby at 16, she enrolled on an apprentice
at a hotel in the town and while working there studied for a
hospitality and customer service qualification.
But, at 19, after taking a maternity break to have first daughter,
Shani decided it was time for a radical change of career
direction.
She said: “With a young child it was difficult to go on doing split
shifts at the hotel and as I’d always wanted to go into the care
sector I thought I’d give it a try.
“I got a job as a care officer at Pen-Coed, where my mum is now
registered manager, and loved it right away as I see myself as a
caring person.
“We have 20 permanent residents, the majority of whom have
dementia, and we’re having an extension built for an additional five
beds.
“Lots of people dread going to work in the mornings but that’s
not how it is with me. I love making people feel happy and special”
Typical of how Shani goes out of her way to achieve this is the
regular programme of visits she arranges for residents to tea dances,
pottery groups, swimming pools and jacuzzis.
At the home a big hit all round was the Halloween party she
masterminded, inviting local children to play games with the
residents. The youngsters were also guests when she ran a Christmas
party complete with a real donkey and Santa’s grotto in which Shani
helped hand out the presents.
After taking a nutrition and hydration course she organised a healthy
afternoon tea for residents at which she and fellow staff appeared in
Victorian costume.
Shania said: “For me, it’s all about enriching the lives of
residents, making them feel more comfortable and getting them to stay
active – and not feeling that life stops just because they’re in a
residential home.
“I love organising outings and events and having a laugh and joke
with people. I like to tell my children that I look after people
because it makes me feel happy and proud.”
She added: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I was nominated for
the Wales Care Awards. But I couldn’t have got where I am today
without the help of the staff who work with me at the home, so I see
this as recognition for them as well as myself.
“There will be a team of them with me when I attend the
presentation evening in Cardiff and we’re all really looking forward
to it.”
Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care
Awards had gone from strength to strength.
He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the
highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.
“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable
dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.
“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not
just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do
have the X Factor.
“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will
never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the
value of the people who need the care in society.
“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector
workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.
“It is a pleasure to honour the contribution of all the
finalists. Each and every one of them should be very proud of their
achievement.”
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |
