Home care trainer: 'Advance care planning vital for delivering best possible end-of-life care'

Michael Beresford is a learning and development manager and head of the SweetTree Home Care Services Training Academy.

He works with all services at SweetTree, identifying the training needs and ensuring that all team members are appropriately trained.

Mr Beresford started working for SweetTree in May 2015 after spending years working for his father and as a trainee clinical support worker for the NHS in Edinburgh when he was 18.

His experience helping to care for his grandfather during terminal illness has proved to be one of his greatest life achievements to date, fuelling his passion for helping others to deliver the best possible end-of-life care.

What made you want to work in social care

Some people leave school and know exactly what career path they have in mind. I had no idea about my future. All I knew was that I wanted to help people.

I actually fell into health and social care, I come from a family of nurses, my Gran was a big influence on me as I knew that she had always had a passion for care, then my older sister entered the care sector. Hearing and seeing their love of the job, highlighted to me that that it was a worthwhile career where you can make a difference, so I knew it would be something that I would enjoy.

Do you have any personal experiences that have helped you in your role?

In 2011, I turned my professional experience into a life-changing-moment when my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The situation was extremely difficult for my family, so I returned home for a few weeks to help care for him.

For years I have cared for many people at the end of their life and it had always given me a feeling of great fulfillment. It was rewarding for me to know that I was able to provide families with the support they needed during this extremely difficult time. However, I had never imagined that one day I would have the privilege of caring for my own grandfather.

When I arrived home, I realised that his condition was more advanced than previously anticipated. Although he had a great GP and a carer who visited for 30 minutes in the morning, it wasn’t enough. This situation was really difficult, as my family had limited knowledge in caring for someone. Of course, this is a scenario that many families face and they often don’t know where to seek help.

With my experience, I knew exactly what to do. I felt empowered that I would be able to relieve some of the stress.

This experience is my greatest life achievement. I have now witnessed end-of-life care from both sides – from a personal and a carer’s perspective. This experience gives me the passion to ensure that others receive the best possible care at the end of their lives.

How long have you been in your current role

I joined the SweetTree team in May 2015. I felt I was ready for my next challenge and wanted to join an organisation where I could progress even further. So when a friend told me about SweetTree and how unique they are in their commitment to both clients and staff members, I decided to go for the interview.

I am so glad I did. I could instantly see that the company was indeed unique. It had a fantastic atmosphere, including having the lovely pet therapy dogs giving a warm welcome to anyone who comes to the office (team members valued as highly as any other). And when I met Nicki Bones, director of operations, and talked about the company’s values and mission, it was clear to me that SweetTree was very family orientated and focused on high-quality care – two aspects I feel are key when it comes to home care provision. It’s now 18 months since I joined and I feel joining the team was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Describe what a typical working day looks like

No day looks the same, I have a very diverse role, but usually during a typical week, I will be involved in actively training team members, developing and researching courses and undertaking quality assurance processes.

Do you provide training for care staff outside of SweetTree or just internally

Currently, we only train in-house, however, in the future, we would like to be able to train others outside the organisation. As an organisation we also regularly run professional workshops for those in the healthcare field, our last workshop was on end-of-life care and it was a great success, I love being a part of an organisation that looks not just at providing quality care but also to the needs of the sector.

What do you think is the sectors greatest problem when it comes to providing end-of-life care

Making sure that care planning is done to reflect the changing care needs of clients, and ensuring that all those in the end-of-life receive the care that they want to receive. Advance care planning is so important.

It’s a common misconception that care staff working in home care are unskilled and only there for personal care. When they are actually skilled healthcare professionals who make the biggest difference to the client and their families at a very difficult time.

What would you like to see change, with regard to how end-of-life care is delivered

I would love to see all doctors, nurses, and carers trained in Gold Standards Framework, this care pathway is able to ensure that people live well until they die and receive the right care at the right time every time.

What qualifications do you have

I have gained numerous qualifications over the years, the most notable and relevant to my current role including a Higher National Diploma (HND) in health and social care practices, a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in care, diplomas in teaching and assessing, a diploma in dementia and a diploma in nutrition. I’ve also got NEBOSH and various Train the Trainer certificates and am a Gold Standards Framework accredited trainer.

What do you enjoy most and least about your role

I enjoy teaching team members about good care practice, I love all of the care subjects I teach but my favourite subjects to teach are dementia and end-of-life care.

I have to say there isn’t anything I don’t like. Sometimes I get frustrated that I can't fit more into a day, as there is so much I want to accomplish.

What’s the most challenging part of your job and what would you change about it

The workload, I am only one person and I sometimes find it frustrating that I can’t do more. There are so many areas of care that I want to develop courses in. However, I work with an amazing team and together we have accomplished so much.

What is the main advice you would offer to someone who is looking to follow a career in social care

It’s important to be organised, approachable, patient, and sociable. Interested in others, creative, and to think outside the box.

Pick an employer that will provide you with the excellent training and mentoring. Care is a profession for people who want to make a difference in people’s lives every day.

What makes you smile at work

When I hear good news stories about the excellent care that our care team provide, it makes everything worthwhile to know that really people are benefiting from the course I design and teach.

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