Care assistant who became deputy manager says 'I didn't think I would ever have such a wonderful job'

In 2014, Melissa Dempster became a care assistant for Caremark. Now eight years later she is a deputy care manager and says: “I really love my job and when I come to work it’s like coming in to see my second family!”

Caremark (North Down, Ards & Belfast) wants to spread the message that there is a career ladder in care work and there are lots of opportunities for progression.

Ms Dempster, aged 28, said: “When I started with Caremark I wasn’t thinking about my future at the time. I was happy to be a care worker and never thought I would progress.”

She joined Caremark in 2014 as one of their first care workers soon after the company launched.

It was during the final part of her maternity leave in 2017 that her first opportunity to progress came along. With a new baby to care for she was no longer able to work the same hours but did not want to leave the company she loved. So, when a vacancy for a part-time administrative role in the office came up, she applied and got the job.

Director Emily Magrath is an advocate of flexible working and as a working mother, she knows the challenges of juggling a business with family life.

More opportunities for senior roles came along in 2018 as care co-ordinator and again in 2020 as senior care co-ordinator.

Then just before Christmas 2021, Ms Dempster had another chance of promotion. “The post of deputy care manager came up and as I was doing many of the tasks in my current role, I thought I could do the job, so I applied. I still had to get through the application and interview but knew that I had to go for it! Now, here I am eight years on from starting out as a care worker and I’m now the deputy care manager!

“I feel I’m a lot more confident now too. I was quite shy and withdrawn as a youngster, but as I’ve grown in my different roles, so I’ve grown in myself as well. Now I can look back and feel I’ve done a really good job getting there, thanks to the support of the company.

“Never did I think I would ever be doing this or have such a wonderful job. Emily and Richard have been so flexible and have really gone above and beyond for me. This is such an amazing company to work for."

Fellow staff member Gulmaz Amjad, aged 49 has also managed to progress in her career while working for Caremark.

She also joined Caremark as a care worker, but it wasn’t long before the position of care supervisor became available and she got the job.

The post of deputy care manager for Caremark’s Belfast office became available sometime later and with her increased knowledge and experience, Ms Amjad successfully landed the job.

“I came in on a part-time basis and it grew from there,” said Ms Amjad. “I can see that I’ve gained a lot more confidence and my different roles have taught me how to deal with people. My family have noticed my progression which is great. They can see how someone can progress in care if they want to and work hard.

“From where I am now, I can say that what Emily saw in me at the beginning, I can now see in others!”

Director Emily Magrath, who runs the company with her husband Richard, said: “We would much rather offer progression to carers in our own company than recruit from the outside because our own staff understand our values, our ethos and can see what our business stands for and is built on.

“That’s important. This doesn’t happen if you recruit from outside the company as someone coming into your team may not appreciate or understand your values from the get-go. You don’t have this problem if you progress your own team up through the roles. Plus, it’s great for our clients as they know the staff already and that maintains continuity for everyone.”

Caremark focuses on providing a personalized care service to people of all ages and requirements, supporting them to remain living independently at home, or with a live-in care worker if preferred.

In addition, Caremark offers care for people who need interim support following a hospital stay, as well as care for the terminally ill.

click here for more details or to contact Caremark NI