Three generations of rewarding careers in care

It all started with Sophie, who joined the Dearnevale team over seven years ago.

With no prior experience in care, Sophie discovered a role she truly loved when she joined the team as a Health Care Assistant.

Now as a Senior Health Care Assistant, Sophie plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the home whilst empowering the people we care for to live their best lives.

Sophie’s love for her job played a crucial role in her family’s next steps, she explains:

Following in Sophie’s footsteps, her family joined the Exemplar Health Care team, bringing their own unique experiences and skills to Dearnevale.

Sophie’s mum, Zoe, started her journey in care following a career in retail after hearing firsthand how much Sophie enjoyed the role. 

Like Zoe, she joined the team as a Health Care Assistant, and after gaining experience and taking advantage of the training on offer, she developed into a Senior role.

Since her first day six years ago, Zoe has been supporting people with all aspects of their day-to-day living, including taking up new hobbies, meeting friends or getting involved in social activities!
 

Diane, the grandmother of the family, also joined the Dearnevale team six years ago as a Senior Health Care Assistant.

Having previously worked in independent living care, Diane was motivated to join our team after hearing such great feedback from her daughter, Zoe. 

“I’ve always loved working in care and was ready for a new challenge when I joined Dearnevale. 

“The training in the induction and support from the team, including my family members, gave me such a positive start to the role!”

Jade, Diane’s daughter, joined the team five years ago as a Therapy Assistant. 

After 15 years working in education, Jade looked for a change in her career and was inspired by her family’s positive experiences at the home. 

Jade plays a key role in empowering people to build their everyday living skills and maximise their independence through high quality therapy services.
 

Working in care isn’t just a job, it’s an opportunity to make a difference every day for the people we care for. Zoe shares:

While the family may work on different units and have their own responsibilities day to day, their commitment to providing the best care they can unites them all. 

Their dedication extends beyond their own roles, they contribute to the fun and vibrant atmosphere in the home!
 

Dearnevale in Grimethorpe, Barnsley, provides exceptional nursing care for adults living with complex needs arising from neuro-disabilities, complex physical disabilities and long-term health conditions. 

The home recently secured a Top 20 Care Home ranking in Yorkshire and the Humber - an achievement they’ve proudly maintained for eight consecutive years.

They were also awarded the prestigious Quality Hallmark Award by the Gold Standards Framework last year, recognising their exceptional commitment to providing high-quality end-of-life care.
 

A positive and welcoming environment extends beyond Dearnevale, we strive to create a supportive place for all of our colleagues across over 50 homes in England. 

While care roles are central to the incredible work done at Exemplar Health Care, we also offer a range of other crucial position, from catering to administration, you can make a real difference every day. 

For Sophie, Zoe, Diane, and Jade, working at Dearnevale is more than just a job – it's a shared commitment to providing exceptional care within a supportive environment. 

And as Zoe simply puts it, when asked why Dearnevale is such a great place to work: "Why Dearnevale? Why not?"
 

If this story has inspired you to join Exemplar Health Care as a Health Care Assistant, or in any other role, visit our online job search to see our current Health Care Assistant vacancies.