IN the wake of International Women’ Day, a Malvern based care worker has shared her success story after transitioning careers.
Shirley Bradley, who has worked for the Dementia charity, Friends of the Elderly, for 19 years, has shared her own career journey as part of last Friday’s (March 8) International Women’s Day.
Friends of the Elderly run day care services in Malvern and Kidderminster in Worcestershire, and in Woking and Wallington in Surrey. All the services care for and support older people who are living with dementia and a range of age-related conditions.
Shirley used to work as the general manager of a hotel in South Africa, but when she returned to the UK, a friend suggested her skills from the hotel industry would be easily transferrable to working in the day centre.
“The rest as they say is history, as I realised that I loved working with and supporting older people,” Shirley said.
Shirley’s first care role was as a Bank Day Care Assistant for two different day care clubs, specifically for people living with dementia and one for older people living alone in the community. In 2006, she became the Manager of the two services.
In 2015, Shirley became the Manager of Friends of the Elderly’s Malvern and Kidderminster Day Care Services and, in 2019, she took on the role of Interim Engagement Manager for a year at the Malvern Site.
Most recently in November 2021, Shirley was promoted to Head of Day Care Services, line managing the Malvern and Kidderminster Day Care Services and also Friends of the Elderly’s Wallington and Woking Day Care Services.
Supporting the needs of residents and making sure they are heard is so important to Shirley. She added: “We have regular client meetings to make sure we are constantly delivering the type of engaging and stimulating activities our clients want to take part in.
“I am passionate about the care we provide, and it makes me so proud to be able to be to contribute even a little bit in ensuring that the time our clients spend with us in the day centres is as happy and fulfilling as possible.”
