Common Sense comes from Experience.

With training and shadowing out of the way I was unleashed on society last Wednesday! Thankfully the first day was more of the same - we do a lot of 'double up' calls that require two carers per person simply because you need an extra pair of hands. Moving someone - even using a hoist - from a bed to a wheelchair may sound easy enough but add to that a few catheter tubes or an arm or leg that refuses to go where its owner wants it to and you'll start to appreciate the need for two people.

The other plus side for me was the fact that that extra pair of hands knew exactly what we had to do! Whilst I'm happy to do what I'm told to do I'm very much in the dark about exactly how much of it should be done - and on what order.

People have told me it's all about common sense but I'm starting to realise you're not actually born with that - you learn from experience. I mean a toddler only learns that the fire is hot by touching it - right?

My first afternoon out on my own was a 'tea run'. Getting from house to house and doing what was required was challenging enough within the time but add to that a foot of snow and minus 5 temperatures (God bless you Mother Nature) and my stress level was fairly high! And that was before I met The Key Safe.

Now this is a classic case of common sense not being enough on its own. I opened the first without difficulty BUT when it came to locking it back up again I was at a loss as to how to do it. It was unlike the other three I've seen in my lifetime and try as I might I couldn't get the latch to drop and the box to shut! I phoned one of the others who tried her best to get me to understand. To cut a very long - and very cold - story short being the absolute hero that she was she came up and helped me do it 20 minutes later. By that stage I was late and freezing!

The next morning I was nervously on schedule until I arrived at one client's house to find her in bed feeling very unwell. Again common sense was needed but so was experience. I knew enough to phone a doctor and stay with her but after that I was at a complete loss. Did I give her her medication even though she was ill or did I leave her in bed and wait for the doctor to decide? Did I get someone else to continue my shift or get someone in to sit with her? OR did I just pat her on the hand and tell her The Doctor was coming? My mobile was red hot by the time I left her in the (more capable hands) of a neighbour and set out to complete my other six calls - all due before 11am.

So am I enjoying my new career? You bet I am! When it goes well it's one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had the pleasure to do. When it goes wrong I remind myself that in a month's time I'm going to look back and laugh ... aren't I?!