I Joined Nannies4grannies in March 2019. I had spent the previous few years bringing up my children but felt it was time to get back into work.

I contacted nannies4grannies to see if there were any vacancies, so I went along and met Kay for a chat and was lucky enough to be taken on.

I absolutely love my job and working as part of such a wonderful team. I have got to meet a variety of people over the past 5 years and with many of my regular clients I feel more like I’m visiting a friend than a client. Sometimes it’s to help with light housework or preparing a meal, taking to appointments, shopping or simply just being there to have a chat and a coffee and companionship.

I have been visiting Mrs M regularly over the last 5 years and knowing what a difference my visits make to her life is so rewarding. Helping to do chores around her home that she is no longer able to do on her own and being there for her to talk too and just a shoulder to lean on when needed is an absolute privilege.

I feel blessed to work with such a wonderful team of Nannie’s in a job I love.

My background is working as a PA/secretary in various industries including publishing, chemicals and medical equipment. My last office job was as Office Manager in a care home. In that role I much preferred spending time with and getting to know the lovely residents, rather than sitting in my office doing admin work. I then saw the Nannies4Grannies advert in the local magazine. I thought it sounded interesting so applied to be a nannie and was lucky enough to get taken on. That was over six years ago, and it has whizzed by!

What I love about my job is the variety of people I get to meet and knowing that I am helping them (in a small way) to maintain their independence. Whether it is keeping someone company who is less able to go out than they once were, more practical help like cooking a meal or taking to appointments, or just going out to have some fun. My admin skills have occasionally come in useful too!

When I was first introduced to Mr and Mrs W, Mr W was recovering from a stroke and the couple were in need of some additional support for practical tasks like going shopping and attending appointments. They had both lost some independence when they gave up driving. I felt that we clicked from day 1. As I got to know this lovely couple better, we found we had some common interests such as crafting, art and nature and the companionship side of my visits became as important as the practical help I was able to offer.

Sadly, Mr W passed away just over a year ago. I continued my visits with Mrs W over that period, and I hope I was able to give her some comfort and support during that sad and difficult time. My visits with Mrs W have continued and I look forward to seeing her each week. We always have lots to catch up on and invariably find something to laugh about. I honestly feel this lovely lady has become a friend and I get as much, if not more, from our visits, than she does.

Working as a nannie is enjoyable and rewarding and I feel privileged to work within this wonderful, caring team.

When I joined Nannies 4 Grannies in January 2017, I had come from a large Japanese Corporate company which I had been at for 30 years.

I had worked in an NHS environment before this, with British Nursing Association, so was aware of all aspects of care and I had enjoyed it.

I had also cared for parents and then a very poorly aunt, so I knew what to expect, or I thought I did.

It all seemed very easy at N4G.. a little light housework /companionship, shopping, taking to the hospital or doctor’s appointment and even coffee at local garden centres, with no personal care.

How far from the facts could that last statement be – ‘no personal care’. This has transpired to be the most rewarding and wonderful experience of my working life. It is ‘personal care’ at the highest and most personal level.

I joined when life was normal and there was no masks and distancing, so when one of your lovely clients was in need of comfort or a hand holding moment, you could oblige with no rule breaking.

Just before Christmas 2018 one lovely couple that I had supported from joining N4G had to go into a home, they were dedicated to each other, Mr B suffered from Parkinson’s and Mrs B had dementia and later was diagnosed with lung cancer, they stayed at home for as long as possible with our support. I had attended all Mrs B’s hospital appointments with her right to the terminal diagnosis, she was very important to me as she was to Mr B who was immobile and could not come.

The morning Mrs B left us, I was with her to hold her hand, it was an honour and a great comfort to Mr B that I was with her when he couldn’t be.

This was just one example of the relationships I have built with clients and their families; it has been a real honour to share a part of their lives and be with them toward the end offering the ultimate in ‘personal care’.

Covid was a special time for me when we suddenly became the only family some of our wonderful ladies and gents had, working 7 days a week keeping them safe, cooking meals, being their only contact with the outside world. I felt very scared the first morning stepping out and being the only car on the road for most of the journey and those first trips to the shops getting 3 different people’s groceries was very strange.

It was so rewarding and made you feel proud at the end of it all when the families said, ‘we do not know how we would have got through this without Nannies 4 Grannies.’

I have never worked with such a caring group of people; it is hard to believe it is a business.

No one group of people could be more vocational and loving. I’m really proud to call myself a Nannies 4 Grannies member of Staff.

Hi, my name is Frankie and I am the Office Manager here at Nannies 4 Grannies Ltd (N4G). After living in Northern Cyprus for 10 years, I returned to the UK so that I could continue my profession working in school provided boarding. I was very fortunate to secure a position within the boy’s boarding community at St George’s School here in Harpenden and spent a very busy five years developing programmes and promoting a positive boarding culture.

During my free time I enjoyed spending time relaxing with my mother in the local cafes as well as keeping fit in our local sports centre. I also spent Monday afternoons volunteering at The Memory Café held at The Salvation Army halls and this is where I was first introduced to N4G.

I knew then and there that this would be something that I would love to be involved in and was thrilled when the Office Manager position became available. I have only been with N4G for a short while but already know that I will be here for a long time to come!

I feel honoured to be part of a team of people who make such a positive impact and enable older adults to enjoy their lives to the fullest.