Melissa.wav 28/03/2014
[Interview proper begins 0:00:34]
I: Hi [Name: 0:00:34].
R: Hello.
I: I’m [Name: 0:00:36]. Welcome. I thought I’d just spend some time today at the start of our conversation just introducing myself and talking a little bit about the process of career coaching, just to kind of ease us in a bit.
R: Okay.
I: But fairly shortly I would like to move over to you and start talking about what’s important to you and the kinds of things that you want to talk about today, so we’ll definitely get to that.
R: Okay.
I: I thought I’d just make some preliminary remarks about the nature of the conversation we’re going to have and start with some domestics and so on and then going to move on to some other topics, but it would be interesting to know if you’ve ever had this kind of career conversation before?
R: No, I haven’t.
I: Okay.
R: No.
I: Right, so this is a new experience for you?
R: Completely new, yes.
I: And you’ve never had a conversation at school or college or in the workplace, or anything like that?
R: No. No, not that I remember.
I: No? Okay. So, I mean I guess that’s another reason for us kind of easing ourselves in a bit and perhaps...perhaps helping you understand the sort of scope and the range of sort of topics that we can talk about as well.
R: Okay.
I: But fundamentally I’m interested in forging an agreement with you about how we’re going to proceed for the next 45 minutes or so.
R: Okay.
I: Okay? Yes, in terms of time we’ve got about 45 minutes to play with today.
R: Yes.
I: Although we’re being recorded, it’s a private interaction and I’ll respect your privacy and your right to privacy in relation to any information that you share with me.
R: Okay, thank you.
I: Okay? It’s...career coaching is independent, so although I’m employed by the University of Warwick and the University of Warwick is a provider of jobs and training in education, I’m not in any way under any obligation in relation to that in terms of the discussion that we’re having. It’s completely independent and I’m not interested in selling any particular option to you.
R: Okay.
I: And I guess I’m also interested in working out the kind of action that we might, you know, develop today and that’s why I’ve kind of shared these pads with us and you’ve obviously brought a pad of your own.
R: Yes.
I: So, what I tend to use it for is to just make some very brief notes so that I...I don’t kind of...if something’s important I don’t kind of lose it, but you’re welcome to, you know, make notes as we go through and you may want to do it at the end as well.
R: Okay, thank you.
I: So that’s kind of the domestic side of things. In terms of the kinds of topics that we can talk about today, well career is a big subject.
R: Yes.
I: And we can really talk about any career related matter of interest to you, but just to give you an idea of the kind of scope of that, this is not in any way to limit what we discuss, we could talk about growing and exploring your ideas; career dreams or ideas you might have, no matter how speculative or...
R: ...Okay.
I: ...Or weird or...
R: ...Okay.
I: ...Unknown they might be. In fact, we could talk about not knowing as well, you know.
R: Yes.
I: You know, career coaching...
R: ...Sounds good.
I: Yeah. It isn’t necessarily about people who are certain or even prematurely certain.
R: Yes.
I: You know. It could be about talking about not knowing.
R: Okay.
I: We can also talk about deciding, perhaps between a range of options that you’re already aware of and that you’d like to kind of narrow down a bit, and perhaps look at the pros and cons of something like that.
R: Okay.
I: If you are in a position of certainty and you do know very much the line of development you want to follow, we could talk about that. We could talk about how you get there, you know, how you implement your ideas. We could talk about where you are at the moment, if you’re, you know, quite happy where you are at the moment, it could be about enriching and deepening your experience of where you are.
R: Okay.
I: But also, I mean we could talk about leaving. You know, we could talk about moving on from where you are and disengaging from your current situation and what that might involve. So that’s just...you know, some preliminary remarks, really, to give you some idea of the scope of a career conversation.
R: Okay.
I: Is that in any way helpful?
R: Yes, definitely, it is yes.
I: But like I say, it’s not meant to kind of limit what we can discuss...
R: ...No...
I: ...And in terms of my own agenda, because I’ve got an agenda too I suppose, I’ve got priorities. I’d be particularly interested today, at a fairly early point in our discussion, in learning more about you.
R: Okay.
I: I’d like you to teach me about you and particularly how you got to where you are and the kinds of topics that you want to discuss today, so I would like to do that if that’s possible?
R: Okay.
I: And towards the end of our discussion, it might be helpful for us to begin to think about next steps to help you further and perhaps myself further in our career related learning.
R: Yes.
I: And that may extend to referral. I mean there may be other services available to you that could be useful.
R: Okay.
I: And it could involve us meeting again.
R: Okay.
I: Or interacting again on a phone or something like that, so we’ll see how that goes, but I’d like to, if possible, bring the conversation to a close with looking at next steps.
R: Okay.
I: So that’s something of my own agenda and priorities, and in terms of limitations, I don’t have information available to give to you today. You know, we’re just two people in a room together.
R: Yes.
I: So, I won’t be able to act as a supplier of information to you and a lot of my information is probably out of date anyway.
R: Okay.
I: But we can certainly talk about information because it’s usually quite a big part of career development, and in particular, the identification of information sources that might be helpful to you, the interpretation of those sources and then, you know, working out what that means in terms of action.
R: Yes.
I: So we can certainly discuss information. And in terms of decision making, I’m not here to tell you what to do today. I’m not seeking to do that anyway. I’m more interested in facilitating and helping your career decision making, so that’s how I guess I see my role.
R: Okay.
I: So that’s far too much talking from me really, but I just thought we’d kind of bed it in a little bit. As I said, [Name], over to you to an extent. I mean what’s important to you today?
R: I suppose to find out where I’m going. I know roughly I definitely want to work with elderly people. I do that at the moment, as in I work for the Lifeline, but they seem to be taking more and more responsibility and the care away from that.
I: Okay.
R: So yeah, that’s where I’d like to be.
I: Yeah, so you’re interested in where you’re going?
R: Yeah.
I: And you’re...one thing you have definitely decided about is that you want to work with elderly people?
R: Yes.
I: And, in fact, you are currently working with elderly people for Lifeline?
R: Mm mm.
I: But that’s changing a little bit and it’s not quite what you’re...
R: ...No.
I: ...It’s moving away from that, so you’d like to kind of continue that line of development?
R: Yes.
I: Yeah, okay. That’s really helpful, so we’ll definitely talk about that today. That’ll be, you know, the main focus of our conversation: where you’re going and thinking about directions in relation to elderly people.
R: Okay.
I: Is there anything else on your mind in terms of career development; any other issues that you want to put on the table?
R: Well, I have...I have spent a couple of months working in an actual nursing home.
I: Right.
R: But I had to leave there because the care, it isn’t what I...what I think it should be and I know that the care system is not where it should be, so in an ideal world I’d have my own care home where I could run it, you know, and the people would be looked after with proper respect rather than just, you know, another number in a room.
I: So that...is that a fairly recent experience?
R: It is, yes. About four, five months ago...
I: ...Yeah.
R: ...I couldn’t...I couldn’t stay there.
I: Yeah.
R: I did explain to the manager.
I: So that was a two month experience in a nursing home?
R: Yes.
I: And you were interested in getting a taste of the work?
R: Yes.
I: Well, more of a taste of the work?
R: Yes.
I: And what you found was not ideal?
R: No.
I: And it’s making you think about an ideal world where you kind of run your own nursing home?
R: Yes.
I: And you give people the respect and the care that they need?
R: Yes.
I: Yeah.
R: And should have.
I: And should have, yeah. Okay. So that’s related to this...to the first topic really, is that, the direction of development again, working with elderly people, and just telling me a little bit more, about your fleshing out that vision.
R: Yes.
I: Of how you see it, so yeah, we can definitely, definitely talk about that today.
R: Okay.
I: Yeah. Anything else, any other topics of interest to you in terms of your career development?
R: On totally the other end of the spectrum, midwifery, but that’s only a slight...
I: Yeah. Yeah, I like that phrase, ‘the other end of the spectrum’.
R: It is yes, yes. The beginning of life to end of life.
I: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
R: But I think my heart is more towards the elderly.
I: Yeah, so you’ve got an interest in I guess another area of care, another area of nursing in the broader sense...
R: ...Yes.
I: ...And that’s midwifery.
R: Yeah.
I: So that’s maybe something we should talk about today as well?
R: Okay.
I: Yeah and anything else really? I mean is there anything else on your mind, any other topics that you want to possibly discuss today?
R: No, I don’t...
I: No?
R: No. I can’t think of any off-hand.
I: Okay, so that gives us maybe three topics – maybe two or three topics to kind of look at today.
R: Yes.
I: One is this kind of ‘where am I going?’ question in relation to your definite concrete interest in working with elderly people.
R: Yes.
I: Another is, you know, progressing that vision of...in a way, you know, in [Name’s: 0:12:36] ideal nursing home.
R: Yes.
I: Something like that. And actually there is another topic here, which is possibly to do with midwifery, so that may not involve elderly people, but it’s still an area of interest right now as well...
R: ...Yes.
I: ...So we need to kind of discuss that. Great. Well, I think that gives us, you know, a reasonable agenda for today doesn’t it?
R: Okay, yes.
I: Yeah? If, as we’re going, you just decide, ‘Oh I don’t want to talk about that anymore. I want to talk about something else,’ or you want to narrow in and focus on something then just say so and we’ll switch...
R: ...Okay.
I: ...Switch direction, yeah.
R: Thank you.
I: I said at the start that one of my interests is in learning more about you and you teaching me about you and how you got to this point where you’re thinking about these two things...
R: ...Okay.
I: ...Elderly people and midwifery and I wonder if you could just take some time to flesh that out a bit and tell me more about how you got to this point.
R: Okay. Well, I have four girls of my own.
I: Yeah.
R: And the last two, I had the same midwife and I must say, she was...went above...I think went above and beyond and I just like the idea of being able to help somebody that much. With the elderly, I do go to church and we...I’ve helped with like the lunch club, which is for lonely older people and I’ve given lifts to people who...like elderly, who can’t get there themselves, and I have my grandma, who is just a wonderful, wonderful lady, and I would hate to see her not taken care of properly.
I: Yes.
R: So that sort of pushed me, or that’s given me the heart I think for the elderly because I’ve worked with them and seen that they’re not really...not all given the love they should be.
I: Yeah.
R: And especially people without families.
I: Mm.
R: So, that’s...
I: Yeah.
R: That’s really it. It’s more personal.
I: Yeah. Yeah, so there’s an experience really with four children and the last two, the midwife, was it in the hospital or...?
R: Yes, it was at the hospital.
I: That was a powerful experience?
R: Yes, it was.
I: You were really impressed?
R: Yes and like I say, being the same midwife for both of them as well, that was quite special and she remembered me – not for anything bad, but yeah.
I: No.
R: It was...it was a nice experience. I know not everybody can say that, so I’m lucky.
I: Yeah and what was it about it that was so powerful do you think? What was so impressive about this person?
R: She was just very friendly, very...she was...she made it very easy to be comfortable with her in such a vulnerable position and I mean I’ve heard stories from other people who’ve just said they just couldn’t, you know, their midwife made things worse because they didn’t get on and...
I: ...Yeah.
R: ...I’d just like to be that person that people can feel, you know, that I am...I do care, rather than it’s just like, your job.
I: Yeah, okay, and are there any other experiences of midwifery that have led you to your interest in it, or was it exclusively that woman?
R: It’s just the feeling I should give something back.
I: Yeah, yeah.
R: So...
I: Yeah and in relation to the...working with the elderly, you’ve got this experience at the lunch club in connection with the church.
R: Yes.
I: So you’re...well, tell me about that. Are you kind of providing lunches, escorting them or...?
R: Yes, it was more escorting them there and just speaking to the odd person. You can just see it makes their day and...
I: ...Yeah.
R: ...You know, and things like the lifeline. If people haven’t got any family and you go and update all their information, they just love having that time, that someone’s called around.
I: Yeah.
R: So...
I: Great. Now, you’ll have to excuse my ignorance because I don’t really know anything about Lifeline.
R: Okay.
I: Can you tell me a bit more about...because you’re currently engaged in Lifeline?
R: Yes, I am.
I: Yeah, is that a job or...yeah?
R: It is, yes. It’s basically a box that attaches to elderly people’s telephone line and they wear a pendant, which they can press if they had a fall or if they were unwell or needed help in any way. That’s how it was. Now it’s a bit more, they press it if they need help and we get a paramedic.
I: Yes, okay.
R: Whereas before, you know, we could help before and if needed, call the paramedics.
I: Oh I see, right.
R: So we would attend. We were like response, and they’re taking it all, moving it away from the care.
I: Right, okay. So, are you on duty? I mean are you at home when this is happening?
R: No.
I: Or are you in the office, or...?
R: Yes.
I: How does it work?
R: Well, they have three shifts and if you’re on for the early shift you are there for response, but you also are fitting the lifelines and testing that the batteries and everything are okay.
I: Yeah.
R: And the same with lates and with lock up schemes and things, which are residential homes where they do have a warden, but they’re not always there and then at nights it’s really just waiting in the office for a call.
I: Yeah.
R: So...
I: Okay and you have enjoyed that work?
R: I have. I do. I love it.
I: And you’ve been involved in it for a long time?
R: Getting on for two years now.
I: Yeah, yeah and did you just fall into it?
R: I did.
I: Or did you make a deliberate choice to...?
R: No. I did fall into it. I hadn’t been working because of my children.
I: Yeah.
R: And I was...because she now goes to nursery in the mornings I was thinking I could volunteer at the hospital speaking to people and I had a Lifeline fitted for my grandmother, which the lady said, “Oh you’d be really good at this.”
I: Oh right, okay.
R: So it sort of...I applied and got it, so rather than volunteering I’ve ended up in paid work, which is good.
I: Yeah.
R: But I still feel I should...I don’t know, I should do more of the care and the love part of it...
I: ...Yes.
R: ...Rather than a duty.
I: Yes and when it’s going well, when it’s good, I mean I appreciate it’s changed...
R: ...Yes.
I: ...What do you do with the elderly people that you enjoy? I mean what’s...tell me about interaction that might take place, or a particular example that might...a memory that you have of it that’s...
R: ...It’s really just the talking... They’ll tell you a bit about their lives and...
I: ...Yeah.
R: ...You know, about what certain people have done and obviously if they’ve got themselves into difficulties it...it helps them with the embarrassment of having to tell their family they’ve had an accident or whatever, you know, because we can help them clean up rather than...