Our Care Professional Michael describes working without missing the important family moments
Meet Michael, a Care Professional who made the leap from head baker to Home Instead team member, discovering a role that truly fits around his family life.
Meet Michael, a Care Professional who made the leap from head baker to Home Instead team member, discovering a role that truly fits around his family life.
What do you enjoy about working for Home Instead?
“It feels like being self-employed with all the support of a fantastic team behind you. I love having the freedom to visit clients and build my own client relationships, while knowing I’m part of something bigger. It’s quite different from anything I’ve done before, but it’s been a really refreshing change from my previous role.”
What did you do before joining Home Instead?
“I was a head baker, which meant I was responsible for the entire kitchen operation – ensuring everything was cooked perfectly, managing the workflow, and when needed, I’d jump out front to make coffee and serve customers. I was constantly on my feet, moving at high speed all day in a hot, stressful environment. I’m really glad to have found a change of pace! The heat and pressure were becoming quite uncomfortable.”
How did you find the transition?
“I’ll be honest – I was nervous at first about trying something completely new. I’d never worked in care before. But my background in hospitality really helped because I genuinely enjoy engaging with people and the social side of work. That naturally translates to care work, where having good conversations with clients is such an important part of the role.
The training was excellent. I particularly valued the shadowing opportunities with experienced Care Professionals because I’m very much a hands-on learner and I pick things up by watching and doing. I was nervous initially, but everything felt surprisingly natural. It’s amazing how quickly it all clicked – I feel like I’ve been doing this much longer than I actually have!”
How did you discover Home Instead?
“I found the opportunity through Indeed and decided to take the plunge.”
How does the role work with your family commitments?
“I have two children. My youngest is 14 months old and my eldest is 5 and just started school. The flexibility of this role has been a game-changer for our family.
My partner handles the morning school run, which allows me to start work early. But the real benefit is that my schedule is designed around school hours. I always have a gap from 2pm to 5pm so I can collect my son from school without any stress. Between visits, I often get to pop home and spend time with my daughter, which is wonderful.
The summer holidays are particularly great because I get to spend so much quality time with my son. I only work one weekend per month, so we have almost all our weekends free as a family. When I was working at the bakery, weekend family time was practically non-existent, so this change has been incredible.”
Tell us about your working pattern
“Absolutely. I was able to choose hours that work for my life. I work three full days with both morning and evening visits, and two days where I only work mornings. Having most weekends off means I can really be present for my family. It fits perfectly with our routine and gives me the work-life balance I was looking for.”
Are you enjoying your new role?
“I’m genuinely loving it. The work is fulfilling in a way I hadn’t experienced before. There’s something really rewarding about making a difference in people’s daily lives.”
What would you say to other parents considering joining the team?
“I’d absolutely recommend this to any parent looking for meaningful work that fits around family life. I’ve developed a great routine that lets me structure my week effectively. I actually started with just morning shifts and gradually increased to include evening work as I settled in. It’s definitely a family-oriented company, and it’s genuinely a lovely job to have.”
How supportive is the office when family needs arise?
“The support has been outstanding. Whenever my children have been ill or I’ve needed time off for family emergencies, the office team has been completely understanding. There’s never any hassle or resentment – they just sort it out.
My daughter has a lactose intolerance, so we have to be really careful about her diet. If she accidentally eats something she shouldn’t, I know I have complete support from the office to be there when she needs me. Having that peace of mind as a parent is invaluable.”
Interested in a career that works around your family? Home Instead offers flexible opportunities for people from all backgrounds. Contact us to learn more about joining our team on 01273 437040 or visit our team page here.