Celebrating Julie Hogg: Our Care Professional of the Quarter!

At Home Instead, we believe that recognising and celebrating our people is an important part of creating a positive, supportive and rewarding workplace. Our Care Professionals make a real difference to the lives of the people we support every day, and we want to make sure their dedication, compassion and hard work never go unnoticed.

That is why, every quarter, we celebrate our Care Professional of the Quarter — an opportunity to recognise the fantastic contributions of our team members and give colleagues the chance to nominate and vote for someone they feel deserves that special recognition.

This quarter, the votes are in, and we are delighted to announce Julie Hogg as our Care Professional of the Quarter!

Being voted by fellow colleagues makes this achievement particularly special. It reflects the respect and appreciation Julie has earned from the people who work alongside her, and we are thrilled to celebrate her journey with Home Instead.

We caught up with Julie to find out more about her journey into care, what she has learnt along the way and the advice she would share with anyone considering a career as a Care Professional.

When asked how she felt about receiving the award, Julie told us:

“I was shocked, but really honoured and pleased to receive the recognition.”

We think the recognition is thoroughly deserved, Julie!

Julie joined Home Instead with no previous experience in care, starting out by supporting one client for a few hours each morning. Over time, her hours increased, and so did her experience, as she began supporting more clients with a variety of needs and personalities.

As Julie explained:

“When I first started, I supported one client for a few hours in the morning. Over time, my hours increased, and I began supporting more clients with different needs and personalities. I’ve worked with people living with dementia, as well as those who don’t have dementia.”

Her journey is a wonderful example of how a career in care can develop over time. With experience, support and a willingness to learn, Care Professionals can build their confidence, develop new skills and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Starting a career in care comes with responsibility, and Julie was honest about some of the challenges she faced when she first began.

She explained that administering medication and ensuring she followed all the relevant rules and regulations felt daunting at first. However, with experience, she feels she has adapted well to these responsibilities.

Her experience highlights an important message: it is perfectly normal to feel nervous when starting something new. Confidence does not always come overnight; it develops through learning, experience and the support available along the way.

We asked Julie what advice she would give to someone thinking about becoming a Care Professional, and her answer reflects the values at the heart of person-centred care.

“Be yourself, be honest and always show respect when you’re in someone else’s home. You’re entering their personal space, so you need to respect their wishes, even if something isn’t necessarily what you would choose yourself.”

This is such an important reminder. Providing care in someone’s own home is a privilege, and every person has their own routines, preferences, beliefs and way of doing things. Respecting those choices helps people maintain their independence, dignity and sense of control over their lives.

Being a great Care Professional is not simply about completing tasks. It is about understanding the individual, listening to what matters to them and supporting them in a way that feels right for them.

Building meaningful relationships is a huge part of providing companionship and personalised care. When we asked Julie how she builds good relationships with her clients, she shared some lovely advice:

“Listen to what people tell you and remember the little things, like when family are visiting, birthdays and other important events. It shows that you’ve listened and that you care.”

Remembering a birthday, asking about an upcoming family visit or following up on something a client has previously shared may seem like a small gesture, but these moments can make a real difference. They help people feel heard, valued and understood.

It is often these thoughtful details that turn a care visit into a meaningful connection and help us deliver truly personalised care.

Finally, we asked Julie what she would say to a new Care Professional who might feel nervous or lack confidence.

Her advice was simple but powerful:

“Take one day at a time. Your confidence grows with experience and as you get to know different clients. The more situations you experience, the more confident you become in knowing how to respond if something similar happens again.”

It is reassuring advice for anyone beginning their journey in care. Every day offers an opportunity to learn something new, develop your skills and grow in confidence. With the right support and a willingness to keep learning, those early nerves can gradually turn into confidence and experience.

Julie’s story is a wonderful reminder that you do not necessarily need previous experience to begin a rewarding career in care. The right values, a willingness to learn, honesty and a genuine desire to make a difference are all important foundations on which to build.

Our Care Professional of the Quarter initiative is about more than an award. It is about making sure our people know that their contribution matters, celebrating the difference they make and giving colleagues a voice in recognising one another.

We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to vote this quarter. The fantastic response shows how much appreciation there is within our team, and we are proud to celebrate Julie alongside all our other finalists.

Congratulations again, Julie, on being voted our Care Professional of the Quarter!