A job to be very proud of

Written by Sue Bradbury

When a student nurse said she was worried about working in a care setting because she thought she might become ‘de-skilled’, Mark Bebbington had to suppress a smile. As a senior nurse at Cornwall Care’s Chyvarhas nursing home in Callington, he is used to such misconceptions and is only sorry that he wasn’t able to set the speaker straight at the time.

“It was very busy, so I wasn’t able to just sit her down and explain why care home nursing requires more, not less, expertise,” says Mark.

His own career began in 2013 when he qualified as a mental health nurse in the Midlands. Two years of dedicated dementia training followed, culminating in a workplace nomination in the National Dementia Care Awards and a subsequent re-location to Cornwall.

“I started working with Cornwall Care in 2015 and my level of professional competency has increased dramatically thanks to the training they provide,” he says. “I’m now qualified to nurse people with Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Diabetes Mellitus and we are also trained to facilitate multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and to work closely with hospital discharge staff when choosing suitable homes for patients.

“One of the many things I love about my job is that no two days are ever the same. Is it a busy and challenging role? Yes of course! Is it boring or unfulfilling? Never!”

As well as using the many clinical skills normally associated with general nursing, Mark works with funding authorities, other health care professionals, staffing agencies, specialist equipment providers and, most important of all, residents and their families on a daily basis.

“I feel part of a very friendly, mutually supportive team that genuinely prioritises the needs of the people we are looking after,” he says. “My colleagues are amazingly skilled and dedicated and it’s a privilege to work alongside them, knowing we are making a real and positive difference to our residents’ lives and the lives of their loved ones.

“I’ve had several unsolicited NHS job offers, but they don’t compare with the enormous personal satisfaction I get as a Cornwall Care nurse. I’m well paid, have good, flexible working hours and have all the opportunities and training I need to progress my career and skills.

“Above all, I’m proud of what I do and what I’m able to do for others.”

Mark Bebbington, Senior Nurse at Chyvarhas

“I feel part of a very friendly, mutually supportive team that genuinely prioritises the needs of the people we are looking after,”

For more information about Cornwall Care career opportunities, visit www.cornwallcarecareers.com