Blaire, a support practitioner with Carr Gomm, shares a day in her life working in our Edinburgh Visiting Service. It is a busy and diverse service, supporting people with a wide variety of support needs across the city; and as Blaire has found, it is a truly rewarding role. 

7:00 a.m. My alarm goes off. I awake from a sleepover - supporting Lottie in her own home. I get up and dressed, and find time for a quick cup of tea. 

7:30 a.m. First thing on the agenda is completing morning tasks - ironing from the night before, piling the dishes away and organising the morning medication.

8:00 a.m. Wake Lottie up for her medication (sometimes she is not a morning person, a bit like myself!)

8:30 a.m. Support Lottie with getting ready for the day: changing clothes, supporting her with oral and personal care whilst we chat away and sing songs to make getting ready that little bit more enjoyable.

9:00 a.m. Make breakfast with Lottie and watch a bit of telly whilst discussing what she would like to do for the day. Most Saturdays she likes to go swimming which I can definitely get on board with…who doesn’t love swimming?

9:30 a.m. I support Lottie to make her own packed lunch, before double checking we both have all of our swimming gear and money - an obligatory coffee is a must after all those lengths in the pool. We head for the bus.

11:00 a.m. After supporting Lottie out of her day clothes and into her swimsuit, we hit the pool.

11:20 a.m. We have enjoyed our time doing several lengths in the pool, but now Lottie is more interested in the coffee waiting for her in the café upstairs.

11:20 a.m. Back in the changing room, I help Lottie to shower and get changed. I showed her last week how to use the hair dryer in the changing rooms, so I know I can find her there once I’m ready. I love this part of the job…seeing Lottie achieving things in her life and knowing I was a small part of it. It is what makes this job so rewarding.

12:30 p.m. A well-earned coffee with Lottie, along with a bite to eat (avocado on toast!)

1:30 p.m. Head back to her home to drop off her swimming stuff, and then head back out to feed the ducks and go for a walk – it’s a nice day.

2:00 p.m. Handover with the next support practitioner, Jenny, who is next on shift.

2:10 p.m. Get the bus home; and still feel amazed that I get paid to do this as a career…

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