Care Assistant to Paramedic

I had the pleasure of meeting with Marie Simpson- Daems, who has been with Bluebird Care for 3 years and is currently undertaking the new challenge of becoming a Paramedic.

Marie has been an integral part of our waking nights team and the new Roving Responder partnership.

Becoming a Care Assistant

Marie originally went to university for a degree in dance, however, once covid hit she wasn’t sure which direction to go with her career. A friend suggested becoming a Care Assistant, with flexible hours and an active role not sitting behind a desk, Marie decided to give it a try. Like most people who haven’t worked within care, she was sceptical about whether care was for her.

“I didn’t think I could look after strangers in such an intimate way, but when you are in the moment, you realise that these people need your help.” - Marie

Marie started working on waking nights as it suited her lifestyle. Waking nights support individuals who may be at risk during the quiet hours and are usually part of the UCR (urgent community response), people needing the night support are often referred by hospitals and emergency teams. The night care team also support end-of-life cases, Marie mentioned that she values supporting people during end-of-life care, being able to make a difference, reducing someones pain or just being there if they don’t have family.

“I think people who become Care Assistants are naturally caring people and want to help any way they can.” - Marie

Training to become a Paramedic

While working in care and having experience with Paramedic teams, the need and want to do more pushed Marie to apply for Paramedic training. So far she has completed her C1 driving licence which allows her to drive vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and will sadly be leaving Bluebird Care to complete the rest of her training in May 2024. Marie will be joining as a ECA (emergency care assistant) assisting the paramedics and part of the ambulance crew but will progress to completing her full paramedic training and furthering her career.

“It is hard not being able to do more, especially when you are in a stressful situation. Working for Bluebird Care has given me life experience and I feel better equipped to deal with different people and circumstances” - Marie

While talking about her future as a first responder, Marie lit up with excitement at the prospect of a new challenge. Although we are sad to see her go, we know Marie will be a brilliant Paramedic and continue to make a difference to peoples lives.

“If working in care taught me anything, it’s that you need to live life to the fullest and push yourself so you don’t regret anything.” - Marie

Some top tips from Marie!

If you work or are thinking of working in waking nights, Marie has given us some tips that have helped her throughout the last 3 years!

How do I stay awake?

Sometimes a warm house, the quiet and darkness can make it hard to stay awake and alert.

“I found the most effective way of staying awake or waking yourself up, is to make sure to get some fresh air throughout the night.” - Marie

How do I help myself sleep during the day?

Sleeping during the day doesn’t feel natural and some people may struggle.

“When doing waking nights, I always try to stick to a routine and do everything I usually do at night in the morning. For me, I get home, eat dinner (breakfast), shower, watch some TV then go to bed.” - Marie

Looking for reliable support?

Contact us for a no-obligation chat with our care consultants, they can offer advice and help you discover whether home care is the right choice for you. As well as night care, we also offer domiciliary care and live-in support.

We also offer free care assessments, normally within a week of your initial request for care. We understand that care is often seen as a last resort option, so we are always prepared to support you with the transition and make the process as simple as possible.