How Erin found her calling at college

A trainee nurse who devotes her time to others discovered her calling while studying at Coleg Menai.

Erin Jones studied Level 2 Health & Social Care at the Llangefni campus.

Since leaving college in 2019, she has looked after residents at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care home, in her home town of Caernarfon, where she has now completed her Level 3 qualification.

The 23-year-old was promoted to clinical care practitioner after starting as a carer, and is now studying to be a nurse.

She discovered how much she enjoyed working in the care sector while completing work placements as part of her Health & Social Care course.

Pictures: Rick Matthews

“I loved the course at Coleg Menai,” said Erin. “When I started college, I knew I wanted to do something hands-on in clinical care.

“But it was after I did a placement at Bryn Seiont Newydd that I discovered how much I enjoyed it, and that led to me working here.

“I enjoy the mental health aspect of it, and it’s good to give something back to people.

“Also as part of my course I learned about things like safeguarding and confidentiality - and once you learn them you never forget them.”

Erin recently volunteered to work her fourth Christmas Day in a row to ensure the people she looks after were able to enjoy the festivities.

“A typical day at Bryn Seiont Newydd is always busy, fun and very rewarding. No two days are ever the same," she said.

"The atmosphere at Bryn Seiont Newydd is really lovely all year and it steps up a gear at Christmas.

“All the staff work really hard to make it special for the residents. We decorate the lounges and the corridors and the foyer and there are lots of lights, lots of cards and of course a tree.

"Christmas brings out the residents’ personalities too. They share their recollections of how they spent their Christmases in years gone by and how it is different now to when they were perhaps my age. Those stories are always nice to hear.

"We cater for their families too when they come to visit. Christmas can be difficult for them but we play games, pull crackers and sing."

Erin was one of around 60 members of staff working at Bryn Seiont Newydd on Christmas Day.

Their hard work was greatly appreciated by manager Sandra Evans, who said: "We ask the staff who would like to work on Christmas Day and Erin has always put her hand up and volunteered to do so.

“We are all very grateful to those members of staff who, like Erin, are willing to go the extra mile and give up some valuable family time to be here so they can create some Christmas magic for our residents.”

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