Meet the team... Ryan Stuart!

Ryan is one of our Live In Care Assistants... let's go meet him!

Hello, my name is Ryan Stuart. I’m 23 and work as a Live In Care Assistant for Bluebird Care Exeter and East Devon.

My day to day role is to provide care, assistance and companionship to customers with a range of difficulties and personal restrictions. Predominately I work with people who have disabilities and age related restrictions that affect their ability to carry out day to day duties in and around the house and also outside of their homes. 

A typical day for me would be to assist a customer out of bed in the morning, ensuring that they had a sufficient amount of rest and were in a good spirit to get up and start their day. Depending on the customer, I would assist with their toiletry and hygiene needs before getting them dressed.

Once the customer is up and comfortable I would take them through to their dining area where I would prepare or assist in the preparation of their breakfast. Each customer I work with would typically have a different routine or way in which they would like tasks carried out so it is important to communicate with them and follow the comprehensive care plan provided by Bluebird Care. 

Throughout the day I would assist with any tasks the customer would like help with, such as administering medication, preparing food and drinks but also providing companionship. This could include going into town to the shops or a café or staying in to play a board game. I also understand how important it is to know what my customer wants and to allow for privacy when appropriate. I also ensure that all house work is kept on top of, maintaining a clean and hygienic environment for the customer and also for myself to live in.

In the evening I would mirror duties carried out in the morning, ensuring the customer is warm, comfortable, sufficiently fed and hydrated before bedtime.
 
What do you enjoy most about your job?

As a Live In Care Assistant, the thing that I find most satisfying is that I can really create a rapport and build a bond with a customer. Because I spend a minimum of a week at a time with one customer I am able to get to know and understand how they like things done. I also think from the customer’s point of view, it’s nice to have that consistency of assistance and companionship as opposed to having several visits from different carers on a daily basis.  
 
What made you want to be a Live In Care Assistant?

I would have to say the same thing, I think the Live In Care approach will always come out on top simply because you are on a one to one basis which is undoubtedly beneficial for both the customer and the Care Assistant. 
 
How many years have you been working in the Care Industry and how did you get started? What did you do before?

I have been working with Bluebird Care for 9 months now and have worked with a range of people and have enjoyed it every step of the way.

Prior to joining the company, I had spent some time doing community and residential care work in Exmouth, Devon. I also spent a lot of time working in hospitality. I think the time I spent in hospitality has really helped in giving me an insight to customer services, food hygiene, working alone or as part of a team and has also provided me with the necessary resources in how to go about solving problems.

I like to think I’m a head strong, friendly and confident individual who can bring some great ideas, practical application and companionship to my job. 
 
Tell us a fact or something unusual about yourself…

I am a keen guitar player, I also spend a lot of my spare time working on freelance or personal illustration, sign writing and graphic design projects.