My Carer Journey: Ricardo Granado | Helping Hands Home Care

Posted on 27th January 2017.

Our carers come to us from all walks of life and have some amazing stories to share. Though they all have different stories to tell, they all have one thing in common; they love to care! Ricardo Granado came to Helping Hands having grown up on the other side of the world in Australia.

Originally from Spain, Ricardo moved to Australia at the age of five where he did all of his school work. He then moved back to Spain in 1985 and joined the Army a year later. His career then saw Ricardo become a fruit trader, where he developed a natural ability to connect with the public and a range of other skills which he brings to his role as a live-in carer.

“I was told about Helping Hands by a friend I have in England,” Ricardo says: “I felt that they would be able to give me the support that I needed. I love being able to help others; seeing them smile is really inspiring for me.”

Ricardo is a family-orientated person who first became involved in care through supporting those close to him. He was motivated to become a carer having been caring for his 103-year-old grandmother for over 20 years and found that this came naturally to him. Knowing that he was able to provide such close support for his grandmother has been truly inspirational for Ricardo, and he has also gained around 14 months’ professional experience as a live-in carer.

“I also took care of my mother after my father died, and this is what has inspired me to become a carer,” he explains. “My family is my strength and my support; I would say they have given me my greatest memories and make me proud to be the person I am today.”

When Ricardo first arrived at Helping Hands, our Training Team were impressed with his adaptable nature and his positivity. His excitement was clear in the way he spoke and he took everything in his stride. Jennifer Stevenson, our Carer Ambassador, even stated:

“Ricardo had a brilliant energy and was really excited about being a carer with Helping Hands. He just exudes passion when he talks and was a real pleasure to meet and speak to during his training with us. I have no doubt that he will be an asset to our company.”

Since he found Helping Hands, Ricardo was impressed by the level of support that he has had from our team. He felt that he was able to become a part of the group the second he walked through the door, and that the training he received gave him a great insight into what being a carer would involve. Now, having completed his training with us, Ricardo is keen to move forward and continue supporting our customers.

As someone who is keen to help others, Ricardo has a word of advice to anyone who wants to join him as a live-in carer.
“It’s important that you have patience, but is just as important to never lose your smile.”

If, like Ricardo, you have a kind and compassionate nature and you’re the type of person that others turn to for help and support, our recruitment team would love to hear from you! With full training provided, you don’t need any previous experience, just the desire to give someone the chance to live the life they want within the comfort of their own homes.

Contact our recruitment team at recruitmentlive-in@helpinghands.co.uk or visit our careers page to enquire about becoming a carer with us.