Dave, our cheeky Companion loves to take Kingsway Care Clients out and about. Here he is with Molly, sitting on a bench enjoying the sunshine in Shoreham and the relaxing tunes of a street musician. Dave says, “Life doesn’t get better than this!”
Dave’s Side-Gig
Dave is a professional musician himself but chooses to work for Kingsway Care for around ten hours a week. He admits he has never been a conventional 9-5 guy. The companionship side-gig suits him perfectly. As you can see, Molly is his biggest fan!
Our Little Rock Star
Music is his first love and Dave tells me he has been playing the guitar since he was 12 years old. He started playing the folk clubs in his native North East and in 1977 went to Germany to entertain the RAF bases. After that, he was a professional session musician in London and frequently appeared on Top of The Tops.
During this time, Dave also regularly returned to the North East and loved working at the Richmond Fellowship https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk, a mental health charity. At the time, he tells me it was like a half-way house for institutionalized people to find their feet.
Moving to Hove
1n 1998 Dave married his wife Laura and moved to Hove. He proudly tells me that since 1999, he had been touring with Belinda Carlisle too! Unfortunately, the gigging days came to an abrupt halt when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Dave also had to stop his popular Little Pickles music & dance workshops for toddlers.
Gainful Employment
Last year, Dave was looking around for what his wife calls ‘gainful employment’. A friend already working in Care suggested he applied for a job where she worked. She said it was mostly just talking and listening to people. And if there is one thing Dave can do, it is talk! He also couldn’t forget how rewarding it was working for the Richmond Fellowship.
The Audition for Kingsway Care
Dave tells me a Kingsway Care ad popped up on his Facebook feed in November 2020, so he arranged to meet the Co-founders, Olly and Chris. He’d never done interviews before so treated it like an audition. As a start-up, Kingsway Care didn’t have Care Quality Approval to provide personal care but knew there was still a lot they could do to combat loneliness and isolation in the local community. Dave got the job.
Let me Entertain You
Dave’s people skills and the gift of the gab were maximised in Kingsway Care’s online Christmas parties and pub-style quizzes. He also connected Kingsway Care to the Food and Friendship Luncheon Club which is a charity we now sponsor and Dave takes his guitar along to the lunches to entertain the masses.
The local Age UK also soon became fans of the budding Kingsway Care Team’s willingness to help the most vulnerable during the Christmas period.
What’s Dave up to now?
Kingsway Care is now a fully-fledged Care Quality Approved home care provider with a growing team of 40+ CareGivers that do provide personal care. But Dave knew that side of care didn’t suit his unique communication skills. Kingsway Care recognises his ability to engage with anyone of any age or walk of life. He’s particularly good to send along to Clients that need their spirits lifting. After an hour with Dave, you can’t fail to have a smile on your face.
Benefits of Companionship
“Please don’t call me a do-gooder! I’m just doing what comes naturally.”
Dave has never been one for sitting in an office. He loves being out and about as much as our Kingsway Care Clients. He has a regular date with Molly every Thursday. She is 90 years old and every week they go somewhere different from Mayberry garden centre to sitting in the sun in Shoreham or hanging out in Steyning.
One of our other Clients is a huge Elvis Presley fan. Dave and Stella talk for hours about Elvis’s early days. Her daughter recently told us, “It’s been a long time since her mum has been so positive and happy where her care is concerned and her whole attitude and behaviour has changed so much for the better.“
Dave’s not just a ladies’ man though. He’s built a strong rapport with a male client that is only ten years older than Dave’s 63 years. After visiting for a couple of hours, four times a week, Dave is pleased to tell me the huge improvement he has seen in the gentleman.
He is now up and dressed and ready to go before Dave arrives and he strides out instead of shuffles. They while away the time talking about music, art, and literature. Or trying to outdo each other making up naughty limericks!
Benefits of working for Kingsway Care
Dave tells me he loves how the whole team muck in and the company ethos to spend quality time with Clients suits him. He doesn’t have to go into an office. He can punch in the details of all his visits into Kingsway Care’s OpenPass app on his phone. This updates everyone on his whereabouts and what tasks he has completed.
He enjoys being able to work when he chooses which leaves him plenty of time to spend in his man-shed / music studio making music surrounded by all his guitars.
Dave will also be taking time out to tour with Belinda Carlisle for five weeks from October 2021. We miss him already!
Would you like some company?
If you or someone you know could benefit from companionship please contact our friendly team for a chat on 01273 077444 or email info@kingswaycare.com
