5 minutes with Tim Moynihan from the Home Support Service in Tralee, Co Kerry.

How does your day start?

My working day begins at 8am, as part of a team of Health Care Assistants in the Home Support Service who visit a specific group of service users in the Tralee area.
Our aim is to use a person-centered approach while providing care to our service users.
The service users are always waiting for my arrival – this tells me that each person values my visit and this key service.

Tell us about the team you work with. 

It is imperative to have the support from the organization one represents, this is very evident with my employers. The day may present a challenge and that is where assistance from our Line Manager and Home Support office is necessary. The late afternoon is treated no differently to the early morning in terms of approach, yet so contrasting when dealing with unique personalities and varying care needs.

What does your typical working day involve? 

I visit a number of service users with varying needs. Service users may require help with mobility or personal care, enabling them to start their day.
Later in the morning, the service users I visit may have listened to the radio or read the newspaper. I strike up a conversation on the day’s news and they will voice their opinion.
Their opinion, for the most part shows their life’s values, which is a great education for me. I did not envisage this insight when I became a HCA in the Home Support Service .

On my lunch break, I meet up with another member of the team – this is important downtime. After lunch I visit my next service user who will have different care needs.

The most pivotal rules for me as a Health Care Assistant are confidentiality and safety. It is a privilege to be welcomed into a service user’s home and I respect this. The trust a service user places on me is truly humbling.

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

When posed the question ‘what do you enjoy the most about your career’ the word that struck my mind is ‘values’. The trust built up is unique, the advice and education is a two way street and the appreciation from the service user  is so rewarding.

This job is so fulfilling for me personally. One thing I am certain, if I am a service user in the years that are ahead of me, I would prefer to be in my own home. I would give a huge welcome to the person who comes through the door to care for me and who promotes my independence. I would pass on the values that I am experiencing now as a Health Care Assistant to the person looking after me in the future.