Inspirational Story
Kathrine South
Why did you decide to become a support worker?
I decided to become a support worker as I was passionate about dietetics and had personal experience with it. I hoped this experience would help me relate to patients and give a foundation of knowledge to build on. My mum, partner and lots of members of my family also worked for the NHS, so it felt like a very natural fit for me.
What route did you take/ how did you become a support worker?
Before becoming a support worker, I had worked in clerical roles, so didn’t have professional experience dealing with patients, but felt very comfortable speaking to people, often in challenging situations.
What do you love about your job?
I love my job and working in dietetics and feel passionately, that nutrition and hydration plays a huge role in health and can affect so many areas. I have a particular interest in dementia and hope I can help people that need more support and make a difference by sharing knowledge and experience.
I want to inspire other health care professionals to believe in their AHP Support Workers, and give us more opportunities to develop and lead!
What are you doing now?
Over 5 years, I have progressed from a Dietetic Assistant to a Dietetic Assistant Practitioner, and am now a Band 5, Care Home Hydration Project Lead.
You would usually find me delivering hydration training to care home staff. I hope I can show what AHP Support Workers are capable of. We often have vast experience and soft skills, that may not be gained from university.
My work on the Care Homes Hydration Project has been very successful, and I want to inspire other health care professionals to believe in their AHP Support Workers, and give us more opportunities to develop and lead!