Shetlander Elaine Hodge feels fortunate to have found the perfect work-life balance, enjoying living with her family in a beautiful location, close to friends, surrounded by nature, and with a rewarding career as a social care team leader.
Nestled on the edge of the village of Walls, Wastview care home lives up to its name – the westward view over the water and countryside beyond is spectacular.
It is an idyllic location, and for team leader Elaine Hodge it’s also her workplace. The fact she is fortunate to work in such a beautiful place is not lost on her.
“We have the most amazing view from our lounge, looking out to the voe, to Walls and the marina.”
But there’s much more to Elaine’s job satisfaction than being able to enjoy a nice landscape. “It’s the opportunity to make things better for people.”
She has worked in social care for almost 20 years, gaining experience, qualifications, and a huge sense of pride in that time.
Having grown up in Weisdale, around 12 miles from where she now works, Elaine left Shetland to train as a nurse on the mainland. However, she missed home and soon returned to the islands, where in 2005 she successfully applied to join the social care service as a relief worker at what was then Taing House care home in Lerwick. She has worked for the council’s care service ever since, progressing to her current management position where she is working towards an SVQ level 5 qualification.
“The council supported me to work in all care settings – residential, day-care, home support – and I have also done an administrative role on secondment."
That support was first shown when Elaine studied for her SVQ2 in Health and Social Care, and all the way through to her SVQ4 to qualify as a senior care worker.
“I enjoyed the SVQ4 and the senior role so much I decided I wanted to progress further”, hence the current work towards a higher-level qualification.
It’s been a long journey, but Elaine says it has been “incredibly rewarding”.
“I have been fortunate. I still get to care for people just in a different role. You always have the opportunity for further education. As long as I can put the work in, I’ve never been hindered from progressing.”
You always have the opportunity for further education. As long as I can put the work in, I’ve never been hindered from progressing.
The council has also been hugely supportive in other ways. “It’s been a great job for me having a family. I’ve had three children during my career and have been really supported throughout the maternity and my return to work. Things have been adapted to match my needs.”
That kind of flexibility makes the role ideal for Elaine and her family, providing the opportunity to strike the perfect work-life balance.
Living in Walls, Elaine’s commute is a couple of minutes, meaning the school run and nursery drop-offs are a doddle.
“I’m just five minutes from home. I can still be Mum, and a team leader. If the school phone, I’m literally three minutes away. I’m so lucky.”
Even the spectacular view from the care home lounge comes in handy sometimes. In the summer, when school finishes, she can often see her teenaged middle son and his friends jumping from the quayside into the water.
Although she can’t stop herself gasping each time they take a leap, she enjoys the moment especially knowing that others in the community will be keeping a watchful eye on the youngsters.
“What a life to live for them, they can just jump in the sea or get on their bike, and you don’t need to worry too much. There’s always someone looking out for you.”
’m very fortunate that I have worked my way up to this role, that’s so close to my home and I can be a mam, and a manager, and enjoy my life.
Being part of the local community – at home and at work – is something else Elaine finds rewarding. As well as being close to the school the family lives near the leisure centre, and they enjoy getting involved in the annual Walls Show each summer. So do the care home residents, with their regular craft activities and vegetable growing skills reaping rewards (even though it can get competitive).
“There was a year when the residents and the day care visitors both entered a scarecrow in the competition. The day care had always won everything but residential won that scarecrow competition. They have also entered vegetables and flowers, painted stones, jams and baking.”
The veg and flowers are grown in the community garden associated with the care home, which also has “two beautiful polytunnels.” A common sight across Shetland, the polytunnels allow a wide array of plants to grow successfully and they are also used as a “sitooterie”.
“It is,” says Elaine, “like a tropical retreat.”
Perhaps it’s no surprise that she feels so lucky.
“I wouldn’t change anything. I’m very fortunate that I have worked my way up to this role, that’s so close to my home and I can be a mam, and a manager, and enjoy my life.”