Three years, three roles: Vanessa’s journey with Age UK Isle of Wight

This year marks three years since Vanessa joined Age UK Isle of Wight: and in that time, her role has changed considerably.

Vanessa originally joined the charity as part of the Integrated Hub team, working across both community activities and health services.

Part of her role involved supporting activities on the Community Unit and Day Hub, helping people stay connected during their time on the unit and after returning home. This included activities, shared lunches and opportunities for people to maintain social contact, helping to reduce loneliness while also supporting their recovery.

Alongside this, Vanessa worked closely with the Virtual Ward and Community Rapid Response nursing teams, making welfare calls to clients and carrying out home visits where additional support was needed.

After around a year, changes to funding meant the activities element of the service came to an end, and Vanessa’s role began to change.

During her second year with Age UK Isle of Wight, Vanessa independently covered the Integrated Hub service. Changes within NHS community services also meant the Community Rapid Response nurses moved into localities across the Island, and Vanessa followed.

Working from all three District Nursing bases, she covered the whole Island, providing welfare calls and home visits to people supported by the team.

Another change followed when the service developed into what we now know as Home First.

Vanessa and her colleagues came together as one team, supporting people both in hospital and within the community. The service has continued to develop since then, with coordinators now working from set localities and closely alongside local healthcare teams.

For Vanessa, who had already spent many years working in care before joining Age UK Isle of Wight, being able to give people time and practical support is one of the most rewarding parts of the role.

“I find this job role very rewarding as we can really help make a difference to people’s lives and have the time to give to them.”

Vanessa is now based within the South locality, where she has built a strong working relationship with the nursing team and continues to support older Islanders through Home First.

Looking back on three years that have already involved three different versions of her role, Vanessa is keeping an open mind about what comes next.

“I look forward to seeing where the next three years working for Age UK will take me.”

Thank you, Vanessa, for everything you have contributed over the past three years and congratulations on your anniversary!