Shelby Smith: Finding her calling in dementia care
After completing a work placement with Dementia Forward as part of her York College studies, Shelby Smith’s journey didn’t end when the placement finished. Instead, it marked the beginning of something even more meaningful.
The former Level 3 Health and Social Care student continued to volunteer at the charitable organisation and now has her sights set on a career in dementia nursing.
Shelby’s story underlines how important industry placements can prove in the shaping of students’ futures and she feels hers led to finding her true calling - supporting people living with dementia.
Dementia Forward is a North Yorkshire-based charity that supports people living with dementia and those who care for them, offering practical help, information and emotional support. Through community services, activities and advice, the organisation aims to reduce isolation, promote independence and help people affected by dementia live well.
Having built strong bonds with clients and staff alike, Shelby continued to volunteer almost every week in what she describes as a “warm and loving environment”, where she has shared laughter and heartfelt conversations. From morning hugs to singing songs and making people smile, volunteering will always stay close to her heart.
Encouraged by colleagues who recognised her natural ability to connect with people and motivated by the impact volunteering has had on her career aspirations, Shelby now hopes to take the next step towards becoming a dementia nurse.
Shelby’s determination and kind nature made her a real asset to Dementia Forward as she continued to make a difference to those whose support networks can often feel too small.
Shelby, who studied Health and Social Care at York College, spoke to us about the inspiration behind her studies as well as her College experience and supportive tutors:
“I originally wanted to be a social worker after an experience that happened with someone in my family. From this, I was inspired to study Health & Social Care.
“My experience at College was really positive, all my classes were really good. On the course, I learnt about health and safety as well as first aid and nursing. Having that knowledge and awareness will really help me with my career goals.
“All my tutors were really helpful with whatever questions I had or with anything I needed. If I didn’t understand something, my tutors explained things in a way that helped me to understand.
“My tutor Mo was a big help in my first year and so was Helen in my second year. Helen would always say, ‘Come on, you can do it!’, especially during the last part of the course. She gave me the motivation to see that I could do more, and I ended the year with my first ever A!”
Support from the York College Placement Team played a key role in setting up Shelby’s placement at Dementia Forward. The careful matching ensured that Shelby would experience a placement that aligned with her interests from the outset:
“Karen in the Placement Team set me up with my placement opportunity. She explained the placement to me and straight away I felt like it was something I wanted to do. It seemed like a really good fit for me.
“Doing the placement at Dementia Forward helped me realise my career goals. I’ve worked alongside some great people and have learnt a lot from them. I had a big support system when I was volunteering and if I didn’t know something I was encouraged to ask questions. I worried initially that I was asking lots of daft questions, but I was reassured that my questions were valid.”
Continuing her praise of the team at Dementia Forward and sharing the potential they saw in her, Shelby went on to say:
“One colleague was named Bill. He was a Dementia Activities Support Worker. Bill has now retired but as he left, he said to me, ‘You could do this as a career, you’re really good at it and you connect with people so well’.”
Looking back at her journey from College to placement and then to volunteering, Shelby spoke to us about how she applied her classroom learning in a real-life setting and the enjoyment she found within it:
“A lot of the work at College was learning about client relations, boundaries and first aid. After I completed my College course I continued as a volunteer. I grew very close to the clients especially the initial ones. They made me feel very welcome and they were very chatty. I found that the setting was a really warm and loving environment.
“As a volunteer I made hot drinks on a morning and helped with making sure all the clients got their packed lunch. I also enjoyed the activities that we did during the sessions and, as much as I am bad at maths, I was left in charge of the scoring when we played games. I often got asked for a re-count!
“Volunteering was also about talking to the clients and making sure they’re okay. If someone seemed different to how they normally were, I shared this with my seniors. It was important that we picked up on any changes so we could offer support.
“My industry placement and volunteering definitely built up my experience. When I started at Dementia Forward, I knew a little about caring for people, but I didn’t know a lot about dementia. I have a lot better understanding of it now and I know that it can be different for everyone.”
Reflecting on her time volunteering, Shelby shared what she has learnt about the diverse needs of people living with dementia and the memorable moments she has experienced through conversations:
“Dementia affects everyone differently. The clients are on different scales of dementia. Some people are at the very start of the scale and others are nearer to the end of the scale. It can be very varied depending on the person.
“The clients enjoyed chatting about the old days with me. One of them told me about how as a child they had played in buildings that had previously been bombed. Another told me all about how she was an ex-military wife. I enjoyed listening to her experience and what her favourite deployment was, it was fascinating.
“It was also really nice to put a smile on people’s faces. I was singing ‘How much is that doggy in the window?’ and barking. One of the clients said, ‘You’re mad, you!’ and laughed with me. That was a very funny moment!
“There were so many brilliant conversations, it’s difficult to pick out a favourite!”
What began as a placement opportunity has grown into a long-term commitment, with Shelby describing how her dedication to supporting people affected by dementia has shaped both her personal and professional future:
“Because it was the same clients every week, I really got to know them and made lovely bonds. A lady came to me once, gave me a hug and said, ‘Hello lovely, it’s so nice to see you again’.
“The placement and my volunteering work felt very close to my heart. If I couldn’t make a day of volunteering, I really missed it and I tried and catch up. I was there almost every week and I worked my job around my volunteering where I could.
“From my placement and volunteering, I have now decided that I’d like to become a dementia nurse. I am in the process of looking for a job as a Health Care Assistant so I can then work towards a nursing apprenticeship. I’d like to work my way up.”
Encouraging others to get involved, Shelby highlighted the rewarding nature of volunteering and shared the importance of supporting people affected by dementia, particularly those who may be feeling isolated:
“To anyone considering volunteering, I’d say definitely do it, it’s very rewarding and it’s a great experience.
“As people get older their support bubble shrinks. With dementia, this shrinks even more. So, we need to look after people. If you know someone who is alone, make the time for them.
“Volunteering has had such a big impact on my life.”
Debby Lennox, Head of Community Operations, praised Shelby’s development with the charitable organisation as a placement student and then a volunteer, citing her enthusiasm, growing confidence and dedication.
Debby highlighted the value of offering hands-on, real-life experience through placement opportunities and volunteering:
“Shelby was so enthusiastic. She brought a lot of energy and she was really dedicated, which was so important. She really grew in the role from when she started, as she was a little shy.
“Her confidence and skills grew massively. When she started, she was a little bit scared about volunteering and the work placement. I was so pleased, though, to see her settle in so well and to be receiving such great feedback.
“The placement was really positive as we were able to offer hands-on experience of real-life scenarios. Further down the line when Shelby’s placement was finished, it was credit to her that she wanted to carry on and support the service.”
Speaking about Shelby’s development, Debby highlighted how her College studies provided a strong foundation, particularly in areas such as health and safety and professional boundaries:
“With Shelby studying a care-related course at College, and coming with a bit of prior knowledge, it really helped, certainly with regards to health and safety and boundaries.
“A young person might not have had the awareness of those elements without a care-related college course, so it’s been really helpful.”
Full of energy and enthusiasm, young volunteers like Shelby are making a big impact, particularly for the people they support. Debby went on to say:
“Shelby brought a lot of energy to the team. It’s lovely having student volunteers and we try to get a balance within the Volunteering Team. We have some volunteers who are more mature or retired, who maybe have had previous experience of supporting people.
“We also really welcome students who are in the early stages of learning about supporting people with dementia.
“It’s great for those that we support to have young people they can talk to. The clients can talk about their past experiences, and our student volunteers can talk about what it’s like being their age now. It benefits everybody.
“For students it’s really important to get experience for future roles if you are looking at a career in care. But even just generally, if you can gain experience from working with people with dementia it’s such a great life skill.”
Debby concluded by explaining how rewarding giving your time to support people with dementia is and how this helps us make a real difference in our community:
“Dementia affects so many families and about 50% of the population are affected in some way, whether that be a friend or a neighbour or a grandparent or parent. From volunteering with dementia clients, you’ve got that little bit of understanding so you can support those around you.
“It’s such a positive experience to be a student volunteer, to give up your time and to gain experience of working with those with dementia.”
Dementia Forward would love to hear from you if you are interested in volunteering.
If you are a York College student and are under the age of 18, please contact the Placements Team to ask about volunteering opportunities. You can reach them by emailing placements@yorkcollege.ac.uk.
If you are over the age of 18, please visit the Dementia Forward website to register your interest. Click here to learn more.
