Derby Dementia Keyworker reflects on her redeployment journey
Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Jo Beresford worked as a Dementia Keyworker on Ward 6 at London Road Community Hospital. However, in March, due to being immunosuppressed, Jo was instructed by the Government to shield.
After Jo was able to stop shielding, Jo returned to work, however, this was not in her usual comfort zone of Ward 6. Jo was redeployed in the first wave to Ward 401 where she continued her role as a Dementia Keyworker.
“I was petrified of walking through the doors of the Royal Derby Hospital after being so used to working at London Road Community Hospital. Mandy, from the Car Parking Office, made such a big difference to my first day.
“I rang her prior to my shift asking for directions as I hadn’t a clue where different departments were in the hospital. Mandy met me on my first day and walked me over and made sure I ended up in the right place. Mandy’s act of kindness definitely set the positive tone for the journey ahead.
“I struggled with being a Dementia Keyworker in a pandemic, as I wasn’t able use the equipment I would have been able to use pre-pandemic – you have to take everything back to basics.
“I can’t fault the team on Ward 401, they are fantastic and really helped put my anxiety at ease – I was so nervous about coming out of my comfort zone, it was a shame my experience with them got cut short.”
Shortly after starting her redeployment role on Ward 401, Jo suffered a nasty fall which lead to a broken arm, which again, meant she had to take time off work to recover.
“I was completely gutted when I had my fall – it came at the worst time, I was just starting to gain my confidence back. The support I received from my manager regarding this on Ward 401 was exemplary, I'd only done a couple of shifts with them but they were still so supportive.”
After recovery from her fall, Jo started her second redeployment role within the Vaccination Hub at the beginning of December 2020. She said, “Again, I felt very unnerved about coming in for my first day – but again, what was I worrying about? Everyone in the vaccination team always greets you with a smile and a friendly hello. We’ve all been taken from different areas to come and work in the Vaccination Hub, so we were all in the same boat really!
“The leadership team here have been so supportive; they always listen to your ideas, give you fantastic feedback and always make sure that your wellbeing is top priority.
“In the Vaccination Hub, I meet and greet the people who are coming to have their vaccination done. I always make sure they are happy and give them a sense of reassurance. For some people, this is their first trip out in nearly a year, so it is important to me that their experience is a positive one.
“It really is an honour to get to interact and meet with all of the people coming for their vaccine; they each have a different story to tell on how the pandemic has affected them. I’ve never heard the word “thank you” be said so many times – it’s humbling to know that we are here in this role and making a difference, working towards that glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
“I was worried redeployment to different areas was going to make me feel like a spare part, or like I didn’t really belong anywhere, but that’s not the case. Everywhere I have been redeployed to have made me feel incredibly welcome and part of the team."