“Social Care Practitioners are some of the most important people we need in our system. Everyone has a part to play.”
When Deirdre Brush looks back on more than 30 years working in social care, it is the people she remembers most.
The older gentleman, whose struggles with alcohol meant others were reluctant to support him; the families who were navigating difficult decisions about the care of loved ones; the people who spent decades in institutional care who have since successfully built new lives in the community. These are the stories that have stayed with her throughout a career shaped by curiosity, compassion and a deep interest in people.
What has driven Deirdre throughout is a fascination with people and what becomes possible when they receive the right support. “I was very interested in people and what made them tick. That was always my big interest,” she says.
Seeing the person, not the label
Deirdre, who is originally from West Belfast began her working life as a Domestic Assistant in the Royal Hospital in Belfast in 1992, a role that fitted around raising her young family, before moving to a Mental Health Support Worker role as her interest in community-based care developed. As she gained experience supporting people, she found herself drawn to the stories behind people’s lives. One man left a lasting impression. Living with severe alcoholism and complex physical health needs, he was often viewed through the lens of his condition. Deirdre saw something different. She recalls, “He was a very nice gentleman. He had a lot of stories to tell, and he lived such a great life, and hearing about everything he had experienced was very interesting.” The experience reinforced a belief she has carried throughout her career, that nobody should be reduced to their circumstances or diagnosis. Every person has a story worth hearing.
A lifelong interest in people
That curiosity eventually led Deirdre back into education. Over a six year-period, she completed GCSEs, an access course, and a Degree in Social Policy and Anthropology at Queen’s University Belfast, while balancing work and family life. Social and behavioural sciences immediately captured her attention, Deirdre notes, “They really drew me in because I was very interested in people and what made them tick.” The more she learned, the more her belief grew that no two people or situations are ever the same.
Supporting individuals to lead independent lives
Throughout her career, Deirdre has worked across mental health services, women’s charities, dementia care, learning disability services and community support projects. A common thread runs through all her roles – a belief that people can thrive when given the right environment and support.
Nowhere was that clearer than in her work assisting people to move from long-term institutional care into community settings. This move would represent a huge change, not just for the people making the transition, but those around them too. Families often worried about the shift, and some feared it would not work out. Yet, Deirdre witnessed extraordinary transformations, “People can have a very fulfilled life, and have a really good quality of life, regardless of what has happened in their life before.”
She describes one woman who had spent more than four decades living in institutional care, “Her family were anxious around the move because she had been there for so many years, and they didn’t think it was going to work. When it did, after reflecting on a year’s positive progress, they could see she was a different person.”
The power of listening
While much of social care focuses on supporting individuals, Deirdre believes one of the most overlooked parts of the profession is supporting families. During her years working in dementia services, she met countless relatives trying to navigate the emotional impact of seeing a loved one change, “Social care practitioners don’t just help the service users. Often, families aren’t looking for solutions; they are just looking for someone to listen.”
Finding joy in connection
Today, Deirdre works in Beech Hall Day Care services, a role that includes governance and regulatory responsibilities, alongside the other aspects she loves most about social care. The service encourages people to stay active, connected and involved in their communities through activities, outings and opportunities to socialise. “When you see people starting to come out of their shell and tell their story, it’s really rewarding. They gain confidence, get involved and support each other,” she says.
More than a job
Deirdre is passionate about challenging misconceptions around social care practitioners. She believes the profession is often misunderstood, that the skills, dedication and commitment involved is underestimated. “A lot of social care practitioners go above and beyond. People think, ‘I’m just a care assistant’ – however, they are some of the most important people we need in our system,” Deirdre notes.
Looking back, what stands out most are not the roles she has held, but the people she has worked with and the families who needed someone to listen. A profession in social care has provided a lifetime of opportunities to learn from others and help people build the lives they want. And after more than three decades, that curiosity remains as strong as ever for Deirdre.
Take a deeper dive… You can hear more from Deirdre and her work at Beech Hall Day Centre by watching the video below.
Feeling inspired?
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