79
Patrice Shankster Community Health Worker, Virgincare
What does the job involve? I help parents and carers in the Dartmouth area - offering support with feeding, toilet training, behaviour, play, speech and sleeping – pretty much every issue a parent might come across in the first few years.
You often go into people’s homes; do you enjoy that part of
the job? Very much so. some are exceptionally organised with everything you can imagine all lined up, others are more relaxed!
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen? I recently came across a baby relax chair that looked like it had come straight from Mars! It was like a huge space seat. I’m always amazed by all the new gadgets and gizmos; baby beanbags, video monitors and all sorts of night lights.
Can you sum up your job in three words? Rewarding, enjoyable and satisfying.
Where are you based? At Dartmouth Clinic alongside two health visitors, that’s where we do most of our appointments especially developmental reviews. We do health clinics at the Children’s Centre on Milton Lane.
one thing we often recommend is parents giving their son or daughter their undivided attention for 10 minutes of child-led play a day – it’s amazing how this can reduce unwanted behaviour. We also work on ignoring unwanted behaviour and praising the positive behaviour. We look at the child’s emotional development as well as their physical development, and take any issues one step at a time.
How long have you been doing this job? I have worked in Dartmouth for 13 years. I came to the profession quite late actually. I was 30 when I decided to do my nursery nurse qualification in
Leicestershire. My first job was as a play specialist in a hospital where I supported children of all ages using distraction through play, sometimes just before their operation.
I tell parents that
no question is ever too silly. I’m quite down to earth so I think people feel relaxed around me.
How do you put nervous parents at ease? I tell parents that no question is ever too silly. I’m quite down to earth so I think people feel relaxed around me - I always carry a stools chart at the back of my id badge for when I’m talking about child constipation - people laugh when I get that out! some parents can worry about their child’s development especially when they aren’t doing the same as another child. I reassure them and say all children are individuals.
What advice do you give parents who are having trouble with their child’s
behaviour?
What made you come to Devon? We lived in nottingham and regularly went on holiday to Whitby and Dartmouth. I liked both places very much so I knew I would move to one of them one day. I moved to Brixham about 20 years ago with my three children – Adam (27), Vicky (28) and Danielle (31); where did the time go to! My husband, Andrew, and I have been married 10 years.
Do you often see the children you have helped ‘growing up’ around town? All the time! I love seeing them with their parents who I remember supporting over the years.
What do you do in your spare time? We have four springer spaniels, three cats and two goldfish so they take up a lot of our time! I have a six- year-old grandson called Toby who I adore. We have pyjama days where just the two of us relax around the house all day – playing with toys, water, play dough, paints and role-play. We also have an annual pass for Babbacombe Model Village so he makes sure we go there quite a bit!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164