Aiming high

People can join the care profession from a wide range of other careers and that was the case for Shan Vithanage who came to Caremark Cheltenham and Tewkesbury after 13 years in the finance sector. You can find out more about Shan in the following staff profile.

Shan had risen to the role of bank manager in Sri Lanka when he started studying for a marketing degree and travelled to the UK to complete his Masters.

“I decided I would like to stay in the UK but couldn’t find a marketing role so applied to an advert for carers,” said Shan.

“That was three years ago and I love the job.”

Though his two careers may seem poles apart, Shan says there are crossover skills between banking and caring which have helped him.

“I used to meet face to face with business clients so both professions are very customer based,” he said.

“Both careers have many similarities as they are mainly customer-oriented, focusing on identifying clients’ needs and providing a customer-centric approach to satisfy them. Both are people-based professions that involve service and ensuring our clients are happy and well cared for.”

Outside of work Shan is a family man and likes to enjoy a movie and a meal with wife Ivanthi and 12-year-old daughter Thinuli, with Wagamama’s a favourite. In his leisure time, he likes to spend some hours in the gym.

He has progressed with Caremark Cheltenham and Tewkesbury to become a senior carer and hopes to complete level 4 in health care studies and one day become a care manager.

“Caremark is a good company to work for, supportive, clear on details such as wages and hours and there is a clear career path,” he said.

click here for more details or to contact Caremark Cheltenham, Gloucester & Tewkesbury