From Head Chef To Community Carer

“I swapped my pots and pans for PPE and haven’t looked back!”

David Lewis, 49, decided to leave his previous role Managing a portfolio of 12 high-end restaurants in Bristol, to become a Community Carer with Brunelcare. He finally made the decision to swap the pots and pans for PPE at the start of the outbreak to try and make a difference and he’s not looked back since. David has been with the charity for nearly two-months and wishes to grow this career with Brunelcare, caring for people in their own homes across South Gloucestershire.

David said: “My previous role was very stressful, very demanding and wasn’t rewarding. After the hospitality business shut down at the start of the pandemic, I knew I had to reevaluate my career path. I have been a chef for over 25-years and even though it was my passion, I knew I wanted to do something that really made a difference.”

David has previously volunteered at a homeless shelter and special schools across Bristol and has looked after friends and family members with learning difficulty. He’s spent the last two-months shadowing Senior Community Carers and undertaking training to become a qualified Community Carer with Brunelcare.

David said: “When I saw the job advert for a Community Carer I knew it was right for me straight away. I don’t have any official care training, but Brunelcare provided all that for me, all for free, it was great. I’m now conducting home visits with Senior Community Carers and I absolutely love it! I feel I’m making a real difference!”

Clare Hall, Operations Manager at South Gloucestershire said: “It’s a real honour to have David on our team. He joined at the peak of the pandemic when we needed him the most. All our clients love seeing David’s smiley face and he’s getting on so well with the charity – he really is a super star and provides extraordinary care for extraordinary people.”