A compassionate young woman upended her life plan and switched careers to join the pressurised care sector at the height of the pandemic.

Shay Sparg, 26, who is now a care assistant at Churchfields Care Home in Cassington, was preparing to move to London to start a job in interior design in January 2020.

However, just before she was about to make the move the Covid pandemic broke out.

Inevitably this disrupted Ms Sparg’s plans but in the end actually allowed her some time to reconsider her interests and aspirations.

She said; "I had some interviews lined up but I realised that caring would be in high demand with everything that was going on."

She approached the Cassington care home and in April 2020 - at the very height of the Covid outbreak - she took the role of care assistant.

Taking on that position at such a challenging time was understandably daunting.

Ms Sparg said: “My first day arriving at Churchfields, I felt really nervous. However, working in that environment meant that we had to just get on with it and do our best while doing what was right for the residents at Churchfields, and so the nerves left me instantly.”

She added: “I started at the peak of the pandemic, which was really quite nerve-wracking.

"I just remember being in absolute awe of all the other staff members who were doing their utmost to ensure all residents were happy and safe at all times.

“I felt inspired by their caring and hardworking nature. I said to myself, ‘That’s the kind of person I aspire to be, I want to be just like them!’”

Ms Sparg, who is originally from Zimbabwe but had worked as an au pair with a family in Middle Barton, had little experience in the care sector but she was offered the job with a view to becoming fully trained in time.

She recalled: “I almost instantly felt like part of the team. Churchfields employed me with almost no previous experience, but ensured I had full training and development.

“After that, the rest is history – I became part of one big family. Churchfields have been amazing right from the start, and we are all really close.”

Ms Sparg is now studying for her NVQ Level 3 and is being supported by Churchfields to become a senior carer with her ultimate career goal being to become a care practitioner.

And after more than a year in the job, she has completely re-thought her life priorities.

She said: “I fell in love with my job. I definitely plan to stay in the care industry. I have pretty much changed my whole life plan and moved to Witney, where I now have my own little place, so that I can stay as part of the Churchfields team.”

Owner of Churchfields Care Home Jane Roberts said: “Shay has all the wonderful attributes - she is caring, kind and compassionate, which is central to our philosophy.

“She has become an incredible asset to our team, it really is wonderful to see her flourish.”