Emily Christie: A young carer making a big impact
Emily Christie has been around care throughout her young life. Growing up, her mum, Leanne, worked in healthcare and when Emily was just eight, her dad was diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease.
During her teenage years, Emily found herself stepping into a caring role, helping to look after her dad at home. As his condition progressed and he later moved into a care home, Emily experienced care from both sides – as a family member and a young carer. That experience stuck with her. She saw what good care could look like, and it ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in social care.
At 17, Emily left school and joined a home care team – working alongside her mum. In 2021, she made the move to Parklands Care Homes, becoming a carer at Wakefield House in Cullen, where her mum is the care home manager.
“I guess it's strange having your mum as the boss at home and at work, but I’ve never known anything different,” says Emily. “We have a really close relationship, but having a mum who is a qualified nurse certainly makes phoning in sick to work interesting!”
Emily brings compassion and a maturity beyond her years to her role. Her own experience caring for her dad has shaped her approach, giving her real empathy and a strong belief in person-centred care. She’s particularly passionate about end-of-life support – making sure residents are treated with dignity and that families feel supported.
“Caring for my dad taught me so much,” she says. “It also helped me through the hardest times. When he passed away in 2023, I found comfort in knowing that I’d helped him, and it made me even more determined to support others going through something similar.”
At just 20, Emily has already made a big impression. She was nominated by a senior manager to join Parklands’ mentoring programme, supporting new staff during their induction and helping them find their feet. It’s an impressive achievement for someone so young, and a testament to her determination, hard work and future potential.
“I feel privileged to take part in the mentor programme at Wakefield House,” she says. “Being recognised at such a young age by the management team means a lot.”
Emily is currently working towards her SVQ3 and hopes to take on a shift leader role soon. Long term, her goal is to become a paramedic – but for now, she’s loving her role at Wakefield House and the chance to make a difference every day. “How you care for someone has the potential to make their day and the simplest things we do can create the biggest smiles,” she says.
Her advice to anyone considering a career in care? “Even if this doesn't start off as your dream role, persevere and enjoy the little moments where you are learning new skills and meeting new people.”
· If you’re inspired by Emily’s story, why not check out the latest vacancies at Parklands Care Homes
