DO YOU meet members of the public through your job?

Would you know what to do if you were faced with a customer or client, who appears confused, distressed, at harm or neglected in some way?

Many of us will come into contact with individuals every day.

This may be through us working in banks, shops, cafes and restaurants, on public transport or driving taxis or it could be in the barbers or hairdressers etc Many of us also even hold positions that give us the privilege to go into customer’s homes; such as building contractors and delivery services.

Many, many years ago, I remember a lady and her husband in the hairdressers.

She was very obviously confused and her behaviour towards him was quite challenging. It became apparent that he was her carer.

He told me how he had been looking after her on his own for a long time as he had no family or friends to offer support and he was starting to struggle with the relentlessness of the situation.

As an eighteen year old, I didn’t have the life experience or information to draw upon, so felt completely out of my depth.

I wonder how many of us would feel like that now?

Over the years, I have come to realise that just having a little bit of knowledge, understanding and information, would have helped me to assist that couple.

I can’t turn the clock back but I can hope that more of us are equipped to help others in the future and as such Care Focus has introduced some short sessions on:

• Supporting the customer: How best to help children, young people and adults who appear confused, distressed or vulnerable.

These can be delivered to whole organisations or individual places can be bought on sessions that will be held during the day, evenings and weekends. Should you be interested in any of these, please contact us on 01823 274627 or enquiries@carefocussw.co.uk or book through the website www.carefocussw.co.uk