Alison Watson

I started trading as Hand In Hand Care in October 2007 after working for various organisations in the Health and Social Care sector around Teesside and Tyneside for 6 years. I provide a person-centred service, which considers the holistic needs of the individual, recognising that needs can vary and change over time. I promote dignity, privacy and respect, while encouraging choice and independence. I am passionate about raising the standard of domicilliary care for current service users and future service users. Not only do I provide bespoke domicilliary care for residents in the Teesside area, I also work closely alongside local organisations to bring quality and much needed services to the local community. Projects include a user-led organisation for people with a diagnosis of dementia to attend with their carers, a monthly 'Cafe' session which provides social respite for the same service user group, and a pilot evaluation project looking at the benefits of using technology to facilitate care. As well as my work as a support worker I have also qualified as a Zumba Fitness and Zumba Fitness Gold instructor so that I am able to offer Zumba Fitness instructions and one-off workshops for community groups. I am a paid member of the Zumba Instructors Network (ZIN). In 2012 I had the honour of presenting our Evaluation of Using iPad Technology with People With Memory Difficulties at the UK Dementia Congress in Brighton. It was my first time presenting at such an important event, but hopefully not the last thanks to the amazing opportunities I have been given.