Dedicated Teesside health care assistant Debbie Robinson has devoted her whole working life to helping others – clocking up over 34 years without taking time off for sickness.
The award-winning NHS stalwart was inspired to work with people with learning disabilities after helping to support her older brother, Gary, who was born with Down’s Syndrome.
Now, following years of caring for hundreds of children, she is retiring from Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust – after spending most of her career on the same ward.
“I’ve been lucky as I’ve loved my job. I’ve worked alongside wonderful staff and loved working with the children. You don’t realise how many lives you can touch,” said Debbie, from Eston.
Found her vocation at early age
Debbie developed a keen interest in working in mental health care at an early age after attending events at her brother’s adult training centre – including trips, activities and parties.
She went on to complete a two-week work experience at Grangetown Adult Training Centre while at school, then studied for a Preliminary Certificate in Social Care at college.
“I loved my work experience at Grangetown and, during my college course, one of my placements was at another adult training centre in Skelton – which I also loved,” she said.
“Once I finished college, I volunteered at an adult training centre in Middlesbrough for several months, before moving down south to Kent to work in a nursing home.”
Homesickness led to move back north
Although Debbie enjoyed her new role in Kent, she eventually became homesick – so her mother forwarded her CV to Bankfields, an adult respite ward, in 1989 and the rest is history.
“I had the interview on the Friday, started on the Monday and have never looked back. Working with people with learning disabilities is a wonderful and rewarding job,” she said.
“I’ve been with the Trust ever since, and never had a sick day in over 34 years. I’m not sure if it’s some kind of record – but I kept working all the way through Covid and the lockdowns.
“Even at senior school I didn’t have any time off in five years. I guess that I was just lucky with that. I do get sick, but usually it seemed to happen when I was on holiday!”
Finding her perfect role by helping others
Debbie spent three months at Bankfields before moving to Normanby Road – a respite ward for children. Although she’d initially wanted to work with adults, the new job was a perfect fit.
Her role involved supporting youngsters of all ages, from babies to late teens, including cooking meals, organising activities, personal care and health support alongside nurses.
It was a physically demanding job, as the youngsters all had learning difficulties as well as complex health and sometimes autism needs, but Debbie found herself in her element.
“Someone once called me the Pied Piper, as the children just seemed to follow me. Our base was an old house and we tried to make it into a real home for the children,” she said.
“179 Normanby Road was a huge part of my life. I married, had my kids and brought them up while working there. It was somewhere I’ve both grown and grown up in. I loved it there.”
Part of an award-winning team
Debbie, 55, went on the play a key role in helping to move the facility from Normanby Road to the new Baysdale ward at Roseberry Park Hospital, Middlesbrough, in 2011.
And she then continued to work on the same ward until her retirement this month – with just a one-month stint at another service her only time away.
“I had wondered what life was like outside of Normanby Road and was offered a secondment in adult day services. I enjoyed it, but really missed the children,” she said.
“Any job has its ups and downs, but even during the challenging times I still enjoyed working and caring for the children. Knowing that we were helping them made the job really special.”
Debbie’s hard work and commitment won her a Living our Values Award last year from the Trust, and she was also part of the Tees Children and Young People’s Service team which won a Quality Improvement Award in 2014.
She is now planning to spend the first few months of her retirement devoting “lots of time to her two beautiful granddaughters” – before considering any future plans.
Debbie will, however, always retain fond memories of her long career with the NHS and said: “If anyone is considering working with people with learning disabilities, then go for it – it is so rewarding.”
