CARING WITH
CONFIDENCE
WORDS: JULIE BURNISTON PICTURES: CHRIS BOOTH
HOW MOONRISE CARE GAVE RACHELLE THE CONFIDENCE BOOST SHE NEEDED
Rachelle Mazengeza is turning her passion for helping others into a career in mental health nursing
Dare to care- Rachelle Mazengeza says her time with care agency Moonrise prepared her for future as a mental health nurse.
F our years ago, Rachelle Mazengeza left Zimbabwe with her parents and three siblings. Now 18, she’ s living in Ingleby Barwick and is set to begin a nursing studies( mental health) BSc( Hons) course at Teesside University.
Her goal is simple: to help young people feel seen and supported.
Family inspiration
For Rachelle, caring runs in the family.
“ My mum’ s a nurse and my dad works with children who have additional needs,” she explains.“ They’ ve shown me what compassion looks like and they’ re my biggest role models.”
Her family may have inspired Rachelle to follow the same career path, but it was at school that she realised she wanted to focus on mental health.
“ I noticed that many young people were struggling, but no one really talked about it,” she says.
“ People think children can’ t be depressed, but that’ s not true. They can feel lonely or lost and I want to help them know they’ re not alone.”
Rachelle’ s study path
Rachelle studied health and social care Level 3 at Darlington College to prepare for university. The two-year course covered everything from communication and psychology to understanding how to support people in care settings.
To get started, you’ ll need four GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English, or a Level 2 qualification at merit grade plus at least a grade 3 in maths.
“ I loved the course,” says Rachelle.“ It gave me knowledge and confidence.
“ When it was time to apply for university, I needed 119 UCAS points to get into Teesside University and I got 130.”
RACHELLE’ S TOP QUALITIES FOR ASPIRING CARERS
Patience Kindness Passion Selflessness
Learning by doing
At 16, Rachelle completed a placement via Darlington College at Moonrise 24hr Care in Stockton. She thinks the experience gained“ on the job” was the reason for her outstanding college results.
“ I started off in the office helping with admin, but then I got the chance to go into a care home, looking after older people and later supporting children too. I learned so much from both experiences.
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