My name is Warren Berman. In 2019 I was diagnosed with dementia. This article is about my involvement with the Alzheimer’s Society as a volunteer. As well I am a member of the ‘Up and Go’ Leeds Deep Group which has gained funding for Dementia Enquirers research project, which is called “ Can a dementia diagnosis open doors to new opportunities”, and I am one of the novice researchers involved in this task. This article I hope will explain how open doors to new opportunities have opened up to me.
Earlier this year I was asked by my Memory Support Worker if I would like to be to be a member of an interview panel for candidates who applied for the position of Memory Support Worker. Also another member of staff from a different team within the Alzheimer Society asked me if I would be part of a team interviewing for the position of Dementia Voice Assistant, which I said yes.
The process for both jobs were similar, meetings with managers explaining to me what the jobs entailed. I was also shown the job descriptions and the essential and desirable criteria for these vacancies. I was informed by the managers, who were involved for the vacancy for the Dementia Voice Assistant, that I would be a mentor to the successful candidate. I was asked what were the important issues for myself and what questions I was going to ask, this task I found very difficult as I had not done this before but eventually I did manage to think of three the questions which I felt were suitable. Then I emailed them to the managers. I asked the managers if it would be possible for me to read a section of the candidates CV education and employment history, I said that I did not want to know the candidates personal information to make sure confidentiality was not breached.
Before the interviews began I would meet the managers to see if there were any issues that I was uncertain about and before first candidate started there interview I was very apprehensive, but as I did further interviews I began to feel more confident.
Each member of the interview panel asked three questions to the candidates. When they had finished I felt that, at times, they had not given enough information to what they had been asked so I would ask the candidates a follow on question so that they could try and expand on what they had said previously. When the candidate was speaking I wrote on the interview assessment form on what was been said to the panel after each question and after all candidates had finished each question I wrote down a number for each question this was how I felt each person had answered the question. After interviewing each candidate the panel discussed each persons answers to the questions that they were asked. The team would ask one another what score they had given for each question and sometimes the number was different to myself, after discussing each person who attended the interview we finally agreed who the successful people were.
Whilst I am typing this article I have had three meetings with the successful candidate for the post of Dementia Voice Assistant via Zoom. As well as been a panel member , I would be a mentor to the successful person. We have discussed how they felt that the job was going and what training they have done also have they been in contact with clients. I have told the Dementia Voice Assistant (DVA) regarding being involved in the Up and Go Leeds DEEP group research project which is ‘Can a dementia diagnosis open doors to new opportunities’. At the present time I have given the DVA a brief overview of this project which they found interesting as they are hoping to carry out research in the future. As well I have told this person regarding my paid and voluntary work in the social care sector,and I informed them regarding various organisations that I have been in contact with and I gave them the details .As a matter of courtesy I contacted these services to make sure it would be OK for the DVA to be in touch with them.
Thanks to Warren for this inspirational piece.
Have you been part of an interview panel?
Are you a mentor for a professional or a volunteer?
Please share your story by emailing Niblock@myid.org.uk
