A DEDICATED care worker, who has almost 50 years’ experience in the industry, decided retirement wasn't for her so the directors of the care home she worked at made a position just for her.

Carolyn Wagstaff, who managed Carleton Court, in Skipton, until she reached retirement age in January, decided she wanted to keep going for the love of the job.

The 66-year-old, who hails from Otley, worked her way up from being a carer elsewhere to managing the home before taking on the position she now holds as deputy manager.

She said: “The job really gets under your skin and I love the challenge. It’s more of a vocation than a job. I’m part of a wonderful team and love spending time with the residents.

“The variety of the role is really important to me. One minute you can be dealing with the management side and working with outside agencies and the next you’re with the residents hearing all their amazing stories.

“I’ve worked in larger care homes, but working at Carleton Court allows me more time to do the parts of the job I enjoy. I will keep going as long as I can.”

After leaving school, Carolyn trained as a nurse in Harrogate before stepping back to care for her mum.

After returning to the industry to work in a local authority care home in Otley, she was soon promoted to become a senior carer.

Following this Carolyn worked in another home for 11 years as both a senior carer and deputy manager before gaining the manager's role at Carleton Court five-years-ago.

Carolyn, who is married to David and has three sons, Phillip, Adam and Luke, as well as four grandchildren, added: “When I came up for retirement in January, I wasn't ready to give it up. I've stepped back a little and work part-time now but I still love what I do."

Care home director Hilen Shah added: “Carolyn is an incredible woman and a loving and dedicated carer who is a highly valued member of our team.

“She’s hugely experienced, hardworking and has lots of great ideas that have really helped us to create the kind of home that we wanted to operate.

“The team at Carleton Court is like a family. Nobody exemplifies these qualities more than Carolyn and we couldn’t be happier that she has decided to stay working with us for the foreseeable future.”