From Cape Town to Kent: How Patty helps carers take the first step

Her name comes up in WhatsApp groups, onboarding calls and quiet recommendations between carers who have already made the move. She is the calm, familiar voice answering questions about visas, expectations, homesickness and what life as a live-in carer in the UK is really like. 

What makes her guidance different is simple. Patty has done it herself. 

Starting with uncertainty 

Patty’s own journey from South Africa to the UK didn’t begin with certainty or financial security. After COVID disrupted her work, she made the decision to start again, borrowing money to cover her visa, flights and initial costs. 

“I arrived not knowing exactly what was ahead,” she says. “But I knew I needed to build something more stable.” 

She did, and today that experience shapes the way she supports others. 

A guide who understands the reality 

Every week, Patty speaks to South African carers who are excited but unsure. Many arrive with fragments of information and a long list of worries about cost, travel, work expectations and whether they will cope so far from home. 

Patty talks them through the reality, honestly and clearly. She explains how live-in care works, what the role involves day to day, how often carers return home and what those first weeks in the UK are likely to feel like. 

“She understands our worries before we even explain them,” one carer says. “Because she’s been there.” 

Not immigration, but opportunity 

One message Patty is keen to reinforce is that this journey is not about leaving South Africa behind forever. 

“This is work, not permanent relocation,” she explains. “You can earn well in the UK and still keep your life and family at home.” 

For many carers, that clarity is the turning point. The move suddenly feels manageable, not overwhelming. 

A safe landing in the UK 

For carers preparing to travel, the moment they land in the UK can feel daunting. Patty reassures them by explaining exactly what awaits them on arrival. 

New carers stay in a carer house before their first placement, giving them time to settle, rest and orient themselves. It is a safe, welcoming base, and often the first moment carers realise they are not alone in this journey. 

“They just need to know there’s a place for them,” Patty says. 

Support that continues beyond arrival 

Patty’s role does not end when carers arrive in the UK. In many ways, it becomes even more important. 

She stays closely connected, supporting carers through their first placements, cultural adjustments and the inevitable moments of self-doubt. WhatsApp groups become lifelines, places where carers share advice, encouragement and reassurance, with Patty often at the centre of those conversations. 

“She makes the whole journey feel possible,” a colleague says. 

Honest expectations and real preparation 

Patty is careful to make sure carers understand what live-in care truly involves before they travel. She encourages hands-on experience where possible, so carers arrive prepared rather than surprised. 

“This is real care,” she says. “It’s important to know that before you commit.” 

She explains training clearly, reassures carers about support in the UK and is open about the responsibility that comes with the role. That honesty builds confidence and trust long before anyone boards a plane. 

Why this matters 

For South African carers, moving to the UK is a life-changing decision. Having someone who understands both sides of the journey makes it feel achievable. 

Patty is not just guiding people through a process. She is helping them take a step forward with confidence, clarity and reassurance, because she once stood exactly where they are now. 

And for many carers, that makes all the difference.