When Lahiru Wickramasinghe joined TLC three years ago, he was making a bold leap. He'd left a career in finance and banking in Sri Lanka and arrived in North Wales to begin something entirely new. Care work is about as far from spreadsheets and balance sheets as you can get — but as Olwen, one of TLC's founding directors, explains, Lahiru brought something with him that no training course can teach.

"Coming from Sri Lanka, where families care for one another — where they live close by, if not together — Lahiru already understood what this work is really about. Here in North Wales, many of the people we support have retired here, or their children have grown up and moved away. They need people around them who genuinely value that connection. Lahiru does, instinctively."

That instinct, combined with a natural warmth and an infectious smile, meant Lahiru settled quickly into the TLC team and into the lives of the clients he visits.

A career change rooted in values

Respect is central to Lahiru's approach — something Olwen noticed from the very beginning. He clears up after every visit, maintains meticulous infection control standards, and treats every client with the kind of quiet dignity that can't be coached. The people he visits look forward to seeing him. That, in itself, says everything.

"He brings sunshine into the homes he visits," says Olwen. "He is a real character. He smiles all the time. Clients genuinely look forward to their visits with him."

From care assistant to senior carer in three years

Six months ago, Lahiru earned a well-deserved promotion to Senior Carer — Client Assessment & Training Coach. In this role, he now supports the wider TLC care team, demonstrating best practice, assessing new service users, and writing personalised care plans tailored to each individual's needs.

It's a significant step — and one Lahiru reflects on with characteristic humility:

"Looking back, it feels incredible how quickly the time has passed and how much I have learned and grown during this journey. I am proud to have completed my Level 2 in Care and to have progressed into the role of Senior Carer — Client Assessment & Training Coach. These achievements would not have been possible without the continuous encouragement, trust, and guidance I have received."

He also takes time to thank the people who supported him along the way — the three founding sisters, his manager Kerry Brown, and the wider team of coordinators and office staff:

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the three sisters for giving me the opportunity to be part of TLC and for believing in me from the very beginning. Your support helped me settle confidently into my role and build my career within the company. To Kerry — your consistent guidance and approachability have helped me grow with confidence and gain a wider understanding of my responsibilities."

What three years at TLC looks like

At the three-year mark, Lahiru joins TLC's long-service recognition scheme — receiving an additional day of annual leave and a pay increase as thanks for his loyalty, reliability and commitment.

It's a small gesture in the grand scheme of things, but it reflects something TLC holds genuinely important: that the people who show up, day after day, with the right attitude and a commitment to those in their care, deserve to be recognised and rewarded.

"TLC would like to thank Lahiru for his loyalty and dedication, for his reliability, and for his happy attitude to his work," says Olwen. "He is a valued member of our team and an example to everyone around him."

Interested in joining the TLC team? We're always looking for people with the right values — no experience necessary. Find out more about working with us →