An 18-year-old whose lessons and A-levels were cancelled has been working as a palliative home carer - and thinks all teens should do it too before leaving home.

Alice O’Brien, from St Albans, was supposed to be sitting exams, going to her school prom and preparing for her degree at Cambridge University.

But when all her classes got cancelled and her science degree was put in jeopardy, she took up a job as a domiciliary carer, visiting poorly people at home during lockdown.

She admitted she'd "lived a sheltered life" before she took on the role which sees her having to wear a "hazmat" suit to care for up to three people per week.

Most have been released from hospital and suffer from dementia.

One of the youngest paid carers in the country, a typical day sees Alice help up to ten terminally ill pensioners from cleaning their house to hoisting them out of bed.

St Albans & Harpenden Review:

Alice O'Brien. Credit: SWNS

It's a far cry from the summer she had planned, with a girls holiday to Kavos booked, festivals and inter-railing planned for later this summer.

Alice's mum was reluctant to let her take up the £8.72 per hour job, but said just two weeks in the job has changed her for life.

Alice said: "I really lived a sheltered life for sure.

"I think my mum was not too keen for me to do it as it was so out of my comfort zone, but neither of us could have anticipated how difficult it would be.

"On my first shift, I sat in my car and sobbed. The first day of work is hard anyway but I didn’t expect the emotional or physical side of it.

"I was two days into the job and had to comfort a man whose wife was about to die.

"It is a privilege to be with someone in that moment, but it is difficult."

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Credit: SWNS

She thinks more teenagers should work in the industry before university and making it a modern 'national service' could help "prop up" the struggling industry.

She said: "It teaches so many practical skills that would be helpful for young people to gain and be a potential solution to what is a big problem but it can't be denied it's incredibly emotionally challenging work.

"If the approach was right, we could have not only a more compassionate, thoughtful and capable generation coming through but finally give the level of care that the elderly generation deserve."

Alice was set to sit her A- Levels this month, and has a conditional place to study human, social and political sciences at Cambridge University.

The company Alice works for have informed her that they are over the worst part of coronavirus and are no longer facing as many shortages so she is planning to make this week her last, providing that they no longer need her over the summer months, so that she can prepare for university in October.