Hear from our colleagues
Read through our colleague's own experiences of pathways into health and care careers in Northamptonshire organisations by clicking on the plus icons below.
Karen Mcleod: Registered Manager Domiciliary Care
Hi my name is Karen Mcleod. I am a Registered Manager for North Northamptonshire Council.
I started my career with Northamptonshire County Council in June 1993 as a Home Carer, working with adults aged 18-65 with physical disabilities in a residential home based in Corby. This was my first care experience. When I started with the council, I felt that this was a stepping stone to the beginning of my career.
Working as a Home Carer was a role that I truly loved; supporting people with all aspects of their personal care, mobility issues, being a friend when needed and we take on a role as someone who cares about the people that you are looking after. This role was not always easy at times and was very demanding, but rewarding at the same time.
During my time as a Home Carer, I undertook an NVQ 2 in Social Care and progressed to a Grade 6 role, which was one that gave me the opportunity to shift lead and take on some of the aspects of a key working role with customers. This was a great insight and allowed me to liaise with other professionals who were also involved in the customers’ lives. I was also able to undertake an NVQ 3 within this role, which put me in good step to further my career to the next level.
Training was always available and I loved being part of the senior management team, and being involved with all the case work within the customers’ lives. Within my time of working at Pine Lodge, we went through many changes that I was part of and this involved changing the service of permanent care to a respite service, where the changes in business were required. This opened many more doors for my career and I was able to apply for a Supervisor post, which I was successful to obtain. Within my Supervisor role, I was more involved with other providers, ensuring that the people we were looking after had the right equipment. I was involved in setting up some group houses within the community, so that some people could leave residential care and move into the community, so that they had more control over their own lives.
In 2000, I applied for a Registered Manager post, which I was successful in and am still in today. During my time as a Registered Manager, I was involved with setting up domiciliary care within the community for adults with disabilities, to ensure that they have the right level of support that is adaptable to their changing health needs and gives them maximum control of their own lives. I would say my career at times has been hard, but have felt that there is always support from others to get you through these times and the majority of my years in this role have been enjoyable.
I would say that coming into the care industry is one that is a passionate role and one that you will get satisfaction from, when you are able to support others who have some disabilities but want to continue to live an independent life.
Things to consider when wanting to take a career path within the care sector; dedication, empathy, stressful, rewarding and sometimes not rewarding. These are some of the things that I would say you need to consider when coming into this sector. Everyday is different, as people’s lives change daily, some being good and some being bad. However, knowing you have helped someone in one way or another is satisfying. Support, a good team of staff that are there for you at the end of a hard day if required and a structure of support in place if needed. Training, opportunities to grow within the organisation if you feel this is the way you would like to take your career, opportunities to learn daily and to try other things.
Ashley Allen: Day Opportunities Team Manager
I started out on the old YTS scheme when I was just 16 and my first placement was in an elderly persons home, I loved this job so much - I learnt a lot from the conversations I had with the generations, particularly how life was during the war both as civilians and ex-service personal. Wow what a generation they were.
My placement then came to an end and I was transferred to a day centre for adults with learning disabilities. This was working with autism and behaviours that challenge, it was nerve-racking and my first encounter was with a person exhibiting behaviours that challenge. I was fascinated by how they expressed themselves and more importantly why they expressed themselves in the way they did.
This was my pathway into working with complex behaviours – since this I have worked closely with behavioural support teams, completed and developed behavioural support plans and aided in meaningful communication methods. I have worked with lots of fantastic customers, staff and agencies and this has enabled me to progress from what was then a care assistant up to my current position of Team Manager for Provider Services.
Even now after 32 years of Woking in the care sector nothing gives me a greater buzz than being able to support a customer through a difficult time and to see the positive impact we can have on this person life. Even the smallest amount of support can have the biggest impact.
Emma Davies-Rota: Service Manager- Provider Services
My name is Emma Davies-Rota, and I started working for Northamptonshire County Council in August 1995.
I first started working in the care sector when I was just 14 looking for a part time weekend job to earn some money. I worked in an older persons care home helping with supporting people with all aspects of daily living – whether that was making the beds, making tea, bathing or supporting people who needed assistance at mealtimes. Although it was not well paid, I really enjoyed the interaction with all the residents. I continued to work there until I left college and went off travelling, then when I returned I got a job in a private care home in Northampton as a senior carer.
When I saw a job advertised with NCC I was really keen to apply as believed I had more opportunity to progress, and working for a local authority offered more job security. The rates of pay and benefits including holiday pay, pension and sick pay were not offered in the private care sector at that time, and there was plenty of different opportunities across the council that you could diversify into. Along with the training opportunities, a job with the council was really appealing!
My first job was working in a residential care home as a ‘residential social worker’ with older people. Within 9 months I was asked to work in another care home in Thrapston to support the new management team. I remained there for just over a year when I applied for a temporary team leader post in Towcester. I covered maternity leave for one year then secured a permanent team leader post in Northampton. I remained in this home taking over as the registered manager in 2000, until it was closed in 2006, where the home changed from residential care, to offer rehabilitation and then interim nursing assessment service.
Since the home closed I have worked across a number of different areas, including setting up new services such as Assistive Technology, call centre, and supported accommodation. I have managed the Shared Lives service that supports younger adults with learning disabilities - this service was rated Outstanding in three consecutive CQC inspections of which I am very proud, as we were and remain the only Local Authority in-house service to achieve this rating, let alone in three consecutive inspections!
During my employment I have been able to complete a number of different courses and qualifications that the Council supported both in terms of enabling me to take time out of work, but also financially. The range of training and qualifications available are excellent, as I am currently in my third year of a business management degree supported by the council.
More recently I have been promoted to service manager for provider services across North Northants Council, where I oversee a range of different services including domiciliary care, day services, residential care, short breaks and employment services. Whilst I have progressed within the council, I still remain as passionate now as I did when I started about providing excellent care and support to the people who need our services. I cannot imagine not working with people and the joy I get when someone shares a good news story or an outcome for an individual which has really made a difference to their lives.
Working in the care sector has not always been portrayed in a positive light – the pay is not as attractive now compared to other jobs, but if you are passionate and want to help improve the lives of others then this is the most rewarding job ever.
