Linda Grey on Why Social Care is a Nice Vocation

Estimated studying time: 9 minutes

I not too long ago joined the Encourage PTL crew as a Non-Government Director.  I’m nonetheless discovering my toes on this new function; studying concerning the organisation and concerning the challenges which can be being confronted, notably in the meanwhile inside the sector. I’m excited to have the ability to help the work that Encourage does and really grateful for the chance to be a part of the crew.  On this weblog instalment we interview Linda Grey to seek out out extra about Encourage and her function as CEO. 

We stay in an ageing society. However what does that actually imply?

Within the subsequent 20 years the steadiness of younger and previous will shift to the purpose the place there can be one aged individual for each two folks of working age.  The problem this presents is two-fold, a discount in members of the family capable of present help and a smaller pool {of professional} carers.

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How did you get into working in social care?

I labored within the Oil and fuel Sector for 16 years with three entrepreneurial administrators who did appreciable merger and acquisitions in a really business function as Monetary Controller and a second hand to the house owners. There got here some extent I may exit from the enterprise once they did a closing enterprise transaction, and I felt that while I had gained a wealth of information and expertise from my mentor Gordon McLellan on all enterprise areas I felt that one thing was lacking for me in my function. I used to be given a incredible alternative by Martin Crewe of Barnardo’s to hitch their organisation as a Enterprise Finance Supervisor. The belief that he confirmed in me with no data of the sector is one thing I’ll all the time be immensely grateful for. Having spent 6 years at Barnardo’s studying rather a lot and making a distinction to the service space I lined from Inverness to Fife a chance got here up at Encourage as Head of Finance and IT.  This function was a build-on from all my technical expertise in oil and fuel to my expertise constructed up in Barnardo’s. This was the job for me. Through the years I grew to become Director of Company providers after which was very humbled to be given the chance to turn out to be the CEO in November 2017.  

What’s the most rewarding a part of your job?

It must be the folks – the folks we help and the workers.  I’m in awe of the front-line help workers and the work that they do, and I all the time inform them this when I’m fortunate sufficient to get out on a go to.  I really feel that I make a distinction from the facet in guaranteeing that our organisation supplies the highest quality of help to people with studying disabilities that we will.  The folks we help are unimaginable – they make the perfect of each minute of on daily basis whatever the challenges that they face.  

Relationships is a key a part of my job I’ve actually loved increase optimistic relationships with all our stakeholders in order that Encourage is thought within the sector for what we do.

I like with the ability to go to providers and be part of occasions and meet folks head to head and see what a distinction we make to their lives.  Covid has challenged me personally significantly with the lack to get out to fulfill the folks we help and workers and really feel the eagerness that’s in our organisation.  I hope this can quickly change as we transition by lockdown.

Inform us extra about Encourage PTL, the folks that you just help and your crew

Encourage is a studying incapacity charity that operates all through the North East of Scotland.  It supplies help to approx. 340 folks with studying disabilities and extra help wants by a spread of providers.   We have now roughly 570 workers – primarily operational front-line workers and approx. 35 non-operational workers.  We even have a core of volunteers and befrienders that help the organisation.

Once I speak about my crew I speak concerning the wider organisation as in my eyes we’re all one crew.  I’m supported by a management crew with cross expertise of the talents you’ll count on in a big charity.  Our front-line operational workers are superb – their dedication and dedication to the folks we help is nothing apart from incredible.  We knew this earlier than however throughout this pandemic it has turn out to be much more obvious.  We have now an incredible enterprise help perform that gives the company help to the organisation to make sure that at each step of the way in which we’re compliant.  As well as, we’ve an incredible improvement crew – this crew is chargeable for guaranteeing that we differentiate ourselves by offering extra than simply help – we add worth to people lives by social inclusion, actions, occasions, and befriending.  That is one thing that I’m immensely happy with as we all know the distinction it makes to people. 

As well as, I’m supported by a Board of Trustees who’re all volunteers and quit their time to help the charity.  They’re all very enthusiastic about the reason for Encourage and prefer to become involved with the folks supported.  Once more, Covid has challenged this. 

Do you have got a favorite ebook, writer, blogger or podcast?

I have to say I’m not an incredible reader, however I’ve began listening to audio books an increasing number of – I dip out and in of books and except one thing takes my fancy at web page 1 then it isn’t for me. (impatient).   I take heed to a number of podcasts and currently they’ve all been round wellbeing.

What do you love to do exterior of labor?

I’ll check with non-Covid occasions as really proper now I do marvel what I do exterior of labor.  My household are my world.  I’ve a husband, daughter, and her associate and a 5-year-old grandson and an enormous quantity of my time is spent with them.  Holidays are one thing else that are essential to me – seeing completely different components of the world, spa breaks, meals out.

I additionally like a leisure session on the native well being spa.  Oh, and I’m a little bit of a social media fan.

This yr has actually jogged my memory of what’s essential and a few of issues that have been priorities earlier than are actually not a lot now.

What does wholesome ageing imply to you?

Independence – Independence is every part as all of us become older and guaranteeing that we plan.  Making certain optimistic way of life with good relationships with buddies and households. 

What are your high suggestions for sustaining wellbeing?

My colleagues studying this may increasingly properly problem this, however I might say…… 😊

Making certain you could segregate and steadiness work and residential life – Working at residence this previous yr has made this much more troublesome.

Downtime – take holidays, day off, do one thing completely different, enjoyable.  Correct meals and good sleep. Converse up in case you are struggling.

What recommendation do you have got for folks fascinated about shifting into working in social care?

My sturdy recommendation can be – If you’re simply searching for a job to tide you over then social care shouldn’t be for you.  Social Care is a vocation and if you wish to make a distinction to somebody’s life in a optimistic approach, have the proper values – then don’t hesitate to analyze it.  Take into consideration what space of labor you need to get into – there are such a lot of several types of alternatives with potential and a large spectrum of roles.

Going into work at the beginning of a day or shift figuring out that you’ll instantly impression the folks/ crew that you’re supporting provides you with a way of function, worth, and fulfilment.

There are a number of alternatives for coaching if in case you have no expertise, improvement, profession development and studying.  We have now workers which have began in help employee roles and are actually senior managers so there’s a excellent path.

One of many optimistic outcomes of the pandemic is the worth that has been attributed to social care within the yr and with this has adopted a evaluation of grownup social care.  This seems to be like the way forward for social care can be optimistic and recognised in a approach that it has not been for a while.

Encourage are a rising and altering organisation and are searching for workers throughout providers attributable to altering providers and progress.  When you have the values and fervour to need to make a distinction to somebody that we help and be a part of an incredible crew then we need to hear from you. www.inspireptl.org.uk – be part of our crew.  If you happen to just like the sound of it however are uncertain we’ll all the time have somebody who can be completely satisfied to speak to you to provide the data that you’d want to assist along with your selections.

Speaking to Linda, it’s clear that the final yr has been difficult, however with the help of the broader Encourage crew, the organisation has been capable of adapt and preserve continuity of care.  Whereas I’ve not but been capable of meet anybody in individual or go to any of the providers, I’ve had enjoyable becoming a member of within the weekly Makaton choir classes, disco events and karaoke on Zoom.  These digital actions are just a few examples of how Encourage have tailored to help the wellbeing of the folks of their care.

Some key takeaways from our dialogue embrace:

• Care is about empowering, independence, inclusion and relationships.
• The dedication of care staff is unimaginable, and their expertise are rightly now being recognised as integral to how social care is delivered.
• Grownup social care is a really rewarding function and supplies a lot of alternatives.

If you wish to preserve up-to-date with Linda and the Encourage PTL actions checkout their web site and Fb web page.  The Fb web page is especially good, because it shares details about fundraising actions and likewise photos and movies of the folks Encourage help.If you happen to preferred this publish that is a part of a collection of interviews which you may also need to discover. Please try our web site for extra technical recommendation and our Alexa tutorials on our Youtube channel. You can too subscribe to our mailing record to be notified when we’ve new posts and help materials accessible.