Strength to strength

Meet Veena

I got into care completely by accident.

I was studying at university and two of my cousins worked for a care company at the time who said: “We're looking for some part time people”. It started off as a little Saturday job, working on the phones and dealing with all the emergencies.

What surprised me was that I really started to enjoy working in care, it gave me a chance to talk to people, and that was the hook. I felt the difference that we made and how powerful working in care really is.

I went from being a coordinator, to senior care manager to a service manager, and then joined MiHomecare as a branch manager.

I was chosen to be part of the team launching our digital care planning. There were only four of us, but we were given the autonomy to say, “Look, find your feet, this is a brand-new role”. 

"We've got strong people here at City & County, and we each make it that environment where people want to stay. And that's what we're about, we're about people at the end of the day and if you got good people, everything just works."

I don't think I ever thought I'd say I work in I.T. and it was such a huge leap for me to break away from my comfort zone to do something different. But it’s great to see the other side of things and it just gave me a new perspective. I wouldn't change a single part of it. I'm constantly learning – I'm always being pushed to do better and challenged in a really positive and encouraging way, where I just feel like I'm developing so well.

Becoming a Care Coordinator

Meet Samantha

I'm a senior care coordinator. I've been working in branch for six years, but I started in care when I was 18 and knew I felt comfortable in care. After I had my children, I started looking to go back into care – but more out in the field.

"What appealed to me about care is you support another's smile. Just one smile on somebody's face makes you special."

There was a role coming up in branch as a coordinator for a new area that they had just won the contract for and it just went from there.

My main role is completion of rotas. When I first started as a coordinator I never thought that I'd be able to get as far as I have. 

You build up a good rapport with the carers, knowing what they achieve and that they are happy. It’s very rewarding.

Every day is a surprise. There are always good days – and when you know that you’ve got everything that you need to do the job, then it all goes well. We all pull together as a team to make sure we support each other.

I started as a key worker, I've come into branch as coordinator, and now I've achieved being a senior coordinator. So, let’s see where the next door opens?

Becoming a Registered Manager

Meet Prabhjot

I'm the registered branch manager for Willow House, New Croft House and Rosemary House. My current role involves making sure all three schemes are running smoothly. I have three team leaders and one care manager, and we all monitor compliance together. I spend a lot of time making sure all the clients are happy – dealing with any of their concerns and just to make sure everything is running well.

"As a branch manager the key things are having patience, good communication skills and being approachable, because you need your team to come to you. I enjoy my role, everything I do. You're able to see the teamwork – if a carer has an issue, they can just pop into the office."

I've always worked in care. I started as an activities coordinator and that involved a bit of care work as well. I was there for about five years. After that, I became a kit coordinator, which I did for about a year.

I progressed to become a care manager for a year and then moved over to Willow House six months after that. Not long after I started managing New Croft House and Rosemary House as well.

We recently won Service of the Year at the Care Heroes Awards. It shows all the work we've put in to go from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’, so we're doing something right!

Becoming a Clinical Lead

Meet Joanne

I qualified as paediatric nurse in 2003. And since that time, I've worked in a variety of settings from paediatric high dependency units, paediatric accident and emergency and complex care in the community.

I came to City & County three years ago and started my career here as a clinical nurse specialist in community complex care. After 12 months I was promoted to Head of Paediatric Nursing for the complex division.

My role as Head of Paediatric Nursing is to ensure clinical safety across all the paediatric patches throughout the clinical division. These clients have a wide variety of complex needs – from support with breathing via tracheostomy, ventilators and feeding through to supporting people with acquired brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy.

"I'm proud to work for City & County. I feel that we are the leaders in delivering the highest level of care in our community. Our complex care workers are equipped with the best possible skills and knowledge to deliver the safest standard of care to our clients."

When you join City & County, you join a care family. We all support each other. And we all have the same common goal – we deliver the safest possible high standard of care to our clients to help them reach their full potential.