Estimated studying time: 9 minutes
I just lately joined the Encourage PTL group as a Non-Government Director. I’m nonetheless discovering my ft on this new position; studying concerning the organisation and concerning the challenges which can be being confronted, notably for the time being 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 group. On this weblog instalment we interview Linda Grey to search out out extra about Encourage and her position as CEO.
We stay in an ageing society. However what does that actually imply?
Within the subsequent 20 years the steadiness of younger and outdated will shift to the purpose the place there will probably be one aged individual for each two folks of working age.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 in a position to 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 position as Monetary Controller and a second hand to the homeowners. There got here a degree I may exit from the enterprise once they did a closing enterprise transaction, and I felt that while I had gained a wealth of data and expertise from my mentor Gordon McLellan on all enterprise areas I felt that one thing was lacking for me in my position. I used to be given a improbable 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 loads 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 position was a build-on from all my technical abilities in oil and fuel to my expertise constructed up in Barnardo’s. This was the job for me. Through the years I turned Director of Company providers after which was very humbled to be given the chance to change into the CEO in November 2017.
What’s the most rewarding a part of your job?
It needs to 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 aspect in guaranteeing that our organisation gives the very best quality of help to people with studying disabilities that we are able to. The folks we help are unimaginable – they make the very best of each minute of day-after-day whatever the challenges that they face.
Relationships is a key a part of my job I’ve actually loved build up constructive relationships with all our stakeholders in order that Encourage is understood within the sector for what we do.
I really like having the ability to go to providers and be a 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 fervour that’s in our organisation. I hope this may quickly change as we transition by way of lockdown.
Inform us extra about Encourage PTL, the folks that you just help and your group
Encourage is a studying incapacity charity that operates all through the North East of Scotland. It gives help to approx. 340 folks with studying disabilities and extra help wants by way of a variety 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.
After I discuss my group I discuss concerning the wider organisation as in my eyes we’re all one group. I’m supported by a management group with cross expertise of the talents you’d anticipate in a big charity. Our front-line operational workers are superb – their dedication and dedication to the folks we help is nothing apart from improbable. We knew this earlier than however throughout this pandemic it has change into much more obvious. We have now a terrific enterprise help perform that gives the company help to the organisation to make sure that at each step of the best way we’re compliant. As well as, we’ve got a terrific growth group – this group is liable for guaranteeing that we differentiate ourselves by offering extra than simply help – we add worth to people lives by way of 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 keen about the reason for Encourage and prefer to get entangled with the folks supported. Once more, Covid has challenged this.
Do you have got a favorite ebook, creator, blogger or podcast?
I have to say I’m not a terrific 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’s not for me. (impatient). I take heed to a whole lot of podcasts and currently they’ve all been round wellbeing.
What do you love to do exterior of labor?
I’ll confer with non-Covid instances as truly proper now I do surprise what I do exterior of labor. My household are my world. I’ve a husband, daughter, and her companion and a 5-year-old grandson and an enormous quantity of my time is spent with them. Holidays are one thing else that are vital to me – seeing completely different components of the world, spa breaks, meals out.
I additionally like a rest session on the native well being spa. Oh, and I’m a little bit of a social media fan.
This 12 months has actually jogged my memory of what’s vital and a few of issues that had been priorities earlier than are actually not a lot now.
What does wholesome ageing imply to you?
Independence – Independence is every little thing as all of us become old and guaranteeing that we plan. Making certain constructive life-style with good relationships with associates and households.
What are your high suggestions for sustaining wellbeing?
My colleagues studying this may increasingly effectively problem this, however I might say…… 😊
Making certain that you would be able to segregate and steadiness work and residential life – Working at house this previous 12 months has made this much more tough.
Downtime – take holidays, break day, do one thing completely different, enjoyable. Correct meals and good sleep. Communicate up if you’re struggling.
What recommendation do you have got for folks occupied with shifting into working in social care?
My sturdy recommendation could be – In case you are simply in search of a job to tide you over then social care is just not for you. Social Care is a vocation and if you wish to make a distinction to somebody’s life in a constructive approach, have the appropriate values – then don’t hesitate to research it. Take into consideration what space of labor you wish to get into – there are such a lot of various kinds of alternatives with potential and a large spectrum of roles.
Going into work firstly of a day or shift understanding that you’ll instantly influence the folks/ group that you’re supporting gives you a way of function, worth, and fulfilment.
There are a whole lot of alternatives for coaching in case you have no expertise, growth, profession development and studying. We have now workers which have began in help employee roles and are actually senior managers so there’s a superb path.
One of many constructive outcomes of the pandemic is the worth that has been attributed to social care within the 12 months and with this has adopted a evaluate of grownup social care. This seems to be like the way forward for social care will probably be constructive and recognised in a approach that it has not been for a while.
Encourage are a rising and altering organisation and are in search of workers throughout providers on account of altering providers and progress. If in case you have the values and keenness to wish to make a distinction to somebody that we help and be a part of a terrific group then we wish to hear from you. www.inspireptl.org.uk – be a part of our group. If you happen to just like the sound of it however are not sure we are going to all the time have somebody who could be completely happy to speak to you to provide the data that you’d want to assist together with your choices.
Speaking to Linda, it’s clear that the final 12 months has been difficult, however with the help of the broader Encourage group, the organisation has been in a position to adapt and preserve continuity of care. Whereas I’ve not but been in a position to 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 embody:
- Care is about empowering, independence, inclusion and relationships.
- The dedication of care employees is unimaginable, and their abilities are rightly now being recognised as integral to how social care is delivered.
- Grownup social care is a really rewarding position and gives numerous 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 in addition 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 wish to discover. Please take a look at our web site for extra technical recommendation and our Alexa tutorials on our Youtube channel. You too can subscribe to our mailing record to be notified when we’ve got new posts and help materials out there.
