If someone had told me in 1983 that a few funny stories from my Aunt Barb would shape my entire career, I probably wouldn't have believed them. But that's exactly where it all began.

In 1983, my Aunt Barb started a new job as an escort on a bus for adults with learning disabilities. Every evening she'd come home with hilarious stories about the people she supported and the things they'd said or done that day. I was fascinated. Those stories weren't just funny, they opened my eyes to people. I became hooked on understanding individuals, appreciating their personalities, and learning how important it is to treat everyone with dignity, kindness and respect.

In 1986, Barb organised a Christmas church service for the people who travelled on the bus and I went along. During the service, the vicar asked the congregation what animals were around the manger when baby Jesus was born. The responses echoed around the church: "Lions!", "Tigers!", "Rabbits!", "A giraffe!". It was one of those wonderfully innocent, unforgettable moments that has stayed with me ever since. Walking out of that church, I knew one thing for certain - I wanted to work in care.

Finding my path

Fast forward to 1993. While everyone else seemed focused on GCSE results, I was already looking ahead. I knew I'd be enrolling on the very first BTEC First Diploma in Care offered at my school's sixth form, so I concentrated on getting through my exams before moving on to what I really wanted to study. During that course, I spent time gaining work experience in local care homes, and every placement confirmed I was heading in the right direction.

After leaving school, I found myself working in quality control at a sandwich factory. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but as an 18-year-old living at home and earning factory wages, life wasn't too bad! Still, I knew something was missing. I missed people. I wanted a career where no 2 days were the same.

In 1997, everything changed. Browsing through the local newspaper—back when that's how we found jobs—I spotted an advert for a Care Assistant supporting people with Prader-Willi Syndrome.
The salary was almost half of what I was earning in the factory. My mum encouraged me to go for it anyway. Living at home meant I could afford the pay cut and she knew I'd be happier. A week later I was offered the job. I walked through the doors of a huge manor house that was home to people with Prader-Willi Syndrome. The moment I walked in, I knew I was home too.

Learning along the way

Within a year, I was promoted to Senior Care Assistant. My responsibilities included leading shifts, updating daily notes and administering medication. Looking back now, social care was very different: medication was moving over to MAR charts and blister packs, care plans were basic, risk assessments weren't something we routinely completed for each person we supported, and the phrase 'person-centred care' simply wasn't part of everyday language.

Over the next decade, I watched social care evolve dramatically—and for the better. Person-centred care became central to everything we did. Care planning improved, people's voices became stronger, and support became much more individualised. As my experience grew, so did my role. I became a Care Manager, responsible for staffing rotas, medication management, audits, supervision, and helping oversee the day-to-day running of the home.

Becoming a registered manager

In 2009, another opportunity came my way. The registered manager of another home was relocating, leaving a vacancy. I applied. By the time I'd driven the three miles home from my interview, I'd already been offered the job. I became Registered Manager of what was the world's first semi-independent group home for people with Prader-Willi Syndrome. It was an incredible opportunity.

Although I was the manager, I never wanted to be hidden away in an office. I preferred walking the floor, spending time with the people we supported, involving them in decisions and being part of everyday life.

One of the highlights of my career came when I accompanied one of the people we supported on a holiday to swim with dolphins. Her dad didn't feel confident taking her on his own, so I happily stepped in. We had an amazing week together, creating memories I'll never forget.

New challenges

In July 2017, I went on maternity leave before welcoming our son, Merlin. Knowing my Deputy Manager was more than capable meant I could enjoy maternity leave without worrying about the home.

Returning to work in May 2018 wasn't easy—like many working parents, balancing everything took some adjusting. But one thing made it much easier. The people we supported absolutely adored Merlin. They always wanted updates about what he'd been doing, and whenever there were social events at the home, he'd often come along, happily accepting cuddles from everyone.

Christmas Eve 2018 is a day I'll never forget. Our doorbell rang. It wasn't Santa. It was a CQC inspector. As usual, my team suddenly became very busy elsewhere while I spent the day answering questions and showing the inspector around. When the inspection ended, I confidently expected we'd achieved another 'Good' rating. I couldn't have imagined what came next - the home was rated 'Outstanding', the first home in our organisation to achieve that rating. To celebrate, the company gave us £500, and the whole team and the people we supported went out for a meal together. It remains one of my proudest achievements.

Later that year, I was chatting with someone from the compliance team who mentioned a new role that would soon be available. The position involved helping services move from 'Good' to 'Outstanding'. It sounded perfect. In November 2019, I became a Clinical Analyst. I'd barely settled into the role before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Instead of spending most of my time analysing quality, I found myself back in services, supporting frontline teams through one of the most challenging periods social care has ever faced.

My role today

Today, I work as a Quality Support Practitioner. Every week is different. I audit services, coach teams on delivering outstanding care, support colleagues using Person-Centred Software (PCS), and deliver interactive workshops covering topics including Positive Behaviour Support Planning, the Mental Capacity Act (MCA), hydration, PAINCHEK and oral health.

I have the privilege of visiting services across the organisation, working alongside passionate, dedicated professionals who genuinely want to provide the very best support. Every visit teaches me something new. Every team inspires me.

Looking back

When I think back to that little girl listening to Aunt Barb's stories in 1983, I don't think either of us realised where they would lead. More than 25 years later, I still feel incredibly lucky to work in social care. It's a career that's challenged me, inspired me, made me laugh, occasionally made me cry, and introduced me to some of the most remarkable people I'll ever meet. For me, social care has never just been a job. It's where I belong.