I Underestimated how easy it would be to work in the care sector

When I started working in Care, I had no idea what a career in this sector had in store. I was filled with a naive confidence and arrogant belief that with my grand experience in business, I could easily land my first care role.

What led me to believe this? I’d had great success in previous careers.

As a Managing Director in Media

As a Managing Director working in a completely different industry, I had been

richly rewarded both financially and emotionally. Business lunches, airline travel, five star hotels, hob-knobbing with media folk, TV personalities and pop stars. A charmed life.

It could be stressful, especially when reshaping businesses, with an instruction to make profit, cut costs and increase listenership (usually all three targets).

I remember, on numerous occasions, walking into radio stations on day one, walking through the building, accompanied by my new personal assistant, or the business analyst or the incumbent individual giving me the obligatory tour and the meet-and-greet, with members  of staff ignoring me as if I was a ghost, either resistant to change or fearful of their professional future.

If only I knew then what I know now about connection and human relationships, life may have been a little less stressful for everyone involved.

That said, my years spent in naive ignorance and learning on the job was the best university education I never had.

Lessons in Humility

I had an arrogant belief that I would walk into a care post with no issues at all. I mean, look at my expansive career history, job titles and effervescent personality for goodness’ sake. How difficult could landing a job in care actually be?

Very difficult, as it turned out.

My first unsuccessful interview was for an Activity Coordinator for ten pounds an hour. I was convinced I’d bagged the job. In fact, after a two-hour interview, tour of the home and a knowing wink from my interviewer, the ego was around the ankles when told it was not to be.

Not only was I annoyed and insulted, but I was also starting to feel ashamed and questioning of my interview performances.

Undeterred, I continued to apply for care jobs, with numerous ‘thanks but no thanks’ emails and even more disheartening, no responses at all (this incidentally is not only rude, but demonstrates to me that this lack of courtesy demonstrated from these organisations I would not want to work for AND will most definitely advise talented, hardworking individuals NOT to apply for future positions with said companies).

My £10 an Hour Wake up Call

My break into care was with a not-for-profit organisation. This sat very comfortably with me as any surplus revenue was invested into the charity to the benefit of Supported Individuals. I adored my time in this organisation. I adored the people I supported and I adored the team. 

The biggest impact on me was the amount of training, continuous professional development, knowledge of policies and procedures, understanding of compliance and ramifications of over-stepping boundaries and crossing very fine lines when it comes to caring for human beings. All those requirements to be rewarded with just north of what was the minimum wage.

The long hours, unpaid overtime because it is very difficult to finish bang-on 5pm when someone is in distress. The physical, emotional and mental wear-and-tear on your physiology and so on and so on.

What it Really Takes to Care

However, spiritually, it is one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever performed. It’s become a vocation and it’s sharpened my focus on how I can help the care sector with my whole career experience.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Rewards need to improve to retain and attract talent.

• More praise; appreciation and recognition are required across the board.

• Coaching in connection needs to be as important as infection control, manual handling, safeguarding and fire warden training.

  
  

That’s why I have founded Unmuted. 

I’m working towards placing connection before compliance, because real connection makes a team work collectively towards compliance measures successfully.

If we successfully put emotional intelligence at the heart of our practice, we provide not just care, but also:

• a depth of care for the people we support 

• our teams are happier and less likely to walk towards a competitor

• sick days reduce and staff retention improves

• communication improves as do CI, CQC and RQIA ratings. Inadequate leads to Good leads to Outstanding.

  
  

This will not happen until connection comes first – not just in care, but in all industries and sectors.

Is this anecdotal? Somewhat, however there is a science that categorically proves this practice works.

I’ve been there. I’ve done it. I’ve had horrific failures not using this strategy and enormous successes as a leader adopting and living this approach. 

Leaders in Care and Carers need to be brave.

Leaders in Care and Carers need to be curious. 

Leaders in Care and Carers need to challenge.

If this has inspired you to want to bring EQ into the heart of your care organisation, get in touch to find out how my Unmuted training can help you and your care teams achieve real connection in their care delivery.