How long have you worked at Hightown?   

I’ve been working in care and supported housing since 2001 and transferred to Hightown under TUPE in July of 2016. My journey began as a part time support worker and over the years I've grown and taken on various positions and responsibilities. 

Tell us a bit about your current role?  

Currently, I’m the Head of Care and Supported Housing for Hightown’s regulated services, overseeing over 240 staff members, including approximately 30 managers across different locations. My role has evolved significantly, advancing through positions such as team leader, registered care manager, locality manager and contracts manager before reaching my current position. 

What job did you do before you worked in care and supported housing?   

Before moving to the UK in 2001, I worked as a journalist in Zimbabwe, specialising in screenwriting and media productions. I was involved in various film and documentary projects, which gave me a strong foundation in communication and storytelling. I also worked on film projects as a 1st Assistant Director, a role which required both people and resource management with careful planning and scheduling of scenes against the cast and locations. 

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in care?  

Care work is deeply rewarding but requires empathy, resilience and commitment. My advice would be to see every interaction as an opportunity to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Always keep learning and developing professionally, as there are many paths within care that can lead to new skills and experiences. Above all there is a lot of soft learning and benefits that may be difficult to quantify, but helps you grow as an individual.  

What has been a personal career highlight for you?   

There are many, however, a recent highlight was winning a national Social Care Leadership Award, which recognised my commitment to effective leadership and positive impact within the sector. This was especially meaningful to me because of my journey from frontline care to senior leadership and because the nomination came from a group of managers that I have seen grow and excel over the years. Other highlights have been setting up new services, retaining contracts and holding events for the people we support which gives you an opportunity to see them in a different light out of their day-to-day routines.  

What’s made you stay in the industry for so long?  

The privilege of leading and mentoring people, seeing them grow and watching those we support make meaningful changes in their lives is incredibly fulfilling. These moments remind me why I joined this field and why I continue to stay. 

What’s your favourite thing about your job and the sector?   

Being able to witness firsthand the positive impact of our services on individuals’ lives is by far my favourite aspect. I also love the mentorship aspect of my role - helping others develop their skills and advance in their careers is a privilege. 

What’s the most challenging thing about your job? 

Balancing the needs of our staff and people we support within the constraints of resources and regulatory demands is often challenging. Ensuring everyone feels supported and heard while meeting organisational goals requires constant effort and adaptability. There is also an emerging challenge linked to recruitment where the staff we are recruiting require time to adapt to a different culture, way of working and increased demands on compliance. 

What challenges is the sector facing?   

The sector is currently grappling with recruitment and retention challenges, financial pressures and increasing demand for services. The recent announcement on the National Insurance threshold drop and employer contribution increases coupled with National Minimum Wage and Real Living Wage parameters has made budgeting and service provision seem unsustainable without adequate uplifts from our commissioning partners. There's also an ongoing need for greater governmental and societal recognition of the vital role care professionals play, as well as policies that support sustainable growth and quality care and match this with rewards in terms of pay.