“There is a career here if you want one”

I started working at Southdown nine years ago. I spent three years as a Support Worker, three years as a Senior Support Worker, and now I’m in my third year as a Deputy Manager.

I’ve been at Southdown Court ( one of Southdown’s learning disability support services) for a year as a Deputy Manager. I absolutely love it. It’s the most fun. We have a big, supportive team with a brilliant Service Manager and the other Deputy Manager.  All of our Support Workers are worth their weight in gold.

Before applying for the job, the Service Manager showed me around. The visit made me feel this is somewhere I could work. At the interview, I shared the experiences I’d had so far and what I could put into the role.

People might worry that the Deputy role is a big step up, but when you have a good manager who nurtures, supports, and trains you, it’s achievable.

Tell your Manager that you’d like to go the extra mile. Become a Quality of Life Champion or Key Worker. Get involved with medications, health and safety, risk assessments, support plans, supervisions and appraisals, rotas, workforce, recruitment, end of month imprest, and team meetings. See what it’s like to step up and get the experience.

I enjoyed the transition from Senior Support Worker to Deputy Manager. The biggest changes are that it’s more fast-paced, there’s admin, and you’re taken away from hands-on support. I came into this job to support clients and because I love that part and don’t want that to go, I still support people one day a week. I like my team to see me supporting clients and not just sitting at a desk.

As a Deputy Manager, I help to ensure our service is safe and ready for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections. One of the best things about my role is when we get our CQC and local authority assessments. I love coming together with the team and showcasing the excellent work we do here. Team work is so important to me.

This role really plays to my strengths. I like helping the service run smoothly. I help us get ready for our three monthly audits, our health and safety requirements, fire drills, supervisions, and checking in with staff. Due to the complex needs of the people we support, we can have challenging situations arise and so it’s important for me to be there and help debrief. It’s a large team and people need to feel like they can speak to me. I want them to be happy to come to work. And when staff are happy and it’s a fun place to work, it filters down to clients.

We like to problem solve here. We always ask ourselves what we can do to make things better. We not only focus on making the service safe, but on supporting clients to be happy, fulfilled, and out in the community.

We’ve recently had some new clients move here, and I’ve been a big part of their transition, training staff for their specific care. As a Deputy Manager, I’ve developed my people skills here. I enjoy nurturing people and their talent and have given some of our Support Workers other duties to help them get ready for senior positions in our Learning Disability support services.

As a Deputy, I’m involved in local authority meetings for the people we support, and I’m expected to step up if the Manager is not available. I have struggled with confidence in the past but having a Manager who believes in me and what I’m capable of has made such a difference.

I’ve enjoyed my career progression at Southdown. When I feel I’m ready for the next step up as a Service Manager, I know my Manager will be there to support me. They have been getting me involved in some of their tasks as part of my preparation for this. It’s their support that has helped me develop and believe that I can do the job.

The reason I’ve stayed at Southdown for so long is the flexible working. I’m a mum of three and this job fits around my life. I work reduced hours and I’m so grateful that the service has been able to make that adjustment for me.

Southdown employs great people – the calibre of the people I work with is brilliant. Southdown is an amazing employer.