The care exchange from Skills for Care

Hosts Ali and Pia reflect on the amazing managers who have shared their experiences and tips throughout the series. The conversation includes common themes that have emerged, highlights some of the useful suggestion’s guests have made and discusses how they relate to the new CQC strategy.

We’re extremely grateful to all the managers who have contributed to this first series of ‘The care exchange’ and celebrate the incredible work being done every day by registered managers across the country. 

Resources

• Find your locality manager
• Support for registered managers
• Registered manager webinars
• Good and outstanding care guide

Azhar Juri talks about being a mental health nurse and registered manager of a residential care home for people with enduring mental health issues. 

Azhar shares their thoughts on developing a positive culture to support staff “to be the best they can be”, being honest with yourself and how WhatsApp is a lifesaver. We also talk about Azhar’s very personal journey and how Bollywood dancing changed everything.

Resources

• Mental health 
• Take ‘Confident with difference 

Debbie Dry, registered manager of Windsor Lodge, a small care home for older people in Buckinghamshire talks about residents being at the heart of everything and how that drives her desire to constantly improve quality. She explains how she ensures that any training her staff do, is a learning opportunity for everyone and has an impact on the care delivered. Find Windsor Lodge Care Home on Facebook.

Resources

• Leadership Qualities Framework
• Learning from events digital module

Our guest Joseph Hughes is from City Care Partnership. He is the registered manager of two outstanding rated services that support people with learning disabilities.

He explains that managers don't have to be the best at everything and shouldn't be afraid to ask for help. Joseph discusses how he wants his workforce to feel valued, comfortable, well trained and all with funded walking boots!

Resources

• Learning disability webpage and newsletter - sign up
• Delivering good and outstanding care
• Registered manager network. 

Joined by Karyn Ross who is the registered manager of the Shared Lives scheme in Coventry. Karyn’s service has received an outstanding CQC rating in her last inspection and she shares how she used her mantra ‘plan, invest and record’ to prepare.

Karyn discusses promoting personal relationships, student placements  bringing new ideas and why her team are always open to learn new ways of working and continuing to improve.

Resources

• Good and outstanding care guide: Karyn used our ‘Good and outstanding care guide’ when preparing for her latest CQC inspection.
• Skills for Care has resources on supporting personal relationships, developed in partnership with CQC

Carly Rochester, manager of Lodge Group Care’s domiciliary home care service discusses her respect for home care workers, pandemic teamwork and how it’s so important to value your workforce. 

Carly explains the importance of using the workforce's different skills and how she has learned to delegate, let go of some responsibilities and trust and empower members of her team. 

 

Resources

• ‘An introduction to working with partners – a practical guide for social care managers’. 
  
• Delegated healthcare tasks resources - The two short guides support decision making and provide information and guidance on delivering delegated healthcare tasks safely and competently.  

Ronnie Lillywhite talks about being a manager in a supported living service. She shares her experience supporting a service to improve, why safety comes trumps every time and how she has remained focused on making improvements during the pandemic.

Ronnie explains why she has never felt so connected to her peers and how she has learnt to act with balance. 

Resources

• Recorded registered manager webinars
• Preparing for CQC inspection

Marlene Kelly, Registered Manager at Auburn Mere Care Home in Watford, shares her insights on the importance of focusing on meaningful activities that promote purpose, engagement and connection. Reflecting on lessons learned during the pandemic, she explains how it helped her identify what matters most in delivering care and supporting people’s wellbeing. Marlene also highlights the importance of registered managers prioritising their own wellbeing so they can continue to lead effectively and support their teams.

Marlene also tells us about some very special chicks who visited the home during the pandemic! Follow Auburn Mere on Facebook and Instagram.

Resources

• Recorded registered manager webinars
• Skills for Care wellbeing area for tips and ideas for you and your team.
• Marlene shares how invaluable she has found the Skills for Care action learning set. Join a peer support action learning set by becoming a registered manager member. 
  
• Marlene is the chair of her local registered manager network. Find a network near you.

Sue Ann Nnamani, the registered manager of Priscilla Wakefield House in Haringey, London shares her approach to managing a large nursing home, including how she makes sure that values are embedded into the service, the importance of looking inwards and outwards and why it’s the simple things that matter.  Follow Sue Ann on LinkedIn!  

Resources

• Registered manager webinars cover a wide range of topics.
  
• Values: explore tools and examples to help you recruit people with the right values.
  
• ‘Creating a positive workplace culture toolkit’ - Learn what workplace culture is and how you can develop a positive one in your organisation.

Skills for Care CEO Oonagh Smyth talks about her own motivations within her role and shares her views on why the role of registered manager is so important. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss! Follow Oonagh Smyth on twitter!

Resources 

• Supporting the diverse workforce within adult social care: Watch the webinars.
• Train to become a mentor or receive mentoring.
• Lcal networks for managers. 
• Deputy manager networks.