Celebrating our female leaders in care and support
To mark National Careers Week and International Women’s Day, today we are also hearing from senior leaders in our care and support service areas about what it means to be a female leader in the sector and what advice they have for other women who are keen to follow in their footsteps.
Alison joined Housing Plus Group in 2009, working as a carer for Care Plus. She has since worked her way up to become Operations Manager of Specialist Supported Housing, leading a team of 30 who work across our Specialist Supported and Extra Care schemes, alongside 40 plus volunteers who form part of the Volunteer and Engagement team.
Alison Said: “When I first joined Care Plus, I’d never worked in care before and didn’t know what to expect. At first, it was challenging and totally outside of my comfort zone, but I enjoyed the challenge and was driven to ensure that residents received quality service.
“I decided I wanted to continue my career in housing and care, and I still have that same passion now. I want to make sure that everything is going well for our residents; I like speaking up for those who feel they lack a voice and ensuring that they receive excellent service.
“If you have a passion for the services residents receive and care about improving those services, a career in housing and care could be for you.”
Alison says she has been given lots of opportunities for progression in her career. She said: “At Housing Plus Group, there are lots of opportunities to gain experience and qualifications that will help you progress in your career.
“I’ve had lots of opportunities along the way. I completed my NVQs from level 2 to 5 and moved into roles as a team leader and a care co-ordinator. I’ve also been able to complete a Chartered Institute of Housing course, a course for aspiring managers, and have had mentors along the way.
“One of the incredible women I work with is my line manager, who is all about giving us the tools we need to grow and learn. It is evident that every individual at Care Plus has a unique path of personal development.
“I think the reason I have remained with Care Plus is that I share its values, and I need to feel like we are all working towards the same objective.”
Alison strongly believes in supporting her team, which is predominately made up of women. She added: “As a leader, it’s not just the residents who are important; it’s also the team and what I can do to support them. At Specialist Supporting Housing, we place a lot of emphasis on helping to build a strong team and what that means to everyone.
“We have made investments in our own team, and I am incredibly proud of the women who have followed their own paths, risen through the ranks, and are currently leading their own teams.
“HPG needs to make sure that we are giving women those opportunities to progress and learn new skills to be able to continue to grow.”
