Katie started working at Potens’ Newbold Road, as a support worker in 2018 – one of the first members of staff of the new service that had just opened. 3 years on she is now acting manager. Here she tells us about her career journey.
“I started working in 2018 as the service opened – before any residents had moved in!
Prior to working at Newbold Road, I had 6 years’ experience in dementia care and only a small amount of experience in learning disability and autism. When I started at Newbold Road I filled out my ‘personal development plan’. In this I wrote that I wanted to progress to senior in the next 3 years.
After around 3 months, I got promoted to acting senior support worker. This meant I covered senior shifts when needed. During this role I enrolled into my level 3 adult care NVQ and completed different training courses. I spent a lot of time observing the senior and my manager – completing my senior support worker induction.
Throughout my acting senior role, my knowledge developed, and I gradually became more and more confident. 3 months later I was promoted to a full time senior. I was extremely proud of myself, as I had completed my goal!
I was very determined to progress, always asking for jobs beyond my job role and always looking to take on more responsibility. During my role as senior I completed another personal development plan which included deputy manager, and manager as a long tern goal.
After my manager left in June 2021, I got promoted to deputy manager, and with the support from the other managers and my area manager, we made some significant improvements to Newbold and had some amazing feedback from professionals.
In November 2021, I started my development programme to become manager and have been signed up to all the training necessary. I am now so proud to say my role is Acting Manager.
I am looking forward to moving Newbold forward and making it the best place to live and work!
Since starting at Potens, I have had some great training, I have become so much more confident (I couldn’t even answer the phone to an unknown caller before I started at Newbold, never mind do some of the jobs I do now). I can’t thank management enough for believing in me, giving me the best support, and giving me the best opportunities.
You have to believe in yourself, challenge yourself, and push yourself until the very end; that’s the only way you’ll succeed.”
