Strategic Contribution: My award to be proud of
For all those who read my blogs, at the end of last year I told how I was extremely positive about the year ahead.
This positivity was shown in all its excellence at the Scottish Care National Care At Home & Housing Support Awards at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow. It was a fantastic night for all 311 people that attended – just one person short of the award night’s previous record turnout.
It also turned into an extremely emotional and wonderful night for myself as the final award was handed out – the Strategic Contribution Award, recognising one special person’s significant contribution to the sector.
I sat and listened to who that lucky recipient might be – and it turned out to be me! Surrounded by my three children – Heather, Russell and Mhairi, whose initials make up the first word in HRM Homecare – and members of my fantastic management team, I couldn’t help but shed a tear.
I am very grateful to my peers, especially Scottish Care, for recognising my contribution to the advancement and betterment of the care and support of older people, especially through leadership and involvement in the homecare sector.
It has been a long journey, nearly three decades at the helm of a company which I founded from my living room in Prestwick. Now with nearly 300 first-class employees, we support 800 service users and provides more than 10,000 hours per week of support, while promoting independence and encouraging older people, children and families, plus adults with disabilities to live well at home.
Yes in some respects it feels like the journey is only just beginning. I’m known for furthering my own personal development in the sector – it was noted as the award was handed out how I’d achieved no fewer than seven qualifications related to care – including Post-Graduate Diplomas in Community Care and Social Services Leadership.
I firmly believe that we all need to work on the personal development of the care sector in Scotland. We need to create and develop a sector so it becomes a significant economic driver for the nation, providing thousands of new high-quality and well-paid jobs.
But we need to start the hard work of turning this new economic vision into a reality right now. We owe it not just to those who work in care – including my superb staff at HRM Homecare – but also those people out there who depend on, and receive our support. To achieve this we must see a fundamental shift change in attitudes, including the willingness to invest and innovate in order to build economic capacity.
Making such a vision the reality for Scotland would deliver jobs, economic growth and a social care sector we can all be proud of.
If you want to be part of this new vision, and are considering a career in care, then contact HRM Homecare today to arrange an interview on 01236 429859 (option 3), email jobs@hrmhomecare.co.uk or visit our website www.hrmhomecare.co.uk/carer-jobs