CCT Community Enablement Team Ltd is developing an access via referral Community Hub, and your input via a brief survey is critical to tailor it to our community’s needs.
Your confidential feedback will shape this inclusive space. Help us build a hub that embodies our collective spirit and aspirations.
Please complete the survey below or access a new page here.
We thought getting to know our staff and their job roles would be a lovely idea. We have an incredibly professional and motivated team that inspires us daily. Next up in our ‘meet our staff’ series is Nicky King from Community Enablement Team and Enablement Care.
Q. What is your role with Community Enablement Team and Enablement Care?
Registered Manager of both Enablement Care and Community Enablement Team.
Q. How long have you been working in care, and how did you get into it?
I started working in care eight years ago. I spoke to a friend who had always worked in care, and she told me I would be great in a care role, so I plucked up the courage to change my career path. I have never looked back; it was the best decision ever!
Q. What does the future hold for you? Do you have an area of special interest?
The future is full of positives and much more hard work and studying.
Q. What is your favourite part of your job?
Interacting with the service users and knowing that you have made a difference in their lives somehow or in some way. Working alongside staff and helping and guiding where I can.
Q. What’s the worst part of your job?
That is a difficult one; I would only say that sometimes the hours can be very long, but sometimes it is needed to ensure everyone is happy.
Q. Do you have a funny story to tell?
Most recently, I was talking to a resident; she asked where I was going – I told her I was going out to work in the community, to which she replied, “You’re like dog s**t you get everywhere.” That really made me laugh!
Q. What’s your superpower? I’m pretty sure all carers have one.
I think I am a bubbly person, and I always try to get people to sing and dance with me, no matter where we are, and they do so. I think my superpower name should be Dancing Queen.
Q. What do you think is unique about Community Enablement Team?
It allows our service users to live their best lives, enjoying time doing what makes them happy. Whether that is maintaining their bills and household chores or going to the seaside, disco or archery, there is nothing our team will not be happy to support with.
Q. What advice would you give anyone just beginning their caring career?
Take each day as it comes; no two days are the same. That is the best part of the role.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed. Being a carer means that no working day will be the same.
You need to take care of yourself; remember to be patient; everyone is an individual.
Don’t forget to enjoy yourself; this passes on to the service user.
Feel free to ask questions and learn from your mistakes.
Build a relationship! That is the most important aspect of care.
Q. What do you think of the training facilities at CET?
We have exceptional in-house training and have recently moved onto an e-learning programme, allowing everyone to learn as many new parts of care as possible.
Q. What would you be doing if you weren’t working in care?
I would probably still be working in the accounts department of the family business that my husband has built up.
Q. What’s your favourite activity outside of work?
I am a massive Liverpool FC fan, travelling all of England and Europe to watch them. When I am not at work, I ensure I get to as many matches as possible!
We like to ensure you’re constantly receiving excellent service and would like to know your thoughts and opinions on how we’re getting on.
If you’re a Community Enablement Team service user, please take a moment to complete our services user and families’ autumn survey. It can be found by clicking on the link below.
Hi, my name is April Parker-Clark and I’m the Registered Manager of Community Enablement Team. It seems appropriate to tell you all about my life as a manager.
It all started five years ago. I was shopping in town when I received a call from a familiar voice, asking if I was looking for work. My answer was yes, and that’s where my role began.
Previous to being employed by CCT, I was on maternity leave with my youngest, and prior to that, I worked in a residential supported living service.
I began my career with CCT as a support worker, and I knew that this was my forever job. It was completely different from supported living! I gained my Level 3 in Health and Social Care whilst working my way up to team leader after six months.
Progressing a year later, being humbled to be asked to take on the role of registered manager.
Fast forward to four years later, I’m now a fully qualified Level 5, with a good CQC rating and a staff team that are so supportive and service that no day is the same.
I could sit here for days telling you about what I do daily because no day is the same. I could be doing:
paperwork
attending meetings
training
working alongside my colleagues in the community
supporting medical appointments with the service users
Every day is different, and as a manager, I have to be ready for anything and everything.
Throughout my whole life, I was always told, ‘if you do a job you love, you’ll never have to work a single day for the rest of your life.’ This has stuck with me throughout and has been my inspiration to pursue my goal.
I start my day by checking my emails, they come thick and fast from the day before, and you never know what’s going to be asked of you the day after. I then load our rota system, check that all calls are being attended, looking for any issues for the following week, making sure all service users’ hours are catered for and making sure all staff have their allocated hours, breaks in the day and acknowledge any time time off requests.
I have a schedule for the month where I write down all my targets, due dates and audits.
Whether the audit is on the service user’s files, daily records, care plans or medications, completing audits helps me see what we as a team are doing well or what we may need to enhance. This allows me to create an action plan (if required) on what I need to do as a manager to support staff to ensure these audits are successful each time with minimal requirements.
Each month there is a scheduled managers meeting; this allows for all managers across the service to discuss what’s happening and offer support to one another. The managing director can provide guidance in areas as needed.
As I express to my staff, all feedback is constructive, and we as a team all work together to make sure the service is running safe and effectively.
Audits are time consuming, but they help me work out what we need to improve; this is vital for our growth as a business and a team. Involving the team I find is a great strategy, enhancing our team effectiveness.
Every month I hold team meetings for all the staff. We have used many platforms for this and find that holding a full day of meetings split into different times is the one that works the best. Completing this supports all staff and allows for the development of the staff team to grow. This is an excellent way for me to inform the team of how well we are doing, what we can improve on, and any new initiatives, training or events we have planned. Also, it is a good way for staff to discuss any concerns they may have and what challenges they have in the workplace. I try to make team meetings as fun as possible while being professional and serious when I need to be. We always have cake and coffee!
We use Microsoft Forms for staff and service users to gather feedback on the work that we do. It is not all rainbows, but this is a good way to build a relationship with relatives and an effective way for them to voice their concerns. All feedback is constructive! I write up an action plan and I take it from there; anything the team and I can do to improve the quality of care, we will.
I also have to go out to different environments to ‘assess’ new potential service users; I love this part of my job. This is where I get a small but detailed care plan on an individual that the adult social care services have sent me to review and assess.
Most referrals are generally within the Nottinghamshire area; I may have to go to hospitals, other care homes and the service user’s property.
Every day is a new day, and I learn so much. The most amazing people I have ever met, I have met in this line of work!
For a full list of our current vacancies, please click here.
For further information on any of our vacancies, please contact us by email on info@challengect.co.uk
Set in beautiful Anderby Creek on the Lincolnshire Coast, Enablement Retreat makes for the perfect escape.
Take a look at the brochure here and get in touch with Jayne by emailing enquiries@challengect.co.uk for more information or to book.
Get in touch by emailing casey.stocks@challengect.co.uk if you’d like to join in the fun at our SEND Youth Club on the 25th of May!
#SEND #YOUTHCLUB #MANSFIELD
Take a look at our latest newsletter as we move into the Autumn months…
