News
Training Scheme Produces First New Manager
The new Management Development Programme (MDP) from specialist care provider Choice Care Group has produced its first manager to open a brand new home after Mandy Fenton took charge of Little Heath Court, a supported living project in Reading, which opened its door in July.
Mandy has been with Choice since 2005 and worked her way up from a social care worker to shift leader, senior social care worker and finally deputy manager, before successfully applying for a place on the new programme.
Little Heath Court is Choice Care Group’s latest development and provides six individualised environments for individuals with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, where each person has their own front door and private garden, but with the added benefit of communal space such as lounge, kitchen and dining areas.
It is aimed at promoting care pathways, in order to enable individuals to develop their skills and independence ahead of a move to supported living. Alternatively, the design of the accommodation also lends itself to suit those who can, at times, find it difficult to live with others but still need high levels of support.
Mandy has been involved in looking at referrals as well as choosing furnishings and equipment for the homes
She said: “Having successfully progressed my career with Choice, I was very keen to take the next step into management and the course was very useful in providing me with the knowledge I need.
“I found the whole course very enjoyable, but I was particularly interested in the modules on safeguarding, and I now hope to become a trainer in this area for the company.”
The MDP was launched to meet the future management needs of the 39 (soon to be 41) residential care homes run by Choice for adults with learning disabilities, mental health disorders and other complex needs across Berkshire, Wiltshire, Hampshire and Gloucestershire.
An initial group of six deputy managers and assistant managers were chosen by director of operations Tracy Lanes and an area director to take part in the scheme from July to December last year. A second group of six started the programme in January 2011.
The 11 workshops that make up the MDP are all delivered by senior managers at Choice, who designed the programme to cover all the essential skills that home managers need.
The workshops are backed up by a workbook for managers in the homes where the trainees are based, which identifies management tasks that trainees carry out in a controlled way and a specific number of times. The manager scores performance and provides written feedback on areas for development.
Tracy said: “I’m delighted that Mandy has become produced its first person to set up a new home after completing this programme.
“At Choice we have always believed in promoting people from within where possible, ensuring our managers are fully up to speed with the ethos of the company and providing greater continuity of care for our service users.
“As the company has got bigger, it has become necessary to formalise this process a little more, and there is every indication that this is going to be a successful long-term strategy.”
For more information, please contact Choice Care Group on 0845 815 9860.
