From Support Worker to Director: a career in care

We spoke to Mark Morgan, Accounts Director, about his career at Choice Care…

What attracted you to working in care? 

My first job when I left school was as an Engineering Apprentice, but after a couple of years I realised this wasn’t where I wanted to make my career. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but my grandfather was in a nursing home at the time, and I used to visit him after work. What really impressed me was the dedication of the team who worked there, and I loved the way they interacted with the people they supported and how they were always on hand to help with anything. So, I thought I would give care a go… and I knew after my first day that this was the career for me.

When did you join Choice Care? Did you have any other care experience before joining? 

I joined Choice Care in 1995, as a Support Worker at Bramerton. But I technically started my career in care studying towards my NVQ Level 2 in 1993. As I didn’t have any experience, I initially found it difficult to get a job, but I was able to work as a placement student at a local nursing home. Upon completion, they offered me a full-time contract and I worked there for two years before joining Choice.

Tell us a bit more about your career journey with Choice

In my first role as a Support Worker at Bramerton, my confidence grew quickly. Although supporting adults with learning disabilities felt very different to my experience in a nursing home, Choice Care supported throughout my induction and gave me the time and resources to complete all available training. My colleagues were brilliant, and I learnt a lot from working alongside people who had so much experience and knowledge to offer.

The ethos at Bramerton was one of encouraging everyone to develop, take on new responsibilities and to progress into more senior roles, as their skills and experience increased. Over the next eight years, I continued learning and developing, completing my NVQ Level 4 and progressed from being a Support Worker to Deputy Manager.

In 2004, I took the leap to become Registered Manager of our brand-new service at the time, Stoke Lodge. Becoming a manager in a new service, in an area I was unfamiliar with, was challenging but also extremely rewarding. Building a care team from scratch and working alongside colleagues in the Referrals Team enabled us to create a place that felt like home as the people we were going to support began moving in.

In the first year of opening, I was also given the opportunity to complete the Registered Managers Award and during the four years I managed Stoke Lodge, I also supported other Choice services including Elliott House and Heywood Sumner House.

Fast forward to 2008 and I was appointed a role within the Operational Support Team and in 2016 I became one of the Regional Directors. In 2021, I took the step into the Commercial Team as Accounts Director, which is where I am now – and I love it!

How have you been supported with your learning journey at Choice Care? 

I have been supported every step of the way! Something that stands out for me about working for Choice Care, is that the learning and development opportunities available are fantastic. I have always been supported and encouraged to push myself and develop.

A moment that sticks in my mind was when I was undertaking my NVQ Level 4…I was finding the unit around financial management a little tricky as I only had limited experience of managing budgets on a smaller scale. But our Finance Director at the time, invited me to a budget meeting at the Central Support Office and spent so much time with me, answering my questions. To this day, I am still incredibly grateful, and I feel this really showcases the outstanding colleague support at Choice Care.

Tell us about what is involved in your role as Accounts Director? 

As Accounts Director, my role is to ensure we establish and maintain positive relationships with the many different commissioning bodies we work with. This includes representing Choice Care at provider forums and attending Development Relationship Meetings with our key commissioning colleagues, to let them know about the brilliant work happening every single day and the fantastic achievements of the people we support.

It’s incredibly important to us that we work alongside our commissioning colleagues to support them with the changing needs in their area. I have the privilege of discussing new opportunities with them and then working alongside other colleagues across the organisation to develop and open the new services. Finally, I also work closely with our Finance Team to support with fee discussions for the people moving into a Choice Care home and the people already supported by us.

What are your goals for the future at Choice Care? 

My goal is to continue to help make Choice one of the best, if not, the best organisation to work for and to help ensure we continue to provide outstanding care for the people we support.

Is there any advice you would give to those looking to start a career in care? 

Working in social care can be challenging at times, but the sense of achievement and job satisfaction you get is second to none. For anyone looking to start a career in care, if you work for Choice, you will be nurtured and encouraged to develop and progress in your career. The range of available training is incredible, and you will be actively supported to undertake further qualifications. Our values are strong and those we support are at the centre of everything we do. I’m extremely proud to work for Choice and grateful for all the opportunities that have been available to me.