The Way We Work

Long-serving employees Mike O'Connor and Carol Wade reflect on 20 years of working for the trust.

Carol Wade: I applied for a Head of Care post and was offered the job on the spot, which wouldn't happen now! I remember being impressed by the organisation, even though they only had two units at the time. The philosophy of care and even the layout of the building was very unique. Every Service User had their own bedsit with an en-suite bathroom, something quite uncommon at that time.

Mike O'Connor: There was definitely a sense that The Disabilities Trust wanted to do things better. People came to work here because they wanted to work in a different type of service; they wanted to facilitate and enable, not just 'give care'. I think that's why the Trust stole a march on a lot of organisations at that time.

CW: Staffing levels were much lower though, compared to now. One of the first things Mike and I did when we joined was fight to get staffing levels up, in order to offer residents more choice and control over their own lives, such as more choice over when to get up, for example.

MO: Training was always a priority too. There's always been a generous training budget. But now training for support workers covers a much broader range of things - not just moving and handling but things like attitudes, adult protection and managing behaviour. Professional training covers courses from NVQ through to degree level.

CW: The role of a Manager is a lot less hands-on now though. I have to spend more time completing quality assessments and making sure services comply with all the care standards legislation. I miss the hands-on work sometimes, but I'm also proud that both my Assistant Managers joined as support workers and came up through the ranks.

MO: That's been a feature of the Trust. Many of our senior management have come up through the ranks. And there are many others who came to us for three or four years before moving on to more senior positions elsewhere, so the disability world has got the benefit of the staff training and development opportunities we offer.

Mike O'Connor joined The Disabilities Trust in 1988 as Manager of Shinewater Court and is now Director of Quality Assurance. Carol Wade joined the Trust in 1988 as Head of Care at Shinewater Court, and is now the Service Manager.

Back to 'A Trust Remembered'.

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