I Care (GB) Ltd - Stafford

I am a highly motivated and experienced Health and Social care worker. I have achieved my NVQ5, Education Diploma and am now a qualified Assessor.
Working in Care has taught me empathy, patience, and good judgment. I have also learnt to listen to people and better my qualities in problem solving and communication. I have learnt the ability to work well within a team including my co-workers, management, district nurses, and occupational therapists. As a Team Leader I have learnt how to manage a team, using support guidance, organization and good listening skills. I am good at making decisions in emergency situations and do not succumb to pressure easily.
I have managing my own Care Franchise, which I have successfully run since 2021. Being part pf Walfinch has taught me a lot of responsibility as the owner, as well as Head of Care. We have won one award from Walfinch in 2022 for Continuous Development, and we are in the finals for The National Care Awards 2023 for Training and Development, and I am a judge in the British Care Awards.

Being a wife and mother has taught me exceptional organizational skills on how to spend time with each of them individually and as a whole. I dedicated 23 years of my life to fostering 9 children whilst organizing annual Summer Camps for 200 teenagers living in Children’s Homes. During 1996 I qualified as a Child Abuse Instructor through the South African Department of Welfare and with this qualification I trained all types of professionals the skills required to spot, report and follow up on the different types of child abuse. At the same time, I was the Chairperson of a children’s charity. This role taught me the ability to accomplish many different skills including fund raising, event planning, counselling, children placement, and general child moral support. For the recognition of my work, the South African Department of Social Welfare honored me with an award for good community service. I have also written a book regarding the work I have done with the children and it was accepted and published through a world-renowned publisher. I also cycle in my spare time, play the piano and knit garments for the Men’s Shelter.

Heather Hughes is a really valued member of ICARE Stafford. She started her career in the NHS, St Georges Hospital, by working in the eating disorder ward. This skill got Heather to decide whether she wanted to further her career by working in the community, by joining Meals on Wheels in 2010.

Heather was most vivacious in becoming a Meals Assistant, working in the Office as a marketer, cashier and even the delivery driver! Not only that, but she also did the cooking!

After an eight year stretch of helping the needy get fresh food, Heather decided to extend her career into Health and Social Care by becoming a carer for ICARE Stafford. With her love for people, kindness and sense of compassion, Heather knew this was where she belonged.

Heather was based in the Cannock branch, and after three months as a carer, she was challenged to be the branch’s Care Co-Ordinator which she took up willingly.

Heather has remained in this Care Co-Ordinator position till today, as it has given her a challenge every single day. Targets for hours and rotas have to be met, carers have to be recruited with the growing needs of the business, annual leave, sick leave, unpaid leave and payslips all have to be sent to the HR Department on a timely basis so that the employees get their pay on time, and correctly.
Whilst everyone else is doing care and meeting people, Heather remains in the office doing a very sacred and responsible job. It keeps the retention of the staff to remain at ICARE, and at the same time Heather is negotiating with the Council for packages to grow the business.

Without Heather, ICARE Stafford would really take a tremendous toll, and it is with people like Heather, that ICARE Stafford just continue to grow and flourish every single day.

Richard joined ICARE Stafford in June 2022. He began his Care career as a Care Assistant, providing care and support to all the vulnerable adults within the Staffordshire area. Richard's career has a trail of working in pubs, working in the cleaning industry, being a fast-food delivery driver and working within a chain of various restaurants.
This experience has taught Richard the value of timekeeping, cleanliness, how to work with food and provide luxury dishes, and a caring way towards people in a whole.

Richard has been most popular with all the clients, as his gentle and kind nature always stands out to clients and their families. Richard did not only stand out to the clients, but to the Team of carers. Richard quickly assumed leadership responsibilities, and the Office noticed that the carers went to Richard for guidance and support. Bearing this in mind, Richard was offered an Office job as the Quality Assurance Officer, where his role was to support the Registered Manager and the Care Co-Ordinator by assisting with in-house audits, observations, learning the system so as to how complete rotas or cancel calls, and to still assist with care if required.

Taking on this responsibility has only made Richard stronger, assisted the other staff members, and shown the carers that growth within Care is possible if you set your mind to it. Richard is currently busy with his NVQ3 and has completed his Care Certificate.

Richard was nominated Carer of the Year in 2023

Richard is also a proud father and husband, and when he is not busy doing Care or working on the On call assisting clients and carers, in his spare time he likes to go for walks, play tennis, play video games, and listens to music.