Quality over quantity

Quality over quantity is the golden rule for care manager Debbie Fletcher who this year celebrates 25 years working in the care sector.

She has vast experience covering a number of roles reflecting a career that has seen her work in the public and private sector, in care homes and in the community and rise through the ranks from teenage trainee to the current care manager at Caremark Leeds.

The role sees her oversee supervisors and staff, manage appraisals, and ensure care packages meet client needs. And with Caremark Leeds having secured a contract to extend to Bradford, Debbie is responsible for ensuring everything is in place for the expanded service to begin.

“It is personally so rewarding to know that through your work you are helping people to stay in their own homes, especially when it is often their final wish,” said Debbie.

“My mum and dad are both in their eighties. I’d do anything to help them stay at home and I want to do the same for others.”

At school Debbie had wanted to be a social worker and studied Health and Social Care at college. After work experience at a care home, she decided the care sector was for her and she preferred to start work immediately and learn on the job rather than spend three years at university studying social work.

The youngest of her family by ten years, when Debbie was at school her siblings were in work and this included policing, NHS, and care home.

“Those jobs where you deliver a service helping others stuck with me and that’s probably where my calling originated from,” said Debbie.

In the past Debbie has worked for smaller, family run care companies that have been taken over by larger corporations.

“Of course, quantity is important because you have to be viable, but if there comes a point where that takes over from quality then that’s when I leave,” said Debbie. “You have to put the client first and that’s what we do at Caremark.”

She believes the qualities needed to work in the care sector are a good work ethic, patience, and the ability to reflect.

“It can be hard for younger people to understand that when a client speaks or acts in a negative way it is not personal, it’s not you they are angry at, it can be a culmination of a number of issues and recognising that and being able to cope are part of the job. This is where I feel reflection helps.”

Outside of work Debbie enjoys family time with husband Mark and teenage son, Stanley and loves to travel.

“I live for holidays and my favourite destination is probably Jamaica,” said Debbie. “Top of my travel bucket list is the Maldives, I’d love to go there before it disappears.”

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