by George Chipangura
I'm George and I want to tell you about my work at MacIntyre.
Moving into social care
I had no experience in social care as I had worked most of my life in revenue protection. I had just left my job with Northern Rail and joined a care agency. I learned quickly nonetheless and brought a lot of transferable skills. My job was stressful as we were dealing with a lot of targets to be accomplished on certain days and times.
Joining MacIntyre
I started to work for Macintyre through the agency. After a year or so of agency working, I was driving to a meeting with my manager at MacIntyre, and she asked me if I wanted to join as a permanent member of staff. This was in early 2016.
She told me upfront that the money wouldn't be as good, because I was getting a higher hourly rate from the agency and the local authority funding was less. But it was no brainer to be honest as I had a great relationship with my manager at the time - as well as now!
Becoming a Senior Support Worker
Now I am a Senior Support Worker in Bury, working across the whole area. Not only do I work directly with the people who draw on our support, but I also support our staff teams to function well, sorting out issues around shifts that need covering and other matters.
Homes not hospitals
Right now, I am mostly involved with a lot of transitions, usually people who have been in long-stay hospitals and will be moving into supported living. I meet new people we are going to support, I take staff to meet them and also train the staff to be able to support people effectively when they get out of hospital. These transitions take a lot of planning.
Staff mentoring
I also do a lot of observations for staff who need to be signed off for them to be able to lone work. So whether I am at work or at home, phone calls keep coming with staff needing help or support. I have been trained in this work by my manager, and every decision I have made and advice I have given has been in tandem with what my manager would have said and done.
I enjoy what I do as I am a firm believer that a great staff team renders great support to people.
Change for the better
In my other life I was a member of the Clergy and so I believe that everyone can change for the better. In the past seven or more years I have witnessed change from both the people we support and also the staff teams. I enjoy supporting people the way they want to be supported and also enhancing more independent living. I do try to get work and home balance right, nonetheless the people we support and our staff have become like an extended family to me.
A wider profile as part of Staff Council
As well as being in the transition team in Manchester and Bury, I also represent our area in MacIntyre's Staff Council* and with that I attend team meetings across Greater Manchester. I have visited pretty much all houses in the area, meeting with staff, chatting with them and getting to know them.
Outside interests
In my spare time I read a lot or watch a lot at times. I also like going for walks, which helps me de-stress. I am an African so I eat mostly my traditional food and I do enjoy cooking it. I also enjoy listening to a lot of African music.
*MacIntyre's group of elected staff representatives
