My Career with
My name is Donna and I’m the registered manager at Lake View in York. I’m Scottish and was born in Glasgow, but bred on the Shetland Islands. I’ve lived in England for 21 years now and I have a beautiful family at home - my wife and two children. With 6 sisters and 2 brothers, I have a huge family and a really good support network. We are very social and have a large group of friends. In our spare time, we enjoy eating out, travelling, and watching performances.
I’ve also been a DJ for around 20 years, but since having children this has been on the back burner! I’ve played all over the world in places like Poland, Spain, Miami, and Barcelona - just to name a few! In 2016, I played the closing party of the iconic SPACE in Ibiza and also played at Café Mambo in Ibiza - these were my biggest DJ achievements. An unusual fact about me is that I got through to the Big Brother selection finals twice, but I obviously wasn’t wacky enough to get in… hard to believe, right?
What did you do before getting into residential care?
When I left school, I wanted to join the Army. I had trained in the cadets for 4 years, so I then went into the TA. When I turned 17 I looked at being a PT in the Army, but decided to stay home and get a well-paying job in a local factory. A few years later I moved to England and had a couple of in-between jobs, and then ended up managing a local garage. The problem was, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and at that time I was really focused on being a DJ so just wanted to try and make a living to support those dreams.
What made you interested in a career in care?
I started doing DJ workshops for local youth groups and schools and found myself really enjoying working with children and young people. I had an affinity with the teenagers who really engaged with the practical sessions, as I had found school difficult myself and doing practical activities really helped me too.
I had a turning point in my life in September 2010, when my stepdad got diagnosed with cancer. At the time I was working at the garage in England, but I had to go back up to the Shetlands to help my mum to care for him. I was there until December when he sadly passed away. Whilst all this was happening, a friend contacted me to say they might have a job for me back in England, working with teenagers in a residential home. I wasn’t sure about it at the time, but after having a think I decided to go for the interview at a home called Applegate in Colne, part of Hexagon Care. I got the job as a casual residential support worker (CRSW), and it was definitely an eye-opener for me back then! Although the job was challenging, I loved every single day.
Talk us through your career progression with Hexagon Care
After starting as a CRSW, I then progressed into a residential support worker role (RSW) at The Elms in Bradford and was there for a couple of years. I then moved on to a senior support worker role (SRSW) at Ruby Lodge in Batley for a few years, and then I moved to Woodlands in Bradford as a deputy manager, and a few months later I moved into the registered manager role. I’ve most recently transferred to a new home called Lake View in York, and faced some new challenges like recruiting a new staff team and getting the home up and running. It’s been a very colourful and wonderful experience with Hexagon Care and I’m very grateful for the journey that I’ve had. In every role I’ve had, I’ve always given it my all, because I care about what I do and I care about making a difference.
The in-house training
we get is second to none – it’s unusual to enjoy attending training but the sessions are really engaging and I love it!
What support has Hexagon Care provided to aid your progression?
In the early stages of my career with Hexagon Care, I found my supervisions and one-to-ones really helpful, as they were opportunities to learn from senior members of staff. The in-house training we get is second to none – it’s unusual to enjoy attending training but the sessions are really engaging and I love it! I’m also always really inspired by the experienced external trainers who deliver some of the CSE workshops and Gangs & County Lines training, as these are people who have experienced the situations first-hand or who have many years of professional experience.
My service managers have always been very supportive, and they are really keen to share their knowledge and skills with you to help you advance in your career. There are lots of people you can turn to for advice and a great support network. If you put in the effort, the company will repay you in many ways. I’ve completed my Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5 Diplomas, all funded by Hexagon Care.
I always find myself impressed with the depth of knowledge of all the staff at Head Office. They are all professionals in their field of work, and this is evident in the level of support we receive in the homes.
Has anyone inspired you on your journey?
It’s hard to pinpoint just one person, as there have been so many inspirational people around me throughout my career with Hexagon Care. I always find myself impressed with the depth of knowledge of all the staff at Head Office. They are all professionals in their field of work, and this is evident in the level of support we receive in the homes. We are all part of a big team and this makes my life easier as a manager.
All the children I’ve worked with have inspired me on my journey. I’m still in touch with many of them now and I love to hear how they are getting on. Watching a child come to live with us at age 11, and witnessing their journey into a confident, mature young person with hope for a successful future – that’s something special. At the end of the day, that’s what we all get out of bed for.
What are the most important attributes for a successful residential care manager?
As a manager, having resilience, patience, and a good sense of humour is a must! Also being supportive, loving and caring is really important. I like to say that I have my ‘bag of tools’ with me at all times, so I have different tools to deal with different situations.
You must be a great communicator who can connect with different people from all walks of life. You need to be that go-to person for your staff, so as well as managing the home you must be a good leader - firm but fair. I also think it’s important to be organised. I’m quite regimental anyway so I like to make sure everything is tidy and working like clockwork! I have high standards and high expectations, and this helps to motivate the team to provide the best care possible for our children and young people, giving them consistency in their lives.
What’s your favourite thing about being a manager?
Every day is a different day, so you never get bored as a manager. I enjoy building positive relationships with the young people and my staff team and believe we are one unit who all work together well.
I enjoy working with other managers and sharing best practices and knowledge. It allows me to share things that are working well in our home which may benefit another home in the future.
I also get a great sense of accomplishment when I see staff who I have supported and developed moving up to management roles. Many of the staff I was team leader or manager for have moved up through Hexagon Care to manage and open homes of their own. I love to pass on my knowledge and experience to others and watch them flourish in their roles.
Watching a child come
to live with us at age 11,
and witnessing their journey into a confident, mature young person with hope for a successful future –
that’s something special.
At the end of the day,
that’s what we all get
out of bed for.
What’s your favourite thing about working for Hexagon Care?
I love the fact that we are one big family and I know many of the other managers in the company really well. It’s great that we have opportunities like the National Conference to get together as a group and catch up with people from across the country who you wouldn’t normally see in person. I also like the fact that we have the opportunity as managers to contribute our ideas which are often implemented by the company.
Hexagon Care also offer a range of benefits such as the Health Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing initiatives. They really care about your physical and mental health and your general wellbeing.
What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I was really proud when Woodlands achieved an Outstanding rating during our most recent Ofsted inspection. Even though people give the manager a lot of credit for this, I couldn’t have done it without my deputy and my staff team; my service manager; and the team at Head Office. I needed everyone to support me, so I could support the home. So, when we got Outstanding, it wasn’t just for me, it was for everyone involved with making Woodlands so successful.
What are your goals for the future?
My ultimate goal is to progress to a service manager role. I take everything as a learning experience, and I am keen to continue developing myself professionally so that I can achieve this.
What would you say to someone who is thinking of a career with Hexagon Care?
Just do it. Yes, there’ll be some challenges, but working in this sector can give you the most rewarding career.
You can learn so much about yourself from working with children and young people. By helping them to share their stories and feel part of a family (often for the first time in their lives), you can reflect on your own experiences and how these have shaped you as a person.
If you are resilient, approachable, caring, loving and have a good sense of humour, and you genuinely care about making a difference in someone’s life, this could be the job for you.
If you are resilient, approachable, caring, loving and have a good sense of humour, and you genuinely care about making a difference in someone’s life, this could be the job for you.