‘What Makes a Strong Role Model?’ – Here’s what Ideal Carehomes All-Female Management Team Have to Say on International Women’s Day…

In honour of International Women’s Day 2023, the all-female senior management team at Ideal Carehomes have been sharing their thoughts on what it means to be a leader, role model and pioneer in the private social care industry.

Sarah Colling, the Head of Employee Engagement and Development, started her career at Ideal Carehomes in 2011 as a HR and Recruitment Executive.

Sarah was named a finalist in the Great British Care Awards for her passion for employees’ wellbeing and career development, and says she feels ‘empowered by the team of strong, supportive leaders’ she works alongside. She continued,

‘Any successful leader must be passionate about what they do and have the ability to excite the team around them to want to achieve the very best.’

‘‘I work with aspirational women who have shown me that it’s not about “having it all”, but about prioritising the daily juggle of life and working hard on the things that matter to you.

‘We have achieved greatness and continue to push boundaries, with the freedom to make improvements and implement ideas we think will set us apart from other providers. 

Danielle Rubery, Ideal Carehomes’ Finance Manager, agreed that working with a team of ‘talented and driven leaders is both influential and empowering’.

Progressing in her finance career since age 17, Danielle joined Ideal Carehomes in 2019, becoming Finance Manager in 2022. With study support from Ideal Carehomes, Danielle is currently studying with the Chartered Institute on Management Accountants. She commented,

‘I believe a strong female role model is someone who isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo and strives for improvement within their team and the company as a whole.  

‘Our team work tirelessly to ensure that our care homes are the best that they can be and are homes to be truly proud of. At Ideal Carehomes we identify talent and promote personal development by providing top-quality training.’

Ideal Carehomes’ Finance Director, Rachelle McCafferty, said, ‘A strong role model should also set the standards of expectation through their passion and commitment – they should create a positive energy by communicating their visions and inspiriting others.’

Rachelle, who became a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW at age 24, has 18 years’ experience in finance, working is various industries. She joined Ideal Carehomes in 2018, and progressed to Finance Director in 2021. Rachelle continued,

‘The culture of being a great place to live and work is embedded in our business; we’re encouraged to be our best, which has allowed me to develop and attain my personal career goals as well as helping others in my team to do the same.’

Having been part of the Ideal Carehomes team for over ten years, Kristyna Hunt, Head of Communications, said, ‘There can be negative connotations about women leaders, but at Ideal Carehomes that couldn’t be further from the truth.’ 

Kristyna joined Ideal Carehomes in 2011 as an Office Manager, and has since been supported to progress her career, learning the healthcare communications sector inside out and studying with the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She continued,

‘We celebrate each other’s successes and strengths. We’re empowered to be ourselves, and trusted to make our own decisions, which allows us the space to grow in our roles. 

‘A role model should believe in and support others, actively using their own expertise to encourage and develop their peers.  

‘At Ideal Carehomes, we listen to and embrace different opinions – any new ideas are heard and respected, which is absolutely essential in helping everyone in this industry, and any other industry, reach their full potential.’ 

Ideal Carehomes provides 24 hour residential and dementia care, with an all-inclusive fee, in state-of-the-art homes across the country. They have recently been named a Top 20 Care Home Group by carehome.co.uk for the third year running and were announced the winners of the Large Residential Care category in the LaingBuisson Awards 2022.

To find out more, visit idealcarehomes.co.uk, call 0113 465 4000 or email hello@idealcarehomes.co.uk.