10 questions with…

In our monthly feature showcasing our amazing care sector managers we talk to Angela Harding, registered care manager at homecare provider Walfinch in Southampton

“Look after your carers. They are your biggest asset – and because they deserve it.” we ask ourselves whether the applicant can deliver the care we’d like for our own mums. They don’t need professional experience, but they must be the right people.

What do you do when life gets a bit too much?

Immerse myself in family and close friends. They know me inside out –especially Laura. I wouldn’t have started our Walfinch franchise with anyone else.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Step outside of your comfort zone. I had to do that to get to here.

Why did you join the social care sector?

Supporting my dad through cancer showed me the rewards of care. That’s how I met Laura Pineiro, my cofranchisee of Walfinch in Southampton. We became friends and share the same approach to care, so we launched our Walfinch homecare franchise together in 2021. We now have 12 carers.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

We take a holistic approach, caring for clients’ physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Laura, our care co-ordinator Robin Boulter, and I work collaboratively and discuss all big decisions. I have worked in places where the care manager got little support and their opinion was not taken seriously. We want to be much better than that. We also laugh a lot.

Who is your social care hero and why?

Florence Nightingale. As well as being a nurse, she was a social reformer.

Equally important are our care team. They go out to clients come rain or shine. We do everything we can to support them, including communicating with them daily, having regular meetings, talking to them about any concerns and including them in some business decisions. Robin is a qualified mental health first aider, so they can chat with him confidentially if they want. Look after your carers. They are your biggest asset – and because they deserve it.

What one thing would you change about social care?

Social carers should be recognised for their valuable work. The job is much more complex than it used to be, and they often assist with nursing tasks.

What makes a great care worker? Compassion, respect for the client, and the ability to pass what Walfinch calls “The mum test”. When recruiting,

Which three famous people would you like to have dinner with and why?

Professor Brian Cox – I’d chat to him about the formation of the universe; scientist Alice Roberts, who I would ask about Vikings, the Pyramids and Henry VIII; and actress Vicky McClure, who started a dementia choir.

What three items would you take to a desert island?

Pictures of family and friends, my favourite book The Little Indian by Margaret Wise Brown, and a pot to boil water.

What is your secret talent?

Singing. I’ve sung with Southampton Choral Society and in care homes.

What would you advise someone considering becoming a care manager?

It’s a great job. Lots of carers could do it, but it helps to get a buddy to support you along the way.

24 November 2023

Platinum Suite, London