I’m a registered manager of a care home with 23 years experience and this is my career advice

Registered manager, Linda Thorley, gives a brief overview of her career journey to becoming a registered manager and what her job entails.

My career path - how I became a registered manager of a care home

I have worked in a dual registered nursing and residential home for the past 23 years.

I have held roles as Staff Nurse, Senior Staff Nurse, Sister, Senior Sister, Deputy Matron and Registered Manager.

I began my career as an Enrolled Nurse, a few years on completed the conversion course to be a Registered Nurse level one.

I enjoy this type of work and have a wonderful rapport with the Service Users in my care.

As a Registered Manager I see myself as:

• Manager

• Nurse

• Leader

• Supervisor

• Mentor

• Mediator

• Registered

Managers are needed for Care Homes with Residential, Nursing, Challenging behaviour for Adults, Learning Disability and Children.

The qualifications and soft skills I needed to become a registered manager

I am currently a Registered Manager and a Registered General Nurse, Queen’s Nurse.

When I began looking at positions to become a Registered Manager my research led me to realise the qualifications needed were:

• Registered Nurse qualification

• Leadership and Management qualification

• Mentorship qualification (desirable)

I have a NVQ4 in Leadership and Management in Care Services and a mentorship qualification, a Level 5 Diploma in Train the Trainer, and I can verify expected deaths.

I feel these qualifications allow my to see the “care journey” through in a dignified way from admission to a peaceful respectful death.

I believe it is important to have soft skills which are a combination of people skills, social skills, communication skills, character or personality traits, attitudes and career attributes.

These all lead to a manager who is approachable, is visible and a good mentor.

To achieve the position applicants must pass a Fit Person Interview which ensures they have the correct understanding and knowledge in the legalities, compliance and regulation.

It is also a requirement to have an enhanced DBS as they will be working for the Care Quality Commission as well as the Care Home.

My typical day working as a Registered Manager

My typical day as a Registered Manager is usually 9am until 5pm.

- CQC compliance

I am constantly monitoring the home to ensure it meets all regulations and maintaining compliance with the Care Quality Commissions Key Lines of Enquiry, which underpin every inspection.

- Audits

This is done through continual observations, audits and monitoring. I recruit, train and develop my skilled team of nurses, carers, kitchen, domestic and laundry staff.

- Pre-assessments

For a new Service User, I need to do a pre assessment at their location, followed by a full admission document when they are admitted to the home.

Following this a thorough assessment and care plan is implemented and regularly evaluated and reviewed.

Overview of registered managers in the UK

There are approximately 23,000 Registered Managers in England according to the Skills for Care organisation.

Every adult care service registered with the Care Quality Commission must have its own Registered Manager.

The role of Registered Manager is arguably the most challenging in adult social care.

The rigorous Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) regulatory regime and rating system now sees providers issuing press releases when one of their care homes is rated as ‘Outstanding’, whilst a care home rated as ‘Inadequate’ becomes front page news in the local newspaper.

Both situations see a Registered Care Home Manager, who is regularly working over 60 hours a week, under enormous pressure to deliver and meet the requirements of the regulatory bodies.