Long Service Honoured at Leading National Care Provider

The Care Group is commemorating a combined 506 years of service across its teams located in Stoke-on-Trent.

Shelton Care Group, part of National Care Group, has 26 employees with more than 15 years of service under their belt, with two colleagues reaching a 30-year milestone with the company.

This includes registered manager at Cauldon Place, Kay Trow, who celebrates 30 years in the business this August, alongside quality coordinator Jayne Turner, who will pass the 30-year mark in July.

The news comes amidst a nationwide focus on recruitment in the adult social care sector, with a projected shortfall of 105,000 vacancies needing to be filled in an ever-widening skills gap.

Kay said: “I’ve been incredibly lucky to have been blessed to work with such a fantastic group of people in my career, both colleagues and the individuals we support, who inspire what we do every day of our lives.

“There is a huge amount of career opportunities in this field and, having started as a support worker, I can honestly say that these roles are invaluable in changing people’s lives – they are the lifeblood and DNA of our care and support services. It’s testament to the values and support Shelton Care and National Care Group provide that so many of our colleagues have stayed with the company for such a long period of time.”

For Jayne, who also started as a support worker at the company’s Richmond Mews service, the reward of a long-term career in adult social care is unlocking the potential of the individuals they support and seeing them gain independence.

Jayne said: “I joined the business at the same time as an individual we support settled into home at Richmond Mews. We were both 19 at the time and he is still supported by the company today. Alongside the team, I’ve supported him over the years and watched him grow in confidence and independence. I very much feel like we have grown up together, which is something incredibly special and rewarding. In my current role as quality coordinator, I’m able to look back and utilise these experiences to ensure our quality standards help to improve the ongoing support we provide across the region.”

Shelton Care was acquired by National Care Group in June 2018, operating five residential sites and a day centre, which supports people with learning disabilities and other associated conditions.

It’s transition into the National Care Group was managed by regional operations manager Katie Fallows, who celebrated 20 years with the business in November 2021.

Katie said: “The support National Care Group provided at the time, and continues to provide, has been invaluable to Shelton, particularly as we’ve navigated one of the toughest periods in adult social care under the pandemic.

“From a day-to-day perspective, I still get the same feelings of emotion and elation that I did all those years ago as a support worker – hearing all about how the individuals we support are doing well and thriving in their environments. I look forward to continuing to help Shelton Care evolve in this capacity and increase its presence across the region.”

Last August, Shelton Care expanded the day services it provides in Staffordshire with the opening of Knight House, an all-purpose activity centre with rooms dedicated to arts and crafts, dining, cinema screenings, and a range of sensory experiences.

Discussing the expansion of Shelton Care and its years of long service, Karen Lewis, chief operations officer at National Care Group said: “National Care Group would like to pay tribute to those at Shelton Care and the dedicated team of incredible colleagues that have made it a success for such a long period of time. The people we have working here have helped mould so many of the services we provide, showcasing how rewarding a career in adult social care can be.

“We’re not just talking about unlocking the potential of individuals on a year-by-year basis, but over the course of two decades or more. As the government looks to encourage more people into the adult social care sector, I can think of no better example than paying close attention to the dedication and careers of this wonderful group of people.”