Sarah Shead – From teaching to care
Throughout the year we profile a care professional who has come into the sector after a career change and who demonstrates that it really is never too late to care! This month we meet Sarah Shead, Care Coordinator at Lagan’s Foundation, who left teaching to work in the care sector at the beginning of the pandemic.
In 2020 Sarah Shead made the courageous decision to begin her career as a home care worker at Lagan’s Foundation, after being furloughed from her teaching position due to Covid. She wanted to continue working and making a difference where she could. After 2 months, due to unforeseen circumstances she was offered a temporary Care Coordinator role which she loved.
Her plan was to go back to teaching once schools re-opened, so when she was offered the full-time care-coordinator role she turned it down and returned to teaching but still provided care in her spare time. Six weeks after returning to teaching, Sarah called Carren and asked if the position was still open, that’s where her journey in her current role began as Care Coordinator for Lagan’s Foundation.
Lagan’s Foundation is a Bolton based charity who provide unique home health care and respite in the North West for families and children living with complex health needs, specialising in heart defects and feeding issues.
Working with children is a career Sarah has always had a passion for, so working for Lagan’s Foundation was a dream come true for her. She has created an amazing bond with the families and children that she works with, and she works her hardest to make sure all Lagan’s carers give the best care possible.
Lagan’s Foundations CEO, Carren Bell says “From the time Sarah joined our team to the present day, has been a roller coaster, managing a new role and people, handling ever changing Covid requirements and government demands, to growing a team and becoming a major part in the charity. Sarah has grown professionally and personally. Life hasn’t been easy but Sarah has serious resilience and tenacity to ensure people receive what they deserve and need.
I am excited to continue to support Sarah’s professional development and I am just so grateful she became part of our permanent team. Sarah stops at nothing to help others. One of a kind, a true diamond which is rare to find.”
Before entering the social care industry, Sarah had worked in SEN schools, meaning she had an idea of how to work with children with extra health and social needs. Her strong skills in communication, organisation and adaptation have helped her successfully take on her role as Care Coordinator.
Sarah believes the care industry, is very undervalued, that care staff make a huge difference to peoples lives without the shoutout they deserve. Every person in the care industry works hard to make sure they provide the best care to the whole family, not just the person they are taking care of.
Her role at Lagan’s began in one of the most uncertain times, but since taking on the Care Coordinator position, she worked her hardest to expand the charity and her team. Since September 2020 Sarah had managed to expand the Manchester base to become the charities biggest base, they now support many children in and around the Manchester area.
Sarah has worked tirelessly to make sure she has a strong team of people who care for their children to their very best ability. She makes sure she has an open door policy with her staff, she makes sure they know that they can come to her about any problems they are having whether it be in work or in their personal lives.
Children come first to Sarah and the whole team, to them making sure every child and family is safe and supported is the main priority.
