Discovering her passion for care as a teenager, Karen Jones began volunteering at a social club for people with learning disabilities – an experience that would go on to shape her entire career.
Since then, she has dedicated herself to developing her skills and knowledge, progressing from Support Worker to her current role as Managing Director of Lifeways’ Residential Care division.
Passion for care
Growing up in North Wales, Karen initially dreamed of becoming a farmer. However, when that ambition proved difficult to pursue, she found herself drawn towards a different career path.
At around 15 or 16, Karen began volunteering at the Gateway Club, a social club for people with learning disabilities. The experience sparked an interest in health and social care that would go on to define her career.
“I grew up in a village where many families had relatives with learning disabilities living at home, and I became interested in the support available to them. I started volunteering at the Gateway Club, and that really opened my eyes to the opportunities within health and social care.
“So, when my farming career didn’t go to plan, I thought, ‘I know, health and social care!’ I went on to college in Wrexham to study for a preliminary certificate in social care, which was the beginning of my career in the sector.”
The two-year course gave Karen valuable experience supporting people with learning disabilities across a range of settings, including schools, residential homes and hospitals, and working with people of different ages.
“I just really found my passion at that point and never left health and social care,” she said.
“As soon as I qualified, I got a job as a Support Worker in a care home in North Wales for people with learning disabilities. I was a key worker for someone, and I absolutely loved it.
“Out of everything I’ve done, being a Support Worker was my favourite job. It was really meaningful. I always talk about that sense of satisfaction and achievement you get from helping people do things that we all take for granted. I found that incredibly rewarding.”
Keen to continue developing her skills and knowledge, Karen went on to pursue a nursing qualification at a hospital in England. Throughout this time, she remained committed to speaking up, asking questions and raising concerns whenever she felt something wasn’t right, particularly during what was a challenging period for hospitals.
After returning to Wales, Karen eventually progressed into a management role within North Wales Social Services, taking on responsibility for several Supported Living services.
She later had the opportunity to take on a new challenge when one of the directors she had worked with invited her to join him in setting up a new business in Liverpool, providing Supported Living services for people with mental health needs.
“He asked me if I’d like to go with him as part of the start-up, and I thought, ‘Okay, why not?’
“It was the right time for me, and I liked the idea of having the opportunity to start something from scratch, set your own standards and establish your own expectations.”
Enter Lifeways
In 2011, Lifeways acquired the start-up, bringing the organisation, then known as Independent Living Alliance, into the group. Karen joined Lifeways as part of the acquisition – a move she now looks back on as one of the best things that could have happened.
Having experienced several different chapters in Lifeways’ history, she has seen first-hand how the organisation has evolved.
“I’ve seen quite a few different versions of Lifeways over the years, but I have to say, the version we’ve got now is definitely the best.
“The investment we’ve seen in our estate, our people, our training and our systems has been fantastic. I haven’t really felt this comfortable in a role for a long time.”
Karen initially took on a role within Lifeways’ Operational Excellence team, a small group of experienced professionals who provided additional support and expertise to services facing challenges, working alongside Operations to help drive improvements.
The role gave her valuable insight into different areas of the organisation, before the opportunity arose to apply for a Managing Director position.
With her extensive experience in residential care and a strong understanding of the work already taking place across the division, the move into the role of Managing Director of Residential Care felt like a natural next step in her career.
Creating environments where people thrive
In her capacity as Managing Director of Lifeways’ Residential Care division, Karen has overseen a major investment programme across the division’s properties nationwide, with more than £12 million invested over the past three years in improving services and enhancing the environments in which the people we support live.
Recognising the significant impact a person’s surroundings can have on their experience of care, the investment reflects Lifeways’ ongoing commitment to creating high-quality environments where people feel comfortable, supported and able to thrive.
The improvements have also been showcased at a number of open days and events across the country. These have included Abbeymoor in Newcastle, where a £700,000 refurbishment was celebrated alongside the service’s Outstanding rating in the Caring category from the CQC. A further £700,000 was invested across three services in Burton upon Trent – The Coach House, River Lodge and Trent View – with their improvements also marked through dedicated open days.
“Seeing these improvements across our services come to life has been such a pleasure, and it really puts everything into perspective for us.
“I think Andrea Ellison and the Lifeways Property Team have done an awful lot with that overall investment. They’ve probably done more than they imagine they’ve done.”
The rewards of a career in care
Despite progressing to the most senior levels of the organisation, Karen has never lost sight of where her career began or forgotten just how rewarding working in care can be.
For her, the greatest satisfaction still comes from seeing people achieve things they may once have thought impossible, and the dedication of the teams who support them to do so.
“The most rewarding part of a career in care is helping people achieve their potential and do the things that we take for granted, often without even thinking about them.
“For people with learning disabilities, some of these things can be quite a challenge, and sometimes others don’t believe they’re possible. Having seen people’s journeys, I find that incredibly rewarding.
“If I’m ever feeling a bit fed up, one of the things I do is look through the social stories we have and the internal news feed, where Support Workers share what they’ve helped people achieve and the joy on people’s faces. For me, that’s the biggest driver.
“It’s also about having a workforce that is committed, valued and passionate about what they do, alongside an organisation that looks after them.”
If you’re looking for a career with meaning and want to make a real difference to people’s lives, take a look at our latest vacancies at Lifeways and discover where a career in care could take you.
