Care UK is celebrating International Women’s Day today, Friday 8th March, by sharing stories of the inspirational colleagues who help us the provide the best care possible.
It is estimated that approximately 80% of all social care jobs in the UK are performed by women, and at Care UK we are dedicated to supporting our colleagues through training and development programmes and career progression, whilst giving them the freedom to work flexibly, whether that’s through part-time contracts or bank roles.
Our teams thrive on taking each new challenge as it comes while putting residents at the heart of everything they do. By encouraging training and progression, we are pleased to say that women have taken up various roles in Care UK such as are regional directors or home managers, heads of department, carers, nurses, or work in our facilities team or within our kitchens.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion, so we are profiling a colleague who does just that. Not only does she know what it’s like to rebuild a completely new career, but she also works to encourage and support colleagues in her region every day.
Operations Support Manager Edith Rushden’s role is dedicated to supporting Care UK’s homes in South-West London. Her passion to deliver the highest standards of care to residents includes suggesting improvements in all aspects of the home’s operations. She also puts the wellbeing of her colleagues at the heart of all she does.
Edith originally trained as a teacher in Zimbabwe. After the civil war ended there, the call went out to support education and health in rural communities. A city girl, Edith dropped everything to go and help in areas where there were no schools or health facilities. Her experience led her to focus on family therapy, working with a UK-based organisation, and eventually she became their primary trainer for the whole of Africa.
Arriving in the UK, she sought work in the professional areas she knew, but was unsuccessful. She knew that she wanted to care for people, so she secured a job as a care assistant. Although this was several rungs down from her previous professional standing, it allowed her to focus on creating a new life for her and her family, whilst still caring for people in need. Having worked her way up through the care sector, Edith joined Care UK seven years ago.
Her role as Operations Support Manager sees her offer practical and real-time assistance to home managers and their teams across the South-West London region. Ever self-deprecating, she says this makes her a “jack of all trades” but her colleagues would say she is, in fact, the master of everything that comes her way.
Edith says, “The journey from where I started to where I am now has been a journey of dedication, commitment, and perseverance. I found enablers, listeners and supporters who encouraged me along the way. The transition from Zimbabwe to the UK took some adjusting to, but I will always be grateful to the support that I received from my colleagues.”
If you know someone with a passion for care, please consider joining Edith and our colleagues at Care UK. You can view our latest vacancies here.
