Winner in last year’s Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards, Sarah Offley is Chief Officer at user led charity, Dudley Voices for Choice, shares her approach to leading the way for change in enabling people with a learning disability and autistic people to be heard.
Starting over thirty years ago in elderly residential care I never dreamt that one day I would be Chief Officer of a fantastic charity. Supporting others has always been my calling, making a career in care a seamless choice. Climbing from a support worker to my current position at the top has been a twenty year journey, filled with invaluable experiences and growth.
I have worked under some fantastic leaders and hope that I am following in their footsteps and offering the same great leadership to my team. Talking about my team always brings me to a place of pride. I have the most passionate, determined team who all hold such strong values about inclusion and opportunity. Every single one of my team bring their own skills and expertise and this is why they are the best at what they do.
Working alongside people with learning disabilities and autistic people to create a more inclusive society and community is the basis of everything we do. Promoting and offering opportunities that may be seen as risky by some but are totally worth the risk for the results it has produced.
Employment is something we all take for granted, but many of the people I work with do not have that opportunity. People see their societal labels first and make judgements without offering chances. Statements that are not true for all about people with the learning disability and autism label, stop people gaining meaningful employment.
With just 6% of individuals with these labels employed in the UK, I proudly consider myself a risk-taker. Taking that leap, I’ve assembled a team of 11 individuals, 66% of whom share those labels, tirelessly dedicating themselves to improving the lives of their peers and communities every day. Whether it’s enhancing accessibility to information or serving as paid consultants to professionals and students, we’re equipping them with the tools necessary to support their peers more effectively in their future endeavours—a teaching opportunity not to be overlooked.
My role gives me the greatest opportunities to support, challenge and make changes, working alongside upcoming female leaders who have been marginalised by society. They are real life changers supporting and celebrating difference. Together we have implemented changes including:
- Employing and showing the real value of an inclusive team
- Sharing the importance of the rights and choices of citizens with a learning disability with decision makers who are designing services for their areas.
- Facilitating self-advocacy groups from around the country to run a national conference, designed, developed, and delivered by self-advocates for self-advocates. Empowering future leaders to start their journeys.
- Watching my team members, which includes the self-advocates, win many awards for their fantastic work and encouraging them to strive and dream big.
- Offering opportunities that many thought were an impossibility until they tried and watching them succeed and celebrate their wins.
- Finally, one of my top ten proudest moments is when someone made me a cup of tea. It took us six weeks of building to a complete cuppa, but it was the best tea I have ever tasted! The pride and relief on the persons face at succeeding is forever etched in my memory.
From that initial cuppa to receiving the Queen’s Volunteers Award on behalf of the charity and visiting the palace, to the most recent Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards in London, where I was overwhelmed by the nomination, the shortlist, and ultimately, winning it all!
I have never viewed myself as a female leader and feel imposter syndrome creeping in just saying that statement. I have many role models that are female leaders, and I will continue to follow their path by encouraging opportunities and challenge to make real change happen for more women in whichever career they desire. Opportunities are there to be taken. It may feel like a risk, but the rewards far outweigh it!
Thank you for shining the light and championing women in leadership.
dudleyvoicesforchoice.org.uk
