Melanie Weatherley MBE, Co-Chair, Care Association Alliance
Women make up the majority of senior social care managers in the UK, but how often do we hear about it? As a woman who has worked within the adult social care sector for over 20 years, I find the lack of representation of women in our field alarming. When was the last time you read a good news story about a female care manager who has made great achievements or heard of a woman in health care using her force for good to make real change?
As a woman working within this crucial and rewarding sector, I’m aware more than most of the need to be more vocal and confident in shouting about our own achievements. Without better representation, how will we encourage more women into the industry? How do we break these barriers and recognise the work that is being done by the incredible women in social care?
The power of role models can’t be overlooked. The lack of seeing female leadership within a predominantly female workforce heavily contributes to the way that the sector is viewed. Without recognising women being in leadership roles, who is there to aspire to? I was honoured to be awarded the inaugural lifetime achievement award from The Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards (WAGS) back in November 2022. The awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise the accomplishments of women in social care and the impact they have in the sector, helping promote gender equity and celebrating the incredible achievements of our female leaders.
We want to see more spotlight on female role models like this. Showcasing the achievements of women in social leadership roles not only helps the sector gain exposure but also acts as a powerful tool for other women to aspire to. Female leaders must nurture the next generation in order to highlight the vital work we do within the sector and to make it a desirable career option.
Focus must also be placed on both championing our current workforce and using ambassadors to shout about the work we’re doing. Better representation of women in leadership roles starts with us, as women. Self-promotion can be a powerfully strong tool, and with it, can bring a host of good press to the sector. By choosing female role models within our workforce as champions for our sector, we can encourage more people to not only join us in social care, but to join us in senior roles.
And if we’re wanting to drive more women into leadership, the answer lies in mentoring. The value of mentoring within any workplace is crucial, particularly for the social care sector. For many young women who are establishing themselves in new roles, or for those looking for a career change or promotion into a managerial role, mentoring can play a huge part in driving more women into leadership.
Being mentored and coached by a female leader who is respected and admired is invaluable for women who are looking to step into more senior roles or for those who need a motivational push in the right direction. By mentoring women within our organisations; the carers, nurses, the frontline health workers; who aspire to get into more senior positions in the social care sector, we can support and encourage these women to achieve their goals and break the glass ceiling. By establishing a formal mentoring system, I could see real change happening.
Without recognising the vital work, we, as women, play in the social care sector, I fear we become undervalued. By providing more transparent career development opportunities, mentorship programmes and offering role models for women to aspire to, I can see a real shift in moving towards a more positive, strong female-led senior workforce.
