Profile: Ex-care worker reveals how she made it to the top

Amanda Scott started her working life at the coalface of the care sector as a care assistant. Fast forward just over 30 years and she is now the managing director of a leading care home group.

Ms Scott qualified as a nurse and has has over three decades of front line experience, working both in care homes and in hospitals as a nurse. She managed care homes, as well as advancing and leading clinical governance strategies for care home groups, and in 2011, joined Sunrise Senior Living UK as its senior clinical and quality director. Last year, she took over from Guy Geller as managing director.

The company, which has its headquarters in America, runs 27 care homes which it calls ‘communities’ in England and Wales.

Back in the day

Working in the care sector back in the 1980s was a very different experience to what it is now, reveals Ms Scott.

“When I first worked in the care sector, the term ‘dementia’ was simply not used – people were just ‘confused’ and they were looked after as best as we could. There was no recognition that specialist care was needed, and there was a certain stigma around the condition because of a lack of understanding.

“Innovations like dementia-friendly communities have completely transformed the way we care for people living with the condition, which has helped to remove the stigma – people are now far more comfortable talking about it.”

The amount of research that has gone into dementia and memory impairment over the past few decades has had a big impact “and has directly benefitted the lives of those with the condition”.

She adds: “We now know, for example, that music and art can be hugely beneficial for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia so we offer these activities regularly at all Sunrise’s communities. We are also proud to support the Alzheimer’s Society’s Research Network, and their life changing work.”

She believes her former career as a care assistant and nurse has given her a valuable insight into how various decisions can affect residents and says: “I think my work experience gives me a three-dimensional viewpoint, so I don’t make decisions based on flat thinking.

“Once I’d qualified as a nurse, I joined the independent care sector as the deputy manager of a 120-bed care home. As you can imagine, it was a steep learning curve and I had to learn quickly. There was a lot of autonomy to the role and I received invaluable experience in decision-making that has stood me in good stead.”

Outcome-based care

Sunrise is known for its “family approach” to care, preferring to call its homes “communities” and keep its staff uniform-free and designate them “team members” rather than give job titles.

“For us, ensuring the best possible quality of life is the primary purpose, and the care itself wraps around that. In a sense, this is turning caregiving on its head, in that the outcome is the most important thing,” says Ms Scott.

“The principles of the service we offer actually reflect a lot of the new chief inspector of Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe’s joined up thinking about care, even though they were written nearly three decades ago.“

Andrea Sutcliffe’s insistence on applying the “Mum” test (that is, “Would I put my own mum in here?”) when assessing institutions, is one that Sunrise concords with, echoing as it does the company’s core beliefs in such things as “preserving dignity”, “nurturing the spirit” and “involving family and friends”.

Ms Scott also approves of the current spate of awards for excellence across the sector and is keen to ensure that Sunrise continues to stands out in the care home hierarchy. She says: “In March, for example, we will be launching ‘Taste of Sunrise’ a national campaign - across all our 27 communities – to celebrate fine food, healthy eating and highlight the importance of nutritious food for seniors.

“It’s initiatives like this, engaging with our neighbours and making our communities a hub for the local area, which set us apart and demonstrates our commitment to excellence.“

“We also have a national dementia manager as a senior manager and we are constantly refining our dementia care, and have close links with the Alzheimer’s society – we sponsor their conference each year and convert their research into practice.

“Last year two of our team members took on the big challenge of climbing Mount Kilamanjaro in Kenya and seven of us (including me) cycled round the Isle of Wight – all to raise money for Alzheimer’s.”

For Ms Scott, the future of the care home will in part be dictated by the speed of technological change. She says: “I believe smart technology has real potential to further improve care. New non-intrusive and discreet innovations can protect people with diminished responsibility and uphold their dignity so that they can enjoy a fantastic quality of life.”

Interesting facts

First job: Flicked burgers for a local restaurant in Oakham, Rutland, then became a care assistant

Favourite book: Sheryl Sandberg’s ‘Lean In’

Favourite film: ‘Cold Mountain’

Favourite piece of music: Soundtrack to ‘Love Story’

Best present you have received: My engagement ring

Last holiday: Egypt