When is the time, the right time?

None of us know when we take leaps of faith or desperation, whether this time is more opportune than another. I know when I chose to leave my registered manager position after almost twenty years it was with two clear aims in mind.

Firstly, it was with the goal of caring for myself, giving myself permission finally to stop, breathe and reflect. Then secondly, to find a way to feed my passion for people and quality care within the social care sector.

However as mentioned in previous posts- life immediately (literally the next day!) stepped in with family commitments and bereavements. Bittersweet interruptions as they enabled me, giving me the freedom and means to be able to pursue my dream.

As I planned, took classes etc to round out my future offering-I contemplated that it was one thing to recognise the need for proprietors and managers to get support both practically and emotionally, getting them to open up and accept help was maybe the biggest challenge facing me. Finally with the business course finished, flyers, face book, website in place, elevator pitch ready and practiced- confident in the real need for a service like mine… I was ready(ish). Girding my loins, big girl pants on … looking at introductions and then Covid 19 happened!

Over the past 18 months I have drafted many posts, even published occasional thoughts as I have snatched time to wonder what’s relevant and whether I need to rethink my dream? Yet my goal hasn’t changed people and quality care continue to be the focus of my passion and so when I think back over the past months certain questions come to mind:

• We are led to believe that we in the UK, if not the world in general are settling into a new normal around living and coping with the pandemic. But is this an idealistic view? Within the care sector I personally cannot see the easy camaraderie and spontaneity of the past. Any diversion from the routine has to be carefully thought out and risk assessed against infection control for the individual and the wider community.
• Managers throughout the sector are not only dealing with extra pressures relating to and specific to covid 19 but also the pressures they have always been under carrying out multiple roles, answerable to multiple agencies, with less time. On a positive the spectre of mental health and wellbeing has been brought more into the light and whereas 2 years ago facilities to assist carers and health professionals were limited there are now many such resources available for access both independently and through work-based HR departments. Yet the issue remains in how to get individuals to engage?
• It has been suggested that the NHS and the Social Care sector have become more closely aligned as they work towards a common purpose in dealing with the pandemic but is that only surface government speak as it seems that care homes are once more suffering under pressures independent of hospitals and the NHS. What is the reality?

So, when is the right time? There may never be a right time, a most opportune time- things don’t work in that way. Time and opportunities come and go and it is for each of us to reflect on the when, what and how? Personally, the jump I took was timely giving myself back some of me when I needed that and has allowed for growth and change. It has given me what I needed as a manager: Time, Distance and ……..I think Perspective! Something that was much needed and is sorely absent when running chasing your tail.

So now I ask the question: what next?

Well when I know- ………
Libby x