Do you already work in the health and care sector, but are considering transferring your skills and knowledge into helping care homes recover? Fulcrum Consultant, Trisha Kelly, answers some of the key questions around what originally drew her to social care consultancy, and what others can expect from a new career.
What does an average week look like for a social care consultant?
“It’s usually quite busy,” says Trisha Kelly. “I plan my diary three to four weeks in advance, but things can change at a moment’s notice, so you can never be sure if it’ll always be what you expect!
“In a typical week, I’ll usually carry out audits and have support visits with some of our care home clients. These generally include progress reviews with the care home management teams I work with, creating reports and overseeing our other consultants that are helping them on an ongoing basis.
“The typical process consists of having a client come to us, discussing their situation and what help is needed to improve the quality of care they provide. This allows me to carry out an audit of their care home based on the Care Quality Commission’s Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs) and generate a report of findings. If areas of improvement are identified, I will produce a tailored action plan and support the care home in finding the best systems they’ll need to reach their goals. So, a lot of my time is spent being available and on-hand for the care home, answering any questions and concerns the care management team or provider may have, to give them the best footing for improvement.
“We normally spend a full working day as a social care consultant — so that’s eight hours (if everything runs smoothly) plus whatever travel time is on top! Passion, empathy, strategic thinking and the ability to think outside the box, plus a knowledge of the KLOEs, CQC regulations and governance systems are key for this role.”
What do you enjoy about being a social care consultant?
“Everything! And I genuinely mean that. From trusting and liking the people I work with at Fulcrum Care, to the satisfaction of making a visible difference for care home workers and residents.
“My days are always full of variety; I get to help people on their journey, help improve residents’ experience within care homes, help care homes — and their success is my success. I love seeing the difference that Fulcrum Care makes to CQC ratings, staff and residents and in making the home a better place.”
How did you make the transition into social care consultancy?
“I have always worked with the elderly and have been in the care sector for all of my working life. This has given me a holistic understanding of how care homes need support, from my background as a care worker, to regional manager and now as a consultant.
“I’m passionate about helping care homes improve and I adapt well to new systems, so training as a care home consultant was a natural step for me. I would say the most important bit of advice is that it’s about knowing the difference between your roles.
“As a consultant, you need to be focused on your audience. This includes knowing how to read and interpret a situation, when to step in, how to give clear guidance for care recommendations and when to step back. These are skills that any care or health professional will have most likely picked up in their previous roles, but you have to apply them differently in your role as a consultant.
“Care consultancy is so much more than box-ticking exercises — it needs empathy, understanding, compassion and knowledge; we need to be able to think on our feet, think outside the box and think long-term. As long as you care about what you do and the change you can make, the transition should be okay for anyone already working within the care sector!”
How will the Care Consultant Masterclass help people who are interested in becoming a social care consultant?
“The Care Consultant Masterclass is a great chance for any health or care professionals to have a better understanding of what a consultancy role is and what it entails. People will be able to ask questions, hear from industry experts and get some really detailed insight into the world of social care consultancy.
“If you’re interested in care consultancy but don’t know how to get started with a new career, the Masterclass will help you decide if this is the right path for you and provide valuable tips on how to assess and manage situations and people. It’s a perfect starting block for anyone looking to work in consultancy.”
Are you already a social care consultant?
Fulcrum is recruiting! Click here to read more about why you should join our team of care experts, and how we like to work differently to help our care home clients achieve better standards of sustainable care.