From Support Worker to Branch Manager | Sarah’s Career Journey with Nurseplus

​When you start a career in care with Nurseplus, there’s no telling where you’ll end up. Take, for example, Sarah Ford who began working at Nurseplus as a Health Care Support Worker and 9 years later is enjoying a rewarding career as a Branch Manager.

Here’s how it happened.

So, tell us Sarah how did you get started at Nurseplus?

I wanted some part-time work to fit around my children/family life, I had experience as a health care support worker and I knew it could be flexible and work around my schedule. Thankfully, a close friend of mine managed my local Nurseplus branch (Colchester) and they kindly gave me the opportunity to join Nurseplus.

What did you enjoy most about your role as a health care support worker?

The care work that Nurseplus offered me was flexible and I enjoyed the freedom that gave me to spend time with my family. Mostly it was the satisfaction of making a positive difference in people’s lives, I loved working in care and appreciated how important my role was to the people I looked after.

Did you know there was opportunity for career progression with Nurseplus?

The office staff were very accommodating so, once my children had become a little older, I decided to search for a little more job security, I needed a more stable job but still within the health sector. I knew Nurseplus offered jobs with career progression and thanks to the support and guidance of the branch

staff and Nurseplus, I was confident about moving forward within the business. ​

How did the opportunity come about?

The branch needed an administrator, so I jumped at the chance.

Nurseplus regularly open up internal positions to existing staff and offer jobs with training and support needed for dedicated people like me to progress.

After I had settled into the role of Branch Administrator I started to get more involved with other office duties which led to me being offered the position of Recruitment Consultant. I enjoyed working in recruitment and just 3 years later, I was offered a leadership position within the branch. This opportunity further enabled me to enhance my experience with Nurseplus. It was in this role I was really able to excel, using my experience to facilitate new branch openings throughout the country which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I spent 2 and a half years in this role before being ready to move on again and applied to become Branch Manager and was successful and I’ve been doing that ever since. ​

Did you take advantage of the free training and/or courses provided by Nurseplus?

When I started, the Nurseplus Pathway was not in operation, however, I attended the Recruitment Consultant training in my first year of being employed with Nurseplus. Following this, I was given one-to-one guidance from my seniors at head office which was invaluable and gave me the confidence to continue growing my capabilities.

What would you say to someone looking for a job with Nurseplus?

I would fully encourage them to take the opportunity, with or without experience. The training and support provided by Nurseplus is second to none. From guided training and development plans tailored to individuals to shadow-shift opportunities at all levels of the business.

What's more, the rewards you receive when you are responsible for maintaining independent living, supporting activities, and putting smiles on people's faces is payment in itself.

What can you tell us about the support and guidance you received from your colleagues and Nurseplus on your journey?

I can honestly say that each and every job role I have worked in at Nurseplus has been fantastic. Every staff member that I have worked with, be it Healthcare Assistants, Recruitment Consultants, Management, or Executive team members, all have provided consistent support and encouragement throughout my time with Nurseplus. It’s their guidance and support that has been so beneficial to my journey and I wouldn’t want to work for any other company!

 

We asked Sarah all these questions to showcase the massive potential for career progression at Nurseplus. Her story shows how much Nurseplus value our people, and even in earlier years, how much time and support, we’ll invest to get you into the job that’s right for you.

Nurseplus will consistently encourage employees to better themselves, which in turn means we always have a selection of "home-grown" talent to choose from when internal promotion opportunities arise.

Sarah's story goes a long to show exactly how the career path for anyone working in care with Nurseplus can progress. You never know how far Nurseplus can take you on your care career path until you try.