International Women’s Day at Caremark Dartford & Gravesham
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate women everywhere with the aim of promoting equality. This year’s theme is all about inspiring inclusion.
The Care industry generally is mainly made up of women and this is also true at Caremark where over 90% of the team are female. This is a rare thing in most industries, however in Care this is the norm. Women make a huge impact in social care, supporting vulnerable individuals and making a positive difference in their lives.
At Caremark we have a wonderful team of women who work at all levels of the business; our Care Assistants, Field Care Supervisors, Care Coordinators and our Registered Care Manager. We are passionate about retaining and developing female talent, supporting women to progress within the business.
We would like to spotlight two of the most senior leaders within our business; Abbie Ellis, our Registered Care Manager, and Lisa York, our Field Care Manager. Both Abbie and Lisa have been instrumental in creating a strong and inclusive culture that we are really proud of.
Abbie Ellis
Our Care Manager, Abbie Ellis, joined Caremark in 2018 as a Care Assistant. In 2020 Abbie was promoted to the position of Field Care Supervisor, taking on a managerial role supporting care assistants. When our Medway branch opened in 2022, Abbie continued in this role, helping to set up this new branch. She helped support in the office with recruitment and coordination. In her various roles at Caremark, Abbie gained a lot of exposure to running the care business. Abbie has always been passionate about the customers we support and has always wanted to learn and develop her knowledge. We were confident Abbie had the skills and knowledge to step into the Care Manager role when this became available in April 2023.
“I began working as a carer at Caremark in 2018. I had already gained experience in various care settings, but Caremark stood out to me right from the start. They supported me in enhancing my knowledge and skills, which helped me advance from Supervisor to Deputy and now to the Registered Care Manager. I enjoy my role as I can help others follow my path by assisting staff who want to progress and gain relevant qualifications to improve their skills. Another thing that is important to me is encouraging our clients to remain independent and stay in their home. This involves building relationships with GP’s, nurses and OT’S to ensure our clients are receiving the best possible care. I find this part of my role extremely satisfying.”
Lisa York
Lisa joined Caremark as a Care assistant in 2022 and was quickly promoted to a Field Care Supervisor. Her breadth of knowledge and experience really made her stand out. Lisa is very personable and her management style makes her very approachable and supportive. When we changed our management structure in 2023, Lisa took on a more senior role as Field Care Manager. Lisa works closely with Abbie and supports her in leading the Caremark business.
“I have worked in the Care Industry for 16 years. I remember my first day starting in a Bupa Nursing home where I felt overwhelmed and out of my depth. Sadly, a resident in the home passed away on my first shift. My emotions took the better of me and I resigned the same day. The team leader asked for a meeting which was what I needed to continue my journey. She offered me reassurance, and guidance and gave me the strength and determination to carry on in my job role. I haven’t looked back since that day.
Since progressing to a Field Care Manager with Caremark, promoting support and guidance to our care assistants is essential. I remember the feeling of “Can I do this job?” and “will I become an excellent caregiver?”. We all can with the right training and support and as a manager this is my aim. Making a difference in our client’s lives and well-being is the best feeling and I want others to be able to enjoy this.”
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