Posted by: Mark
Bird and Deborah
Sturdy
Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social
Care: If you want to know why we
present Chief Nurse for Adult
Social Care Awards throughout the year, you could do no
worse than read this lovely blog from Mark Bird, currently
working as a Peer Quality Manager for London Brent Borough
Council. He is just one of many colleagues making the care sector
a great place to work, demonstrating compassion, kindness and an
ability to support and inspire others, each and every day.
Originally intended to be published during Professional Care Workers
Week, this piece was delayed by the sad news of Queen
Elizabeth II’s passing. I am pleased to share it with you now and
encourage you to nominate any
colleague whom you feel demonstrates the same wonderful
qualities as Mark.
Not always easy but never dull
I am often asked by friends what it’s really like to work in
social care. My reply can be very complicated. It’s hard work and
frustrating at times, but it is also very rewarding. There are
many challenges, yet they drive me to stay and make a difference.
I come from a large working class family. My parents worked hard
to provide things in life to survive with hand me downs, bread
and butter and a big pan of stew for tea. This was family life as
I knew it. Nowadays, this would be seen as not having much, but
my childhood was happy and content.
My parents were especially proud when a letter arrived on the
doorstep saying I was going to nursing school. I was going to
gain a qualification - the first one in the family to go onto
further education.
I walked into Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle Upon Tyne to
begin my training like a cat who had got the cream. I felt so
proud in my uniform but also a bit nervous. Was I up to it? The
other students seemed so knowledgeable. Should I be here? Looking
back now on a career spanning 33 years, I think “wow”, that lad
from Newcastle, who barely had the qualifications to enter
nursing, has been successful through sheer determination.
My passion and perseverance led me to become a ward manager,
matron, divisional manager and now a peer quality manager
supporting others to achieve their goals, including a former
policeman who patrolled one of London’s most challenging
boroughs, Holloway, for eight years.
Someone had obviously seen my potential, but I’ve always had
imposter syndrome. Nonetheless, I have been able to achieve my
goals without believing I am better or above others. I come from
humble beginnings so this gives me an insight into the struggles
of others I am more empathetic to provide care and support.
I always tell the younger generation of career nurses if I can do
it then anyone can. All you need is determination, faith in
yourself, no matter what anyone says to you. If someone tries to
block you or won’t support you then look for a new route, but
don’t ever give up - you will be amazing in the end. Good leaders
support anyone with ambition and potential. You may not consider
yourself to be academic or a forward thinker, but we all have
something to give.
A wonderful surprise
In August this year, I was presented with a Gold Award from Chief
Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy at the Brent Adult
Social Care Awards. When Deborah called my name, I felt so
humbled. Did she really say I'd received an award for outstanding
services to social care?
The award means so much to me. I am in the latter stages of my
career and to be recognised is amazing. I only wish my mum was
here so I could say “Mam, look at your little lad’s achievement.”
I felt very emotional writing that sentence as it means so much
to me. If it wasn’t for my mum’s encouragement, I wonder what I
would be doing now. So Mum, thank you for being pushy, clever and
so supportive in telling me I could do it. I’m now the cat who
got the cream AND the Gold Award!
The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly hard on our social care
colleagues and communities. In Brent, we have been supportive
with the vaccination programme. The take up has been amazing to
help protect those we care for.
My present role in the London Borough Brent is Peer Quality
Manager. I work with home managers to support, coach, educate,
share ideas from Care Quality Commission’s Brent Commissioning
team to address provider concerns.
My role is to help improve the services they provide to Brent
residents at grass roots level. The role is amazing. It makes me
remember the times I needed help. I can now do the same for those
who really want to make a difference in social care.
