Community team leader – a day in the life

Continuing on our quest to share what goes on behind the scenes at Thornbury Community Services, one of our community team leaders tells her story:

My role as a community team leader involves managing a team who are the first point of contact for all nurses, healthcare assistants and clients. We operate around the clock and are based both in the office and out in the community.

No day is ever the same and I learn something new each day. An average day for me involves supporting my regional community team with their care packages, ensuring rotas are fully staffed, responding to queries and helping prepare new care packages.

I have been with TCS now for seven years and love my job. I started my career as a desk coordinator all those years ago and have been given the opportunity to develop and progress to where I am now.

The highlight of being a community team leader is the opportunity to help others. My role is built around supporting other members of the team to deliver the best possible care to our clients. Building strong relationships with our clients and their families and seeing the difference our nurses and healthcare assistants make to their lives is very rewarding; it makes the stress of filling rotas worthwhile when you know that at the end of it, the client is being looked after.

There are times when the job can be challenging. If a nurse or healthcare assistant is unwell and unable to work I have to work swiftly with my team to find a suitable replacement, often at very short notice. These bumps in the road can be unsettling to the client and their family so it’s important we find a solution as quickly as possible. There are occasions when a nurse or healthcare assistant can be put in unfamiliar or difficult situation and we have to work fast to resolve the issue so our staff feel comfortable and can continue to work.

Community team leaders have an important role; we’re often the first point of contact for our nurses and healthcare assistants who all do an amazing and sometimes difficult job. We are there for them when they need us to answer their questions and help with issues as they arise. My job is very rewarding and I am pleased I’ve been able to develop my career with Thornbury Community Services.