2023 will be the year that Social Care…'better be recognised and funded appropriately, to ensure everyone working and accessing the sector benefits as they should.'

Like his co-host Adam (also featured here), Mark has harnessed the power of digital media to become one of the leading champions for the UK care sector.

As well as co-hosting The Caring View and co-founding The Health and Social Care Club (the former on YouTube and LinkedIn, the latter on LinkedIn), Mark constantly challenges industry norms in his social media posts, during on-stage appearances, and in his guest columns for LogMyCare and others. He's a Director and Board Member at NACAS (the National Association of Care and Support Workers), too.

That's all in addition to the day job! Mark leads commercial development and oversees the re-ablement service with the local authority as Regional Business Manager for ECL. He's playing his part in "paving the way for the next generation" of managers to forge long, successful careers in care and make their mark and believes technology is an important part of continuous improvement in the sector.

Two quick-to-implement innovations he's brought to his role have been replacing annual staff surveys with regular check-ins, and prioritising the recognition and rewarding of frontline care staff.

 

In conversation with Mark

Describe your 2022 in one word:

Padded.

What was your / your team’s biggest achievement in 2022?

Not winning the Social Care Top 30?! Joking aside, fear of homelessness?! No, really. It's scary to think that people who work and rent can be just one house sale decision away from not knowing where they are going to be living. Being able to overcome this myself has lit a passion in me to address the issues moving forward. More work needs to be done to understand the vulnerability of the social care workforce.

What was the biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge has been juggling a full-time job, alongside three other work ventures and my role as a husband and father. I will be honest that I have not overcome it and I still have a long way to go to be where I want to go, but I am working on myself and looking at things realistically and hopefully by the end of 2023 I will be able say this has been an achievement and not a challenge.

What are your priorities for 2023?

My priorities for 2023 are to have a better work-life balance so I can be a better father and husband and to allow me to prioritise both my health needs. Alongside this, I want to succeed within my “9-5” job, the outside ventures and to continue supporting the sector and using the voice and platform I am lucky enough to have.

Name a skill or habit you would like to cultivate this year:

To become better at small talk, although I know this is a big ambition.

Which bit of tech (hardware or software) could you not live without?

My phone and I wish it was something else, but I am being honest and it allows me to do nearly everything I need to do and connects me to those who I need to connect with.

Android or iPhone?

iPhone.

Teams or Zoom?

Zoom.