My journey to becoming the youngest CQC registered manager

In a recent podcast, we spoke to Becky Coles who in 2020 became the youngest Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered manager in England. Becky discussed her career journey in social care from starting out doing work experience aged 15.

Becky is the Registered Manager of Fairways a respite facility.

She started her career by doing a work experience placement from school.

Having enjoyed her work experience so much Becky decided to pursue a career in care.

After leaving school Becky officially started on her journey to work in social care by undertaking an apprenticeship role in the same organisation where she did her work experience so that she could learn on the job while achieving her qualifications. This is the same provider where Becky is now Registered Manager.

Becky describes herself as a real champion for apprenticeships, she says:

“Doing an apprenticeship rather than studying full-time at college gave me real hands-on experience.

“I really would say I’m a champion for apprenticeships, I think they’re amazing. You get to learn hands-on, and I personally don’t think there’s any better way of learning.

“Within those three years of completing the qualifications, I had so much real life experience in knowing how to handle individuals, how to work with individuals. I got to see what challenging behaviour was having worked with individuals instead of just reading on pieces of paper how to deal with situations.”

Aged 22, Becky first registered with CQC as a registered manager, the youngest person to have become a registered manager in England at that time.

Discussing the benefits of being a younger manager Becky says:

“I have a different kind of approach to the sector.

“I’ve got quite fresh new ideas, I’m ready and raring to work in the sector, and to make a difference.

“I like to think being a younger manager makes me more approachable and relatable to [the people we support] and the staff team.

“A lot of the individuals who [stay with] us are my age so I am able to relate to their life experiences and the life changes they’re going through right now.”

She also touched on some of the challenges of being a younger manager, saying:

“People think I haven’t had enough experience in the sector, but I’ve been in this sector since I was 15, literally two days since I left school, so I’ve got nearly a decade now of experience.”

Talking about how she developed into her managerial role, Becky said:

“[The Managing Director] has just been fantastic in being a mentor along the way, taking me under her wing as a 16-year-old apprentice to allowing me to completely flourish and meet my potential to where I am now.

“I think also having passion for the sector is what’s developed me the most in becoming a new manager.”

Discussing her experiences and achievements over her time working in the sector, she says:

“I’m just a living, breathing example that proves if you’re open to learn and you allow yourself to be coached and you’re committed to working in this sector, anybody can do it.

“As long as you’ve got the correct passion and you’ve got the right driving force for this sector it is achievable.”

Listen to Becky’s full story on The care exchange podcast.

Find out more about different careers in care.

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