Annual Report 2023
Keys Group is pleased to announce the publication of its Annual Report for 2023.
Love is in the Care - Meet Mike Horton from Maycroft
As part of our Love is in the Care campaign, we sat down with Mike Horton, Service Manager at Accomplish’s Maycroft Service to talk about his 30 years working in care and to learn what it is that he loves the most about his work.
When did you first start working in care?
My grandparents’ church opened a day center for the elderly in Bromford, and I offered my services as they were short of volunteers. At first, I was nervous as I didn’t think I was a “people person” and had no prior experience. However, as the weeks and months went by, I discovered that volunteering was extremely rewarding, not in terms of money, but in terms of the satisfaction of playing a small role in improving people’s lives and giving them something to look forward to each week. I helped make drinks, served lunch, and interacted with the center’s attendees by playing board games, doing crosswords, or simply listening to their life stories. I felt like I got as much out of helping as they did from having someone to talk to or listen to them.
What was your initial reason for getting into the care industry?
About a year into my volunteer work, someone at the center suggested that I try applying for a job in the care industry, as they felt I would be an asset to any care home. I realized then that being a pub landlord may not be where my heart truly was and decided to look for care jobs in the local newspaper, which was called the “Evening Mail” at the time. I came across an advertisement and decided to apply for an interview. My interview was scheduled, and I arrived at Westholme, which was very intimidating at the time. The home had 21 residents, and I was so nervous during the interview that I walked away thinking I had completely ruined any chance of working for that company. However, five days later, I received a letter stating that I had been successful, and the rest, as they say, is history.
How long have you worked for the organisation and what services have you worked in?
I started as a Care Worker in March 1993 for a company called TRACS, then Tracscare, and now Accomplish. After my initial nine months, I moved to the top floor, which was later called Hilltop. This was where I met my future wife, Sheila. However, I had to move back downstairs as partners were not allowed to work together. I quickly became a Shift Leader and remained there for some time before moving to Evergreen. I am not certain how long I worked at Evergreen, but I eventually advanced to the role of Deputy Manager. Feeling the need for a change, I then took on the role of Service Manager at Chesterwood and managed the home until November 2022. For the last three years of my time there, I also managed Maycroft. However, in November 2022, I became the full-time Service Manager at Maycroft.
What do you love the most about working in care?
I never thought that I would end up in the care field, but looking back over the last 30 years of working for this company, I am grateful for the experiences and opportunities I have had. Seeing people progress and regain some of their independence is truly rewarding. There have been countless positive stories throughout my time with this company that I am proud to be a part of. It’s not always the big achievements that bring pride, but even the smallest of things that people are able to do for themselves. My aim has always been to put the people we support first, and I believe that over my time with the company, I have achieved this. Achieving goals is not always the result of the work of one person, but a team effort, and I have been fortunate to work with and train some of the best staff in the industry. I can say with confidence that joining the care industry and working for this amazing company was the best decision I ever made, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
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