Sam’s story
“I always knew I didn’t want anything else. Straight out of school, that’s what I was doing.”
Sam’s career in social care spans more than three decades, beginning the moment she left school at sixteen. Today, she is a Managing Director at Community Integrated Care, helping to shape the strategic direction of one of the UK’s largest social care charities.
But the thread running through every chapter of her journey – from her very first shift on a supported living service in 1990 to strategic meetings today – has never changed: an unshakeable belief that every person deserves to live a life of dignity, choice, and freedom.
Where it all began
Social care was never a career Sam stumbled into – it was part of her life. Her dad worked at a psychiatric hospital, her brother was a nurse, and her sister was a Support Worker. The people her family supported were simply part of everyday life – welcome at the family table, familiar faces in her world.
“I was surrounded by people who worked with individuals who needed support. It just became a way of life for me. I knew I didn’t want anything else.”
In 1990, aged sixteen, Sam joined Community Integrated Care as a Support Worker, at a time when the charity was pioneering support for people with learning disabilities to leave long stay hospitals and build independent lives in the community. Sam was part of that movement.
Building the foundations
After a few years as a Support Worker, Sam chose to broaden her experience. She spent eight years working in acute mental health wards within the NHS before moving into a Registered Manager role in children’s services, supporting young people with complex needs.
Alongside this, she returned to education – studying at university and later completing a Level 7 strategic leadership qualification. Her career progression continued, becoming an Operations Manager and then a Regional Manager. Each step was intentional, building her skills, confidence, and experience in a range of social care settings.
Coming home
Throughout her career, Sam always knew she wanted to work in the charity sector – and she had never lost her connection to Community Integrated Care. In 2013, when the charity was restructuring and evolving, she saw the opportunity to return.
“I always wanted to be back here. I looked out for the right role, and when I saw Community Integrated Care going through real change, I wanted to be part of that journey.”
She rejoined as a Regional Manager and, within two years, was promoted to Managing Director. In her current role, Sam has helped grow the charity’s reach, support more people than ever before, and champion the rights of those living with complex needs.
Leadership rooted in the frontline
Ask Sam what makes her the leader she is today, and her answer is simple. She knows what it feels like to work shifts, to support people day in and day out, and to finish a long day as a Support Worker. That lived experience stays with her.
Sam is known for her openness, honesty, and strong values. She leads with clarity and compassion, always keeping both the people we support and teams at the heart of every decision. As a senior leader, she stays close to the work through operational and quality teams and believes understanding the detail truly matters.
The support work that still drives her
More than thirty years on, Sam still carries the stories of the people she first supported – especially Yvonne, who she knew from day one and supported to move out of an institutional setting. Sam saw first-hand how the right support, delivered with patience and consistency, could change a life. Watching Yvonne grow in confidence and independence, and seeing the woman she is today, remains one of the defining moments of her career.
Advice for aspiring social care leaders
Sam is passionate about encouraging Support Workers to see the possibilities in front of them – whether that’s a long and fulfilling career on the frontline or stepping into leadership.
Her advice is simple:
“Be bold. Think about what the people you support really want from their lives. Remember them as individuals, know their journey, and speak out for them. And if you want to explore a leadership pathway – please come and talk to me. I’d love that.”
She is equally clear that being a brilliant Support Worker is something to be proud of.
“Not everybody wants to take the journey I’ve taken. Fantastic Support Workers are the beating heart of our charity. Career progression opportunities exist here – and so does the chance to build an amazing career as a Support Worker. Both paths matter enormously.”
Sam’s story shows that social care can be a lifelong vocation, not just a job. It can take you from working in the community at sixteen to representing the charity on the national stage – and if you stay true to why you started, the values that brought you into social care will be the ones that define you at the top.