A former care home manager from Glasgow, who started out as a part time nurse for a care service provider, is celebrating after being promoted to regional director.
Lyn McConville, who began working night shifts two days a week at Bupa’s Darnley Court care home on Nitshill Road, has revealed how this can lead to a successful career path in the industry – using her own career as evidence.
Now a regional director, Lyn is responsible for a team of care home managers across nine care homes, ensuring each one delivers the highest possible standard of customer care for residents and their relatives.
After taking time out of work to raise her family, Lyn joined Darnley Court in 1993, and her commitment to ensuring residents had the best quality of life was quickly recognised.
This continuous dedication to the residents and determination to go above and beyond to provide the highest level of care possible soon led to her being offered the job of unit manager.
From there, she climbed the career ladder, working in a variety of roles across a number of Bupa care homes, including clinical services manager and home manager at Quayside care home in Yoker, before being promoted to her current position at the end of last year.
Lyn says: “Having been a full time mum for five years, I began my career with Bupa in 1993 and the support I’ve been given since in terms of development has been fantastic.
“Progressing to the position of regional director has been very gratifying. I feel honoured that Bupa believe I am capable of doing this job and I think that starting out as a staff nurse has given me a valuable insight into how important that role is.
“I really enjoyed my time as a staff nurse and being able to care for and build relationships with the residents was an incredibly rewarding first job. The rapport and connection between them and our staff is definitely one of the perks of the job and there is a real sense of community within Bupa.
“I feel very privileged to be able to work with elderly people, to be part of their journey and to help make their life the best it can be for themselves and their loved ones. It can be a tough and challenging career, but the laughs we have on a daily basis make up for the times that can be difficult.
Lyn thinks working for care homes in the private sector can lead to a very rewarding career and would encourage others to follow in her footsteps.
She adds: “I can honestly say that one of the main reasons I am where I am today is because of the incredible progression opportunities and constant encouragement that Bupa offers.
“I never thought that I would go from being a part time night shift staff nurse to managing nine care homes and playing a key role in keeping them running at a very high level, but it just goes to show that with the right help and support, this type of career success is entirely possible.”
