Mark Breden recently joined the team as Service Manager at our new supported living service in Chester. We caught up with him to find out what inspired him to pursue a career in supported living, and his ambitions for the future.
“I was attracted by the values of Northern Healthcare, and the focus on encouraging the team to develop and grow through these values, as these resonate with my own beliefs that exceptional care starts with valuing and recognising your team.
I was also impressed with the way the company embraces social media to highlight the staff, services and resident activities, demonstrating the everyday achievements and activities that the people we support do each week.
This I feel entices both the best staff to join the company and residents to consider Northern Healthcare as the next step in their recovery journey.”
“My interest in mental health and supporting people drove me to embark on a degree as a mature student and to completely change my career. Whilst my motivation to work in supported living developed from my desire to support people to live the best life they can, to achieve their goals and ambitions.
I have had quite a varied career, and since graduating from university in 2014 have worked in a number of different support settings including learning disabilities, autism, mental health, and addiction and supporting vulnerable families and children.
The common factor throughout all of these settings is mental health, and the idea that mental health affects everyone in one way or another.”
“Chester is a new service, new staff and new people to support, I’m most excited to see the service develop and the positive influence the service will have on the people we support.
Empowering people to achieve success and increased independence is something that really excites me and seeing the smiles on people’s faces makes it all worthwhile.”
“I personally like socialising and discovering new places and things to do, so I would be open to trying all the activities that I’m able to do.
I enjoy walking and shopping, but I also enjoy swimming and going to the gym and spa.”
“My plan will be for the team to create an extensive library of the resources that are available to the residents to access in the community, including educational/training courses, volunteer placements, social events, places to visit, walking routes, support groups, leisure facilities, sports clubs etc. Anything that will help the residents feel at home in the community and for the local community to feel part of the service too is really important.”
Find out more about our Chester service here.
Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash
