Christina King

 

Job Title: Branch Manager
Location: Croydon

I joined Advantage Healthcare Group in December 1999, at which time it was Bupa Healthcare Professionals. Before joining Advantage Healthcare I had been working overseas, originally as an entertainer in a hotel taking aerobic classes, working as a bingo caller and singing in a piano bar. I then owned my own restaurant in Greece up until the time I had my children and moved back to the UK.

 

I first joined Advantage Healthcare as a member of the on call team that operated out of the Croydon branch as I was looking to earn some extra money in the evenings. I was then approached by the Croydon Branch Manager and offered a full time position as a Branch Consultant.

 

I found it easy to develop my consultant role due to my customer services and service industry background, and I also had a natural aptitude to sales. This meant I was able to engage with my clients and workers and form good working relationships.

 

Being part of a dynamic team for a number of years aided my development and as the branch began to deliver care to Domiciliary Care clients, new challenges arose that further assisted my knowledge and development.

 

Due to my growing experience, my colleagues in branch looked to me for support in the branch manager's absence, therefore when the Branch Manager was offered a promotion, I was given the opportunity to become Acting Branch Manager. After three months in this role I was offered the promotion to Branch Manager.

 

My favourite part of my role as Branch Manager is winning new business, building new care packages and skill matching our workers to our clients needs. I also enjoy watching my colleagues in Croydon develop in their ability to take on new opportunities and challenges, building their own skill base.

 

I have an excellent team around me and I acknowledge the mutual respect colleagues have for each other across the business. This has allowed me to develop my own skills and experience through joint working.