If you’re a Registered Manager who feels overwhelmed, take a moment to breathe—you are not alone.
Leading in care is profoundly rewarding, but it often brings moments that can feel all-consuming. One day, you might find yourself addressing a potential safeguarding concern arising from challenging family dynamics. Next, a valued team member may resign. Additionally, another staff member could be quietly struggling with personal issues. When these challenges all arise at once, it can feel like you are juggling people's lives, emotions, and expectations.
In those moments, take a pause. Ask yourself: If my closest friend were in my position, what advice would I give them?
Chances are, you’d say something supportive, like, “Let’s slow down. You don’t have to solve everything today; just take one step at a time.” This shift in mindset can be incredibly powerful.
Imagine a situation where a family carer is struggling to support a parent with dementia, who is also a client of your service. A well-intentioned team member might misunderstand the situation and suggest reporting it as a safeguarding issue to the local authority. However, you recognise the complexities involved—the client has mental capacity, views their family dynamics as normal, and is not at risk of harm. Raising a safeguarding alert could damage your working relationship, undermine trust, and complicate matters for the client.
In this scenario, your emotional intelligence is your greatest asset. Your team member may need to refresh their safeguarding training. Alternatively, you could reach out to the family member directly, seek clarification from a safeguarding officer at your local authority, and communicate all of this with your team member. This way, you can create a clear plan of action that reassures your team member that you’re taking their concerns seriously while also ensuring that the family member understands that the well-being of their loved one is important to you. Inaction is what will create more stress and lead to problems.
Leadership in care isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about knowing when to seek support. A phone call to a fellow manager, mentor, or trusted friend can help shift your perspective and bring clarity.
It’s perfectly okay to say, “I just need to talk this through.” Acknowledging the need for support is not a sign of weakness—it’s a demonstration of wisdom.
The key is to approach those conversations with intention:
This type of reflective practice fosters resilience and creates an opportunity for growth.
Showing vulnerability doesn’t mean breaking down in front of your team. Instead, it involves acknowledging the pressure you’re under, seeking input from others, and fostering a culture where everyone feels safe to share their own experiences.
However, it’s important to be cautious about whom you open up to and when. Sharing your feelings with those who haven’t yet earned your trust can lead to regret. If you find it difficult to be transparent with senior leadership or directors, this may indicate a cultural issue that needs to be addressed.
Even a brief team huddle to recognise a challenging week can make a significant difference. Sharing plans and celebrating small victories can help shift the atmosphere from feeling “overwhelmed” to realising “we’ve got this.”
When you’re in the midst of a challenge, everything can feel overwhelming. However, no difficulty lasts forever. I’ve experienced this firsthand—sitting in my office, staring at a lengthy to-do list, feeling convinced that the path ahead was bleak. Then, unexpectedly, a brief call with my co-director—during which we didn’t solve any problems—helped to clear the fog. Hearing the simple reassurance, “Yes, this is tough. And we’re in it together,” made all the difference.
Perspective doesn’t always come from finding solutions. Sometimes, it’s rooted in connection.
At Careberry, we understand that behind every digital care plan, medication administration record (MAR) chart, or scheduled visit, there is a dedicated individual managing it all – you.
That’s why we developed Careberry: to lighten your load. Whether it’s simplifying compliance, streamlining documentation, or helping you build a resilient and supported team, we are here for you.
Every Registered Manager needs a little help, and we are proud to be part of your support system.
