The registered manager role can be one of the most high-pressured roles in social care. But it doesn’t need to burn you out. Here’s our tips for successfully handling the stress, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and succeeding at this challenging job.
Set boundaries
Establishing boundaries is the first step to creating a healthy working environment and work-life balance. Identify what time you are going to start and finish work – and stick to this. You should also prioritise some self-care: things like taking regular breaks, exercising throughout the day, and eating and drinking enough. It can be as simple as getting up from your desk for a walk around the office, but this will promote concentration and help prevent back problems.
Prioritise, prioritise, prioritise
A big part of any successful individual is not what they do – but what they don’t do. Practice saying ‘no’ to tasks that you feel would be better done by a colleague or different team. You may be required to negotiate expectations and timescales: remember to be realistic here. Remember also that ‘can dos’ may not actually be ‘must dos’.
Communicate clearly… and delegate
Ensure that you clearly communicate your workload and challenges. It might be that your team members can help complete work. Which means you also need to learn to delegate! This will not only reduce the pressure on you, but appropriate delegation can also help motivate and develop your team.
Explore training and development
Training and development enable you to move out of your regular day-to-day activities, while keeping your skills and knowledge up to date. This is not only of benefit to you in your current role; it also supports your career development and prepares you for future progression.
Build a support system
Having a strong support system is of great value for any registered manager. Don’t forget there is only one of you in your service and so there’s always a risk of becoming isolated. Taking advantage of opportunities to meet with other registered managers is a good way to avoid that isolation and share your experiences with people dealing with the same pressures.
A final message
Your wellbeing is important. Take a moment to repeat that to yourself! By working with your employer, regulator, colleagues, and staff teams, you can reach a balance and succeed in this most challenging of roles.
For more information, advice or guidance on how W&P can support registered managers visit wandptraining.co.uk of call us on 01305 767104.
