New Year, New Manager Announced for Care Associates by Deborah Lewis, Birmingham U.

Now in its 13th year, Care Associates is undergoing managerial changes and as of 1 April, Helen Hunter will be the new manager, having worked with the firm since its launch in 1995.  Care Associates is a private Coventry-based company which specialises in care for dementia sufferers, as well as providing home-based support for those who are physically or mentally frail.  Heading a highly trained team of 74, including social workers, carers and managerial staff is Betty Hunter.

The management team has also had recent changes and  Betty required 'something to unite everyone together.'  Thus she turned to Carole Manship of Bridge Marketing Partnership.  After being introduced to Carole through the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and Business Link in 1995, a long professional relationship has existed between the two firms, whereby Carole has been able to help the company expand and develop over the years. 

One of the instruments Carole uses to help companies is TetraMap, a model which reflects the four elements of nature - earth, air, water and fire - as the basis for identifying and understanding behavioural thoughts and actions.  The underlying philosophy emphasises recognition and appreciation of diversity.  This simple tool helps individuals to enhance their personal strategies and for teams and organisations to improve communication whilst providing a positive framework for creative thinking. 

In September, two workshops were held for the management team, making use of funding from the Director Development Programme.  Helen Hunter says she would 'highly recommend the programme, as it highlighted which skills we have as individuals and also as a team to utilise.' One of the managers, Anne-Marie Best, added, 'Carole's programme demonstrated the importance of having a variety of views within a company and not only helped us to recognise all the different qualities that colleagues had, but to respect and appreciate our differences.'  Months after the conclusion of the programme, team members noted how much more confidently empowered and comfortable they felt with their new roles.