Alex Lindley: My Anchor Career Journey into the Learning and Development Team

After more than 17 years at Anchor, Alex Lindley reflects on her career journey from Care Consultant to Learning Delivery Specialist, and how opportunities to learn, develop and try new roles have helped her find where she truly belongs.

My Anchor career journey and care development so far has been one of growth, opportunity, and finding where I truly belong within Care Services.

I am a long-standing colleague at Anchor, and, if we don't count a three-month break back in 2012, my continuous service would now be over 17 and a half years. 

During that brief break, I left Anchor to pursue a career in photography. However, one thing that always stayed with me was the support I received from my managers at the time, who reassured me that if things didn't work out, I would always be welcomed back with open arms. 

As it turned out, the grass wasn't greener, and I returned to Anchor as a Care Consultant with an even greater appreciation for the organisation and the people within it.

Working alongside truly wonderful colleagues 

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside some truly wonderful colleagues across many different areas of the business. 

One thing that has always stood out to me is how hard work, commitment, and potential are recognised. Throughout my time here, I have been given numerous opportunities to develop my skills, gain valuable experience, and explore different career paths through secondments.

Skill growth at Anchor 

I have completed secondments in Recruitment, IT, and other areas of the business, always knowing I had the security of returning to my role within Resources if things didn't work out or if the role wasn't made permanent. 

Those opportunities helped shape my career, but it was my most recent secondment that truly changed my journey and ultimately led me to where I am today.

Progression into the learning and development role

The opportunity was within the Learning and Development Team back in 2017. I initially joined to support the implementation of the TimeSmart project, introducing and supporting our care homes with an electronic fingerprint and time and attendance system. 

Through that project, I discovered my passion for supporting colleagues through Learning and Development and Care Consultancy. I found my niche, found where I belonged, and worked hard on my personal development plan, determined not to lose sight of my ambition to work within the Learning and Development team permanently.

Supporting colleagues to provide safe and effective care 

Achieving that goal wasn't a direct route. For a period, I worked as a Training and Qualifications Administrator before progressing into the Learning and Development Trainer role, acting as a mentor for Anchor colleagues looking to grow their own careers. 

Since becoming part of the Learning and Development training team in 2019, I've never looked back. I've lost count of how many times my job title has changed, but the purpose behind my role has remained the same: 

• Supporting colleagues to complete the training and development they need to perform their roles confidently 
• Providing safe and effective care, supporting care development
• Positively impacting compliance across our Care Services

The things I enjoy most about my role within the learning and development team

One of the things I enjoy most about my role as a coach is the people. Whether I'm delivering training, supporting managers with a care consultancy approach to compliance, visiting care homes, meeting residents, or working alongside colleagues across our support services and head offices, I always make a point of saying hello and sharing a smile. You never know how much someone might need that acknowledgement, and I firmly believe that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Having spent many years with Anchor as a training consultant, I have built strong relationships across the organisation and have always tried to demonstrate our culture and values in my everyday practice. I am proud to be part of a business that invests in its people, supports career progression and development, and provides countless opportunities to grow.

Supporting inspiring outcomes through my role as Learning Delivery Specialist 

If anyone asks me about my Learning and Development role, I always say that I genuinely love my job. When I visit our homes and see the wonderful person-centred care being delivered, residents being kept safe, and quality of life being enhanced, I feel proud knowing that I have played a small part in supporting those outcomes through my role as a Learning Delivery Specialist. 

I am also incredibly fortunate to work within a supportive team, with strong leadership, excellent collaboration, and colleagues who genuinely care about making a difference.

The things I’m most grateful for at Anchor 

Looking back over my Anchor journey, I feel grateful for the opportunities I've been given, the people I've met, and the career I've built within the Learning and Development team. What started as a job has become a career that I am truly passionate about. 

After more than 17 years, I can honestly say that Anchor has given me the opportunity to grow, develop, and find a role where I feel I make a meaningful difference every day, and that's something I'm incredibly proud of.

Career progression within Anchor Care Services

Becoming a Moving and Handling Coach within our care homes can be a great first step into the Learning & Development team, helping colleagues build valuable skills in the following areas:

• Coaching
• Mentoring 
• Communication 
• Performance support

The Moving and Handling Coach role also provides a strong foundation for development opportunities and career progression into leadership positions, such as Team Leader roles within our Care Services. 

The Care Leadership opportunities for those working in this team are endless, and we always strive to support our colleagues personal and career development in any way we can.

Start your career journey in Care Services today

Are you ready to start your own learning and development career journey today with Anchor? Whether you’re new to care or are looking to progress within your current career within Care Services, we’ve got something for everyone at Anchor. 

Find out where you fit and explore all the wonderful reasons you should join us. 

We offer a wide range of rewards and benefits for our employees, alongside ongoing learning and development to help your career shine. 

Discover our learning and development roles at Anchor and apply for your next challenge today! 

Alex Lindley is a Learning Delivery Specialist at Anchor.