Caring – it’s in the family

Chris Harland and his daughters Kay and Laura have an extra special reason to enjoy going to work; they all work together at The Manor House Harrogate care home in North Yorkshire.

This Father’s Day we are sharing how Chris was so inspired by his daughters’ careers in care that he chose to apply for a role as a Kitchen Assistant at the home where Kay is a Care Assistant and Laura is Deputy Manager.

The family first began working together in summer 2020 and their commitment to care and affection for other people has been celebrated by residents and their colleagues alike. 

Chris, a retired army Sergeant Major, was recovering from a heart attack back in 2019 and explains how his new role positively impacted his life: 

I was so grateful that we were able to work together during the pandemic, as it enabled us to spend precious time together that others did not have the luxury of – we hope we were able to bring some of this family spirt to the residents and colleagues at Anchor’s The Manor House care home.

His daughters, Kay and Laura, love watching Chris thrive as an Anchor colleague, compelled by his empathy in making lasting connections with residents and family members.

Laura says:

One of my earliest childhood memories is of watching Dad when he was a Sergeant Major telling his troops off, which initially terrified 8-year-old me but I realised his role in the army was all about caring for his troops. Seeing him adapt to his new role with such ease, passion and carefulness shows the person and father he is.

Chris says:

I’m delighted to work with my two daughters, and I like to think they’re each a chip off the old block! It's been a privilege to watch them grow up into the kind and affectionate ladies they are today. It’s nice to think I inspired them to come and work at Anchor’s The Manor House care home, but truth is, care is just the kind of work that comes naturally to them.

People are always coming up to me telling me how wonderful Kay and Laura are and how they’re a credit to me, which is always nice to hear. I take such pride in working alongside them and the rest of my colleagues to make up such a strong team, and I hope our story motivates other family members to work together.

If you'd like to find out more about a career with Anchor visit our Careers pages here.

You can also find more information about the Manor House Harroage here.