Rachel Davies

When did you start working for Gray Healthcare?

August 2018

Your role:

Rachel  is our Assistant Director of Operations and Quality.  Rachel is responsible for the operational management of the business and ensuring that we deliver a high quality service to the people we support.  Rachel oversees all new business coming into the organisation to ensure the company grows safely and that the journey for the person we support is right for the individual.    Rachel joined Gray Healthcare in 2018 as a Locality Manager, and has since developed into a Regional Operations Manager and Head of Quality and Mobilisation prior to her current role.

Before joining Gray Healthcare:

After school Rachel completed a BSc (hons) degree in Psychology at Chester University.  However, following her degree, an interest in interior design prompted her to start making soft furnishings at home which inspired a return to college to gain a Diploma in Interior Design.  She initially did some freelance graphic design work then started working for a charity, where she was based within a medium secure unit.  In this role she undertook design and work-based activities with patients on the ward to motivate and teach them new skills.   At this point in her career, she decided she preferred working with the individuals rather than the design aspect of the role so in 2010 she became a Support Worker in a supported housing development for adults with mental health conditions.  She was quickly promoted to Team Leader and managed what was called a ‘floating support’ service, whereby adults have support in their own homes but only for a few hours each day. In February 2016, she moved roles to manage both a supported housing service and a crisis centre.

What do you like about working at Gray Healthcare?

‘The people – both the people we support and my colleagues.  I am privileged to work with some excellent colleagues and as a company we support some truly wonderful people.  We also plan well!  When we are preparing a property for someone to move into, it doesn’t matter what role you have, we all just ‘muck in’ to make sure the property is perfect for when they arrive.  There is no hierarchy, our Clinical Lead might be assembling last-minute furniture, whilst our Community Support Manager might be out shopping to make sure there is some food in ready.  We’re all there together doing final risk assessments and making sure the physical move goes as smoothly as possible for the person. We always add some finishing touches such as a house-warming gift and ‘new home’ card to make the person feel welcomed – you have to remember many of the people we support have been living in hospital environments for a long time, so this is a big day for them.  Days like this make the hard days better.’

Gray Healthcare in three words:

‘Innovative, welcoming, ambitious’