{"id":5059,"date":"2021-03-07T11:40:25","date_gmt":"2021-03-07T10:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/stafford\/?p=5059"},"modified":"2021-03-07T12:29:15","modified_gmt":"2021-03-07T11:29:15","slug":"iwd20221-choosetochallenge-speaking-to-karen-leighton-chief-operating-officer-cass-the-carers-association","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/stafford\/2021\/03\/07\/iwd20221-choosetochallenge-speaking-to-karen-leighton-chief-operating-officer-cass-the-carers-association\/","title":{"rendered":"#IWD20221 #ChooseToChallenge – Speaking to Karen Leighton, Chief Operating Officer, CASS The Carers Association"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5061″ img_size=”875×1509″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What impact has the pandemic had on you personally and professionally?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The pandemic has made me realise personally, how important family members, friends and neighbours are.\u00a0 We all know this anyway and as mothers we always go the extra mile to ensure our family are safe and happy.\u00a0 However, I have found that it is the simple things that matter the most \u2013 the hugs, the smiles, the tears and the honesty and realisation that although I am a mother and seem very strong \u2013 I can cry too!<\/p>\n

I feel that the pandemic has made us closer although living apart.\u00a0 My wonderful daughter has changed into a loving caring woman who checks that everyone is okay \u2013 she was like this before the pandemic, but I just didn\u2019t give her the opportunity to care for me too \u2013 I am the mother after all!<\/p>\n

I have become a grandmother during lockdown and as yet I have not held my beautiful grandchild (I am crying as I write this). \u00a0I have seen his little wriggling body in my sons arms from a distance, but I haven\u2019t held him or smelt that wonderful baby smell. \u00a0It amazed me how memories came flooding back when I had given birth to my children. \u00a0I hope that all the mothers who have been struggling with home schooling or a new baby during lockdown will look back in years to come and cherish the time they had to make memories.<\/p>\n

In my professional capacity I have supported people with the loss of a loved one when their husband or wife of 50 years or more needed to go into long term care. \u00a0I have supported people through the loss of a job, the loss of their independence and the loss of their family home. \u00a0I have also supported people who sadly lost the biggest things in their lives \u2013 the people they love.<\/p>\n

I am so lucky to be surrounded by colleagues who totally \u2018get it\u2019 if one of us has a bad day. \u00a0We are in a caring profession and during the pandemic it has shone through that this is not only a job, but it is a vocation for all of us. \u00a0We are friends as well as colleagues.<\/p>\n

As with all charities we have lost funding \u2013 but as with all charities we will soldier on and do the very best for the people we support.<\/p>\n

How has Covid-19 changed your way of management?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t believe the pandemic has changed my way of management, but it has changed the process of management. \u00a0I feel as though I try to listen to colleagues and to be as supportive and adaptable as possible. \u00a0We are all working from home at the moment and I am in constant contact with the team because of the support we offer they do need this. \u00a0I have realised more how isolating working from home can affect your mental health and wellbeing. \u00a0Some of my colleagues were working from home prior to the pandemic and I will continue to ensure that their mental health and wellbeing is at the forefront in the future.<\/p>\n

We have adapted our way of working with the wonderful Zoom platform! \u00a0Wonderful for some, not for others. \u00a0We have adapted and changed and I believe that if we are pushed to do something we can do anything.\u00a0 We have team meetings via Zoom \u2013 these are not so formal as they used to be \u2013 we also have fun but still get the work done.<\/p>\n

Going forward, is there anything that you will be doing differently?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I will be savouring every single moment even the \u2018bad\u2019 times. \u00a0I will try to value myself too and not try to be everything to every one \u2013 the mother syndrome. \u00a0I will appreciate how lucky I am to have a job, a roof over my head, fantastic friends and colleagues and last but not least a wonderful partner and family.<\/p>\n

What has kept you hopeful during this time?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Families who contact me through work have kept me hopeful, although they are contacting me for support. \u00a0Besides all odds they have shielded with a child with autism or a partner living with dementia or other health issues. \u00a0It has been so difficult for them but they have kept going and have done the right thing for themselves and others by staying at home. \u00a0We have laughed and cried together and they have remained positive that we will get through this.<\/p>\n

Life goes on and the spring flowers will soon be appearing to cheer our lives up. \u00a0We will feel the sun on our backs and the birds singing in our gardens. \u00a0I will get round to getting fit, losing weight, not drinking so much when the spring comes \u2013 hopefully![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Women inspiring action,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>transforming lives –\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>We stand up for Women –\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Believe to Achieve<\/em><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Why not join us?[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”5061″ img_size=”875×1509″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What impact has the pandemic had on you personally and professionally? The pandemic…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":753,"featured_media":5061,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-club-news","category-international-womens-day"],"yoast_head":"\n#IWD20221 #ChooseToChallenge - Speaking to Karen Leighton, Chief Operating Officer, CASS The Carers Association | News | Blog | Events | SI Stafford<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SI Stafford : Blog & News : #IWD20221 #ChooseToChallenge - Speaking to Karen Leighton, Chief Operating Officer, CASS The Carers Association : Keep up to date with the latest news, articles and events from the Soroptimists of SI Stafford . 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