Lisa Porter talks to us about her former time playing football and sport at a high level, her career journey in care and her vision for helping to expand care in the home at Active Care Group.
Through our care in the home services we support children, young people and adults with a wide range of conditions, including: brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurological conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, respiratory conditions and gastro-intestinal conditions, including percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding.
Could you tell me a bit about your career background and experience?
I have been in healthcare for about 12 years now. I started a national healthcare provider as a referrals coordinator. Over time, I worked my way up to a managerial position, running the referrals team. Throughout my career, I’ve always had customer-facing roles. I later became a Quality Business Partner, which involved working closely with the wards to ensure quality and compliance with CQC and Welsh standards, broadening my knowledge and experience within healthcare.
I then moved to another large national provider, where I managed a patch from Cumbria to Brighton for two years. This role helped me expand my contacts nationwide. I then transitioned to a national care at home provider, which is similar to what we do here, and spent the next few years honing in on home care. I believe it is the future of healthcare. When this position at Active Care Group came up, I knew it was the right fit for me, and here we are today.
Can you tell me a bit about your new role?
My new role is within the care in the home sector, which involves providing care for people within their own homes. Some of these individuals may be coming out of hospital, and our goal is to ensure they are cared for in the least restrictive environment possible.
We cover the entire country, from Penzance to Newcastle. The size of the business allows us to maximise training for staff members and utilise best practices across all divisions. This integration of hospital, residential, and home care practices was a key reason I wanted to join ACG.
What are you most looking forward to about your new role?
I’m looking forward to the new challenges and celebrating the achievements of my wonderful team. I strongly believe that care in the home is the right direction for healthcare. If we can help more people transition out of hospitals and residential environments into their own homes with the necessary support, that’s what we should be doing. This aspect of the role really excites me.
What’s your vision for care in the home, and where would you like it to be in the next few years?
My vision is to expand and help as many people as we possibly can. We have a good foundation here already, and it’s about working together as a team to maximise all areas. This includes supporting everyone from the support workers to the managing director.
For a business to be successful, you must focus on every element that contributes to that success. While my role involves business development, it’s equally about sharing good practices and ensuring everyone is happy and effective in their roles. I’m excited to be part of this team and look forward to our growth and shared success.
Away from your role, what do you like doing in your spare time? Can you tell us something interesting about yourself?
I’ve been a keen sports player most of my life. I was selected for England in hockey and used to throw the javelin, ranking fourth in England at one point before an injury ended that pursuit.
However, the most significant part of my sports career was playing football at a relatively high level for Northampton Town Ladies and Rushden and Diamonds. I played for over 20 years and even captained my team.
Additionally, I occasionally sing, having performed at weddings for over 20 years, and I take pride in the fact that all the couples I sang for are still together.
