TEN QUESTIONS
10 Questions with... Rob Finney
Each issue we ask an industry professional the Tomorrow’s Care 10
Questions. This month, we chatted to Rob Finney, Chief Operating Officer from Tristone Healthcare.
1
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE CARE INDUSTRY? My mum worked in a children’s home, so it was a profession
I was always familiar with growing up. When I was about 22, having done a number of dead-end jobs and still not knowing what I wanted to do, my mum said she thought I’d really enjoy working in children’s services, so I applied for some casual shiſts at Rochdale Council. On my first day, I knew exactly that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I eventually went on to do a Diploma in Social Work and knew I’d end up working in or around the sector forever.
2
WHO, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY, DO YOU MOST ADMIRE? A lot of people may say the same, but it has to be Elon Musk.
Admittedly, he’s quite an eccentric character, but for me he’s a true visionary – someone who’s helping to shape the world. I’ve always had a passion for cars, and, in my opinion, he’s done more for the electric car movement than anybody else.
3
HOW DO YOU THINK THE CARE SECTOR COULD BE IMPROVED?
The key to improving the market is communication – creating a more joined-up conversation between purchasers and providers. Local Authorities are not always the best at commissioning; we need a nationwide approach, and the industry needs to respond appropriately with a sensible pricing structure.
The goal needs to be about making the sector more viable in the long term, concentrating on the needs of the people who we deliver services to.
4 5
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY SUPERPOWER FOR A DAY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
It would have to be super intelligence! All I’d want is a day to work through everything I needed to do, and I’d be happy.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE CARE INDUSTRY TODAY?
Without doubt, the lack of sufficiency. What we have is a very good legal framework in place for safeguarding people in care in this country and a sophisticated way of responding to risk. However, that’s not to say that there aren’t issues when things go wrong, as the problems are complex.
The number of people requiring care, and the complex needs that they have, has increased enormously over the years, which has intensified the problem of sufficiency. We just simply don’t have the availability of good quality placements. As a result, we oſten have to displace individuals from their community.
6
IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY WITH ANY THREE PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
I’m a massive sci-fi fan and distinctly remember going to see the first Star Wars film in 1977, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity of inviting Mark Hamill. He’s a fascinating character and I’d love to sit and listen to him talk about his Star Wars experiences.
- 50 -
I’d also have to invite John Cooper Clarke. I remember reading ’10 Years in an Open Neck Shirt’ at school and being struck by the power of education and teaching.
Finally, I’d invite Sandi Toksvig. My wife and I are massive fans, and, during the first lockdown, I tried to walk as much as possible and would listen to her book, ‘Between the Stops’. Doing the two definitely got me through it all.
7
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU COULD GIVE TO SOMEONE NEW COMING INTO THE CARE PROFESSION?
What you must always hold on to, whatever level you reach in the profession, is to place the needs of the people in your care at the centre of everything you do.
I oſten use the analogy about a picture being the service user and you the picture frame holding them in place. You’re in the background and nobody notices you, and what you need to do is concentrate on letting them shine and creating that boundary to hold them and keep them safe.
8 9
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN A FUTURE ISSUE OF TOMORROW’S CARE?
A focus on the unregulated 16-18-year-old social care sector and pushing the Government about what that should look like.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE CARE SECTOR?
The biggest threat to the care industry is not COVID, in terms of the virus itself, but the amount of public debt. This debt, combined with increased demand for services because of the pandemic, will result in more vulnerable adults and young people.
I’m afraid I don’t have an answer to that problem, but Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide places for the vulnerable. It’s a very tough environment and I have massive respect for Local Authority managers who are trying to do their job well in the current circumstances.
10
DIANE UNDERWOOD, FROM CRG HOMECARE, ASKED: WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE GOVERNMENT’S MOST
RECENT REVIEW OF SOCIAL CARE POLICY AND WHAT CHANGES DO YOU STILL THINK NEED TO BE MADE? I'm very much looking forward to seeing the results of the review just announced. I'm a little worried that there may be a political bias to the review and I'm also sceptical that the review will come with additional funding. Whilst money is not the cure to all ills, both adult and children's social care are desperately underfunded and we need to take stock of this as a society and decide how we want to assist the most vulnerable in society. I would certainly be happy to pay another penny in the pound of income tax, if that was used wisely to protect the vulnerable.
https://tristone.capital/healthcare/about-tristone- healthcare
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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