After 24 years at MacIntyre, Maureen White has worked in more roles than she can easily count.
She's been a Support Worker, a Senior Support Worker, a Frontline Manager, a Shared Lives Officer and now a Shared Lives Manager. But ask Maureen what has kept her at MacIntyre all these years and the answer isn't promotions or job titles.
It's always been about the people,
she says.
Maureen joined MacIntyre in 2002 as a Support Worker on The Wirral, supporting people with learning disabilities in a supported living setting. She quickly discovered she loved helping people build the lives they wanted, finding creative ways to support independence, friendships and opportunities in the community.
A first promotion
Before long she became a Senior Support Worker and later moved "down the road" to Warrington as a Frontline Manager.
One thing that became clear throughout her career was her ability to support and develop colleagues as well as the people drawing on support. Managing teams came naturally to her, and she enjoyed helping others grow in confidence and skills.
A change of pace
Then came 2020.
Like many people, the Covid pandemic prompted Maureen to reflect on what she wanted from the next stage of her life. She decided upon retirement. But when Maureen sat down with her manager to tell her the news, the conversation didn't go quite as she'd expected. Together, they explored what was really driving her decision and whether there might be another way forward.
Maureen realised she didn't want to stop working completely. What she needed was a change of pace. She returned to a Support Worker role in Warrington, working four days a week and focusing once again on direct support.
A new chapter
That might have been the final chapter of her MacIntyre story. Instead, it became the start of a new one.
A couple of years later, MacIntyre secured the contract to run the Shared Lives Scheme across the whole of Warrington, creating opportunities to expand the team. A Shared Lives Officer role became available and immediately caught Maureen's attention.
I thought it sounded right up my street
she says.
All about Shared Lives
For anyone unfamiliar with Shared Lives, it's a unique form of support that matches adults with learning disabilities, or autistic adults, with approved Shared Lives carers. Rather than traditional support services, Shared Lives is built around relationships, community and belonging.
Support can take different forms. Some people spend time with a Shared Lives carer during the day, some for short breaks or respite, and others live as part of a Shared Lives household, becoming part of family life.
Finding the right match is one of the most important parts of the role, and it's something Maureen particularly enjoys.
She remembers matching Jimmy, a passionate Warrington Wolves supporter, with Dennis, another lifelong Wolves fan. Their shared interest quickly became the foundation for a friendship. Dennis also performs as a singer, and Jimmy now attends his gigs, opening up another hobby and social circle.
It's amazing what can happen when you connect people who genuinely share the same interests
says Maureen.
As the Warrington Shared Lives Scheme continued to grow, so did the team. Today, Maureen is the Shared Lives Manager, supporting three Shared Lives Officers who work closely with families and the people they support.
In many ways, the role brings together everything she's enjoyed throughout her career: supporting people, building relationships and helping colleagues develop.
And after more than two decades at MacIntyre, she's found a balance that works for her.
Gardening and grandchildren
When she's not at work, you'll usually find her in the garden, out walking her much-loved cockapoo, or spending time with her eight grandchildren (then coming to work for a rest!)
After 24 years, it's clear that while Maureen's job titles may have changed, the thing that motivates her has stayed remarkably consistent: helping people find the right connections and the right place to belong.
Interested in a career with MacIntyre? Visit our careers page to find out more.
