Introducing Sarah Jordan, Manager at Horizon House
By Ash Akhtar, Head of Culture and Engagement (Club Director)
I recently caught up with Sarah Jordan, manager of our newest service, Horizon House in Bolton, to learn more about the person behind the role.
Sarah Jordan has spent more than 40 years in social care. She says it all began at age 15, when a school work-experience placement had such an impact that she never wanted to leave.
“When my placement ended, I continued to visit and volunteer as a companion for residents. That was the start of my journey, and over 40 years later, I’m still on it.”
She started her career at a Leonard Cheshire home, supporting people with different disabilities. For almost 30 years since then, Sarah has managed services in many settings and for many groups, helping to shape care for a wide range of people. The industry has changed a lot, but Sarah knows what has always mattered most.
“One thing remains constant. The need to provide quality, individualised, creative and compassionate care to those in society who need a helping hand.”
She also looks back fondly on the people she’s supported over the years. “I often think of the people I have supported in the past and feel lucky to have been part of their journeys too.” Even after forty years, she still feels grateful for those experiences.
Life outside of work
When you ask Sarah about her life outside of work, it’s clear she has many interests.
To start, she has seven grandchildren. She calls this “a daily surprise,” which feels like the most relatable thing for many of us.
She is also a lifelong vegetarian, a dedicated animal welfare campaigner, and the proud owner of two rescued cats and a dog. When it comes to animal rights, she says she campaigned “with some gusto when younger.”
She lives surrounded by woodland, which means her Sundays look a little different to most. When the weather is nice, she spends time in her garden with her pets, enjoying the wildlife around her and tells us, “It can be better than a soap opera.”
After spending time in the garden, she likes to watch Antiques Roadshow to finish off her Sunday. When it comes to food, Sarah usually prefers to cook her own vegetable curry from scratch, though she sometimes enjoys a Chinese takeaway.
Earlier this year, Sarah visited her son and his family in Australia. She describes the trip as amazing, though she says “The journey is not for the faint-hearted.” While she was there, Sarah got to cuddle a kangaroo, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
On top of all this, Sarah is something of a Tudor geek, loves history documentaries, reads a lot, and has a hidden talent that sounds deceptively simple but is actually remarkable. She can memorise people’s birthdays. “It’s not really a talent as such,” she says, “but it can be handy.”
We’d argue it absolutely is a talent. And we’d also argue that if you work with Sarah, you have no excuse for forgetting hers.
What makes a great team
Sarah has managed services for almost thirty years, so she has seen many different types of teams, both good and bad. She knows what makes the difference.
“Great teams for me include respecting each other and sharing ideas. Regardless of your position within a team, I see it as a machine that only works well when all its components are in place. Being a support worker is hard work and can be challenging. As a manager, it’s important to recognise and celebrate success, but also be understanding when things go wrong and work together to improve.”
She’s equally clear about what makes a great workplace. “It’s important to make the workplace somewhere that people look forward to going.”
And her advice to any new manager starting out today is refreshingly simple.
“Listen to your team and include them in decisions and developments where possible. After all, they are often the ones who know our people best.”
Even after forty years, that’s what she values most. It says a lot about the kind of leader Sarah is.
We’re glad to have you with us and look forward to sharing more about Horizon House in the comingmonths.