Celebrating Leadership in Islington: Sharon’s Reflections on our Homecare Leadership Programme
Sharon Ellis is our Programme Manager for the South of England, and previously worked in commissioning. She recently co-facilitated a Professional Support and Development Programme for a group of Homecare Leaders in Islington, North London. Sharon reflects:
“After more than nineteen years in social care commissioning, I’ve seen just how essential homecare is in helping people stay independent and remain in the place they know as home.
Recently, I had the opportunity to co‑facilitate a Professional Support and Development Programme for homecare leaders in Islington, which was a genuinely rewarding experience and powerful reminder of just how committed, skilled, and passionate homecare leaders truly are.
Right from the start, it was clear how deeply the leaders cared about providing excellent support for individuals receiving homecare, and about valuing the care workers who make that possible. Their openness to reflect, stretch themselves, and learn alongside one another created a lively, energising atmosphere.
A programme shaped by people, relationships, and a shared sense of purpose
The programme included four core My Home Life England workshops (You as a Leader, Relationships with Others, Leading Through Change, and Power and Influence).
Each workshop explored leadership from a different angle — starting with the individual leader, moving to the teams they support, and finally connecting to the wider system they operate within.
The Power and Influence session sparked particularly rich discussion. Leaders explored how authority is perceived in homecare, how this affects their ability to influence decision-making, and the important distinction between leading and managing. These conversations highlighted the complexity of leadership in a sector where responsibility is high, visibility is low, and influence is often negotiated rather than assumed.
A further three workshops were codesigned with Islington Council and the leaders themselves:
- The Language We Use in Care
- Exploring how Social Value is Delivered in Homecare Services
- Outcomes for Individuals Using Care Services
This collaborative approach ensured the programme felt relevant, respectful, and directly met two of the Council’s commissioning priorities – strategic commissioning and community engagement.
Each session also aligned with the four evidence-based frameworks underpinning My Home Life, providing a strong foundation for every workshop, and ensuring the programme remained grounded in evidence, values, and real-world practice:
- Developing Best Practice Together – focusing on what people value and what works in care settings.
- Focusing on Relationships – drawing on relationship-centred care and the Senses Framework to promote positive, meaningful connections.
- Being Appreciative – using strengths based, appreciative approaches to shape future practice.
- Caring Conversations – supporting compassionate and dignified communication.
As a Neuro Linguist Programme Practitioner with a long background in commissioning, it was incredibly rewarding to weave together my experience, the MHL frameworks, and the priorities of Islington’s leaders to co-create workshops that felt both meaningful and practical.
The discussion around the term “challenging behaviour” was especially powerful. Leaders reflected on how language can unintentionally label, limit, or distance us from the people we support. Bryony Shannon’s work prompted thoughtful debate about how we might reframe such terms to reflect compassion, curiosity, and partnership.
Understanding Social Value
Every leader was already deeply engaged in delivering Social Value, and the session helped them to reflect and to connect their work to the evolving expectations introduced through the Social Value Act 2012.
The conversations around how leaders are meeting their commitment to Social Value highlighted the creativity and commitment within Islington’s homecare sector.
For example, initiatives discussed included: having an Employee Assistance Programme, developing a Food Bank in their office, birthday cards and Christmas food packages for clients, mental health and wellbeing counselling for care workers, and linking into charity organisations.
Focusing on Individual Outcomes
The group explored what good outcomes look like in homecare and how they align with the Care Act 2014, which promotes individual wellbeing.
Leaders examined strengths-based approaches, the importance of appreciation, and the role of personalised support in enabling people to live the lives they choose. These discussions reinforced the central message that outcomes are not tasks — they are experiences, aspirations, and achievements that matter deeply to individuals, and enable them to live the lives they choose.
Final thoughts
The impact of My Home Life England programmes reaches far beyond the leaders who take part. It shapes the way their teams work together, influences the culture of their organisations, and ultimately touches the everyday experiences of people receiving homecare, their families, and the wider health and social care community across Islington. When leaders grow, the ripple effects are felt everywhere.
It was a privilege to work with such dedicated and thoughtful leaders. Their openness, curiosity, and commitment to positive change made this programme a joy to deliver. I want to thank each of them for their contributions, their honesty, and their passion for making homecare the best it can be. I look forward to seeing how their leadership continues to grow and shape the future of care in Islington. ”