Remembering our Deputy Director Steph Thompson
We would like to express our deep sadness at the loss of our valued friend and colleague, Steph Thompson, who died earlier this month.
Steph had a flourishing career, and profoundly impacted so many lives. She was a care provider, a strategic commissioner, a re-designer of care pathways, an advocate and leader of people, a strategist, a collaborator, a visionary, and, most importantly, a wife and a mum to two daughters. Steph was so generous in her work. She always found time to support and coach her colleagues and she was always completely genuine in her interest in how people were.
Steph first connected with My Home Life England in 2011, when she was working at Barchester Healthcare, and always made time to stay in touch with our work. In 2020, as part of the new strategic plan to grow My Home Life England within City St George’s, University of London, a new Board was developed and Steph was invited to join. Steph was such an ally to us on that Board and supported with all the KPIs and policy papers, jostling us into shape and giving us a welcomed sense of direction and organisation.
Months later we were delighted when Steph joined our core team as Deputy Director. Steph wanted to ‘slow down’ (which she never actually did) before her retirement, moving from her very senior previous roles to work with the My Home Life programme, because it aligned with her values and her drive to make a difference.
Within weeks of her arrival, Steph was sorting things out at My Home Life England, creating systems and processes and travelling across the country to get the word out about our work. A fundamental driving force behind our achievements over the last four and a half years, she was confident, highly successful, yet ever relational, and a huge support to Tom, as Director.
Steph worked hard and played hard; heart and head working at a hundred miles an hour, in full colour and vivacious fun. She would work endless hours, writing proposals and scanning all the policy bulletins. She gave equal attention and care to those at the top of organisations and to the care leaders she worked alongside on our professional support and development programmes. She had amazing talent but always wanted to empower others, particularly the underdog, rather than embellish her own ego. We’ve heard from multiple managers that Steph had inspired them to stay working in social care.
Steph was unique. Incredibly kind and generous of heart. Incredibly clever and perhaps a little complex too. Till the end, she still struggled to let people down, not wanting to say ‘no’ to the people who wanted to see her, despite being very poorly herself.
My Home Life England has been profoundly enriched by working with Steph, and there are many thousands of people who have also had their lives touched by all that she did throughout her career. Her death is a huge loss, professionally, not only to the My Home Life movement but also to the wider health and social care community. Her unwavering commitment and dedication to the sector remains an inspiration to us all.
As we remember Steph and the impact she had on our own lives, our thoughts of strength and love are very much with Steph’s family and friends at this difficult time.
For those wishing to share any messages and memories of Steph, an online condolences book has been set up:
Share memories of Steph