‘A true champion for transformative change in social care’

For Community Care’s 50th anniversary, our My Brilliant Colleague series invites you to celebrate anyone who has inspired you in your career.

In this entry, Jayne Graham, strategic head of services at the adult social care provider Next Stage Group, has nominated her colleague, Paul O’Rouke, who she describes as someone who sees “opportunities where others might see barriers”.

I want to take a moment to recognise Paul O’Rouke, the managing director of The Next Stage Group, a colleague and true champion for transformative change in the social care industry.

In a sector that faces constant challenges, Paul stands out with an unwavering “anything is possible” mindset.

Pictured: Paul O’Rouke

Over the past nine years in which we have worked together, his resilience and innovative spirit have not only inspired me but also ignited a creative, problem-solving culture across the entire team.

His belief in limitless possibilities fuels a dynamic environment where out-of-the-box thinking has led to real solutions for those with complex needs.

Paul’s leadership is empowering. He instils confidence in those around him, encouraging us to see opportunities where others might see barriers. In a demanding field like social care, his positive approach is exactly what we need to push boundaries and create meaningful change.

Paul helps us adapt to the ever-changing landscape, ensuring that our support is flexible and tailored to people’s needs.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, his empathy shines through in everything he does.

He is as committed to improving the lives of others outside of work as he is within his role. He volunteers for football clubs and creates opportunities for those who may not have had them otherwise.

I believe his dedication to care is deeply rooted in his own experiences and, despite his senior leadership role, he remains connected with people from all walks of life.

His commitment to offering personalised, compassionate support to individuals with diverse needs is truly remarkable.

How to nominate a colleague

For our 50th anniversary, we’re expanding our series My Brilliant Colleague to include anyone who has inspired you in your career – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.

Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by either:

• Filling in our nominations form with a letter or a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.
• Or sending a voice note of up to 90 seconds to +447887865218, including your and the nominee’s names and roles.

Despite the need to provide your name and role, you or the nominee can be anonymous in the published entry.

If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com.