How a walk by changed the course of a career for one manager

Kam Kaur, home manager at Newbury Manor, did not begin her career in care with a lifelong plan, but with a practical decision to find work that would fit around family life, a choice that gradually grew into a lasting vocation built on commitment, resilience and an instinctive dedication to people. 

Now 48, Kam reflects on a journey that began when she moved to Birmingham at 19 and took her first role as a care assistant in Moseley Village, newly married and simply looking to contribute while building a life with her husband.  

By the age of 20 she was a mother, and balancing work with family responsibilities quickly became part of everyday life as she and her husband worked opposite shifts to ensure one of them was always home with their children. 

“I worked days and he worked twilight shifts,” Kam recalls. “It was hard, but we made it work.” 

After six years in care and the birth of her son, Kam took maternity leave before returning on night shifts, continuing to build her experience while managing the demands of family life. In 2013, after moving to Oldbury, she happened to drive past Newbury Manor Care Home and made a spontaneous decision to walk in and ask for an application form, a simple moment that would shape the rest of her career. 

She joined Newbury Manor as a care assistant, working both day and night shifts before moving permanently onto days and being promoted to Senior Carer within two years, naturally becoming a trusted figure among colleagues.  

When a new Home Manager, Diane, joined the service, Kam found a mentor who encouraged her to see potential in herself that she had never fully recognised. “Professionally and personally, Diane was always there,” Kam says. “From caring, to managing, to assessments, she taught me everything.” 

With that encouragement, Kam progressed to Care Coordinator, developing her knowledge of compliance, staffing and operational management, and later achieved her Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management, something she never imagined when she first entered the sector.  

When Diane became unwell, Kam gradually assumed greater responsibility to provide stability for residents and reassurance for staff during an emotional and uncertain period, stepping up not out of ambition but out of loyalty and care for the home. 

Following Diane’s passing, Kam continued to lead the service and was later offered the opportunity to formally step into the Registered home manager role at Newbury Manor, securing the position after a successful CQC interview and completing a journey that had begun years earlier with a simple request for an application form. 

Her leadership style is shaped by lived experience, having worked in almost every role within the home, which gives her a grounded understanding of the pressures her team face each day. 

“I would never ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t do myself, if support is needed, I step in.” 

While she values qualifications, Kam believes experience is what truly builds confidence and capability, and she speaks with quiet assurance about the knowledge gained through years of hands-on practice within Newbury Manor and the wider Superior Care group. 

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue growing within the organisation and potentially move into a more senior leadership role, while remaining guided by the principles that have defined her journey from the beginning, kindness, openness and a commitment to creating a home where staff and residents feel genuinely valued.