Caring Phil scores a hit with award judges

A dedicated dad of two who coaches an under 10 football team in his spare time is in the running for a major award after forging a new career in social care.

Phillip Stapley is project manager of a supported housing scheme in Swansea, where he is responsible for all aspects of the daily running of the house and the safeguarding of “adults at risk” who live there.

The 40 year old previously worked as a massage therapist and sold the business before he started working in social care.

He has now been shortlisted as a finalist at the prestigious Wales Care Awards, the social care Oscars.

The glittering ceremony, organised by Care Forum Wales, will be held at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, October 21.

Phil has been nominated for the leadership and management in supported living or small group community living award.

At Robense House, a team of 20 staff provide 24-hour support for six adults. Residents may have previously been in hospital with an illness such as schizophrenia or a borderline personality disorder.

Colleagues say they feel lucky to have such a supportive and approachable manager who encourages them to think “outside of the box” to continually improve the service provided.

Sarah Parkin, a project worker, said :”During the short time he has worked with us he has shown major qualities that have enhanced our service provision no end.”

She said :”Phil always makes the tenants the centre of our service provision. He always consults both service users and staff and takes into account everyone’s point of view in his decision-making.

“He empowers staff to work with tenants to achieve their goals and often lifts morale with his positive mindset.”

Phil, a father-of-two who moved from Kent to Swansea a decade ago, said :”I’m embarrassed to be nominated for an award but it’s lovely, too, because the staff team nominated me. I am part of a team effort.

“It’s quite a demanding sector but I enjoy what I do and it is rewarding.”

Phil began in the social care sector as a support worker before starting a fast-track management scheme, working in different homes. He’s now employed by Family Housing Association, a not-for-profit housing and support organisation based in Swansea which develops and manages homes in south west Wales, in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Phil added :”We aim to provide the best quality of life. Family Housing Association has a care and support division and we come under the ‘WISH’ part of it – working for independence in supported housing. I manage one of the schemes.”

Outside work, in his spare time, Phil runs an under tens football team in Swansea and is a keen cyclist.

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, said the Wales Care Awards had gone from strength to strength.

He said: “The event is now firmly established as one of the highlights in the Welsh social care calendar.

“The aim is to recognise the unstinting and often remarkable dedication of our unsung heroes and heroines across Wales.

“The care sector is full of wonderful people because it’s not just a job it’s a vocation – these are the people who really do have the X Factor.

“If you don’t recognise the people who do the caring you will never provide the standards that people need and never recognise the value of the people who need the care in society.

“We need to do all we can to raise the profile of the care sector workforce – they deserve to be lauded and applauded.”