Professional Carers' Week 2026 - Charlotte Chiutare
This week is Professional Carers’ Week, a chance for Brendoncare to turn the spotlight on some of our colleagues who made caring their career but have progressed to take on different roles within our organisation.
We spoke with Charlotte Chiutare, Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill’s General Manager, about progressing from being a frontline carer to managing busy, multi-functional care home.
1. What made you decide to pursue a career in caring?
I’ve always known I wanted to do something that involved caring for others – and making a difference to other people’s lives. So, I enrolled on a Health and Social Care course at college and, when I was 16, began working as a care assistant alongside my studies.
2. What made you decide to work for Brendoncare?
Brendoncare’s values, purpose and commitment to delivering high-quality care immediately resonated with me. I was also keen to experience the difference between working for a charity rather than within the private sector. I started in domiciliary care but I found that working at Brendoncare’s Park Road care home, surrounded by both residents and colleagues, was the right fit for me.
3. What did you enjoy most about being a carer? What were the challenges?
Making a positive difference in the lives of residents and their loved ones has always been incredibly important to me. I am also passionate about challenging the stigma often associated with care homes by showing the impact of high-quality care. The challenges come with caring being is a demanding, ever-evolving profession requiring resilience, compassion and the ability to adapt quickly to ever changing situations.
4. Did you make a conscious decision to further your career in a managerial role?
I didn’t really know what I wanted to do apart from the fact I wanted to develop. I transferred from Park Road to Meadway so I could undertake my Level 3 apprenticeship as there were opportunities at that home due to it being residential and having Team Leader roles which I could move into when I had completed my apprenticeship.
5. What are some of your responsibilities as a manager that people probably don’t know about?
I lead a team of 150 colleagues, am responsible for around 90 residents, while also supporting their families and loved ones. As Brendoncare’s flagship site which brings together three services under one roof, there’s an added level of responsibility. Care homes look after some of society’s most vulnerable people but they must also be run as sustainable businesses. My role is to balance compassionate care with sound decision-making to ensure we can continue supporting those who need us.
6. What do you enjoy most about your role as General Manager of a large, multi-faceted care home?
Spending time with the residents – they make my day, every day! The individual characters and the laughs that are had are immeasurable, it also demonstrates to me that by being with us their lives are enhanced and fulfilled regardless of many ailments they might be facing and I also feel this joy from relatives and visitors.
I also have a strong passion for seeing colleagues develop, seeing them grow through different opportunities and relish in their own potentials.
7. You have been with Brendoncare for 16 years now. What do you enjoy most about working for the organisation?
Brendoncare’s ethos still to this day sits with my own core values and why I ever worked in care in the first place. Our ability to help others and give back to them is something we work towards every day. Supporting individuals to continue to access our care through our charitable support is unique and something I am very proud of.
8. What are the qualities and characteristics you need to become a carer?
It’s a very selfless occupation full of such a sense of fulfilment from the difference you make to others. Resilience, empathy and kindness are real core values and qualities that are used every day and evidently strong throughout our whole team.
9. What future ambitions do you have?
I would like to continue to make a difference and have an impact on peoples’ lives as much as I can and in the most meaningful way possible – in what capacity that will be in, who knows?
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Want to know more about our careers at Brendoncare? Please visit the link to see our latest career opportunities and how we can support you with professional qualifications and apprenticeships.
