Ann Davidson

When at school I decided that I never wanted to work in an office so chose the technical route instead of the commercial! I got that wrong! When leaving at 18 I started work in an accounts department and trained as a bookkeeper and couldn’t believe how much I really loved it.

I have always stayed some years in the jobs I have had and only left due to moving or having my son. During my career I did work as a theatrical agent for some years and specialised in booking dance acts, this was all great fun but very unsocial hours and in the end I decided to come back to Kent. I tried to keep my bookkeeping skills but moved over to HR and decided to take this route forward. During this time I had a career path analysis and was told I could probably not work in the SAS – I took offence because I thought they meant this was because I was female – they didn’t, they meant that I am the sort of person who could not be secretive or quiet and that I would always be making sure everyone was OK and had everything they needed (pencils, guns!) so I never did apply! I think they were right - I am not secretive or quiet!

I started in the Domiciliary Care Sector 17 years ago and took the manager job with Home Service as a ‘fill in’ while I studied for three A Levels (as I did not get the opportunity whilst at school) and I thought domiciliary care seemed an easy job! How wrong was I? However, I loved the work and the people, and have never lost my passion for this sector – it is a great job and so rewarding. Over the years I have added to my qualifications including the DMS.

I am lucky in that I have been involved in the KCCA since its inception, I have watched the KCCA go from strength to strength and I see how much KCC respect and rely on the Association. In the early days it meant so much to me to meet other providers and see that I was on the right track and not a total failure and that domiciliary care is actually unique. Since then I have come to respect the domiciliary providers of Kent and make friends with most of them I hope, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

At present I represent the Association at the following meetings:
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults – Committee/ Policies and Protocols/Training
• Dover PAVA (committee member)
• SDS Stakeholder
• T4C Stakeholder
• Dementia – Collaborative/Education
I sit on the Board, attend KCC Liaison Meetings and am also a member of the KCCA Training and Marketing sub groups and, like the other Directors, will always try to stand in when someone is unable to attend meetings

I am very proud to be a KCCA Vice Chair and Director and I can promise that I will always do my best to promote the interests of our members, without prejudice, and hope the KCCA will continue to be strong, effective and grow in membership.