Llandrindod Wells man shortlisted for award

Sam Evans, Powys manager for domiciliary care provider Abacare, swapped adrenaline sports and outdoor pursuits including rock climbing to help young people receiving care in the community gain greater independence and fulfil their dreams.

From care worker to manager in just a few years, he has transformed dozens of lives since taking on his first position and has played an instrumental role in developing innovative ways of working that benefit care users.

The 35-year-old, of Waterloo Road, Llandrindod Wells, has now been announced as a finalist for the Leadership and Management in Supported Living or Small Group Community Living award sponsored by Smartcare, for the Wales Care Awards 2015 after being nominated by a colleague.

But it's all in a day's work for Sam, who admitted he stumbled into caring quite accidentally.

"I was 23, I was a paddle sports coach and up until then I didn't have a proper job, I was working in holiday camps without a permanent home," said Sam.

"You get to that point when you don't even have a TV, everything I owned was on my back. So I decided to settle down and look for a stable job.

"The first experience I had of care was a sign on a window asking 'do you like playing sports and going to the pub? I thought: 'This is the perfect job for me'.

"When I turned up for the interview I learnt that it would be working with people with disabilities and involving them in the community and just having fun, so I thought let's go for it."

Once he was in the job, the married father-of-one was hooked. With his background in outdoor pursuits, he was naturally keen to engage care users in sports and activities and increase their fulfilment of life.

"Care was a lovely surprise. I just tried it and fell in love with it," he said. "If you're going to find a job where you're going to spend 40 years doing something then you might as well spend 40 years doing something that makes a difference.

"Once you're in care, it's difficult to conceive of another role that's as rewarding. It's rewarding in so many ways. One person can make a difference and I'm passionate about what I do.

"It was all about getting people out and repatriating them in the community and doing normal activities like going to the pub and playing football rather than a service-led life which can be safe, insulated and stagnant."

While gaining practical experience, Sam decided to study for formal qualifications and achieved a degree-level qualification in Strategic Management which opened the door to management roles.

"I thought if I could make a difference as a care worker then what could I do if I managed that team, it just snowballed. As a care worker, you keep bumping into policies that stop you doing things so I thought if I got involved in that I could create more flexibility and freedom in the way we deliver services."

Sam first embarked on his travels at the age of 17 as he couldn't wait "to get away from school". The furthest he could go with £50 in his pocket was Israel and he remained there for a year before travelling across Africa, France and Spain as an multi-activity/outdoor education instructor.

His passion and drive to get the best out of people from his coaching days has never left and his enthusiasm is infectious.

Peter Angelides, managing director of Abacare, said: "Sam's industry knowledge has enhanced the quality of life we offer our service users and reinforced our ethos with regards to offering all those we care for dignity and respect. His work with our trainers means that we deliver training of a high standard and quality and that our carers' are appropriately supervised and supported by their line managers."

As a finalist, Sam will now attend a glittering awards ceremony at City Hall in Cardiff on Friday, November 6.

The Wales Care Awards, run by Care Forum Wales, acknowledge the hard work and exceptional performances of those in the care sector.

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