I worked in the recruitment industry for agencies for over 16 years and wanted to move into internal recruitment. I chose health and social care as I felt this was a growth industry and started working for an adult supported living provider as an internal recruiter, which I found to be very rewarding, and I loved working with such genuine people.
During this time, my interest in understanding more about children’s care grew due to my own personal experience of having a daughter who struggled with mental health difficulties, anxiety, depression, intrusive and suicidal thoughts, and who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, followed by bulimia. The lack of support, kindness, and understanding that she experienced during this time was beyond belief, and I came into contact with many other young people who were also struggling with their daily lives, as well as parents who felt helpless. It made me question everything and pushed me to learn as much as possible so that I could support my own daughter.
I hadn’t heard of Keys; I was approached by an agency about a recruitment consultant position with the company, and the more I found out, the more I wanted to be part of it. I just felt our values were aligned.
Although I don’t work in the children’s homes myself, I am in awe of my colleagues who spend their days protecting and supporting children and young people in all of our homes. My personal experience and the stories that I hear have a direct impact on the work that I do, because every candidate that I speak to, I ask myself, would I want that person to support my daughter? This drives me to find the best, most passionate people for our homes. I really do care about my job.
Working in care, you will find the most genuine, caring people you could ever meet. It is extremely hard work, and you need a lot of resilience and humour, but the rewards outweigh the difficulties. It is the people that make the difference.
Debbie Parrott – Senior Recruiter (April 2026)
Want to make a difference too?
If you’re looking for a rewarding career where you can positively impact young people’s lives every day, explore opportunities with Keys.
Join us: keys-group.co.uk/careers
Keys Group