The national management trainee in social care: 'I can see so many opportunities in the sector'

Rob Browning is six months into his placement at social housing charity Housing 21. He is one of 20 participants on the first year of the NSASC's national management trainee scheme. I've just finished a business management degree at the University of East Anglia, so I was always looking to go into a management-related role. I didn't have a clear idea of what sort of area, but I knew I didn't want a standard office role. I was drawn to social care partly because my mum has MS, so I've been exposed to it in some form or other. I had a sense of being part of a system that she is eventually going to rely on much more than she does now. It also dawned on me how important social care will be in the coming decade to the whole population. I think it is an exciting sector to be in because there is so much going on and there is so much to be decided about the future. Because I didn't have any previous experience in social care, my supervisor thought it would be a good idea to get some frontline exposure, so I've spent a few months moving around care homes that Housing 21 offer. And I've spent time shadowing carers in a community setting, seeing how it's done on the frontline. I'm undecided about where my future lies. I can see so many opportunities in the sector. At the same time, I don't think anyone has a clear solution to some of the problems within social care, so it's quite a challenge and it all depends on whether I'm up to some of those challenges. But I'd like to think that I would still be with my placement company in six months' time.