Staff Stories
Kelly Headen is the Head of Fostering and Supported Lodgings. We interviewed Kelly to find out more about her and her passion for supporting young people.
I am the Head of Fostering and Supported Lodgings, and part of the Step by Step Leadership Team supporting the development and progression of the charity. My role ensures that our strategy meets the needs of the young people using our services. I’m also the Responsible Individual for the Ofsted registration of Step by Step Fostering and the Nominated Individual for the registration of Supported Lodgings. My role involves a lot of listening to others and establishing ways to improve how we deliver our services.
Both of my parents worked for the NHS so I’ve always understood that world, and my first job as a carer inspired me to continue working in areas where I could support other people. I have always been passionate about helping people that are facing adversity due to the set of circumstances they are in.
I also have personal experience with fostering and adoption within my close family.
It’s like an extended family to me. I live and breathe what the charity believes in. It’s amazing to be able to connect with a young person for a short amount of time and see the progress they’ve made and watch them build positive relationships in the future, mirroring what they’ve often experienced for the first time at Step by Step.
The fact that we’re not always able to help everybody, whether that’s because of challenges in the wider housing sector or that the young people just weren’t ready to accept our support while in the service.
I’m a Brown Owl for a local Brownies group. It takes up a lot my time but is often my favourite part of the week – good fun! I enjoy singing with my choir and love theatre. Also, having originally studied fine art, I still really enjoy putting my artistic skills to use by taking on lots of arts and crafts projects – I’m currently practising wet felting.
Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings has become the first service of its kind to achieve Ofsted accreditation. We are now the largest Supported Lodgings provider in the UK, as well as being considered the authority in the field.
