A Father’s Day thank you: From washing dishes at 16 to home manager

This Father’s Day, Ruth Witkowski has plenty to thank her dad for.

When Ruth left school at 16, she wasn't sure what came next. That's when her dad, Norman, helped her find and apply for an evening job washing dishes at Pitcairn Lodge Care Home, the care home she now leads as home manager.

"I was very unsure at first," Ruth recalls. "But I ended up loving the involvement with residents and the atmosphere."

What began as a part-time kitchen role soon became something much bigger. Ruth moved into a housekeeping role before becoming a carer, discovering a passion for supporting older people and hearing the stories of those she cared for.

That passion inspired her to continue learning and developing her career. She went on to complete her adult nursing degree and spent the next decade working at Pitcairn with residents living with dementia, building her clinical expertise and making a difference every day.

Since joining Sanctuary Care in 2009, Ruth has continued to progress, becoming deputy manager in 2023 before stepping into the home manager role in November 2024.

Looking back, Ruth's journey shows how a first job can become a lifelong career.
"There are lots of opportunities to develop both individually and as a team," she says.

Today, she leads the same home where her career began, passionate about doing things fairly, leading by example and creating a positive environment for both residents and colleagues. In a fitting full-circle moment, the dad who helped her take that first step now works with Sanctuary Care too, as a maintenance operative at Park Lodge Care Home.

For anyone considering a career in care, Ruth's story is a reminder that you don't need experience to get started. Sometimes all it takes is one opportunity, a willingness to learn and someone who believes in you.

And for Ruth, that opportunity came from her dad encouraging her to take the first step.

Now, more than 16 years later, she's helping others start their own careers at Sanctuary Care, proving just how far that first step can take you.

Ruth's journey started with an entry-level role at 16. Yours could too. Explore careers with Sanctuary Care and take the first step towards a rewarding future.